Sport - Marsden Football Club
Earliest records | 50's "hey-days" | 60's & 70's decline | Introduction of the Juniors
Marsden Old Boys| The 80's resurgence | 1984-85 a momentous year
1985-86 Consolidation
60's & 70's decline
Records from the early 60's are very sketchy but it is clear that the successful and experienced 50's soon began to break up, being replaced with mainly younger inexperienced players (certainly at such a high level of local football) who struggled to cope with life in the SELAL. The four years 1963-64 to 1966-67 saw the team loosing the majority of games, finally being relegated to Division 2 in 1967.
At least this team appear to hold the distinction of scoring the highest number of goals in a game for the club. 21st October 1968 saw them beat GPO Sports 23-0 at Fall Lane in the H & D FA Challenge Cup. For the record the team and scorers were:-
Terry Charlesworth, Graham Kewley, Michael Lightowlers (1), Ernie Gibson, Brian Irving, Barry Herbert, Graham Sykes (2), Peter Lightowlers (3), Alan Barnes (10), Geoff Irving (3), Kevin Beaumont (4)
The 10 goals scored by Alan Barnes is presumably also a record individual score.
Meanwhile in 1964-65 a Reserve team had been entered in the H & D League. In spite of the clubs' decline on the field, sufficient interest from local youngsters gave the club the confidence to operate two teams.
1970 saw the 1st team gain promotion back into Division 1 of the SELAL and although having a reasonable 1970-71 season back with the elite and the Reserves gaining promotion to Division 5, the Committee decided on 3rd May 1971 to withdraw from the SELAL due to its falling standards and increased expenses and to run both teams in the H & D League. 1971-72 saw the first team takeover in Division 5 and the Reserves drop down to Division 8.
1972-73 saw the Reserves promoted as Champions, but this was a rare success as both teams struggled along through to the end of decade by which time the league had re-structured, creating a separate league for Reserve teams. The Summer of 1976 saw the club move from Carrs Road to Prefab changing rooms behind the top goalmouth with HQ at Marsden British Legion. 1979-80 was a disaster with both teams facing relegation into the lowest Divisions, but changes by the League resulted in them retaining their places. The reprieve was shortlived for the 1st team who were relegated the following season but joy for the Reserves who gained promotion, only to be relegated the next year.
And so we reached a point in the early 80's where open age football in Marsden had just about reached rock-bottom. At the end of 1982-83 the position was that Marsden AFC were due to gain promotion from Division 5, effectively replacing Marsden Old Boys who faced relegation from Division 4. Marsden Reserves were in Reserve Division 3.
Introduction of the Juniors
However, a glimmer of hope had arisen in 1979-80 with the introduction of two Junior teams at Under 12 and 14 which then extended to Under 16's the following season. The Committee were intent on bringing playing success back to the club, in time, and a major part of their plan was to harness as much junior talent as possible. This was to prove a master stroke as in subsequent years a string of players were to come up through the ranks to provide the backbone of a highly successful club during the 80's and 90's.
Junior football had been introduced to Marsden by Bob Simmonite in 1977-78. He started with an Under 14 team playing up at the Hemplow in the Huddersfield Sunday Junior League and the following season added an Under 12's. It was during that season, 1978-79, talks began that lead to Bob agreeing to bring his teams under the umbrella of Marsden AFC in 1979-80.
The Under 16's developed from a team Roy Plowman had run as Slaithwaite United in 1979-80 playing at Crow Lane, Milnsbridge and changing in the nearby school. He agree to bring it into Marsden AFC all be it he was no longer able to manage the team. Mick Herbert took over responsibility and in that first season 1980-81, took them to a credible third place. Meanwhile the Under 14's won their league whilst the Under 12's finished runners-up (quite a contrast in fortunes than that experienced by the open age teams). Pride of place that season went to Ian Wadsworth who scored over 100 goals for the Under 14's and was awarded their Player of the Year prize. Lee Martin won it for the Under 12's and Neil Bellamy the Under 16's.
1981-82 saw the necessary introduction of an Under 18 team in the Saturday Red Triangle League in order to ensure continuity from the 16's and then hopefully into open age. They finished in mid-table and as commendable runners-up in the League Cup, loosing out to Elland Athletic 0-3 in the replay following a 2-2 draw. The Hollins Glen field at Slaithwaite (changing at the Star) was hired from Kirklees instead of Crow Lane, all be it due to its location it more often resembled a paddy field rather than a football ground.
1982-83 really saw the youth policy begin to pay off with both the Under 18's and 14's winning their leagues. The 16's finished fourth and the 12's in mid-table.