FORTY-SEVEN YEARS AGO GLENN HODDLE WAS PLAYING IN THE HARLOW SUNDAY LEAGUE

Here is a real piece of Sunday League Football history as forty-seven years ago today the Harlow and District League Fourth Tier Cup final took place as Longmans took on Pools Reserves on Wednesday 25th April 1973. The game would of taken place at the old Harlow Town Fc ground on Hammarskjold Road. 

As you'll see from the line-ups for Longmans they featured Derek Hoddle and his son Glenn who was at the time only fifteen years old. 

In the line up for Pools Reserves was Micky Southgate and John Reading who both famously won the FA Vase when playing for Stansted in 1984 alongside Dave Hoddle who is the uncle of Glenn. Also Number 6 in the Pools Reserves line up in Peter Young who is the father of Luke Young who played for Tottenham Hotspur, Charlton Athletic, Middlesbrough, Aston Villa and Queens Park Rangers as well getting seven caps for England. Luke was born in 1979 but has a brother born in 1973 - Neil Young came through the ranks at Tottenham Hotspur and went on to play 430 times for AFC Bournemouth between 1994 to 2008. 

The Secretary for Longmans is Joe Jennings who was a famous local bookmaker. "Joe Jennings Bookmakers" still have five premises in the local area as well as an on-line 

The man in the middle for the game was John Moules who went on to become a National List Referee for 15 years officiating in the football league and then Chief Executive for the National League for 8 years after starting as secretary for 6 years. Moules was the referee for an England v Brazil game as well as many top matches including the North London Derby between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal. 

It shows that there was (and still is!!) a pathway for officials to start in the lower levels and work their way up to the very top. 

Thankyou to Phil Tuson (@PhilT0206) for provided the programme.