CLASSIC FOOTBALL PROGRAMMES - DUNSTABLE TOWN

Dunstable Town were formed in 1883 and were founder members of the Bedfordshire Football Association. During the 1950s and 1960s they flip flopped between the Metropolitan League and United Counties League before joining the Southern League in 1965 where they struggled up until 1974 when then Chairman Keith Cheeseman employed Barry Fry for the 1974/75 season in his first managerial role which is where we see the season this programme comes from. Fry was appointed at the back end of the 73/74 season where his first two home games in charge brought in 34 and 42 fans respectively. 

In 72/73 Town had finished bottom of Division One (South) where they had had trips to Minehead, Bideford, Wealdstone and Metropolitan Police to name a few clubs. 

In 73/74 they had been moved to the North Division and had had trips to Merthr Tydfil, Bletchley Town and Cheltenham Town to name a few opponents. 

Cheeseman had recently brought Dunstable Town and financed the club allowing Fry to make a number of impressive signings. Famously George Best was recruited but only ever played in two friendly games - West Bromwich Albion legend Jeff Astle did play for the entire 74/75 season and scored 34 goals for the club. He was only 32 year of age during his time player for Town. Astle was listed as substitute in the programme. 

For Cheeseman and Dunstable Town it was all looking good as they were promoted to the Southern League Premier Division after finishing in second place to local rival's Bedford Town with attendances up at Creasey Park - 10,000 people saw a friendly game played against Manchester United in 1974.  

It all ended in controversial fashion as midway through the next season (75/76) Cheeseman disappeared leaving the club with huge debts causing Dunstable Town to fold midway through the campaign. 

A new club 'Dunstable FC' were formed and allowed to take over the club's remaining fixtures. They finished in a respectable 8th position but were relegated to Division One (South) at the end of the season as they were a 'new club'. 

Mention his name now to any Town fan of a certain age and they'll tell you they wish he was never involved with the club. 

He had made national headlines in his time at the club and him making the news didn't end when he left! In 1977 he was jailed for six years for his involvement in a defrauding a US finance company. In 1983 he was back serving time inside - this time a three year sentence for obtaining money by deception.  It didn't end there as it 1990 he was arrested again but this time jumped his bail conditions and fled to Tenerife. He was recaptured and extradited to the USA where in 1993 (he was 50 years old at time) he pleaded guilty to six criminal charges involving a conspiracy to sell millions of pounds in stolen securities some of which had been stolen (in bonds) at knifepoint in the City of London in May 1990. He was jailed for six and half year for his part in what has been called 'the world's biggest mugging'. 

Dunstable FC went on until the 1993/94 season when they left the Southern League and it wasn't until the summer of 1998 Dunstable Town returned to play in the then Spartan South Midlands League Division One alongside teams such as Markyate, The 61 FC (Luton), Old Dunstablians (now AFC Dunstable) and Walden Rangers. 

They rapidly climbed the leagues and were promoted to the Isthmian Division One (North) for the 03/04 season as SSMFL Premier Division title winners. The club came back to the SSMFL between 2009 to 2013 but another title win saw them move up again and by finishing top of the Division One (Central) they moved to the Premier Division where they played for four seasons. Two relegations in a row in 17/18 and 18/19 has seen them back in the SSMFL Premier. The ground at Creasey Park is now redeveloped and a marvellous asset for the football in the town. It also the home of local rival's AFC Dunstable who currently play in the Southern League Division One (Central). 

The programme features a pen portrait of George Cleary who was the first player that had cost Dunstable Town any sort of transfer fee. It reads 'it took manager, Barry Fry, one minute to convince Chairman Keith Cheeseman, that George was the answer to Dunstable's scoring problems' and that Fry predicted that he would score more goals on his own than the whole Dunstable team managed last season - A prediction which came true! Fry was quoted as saying 'How the hell this boy isn't scoring goals in the first division of the football league i'll never know'. 

It also reveals that at the time Fry was still playing as he had scored four goals for Dunstable Town that season. He was also due to appeal at Lancaster Gate for his recent suspension placed on him by the Beds FA for alleged misconduct during a game against Corby Town. The programme reads 'There is no doubt that Barry does get involved and does get very excited during a match but this is the reason for our success this season and we consider the penalty of banning him from all football activity for three weeks was much too harsh for a full time football manager who after all was just doing his job as he saw it!'

I'm sure not even Barry himself who at the time was only 29 years old would of thought that in 2021 he would still be involved in the game after a career of many ups, downs, twists and turns. 

Gareth Jackson is the current manager of Dunstable Town. Prior to football being put on hold in December they were fourteenth in the Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division - their last game was 2-1 home victory over Broadfields United with goals from Thomas Twelves and Leonardo Pedro. 

AFC Dunstable last played on Saturday 31st October in a home game against Halesowen Town which ended in 3-1 win with 169 people watching. Steve Heath is their current boss who has also managed Kings Langley and Leverstock Green prior to his spell with The OD's.