INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL: Guest Blog from: ENGLANDFANS TEAM MANAGER.
PRESS RELEASE
CELEBRATE THE LIFE OF CUTHBERT OTTAWAY
EnglandFans FC are delighted to announce that arrangements are nearly complete for two days of great celebrations at Paddington Old Cemetery, on Tuesday 13th August 2013, and Marlow Football Club, on Wednesday 14th August 2013, to commemorate the first ever official International Match which was played between England and Scotland which took place on 30th November, 1872. The Captain of the England team that day was Cuthbert Ottaway who had played for Marlow Football club. Cuthbert Ottaway was a great sportsman excelling also at cricket, athletics, rackets, and real tennis - he tragically died at the early age of 28.
Football historians have recently discovered Cuthbert Ottaway`s grave and headstone in a dilapidated state in Paddington Old Cemetery in London. An appeal for funds for its restoration has been successful (mostly from the Professional Footballers Association) and so there will be a ceremony at the cemetery on Tuesday 13th August at 11 a.m. to re-instate the headstone and return Cuthbert’s grave to its former, and rightful, glory. This event is open to the public, it’s free, and it would be nice to see as many England fans there, as possible. This event will appeal to those England fans that have an interest in the history of the game. A commemorative service of order will be handed out on the day. Paddington Old Cemetery is situated on Willesden Lane, London NW6 7SD. Parking will be available at the cemetery but for those attending using public transport, the nearest tube station is Kilburn (Jubilee line) and the nearest London Overground stations are Brondesbury and Brondesbury Park. For those driving, Willesden Lane is situated off the A5, Maida Vale/Kilburn High Road. Guests from the PFA and FA will be in attendance, as will the Mayor of Marlow and the chairman and directors from Marlow FC, and it is hoped that all in attendance will repair to the adjacent Prince of Wales, public house, for refreshments and the chance to talk with the guests.
On Wednesday 14th August, to coincide with the England v Scotland International at Wembley (8 p.m. kick off), there will be two games in Marlow:
10 a.m. kick off at Riley Park:
Marlow FC Vets XI v EnglandFans FC Vets XI
Riley Park was formerly the Crown Ground and was where Marlow F.C. played from 1870 until 1916. This ground, still used for football, today, is where Cuthbert Ottaway would have played for Marlow FC.
The Marlow veteran’s team will include some recent Marlow favourites, including, Steve Croxford, Kieron Drake, Mattie Glynn, Kevin Stone and James Pritchard.
1 p.m. kick off at the Alfred Davis Memorial Sports Ground:
EnglandFans F.C. v Tartan Army Select FC.
The Tartan Army are coming to town and the official Scotland fans team, the Tartan Army Select FC will provide stiff opposition for the Three Lions fans team in this much anticipated, first-ever, Auld Enemy fans clash! If that wasn’t enough, there’s some big names lined-up to manage both teams. Manager, Garford Beck, has arranged for his old Grays Athletic gaffer, Leeds United, Nottingham Forest and Scotland legend, Frank Gray, to manage the Scots, whilst EnglandFans FC will be managed by two more of his old bosses (Grays Athletic and Croydon Athletic), former Fulham, Gillingham and Reading player, Neil Smith and former Tottenham Hotspur, Leyton Orient and Gillingham player, Tim O’Shea. Frank, of course, unique in English football, being the only man to play for two different English clubs’ in a European Cup Final, won a host of medals at Leeds and Forest under Don Revie and Brian Clough and also picked up 32 Scotland caps and played in the 1982 FIFA World Cup in Spain. ‘Smudger’ Smith played under Kevin Keegan at Fulham and won promotion there and at Gillingham and Reading, too. TOSH made three first team appearances at Spurs under Terry Venables before moving onto Gillingham via a short spell with the O’s. TOSH made over 100 league appearances before moving to Hong Kong where he was voted Hong Kong Top Footballer in 1992-93, 1993-1994, 1996-97 & 1997-98. So, there’s a top line-up of managers to whet the appetite, one played in a world cup and all three played under former England managers! Fans of the clubs that our three honorary managers played for will not want to miss out on the chance of meeting, Frank, Neil and Tim. All three are terrific men and will be more than happy to chat and mingle with players and supporters from both camps. We are reliably informed that the Scots are coming to Marlow in big numbers so it would be nice to see a good number of England fans there, too.
This game will be played for the Cuthbert Ottaway Memorial Cup.
Admission is free to both games, there will be ample, free and secure car-parking and a very collectable commemorative programme will be on sale at just £3.
Quality hot and cold food will be on sale, at the Alfred Davis memorial Sports Ground, very reasonably priced (much better than served up at Wembley Stadium and about a third of the price, too!) and the bar will be open all day, again, selling soft drinks and alcoholic beverages at very reasonable prices. Marlow FC has also said that fans will be able to wander round the clubhouse/boardroom and view the very historic artefacts on display at this wonderful football club.
For those who may be considering attending but are worried about public transport connections, don’t worry! Marlow FC is about four miles from High Wycombe train station and the trains from there run, very regularly, directly to Wembley Stadium train station, taking about 25 minutes
Come and witness another day in the illustrious histories of EnglandFans FC and Marlow Football Club.
Players are still invited to participate in both games, although numbers are strictly limited. Please contact Garford Beck for further details (see below).
For more information, please contact, team manager, Garford Beck on 07944-828527 or via e-mail at garfordbeck@hotmail.com.
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