[Archived] Welling United v Blackburn Rovers, FA Cup 1989

[garyh]

Hello,

Welling United fan here. We played you 25 years ago this week in the FA Cup (7^th Jan 1989). It was, and remains, our biggest game in our 50 year history. No doubt one of your smallest games! I would also imagine probably one of the smallest grounds Blackburn have ever played in?

Anyway there are some videos, goals etc. on this video;

http://vimeo.com/79343454

(Blackburn preview about 5 mins in, goal about 8/9 mins in)

Good luck for the rest of the season

[onlyonejackwalker]

Ok thanks for this. Ronnie Hildersley with the winner for us and a proud day in your history for you.

[bluebruce]

Awwwww

[rog of the rovers]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I69D94sZELw

Courtesy of WhittleBlue on YouTube

[McClarky]

Remember it well, excellent day out. Not only small ground and small game but also probably our smallest player scored the goal (boom boom).

[tomphil]

I was there with about 750 others. I worked weekends at a place called Park View so just had to visit this ground, i used the name as part of my plea to the boss to swing the day off lol. Proper cup tie.

[Leonard Venkhater]

I was there with about 750 others. I worked weekends at a place called Park View so just had to visit this ground, i used the name as part of my plea to the boss to swing the day off lol. Proper cup tie.

I will never forget a few of us attacked by some huge looking dockers with sticks on the pathway behind the ground. Needless to say I ran...and ran,got separated and hopelessly lost .Eventually bumped into some long lost friends and had a good night on the beer.Funnily enough, I remember very little about the actual game!

[tomphil]

I will never forget a few of us attacked by some huge looking dockers with sticks on the pathway behind the ground. Needless to say I ran...and ran,got separated and hopelessly lost .Eventually bumped into some long lost friends and had a good night on the beer.Funnily enough, I remember very little about the actual game!

Scary stuff but standard back in the day lol. Think it was Arsenal turf if i remember rightly ? though i wonder if they were Millwall they always seemed to show up when Rovers were in the Smoke. All i can recall is the goal and some frightening driving from the guy in the XR2 who drove us ! Think we were the first ever league club to visit that ground that's why a good few went down.

[Lancs Rover]

I will never forget a few of us attacked by some huge looking dockers with sticks on the pathway behind the ground. Needless to say I ran...and ran,got separated and hopelessly lost .Eventually bumped into some long lost friends and had a good night on the beer.Funnily enough, I remember very little about the actual game!

I remember the game too and the ructions. Got the programme tucked the loft somewhere as well.

As I recall, tried to get in some club in London later but unfortunately I wasn't wearing my dancing trousers.

Welling United isn't a name you hear too often these days. Thanks for the reminder, Gary.

[Leonard Venkhater]

Scary stuff but standard back in the day lol. Think it was Arsenal turf if i remember rightly ? though i wonder if they were Millwall they always seemed to show up when Rovers were in the Smoke. All i can recall is the goal and some frightening driving from the guy in the XR2 who drove us ! Think we were the first ever league club to visit that ground that's why a good few went down.

Millwall that time

[Gav]

Millwall that time

Never understood why they came down for a battle really, I know a few Millwall got a good hiding before the full members cup, maybe in revenge for that, who knows.

Great music on the clip garyh

[tonygreenbank]

I still have a pristine copy of the match programme in my possession as well as the match report from the Kentish Times of the 12th of January and the comments of my brother who attended the game as he lived in nearby Bexley at the time.

The Rovers lined up Gennoe, Atkins, Sulley, Hendry,Mail,Reid, Miller, Millar, Gayle, Sellars,Garner, with Ainscow and Hill as subs.

Among my brother`s rather critical comments was "the game itself was the worst I have ever seen"; "the Rovers players were to be seen sauntering round the pitch and laughing and talking to each other, not too bad during the pre-match but during the game itself!"

He did make a rather nice point in that as the Welling team came out they went over to the Rovers fans and hurled Rovers hats and scarves at them as a gesture of friendship!!

A rather different reaction by the local constabulary who videoed every Rovers fan entering the ground!

Don Mackay`s post match comment was a classic "we were rubbish!"

As a final piece of information from the programme, the league 2 table is published and Rovers are 3rd behind West Brom and Chelsea with Man City in 5th! We ended up in 5th place at the end of the season only to lose out to Palace in that heartbreaking second leg of the playoffs.

Thank you garyh for bringing up such mixed memories of 1989!

[Leonard Venkhater]

I still have a pristine copy of the match programme in my possession as well as the match report from the Kentish Times of the 12th of January and the comments of my brother who attended the game as he lived in nearby Bexley at the time.

The Rovers lined up Gennoe, Atkins, Sulley, Hendry,Mail,Reid, Miller, Millar, Gayle, Sellars,Garner, with Ainscow and Hill as subs.

Among my brother`s rather critical comments was "the game itself was the worst I have ever seen"; "the Rovers players were to be seen sauntering round the pitch and laughing and talking to each other, not too bad during the pre-match but during the game itself!"

He did make a rather nice point in that as the Welling team came out they went over to the Rovers fans and hurled Rovers hats and scarves at them as a gesture of friendship!!

A rather different reaction by the local constabulary who videoed every Rovers fan entering the ground!

Don Mackay`s post match comment was a classic "we were rubbish!"

As a final piece of information from the programme, the league 2 table is published and Rovers are 3rd behind West Brom and Chelsea with Man City in 5th! We ended up in 5th place at the end of the season only to lose out to Palace in that heartbreaking second leg of the playoffs.

Thank you garyh for bringing up such mixed memories of 1989!

Well Tony, I have to say you get the vinegar sponge award for mentioning the agony in Selhurst.!

[tomphil]

I still have a pristine copy of the match programme in my possession as well as the match report from the Kentish Times of the 12th of January and the comments of my brother who attended the game as he lived in nearby Bexley at the time.

The Rovers lined up Gennoe, Atkins, Sulley, Hendry,Mail,Reid, Miller, Millar, Gayle, Sellars,Garner, with Ainscow and Hill as subs.

Among my brother`s rather critical comments was "the game itself was the worst I have ever seen"; "the Rovers players were to be seen sauntering round the pitch and laughing and talking to each other, not too bad during the pre-match but during the game itself!"

He did make a rather nice point in that as the Welling team came out they went over to the Rovers fans and hurled Rovers hats and scarves at them as a gesture of friendship!!

A rather different reaction by the local constabulary who videoed every Rovers fan entering the ground!

Don Mackay`s post match comment was a classic "we were rubbish!"

As a final piece of information from the programme, the league 2 table is published and Rovers are 3rd behind West Brom and Chelsea with Man City in 5th! We ended up in 5th place at the end of the season only to lose out to Palace in that heartbreaking second leg of the playoffs.

Thank you garyh for bringing up such mixed memories of 1989!

Where's lil Ronnie ?

[onlyonejackwalker]

Some good memories above.

But...even now I have rarely been as frustrated and sad after watching the Rovers as driving back that day from Palace!

[darrenrover]

Some good memories above.

But...even now I have rarely been as frustrated and sad after watching the Rovers as driving back that day from Palace!

Me neither, 'Glad all over' still haunts me!

[Gav]

Some good memories above.

But...even now I have rarely been as frustrated and sad after watching the Rovers as driving back that day from Palace!

The game at Palace was the worst day I've ever had following the club by a country mile and I don't think I'll ever have a worse day than that, even losing to the dingles in a major final wouldn't come close to the way I felt that day, i don't think

[perthblue02]

Seem to remember walking through a park to this and the ground was at the edge of it and being video'd by the local plod going into the ground, and there were a few Charlton supporters in and around the ground looking to kick off.

The game from what I recall was pretty dire from our point of view but a good atmosphere .

RE Palace: Don't think anything will ever compare to the feeling travelling home from the game where George Courtney's retirement nest egg was bolstered. Must have been guilt playing on his mind at the play off final

[Gav]

Could have all been so different if Ian Miller had put that early chance in the top corner, I can still see it now.

[Claytons Left Boot]

Definitely remember the park and Charlton supporters being there.

Great days and when I would go virtually anywhere to watch the lads.

[Leonard Venkhater]

Seem to remember walking through a park to this and the ground was at the edge of it and being video'd by the local plod going into the ground, and there were a few Charlton supporters in and around the ground looking to kick off.

The game from what I recall was pretty dire from our point of view but a good atmosphere .

RE Palace: Don't think anything will ever compare to the feeling travelling home from the game where George Courtney's retirement nest egg was bolstered. Must have been guilt playing on his mind at the play off final

Worst ever Rovers day.Still hate the Dave Clark Five...and Ian Wright!

[1864roverite]

Remember driving down there and arriving really early. I think we had the biggest English fry up I have ever seen in a local cafe !

[MCMC1875]

I was there with Clarky. Wasn't Welling Utd the club we signed the striker McKinnon from?

[bob fleming]

I was there with Clarky. Wasn't Welling Utd the club we signed the striker McKinnon from?

No Mate, that was Sutton Uinted.

[ABBEY]

One of the best away days ive EVER had...

We went to a 21st the night before and cadged a lift down with my mate's dad who was working on the Sunday Mirror. We set off about 3am straight from the party. We got in Welling about 8am and blagged our way in the little sports club. I got offered to cop off with a hockey player who was 21 and smoking hot.(went the game instead) . We got invited back by the landlady. She made us butties and told us to use her dining room as it was kicking off between cue wielding Millwall /Charlton /west hams.It was mental. We left about 8ish and headed to fleet st and went on the lash there.

What a good trip 25 years ago...wowowowowsers .Feels like about 2.