Looking back to sport in 1949-50 (From Andover Advertiser)

Crowds flock to localcup finals and motor racing at Thruxton

12:00am Friday 1st February 2013 in Other Sport By Sports editor Kerry Miller

During the winter of 1949 a table tennis exhibition was held in Taskers’ canteen where Wiltshire champion L Lata played Norman Bowden who was unbeaten all season. E Rushen from Andover and N Skuce were also in action in front of 200 spectators. Stockbridge British Legion A won the Stockbridge Billiards League from Goodworth Clatford A, Nether Wallop A and Kings Somborne.

Enham Alamein beat Collingbourne Ducis 2-1 in the Andover Charity Cup Final and fielded Robson, Hall, Waite, Ballentine, Scull, Broughton, Niblett, Geoghehan, Browning, Wilson, Michener.

Enham then played Stockbridge in the Division One play-offs at Kellys where a remarkable crowd of 1,000 saw them win 6-2 and clinch the double and the unofficial title of top junior club, having used just 12 players all season.

Kellys was also the venue for Andover as the Walled Meadow was closed and while a number of reserve games were played there, just the 2-0 win over Ryde Sports was staged at the Weyhill Road ground, watched by 1,500.

Estimates varied as to how many supporters went to the Dell for the Senior Cup Final. While the press went with 2,000 many thought it was nearer 3,000. British Rail ran special trains and 14 buses were commissioned and they sweated as Andover struggled for an hour after going behind. In the end Charlie Knight levelled and Tommy Muckles hit the winner as the club won the cup for the first time. Hundreds lined the streets on the Saturday evening to welcome the team home with the cup and the Town Band met the coach at the Wellington Arms and played them to the Guildhall while Herbie Chittenden held the cup aloft .

A week later the club needed a point in the final game against Thornycroft but it was irrelevant as Bournemouth Gasworks lost 8-4 at Newport and Andover were champions. It left the Russell Cotes Cup Final against Alton Town, but Andover were without Muckles who had pulled a thigh muscle and would miss the only game of the season in which he had scored 55 goals. Dennis Heagren took over and the side went 2-1 up but after Charlie McCarthy collided with the keeper and was heavily barracked the side went to pieces and lost 5-2 after extra-time. In the end the league medals were presented to the squad from the Guildhall.

During the winter there was tragedy at Juniper Hill scramble in Hurstbourne Tarrant when an eight year old Kimpton girl, Sheila Flambert was fatally injured when a riderless machine left the course and struck her and her family. The rider had hit a bump and been flung from it watched by 2,000 spectators. Dave Long, a youthful Andover lad, won the novice race but it was overshadowed and soon there were calls for stricter guidelines.

Abbotts Ann playing fields were opened in May 1949 which was the realisation of a dream going back 35 years in the village.

Full story and pictures in Friday's Advertiser