SEE THE PHOTOS!

Almost 30 years to the week that they stepped onto the hallowed turf of Wembley stadium, Hoddesdon's Town's FA Vase-winning side of 1975 was re-united at the Club's 125th Anniversary Celebration Dinner at Brickendon Grange Golf Club on Friday 4th March. Sadly the squad has lost goalkeeper Fred Gulvin, and Johnny Nathan who have both passed away and neither Dave Stevenson or Keith Schofield were able to attend the Dinner. Nevertheless, eight members of that famous playing squad and their partners came along, together with Manager Billy Moye and Assistant Manager Joe Chynoweth. The Brickendon Grange Function Room was packed with players from the past, most of them from the successful era of the mid eighties to mid nineties when many appearance and goalscoring records were set. The Club was pleased to welcome Guests of Honour who included the Mayor and Mayoress of Broxbourne Cllr David Hale and Mrs Hale, Managing Director of the Herts. F.A. Eddie King and his wife Sandra, Chairman of the Spartan South Midlands League Pat Burns and his wife Brenda, Chairman of Potters Bar Town Peter Waller and his wife Carol, and Chairman of Royston Town Graham Phillips and his wife Elaine. In the after-dinner speeches from Cllr Hale, President Peter Haynes and Chairman Roger Merton, tribute was paid to the Club's successes both on and off the field of play, to the hard-working Committee members past and present, and to all the players who had represented the Club so loyally over the years. Special tribute was paid to former Chairman Elmer Elliott who was responsible for rescuing the Club when he took over as Chairman in 1966, and who pioneered the use of floodlights in local Non-League football when they were installed at Lowfield in 1973.

As a fitting finale to the formalities of the evening, the packed room was entertained by the first Chant Laureate, Jonny Hurst who treated the audience to a selection of his award winning football chants, and also to his specially penned chant for Hoddesdon Town F.C. He also paid an entertaining tribute to the Club, and to all the members of the current Committee who work tirelessly to make sure all the off-field activities are of the highest order.

After all the speeches and the entertainment, Hoddesdon Town's President Peter Haynes was presented with two mementoes of the Club's Anniversary. On behalf of the Hertfordshire County FA Cllr David Hale presented Peter with a magnificent engraved crystal keepsake, and the Club also received an engraved plaque presented by the Spartan South Midlands League. A plaque marking the 125th Anniversary had already been received from the Football Association.

The Celebration Dinner was attended by 125 people, most of whom have had their lives touched in one way or another by Hoddesdon Town Football Club. Those included were  Social Club Manager and Committee Member of the 60's and 70's Fred Varney, and twins Robert and David Butler, who watched the Lilywhites as youngsters in the 60's and have been avid supporters both home and away since 1973. One of the main features of the evening was to see so many past players willingly giving up their time to come along and share their memories with former colleagues and people associated with the Club. The former Vase-winning squad was represented by:

Manager Billy Moye, Assistant Manager Joe Chynoweth, Captain Dickie Sedgwick, Reg Bishop, Billy Green, Les Picking, Phil Maybury, Dave Bidwell, Chris Wilson and Pat Hickey.

Former players (and one other former Manager) who attended were:

Stuart Parker, David Wilson, Micky Eldridge, Jeff Burling, Steve Gooding, Tommy Stephens, Glen Swaby, Gary Cummins, Mark Kozak, Clive Robbins, Paul Robbins, Mel Musa, Danny Brown, John Walton, John Luckie, Tony Walker, Alan Moore, Darren White, Paul Evitt, Paul Mann, Gary Conner, Pablo Ardiles, Ryan Redford,

Representing the present squad was the current longest serving player Neil Conner.