A LOOK INTO HISTORY 196

A LOOK INTO HISTORY ONE HUNDRED AND NINETY SIX

FORD UNITED DEFY THE WEATHER IN 1963

1963 was and is still, the ultimate horror story in snow and ice ruining the
football programme from December 1962 through to March 1963.
January 6 th in particular, saw little played throughout the country, then, on
February 9 th 1963 just seven league games were played with none at all in
Scotland. They were at Leicester, Charlton, Plymouth, Swansea, Bristol Rovers,
QPR and Doncaster and a friendly at Coventry City. Even the Non League
programme didn’t prove very successful with only two games in the North of
England, at Evenwood Town and Whitby Town taking place but things were
slightly better in the South with one Southern League match at Margate, a
single Isthmian League game at Oxford City and a Corinthian League game at
Dagenham. The F A Amateur Cup First Round saw fixtures at Alton Town,
Tooting & Mitcham, Wimbledon and replays at Walton & Hersham and
Leytonstone. That was the sum total of football with one exception, our flimsy,
priced 2d Match Programme.
Ford United v Maidstone United of the Athenian League also met in the
F A Amateur Cup. The game was originally due to be played on January 12 th but
postponed due to the snow and re-arranged for February 9 th at 2.30 at their
Rush Green Arena. Ford United were members of the Aetolian League which
was borne out of the Kent League collapse in 1960 and were in 5 th place with
Chatham Town leading. Also members were Eton Manor and East Ham United.
The fact that the club were able to get the game on that awful Saturday was
not matched by the result, 0-1 to Maidstone United who would then go on to
meet the eventual Cup Runners up, Sutton United.
What is really a plus for the club, found Ford United at home again on February
16 th when, once again, the football programme was decimated, only 11 games
played plus Aberdeen and Stenhousemuir in Scotland. This time it was a
London Senior Cup tie with more higher Athenian League opposition,
Wealdstone ,at Rush Green Arena. Ford United were a very strong side at their
level and held out for a 1-1 draw but, because of the snow and ice were unable
to replay the fixture until March at Lower Mead but went out of the competition
1-3. It was Wealdstones’ first home game since mid December !
The reason for some of the League games being played was undersoil heating
before 3G had been thought of. This would, not, of course be relevant for Ford
United , to them it was just plain old heavy work by a very capable groundstaff.