And The Band Played On

It's quite amazing how certain memories are triggered for no apparent reason. Hopefully there are still enough Wands supporters around to remember the game against Barking, at Grassmeade in the F A Amateur Cup in early 1968, when it finished all square at 0-0 after Cray had put the visitors under a lot of pressure and could have won the game.

But, here's the thing. How many of those Wands supporters can recall the half-time entertainment provided by a local Boys Brigade Band as they marched around the pitch playing their instruments? Yes, it really did happen, and the band was applauded as the ensemble left the pitch prior to the players of both teams coming back on for the second half. That was the one and only time I can recall such entertainment at a Cray Wanderers home game; I certainly don't believe or recall such an occurrence was repeated at Oxford Road in the 1970s and ditto about when Cray played at Hayes Lane.

I was not doing anything in particular this morning (as I type this) that may have caused my flashback moment. However, while I was recalling the Boys Brigade Band incident, another recall from the very same match entered my head. Grassmeade was attended by a number of members of the local St John Ambulance Brigade and they were clearly visible at certain vantage points around the pitch. I don't know if it was felt before the game that it would be a potential bloodbath, or if the St John crew were there for the benefit of supporters who found the large crowd a bit overwhelming. Or maybe it was one of Mick Slater's bag of tricks ideas to put on a bit of a show for our Isthmian League guests.

Again, I do not recall St John Ambulance staff attending any other Cray games, and most certainly not at Oxford Road between 1973 and 1981. And Mick is no longer with us to ask him about the rationale behind the decision to have them or the Boys Brigade Band attend at Grassmeade on 10 February 1968. The reasoning to do so is now lost in the mists of time. But it was so... 'Mick'.

For your free copy of 'My Grassmeade Years', a prequel to my book 'After Grassmeade', simply click on the image below: