The “ALBION GREATS” Wall Set To Get Bigger
On Saturday April 9th when we host Lancaster City we are performing the second batch of initiations into the “Albion Greats” collection. This was originally scheduled for December but had to be postponed due to the terrible weather.
We have contacted, with just the one exception, the regular players plus of course the man himself, from the Brian Booth era.
This period encompassed almost seven seasons spanning from November 1974 until February 1981. During that time Brian’s teams’ achievements included capturing:
Cheshire League Cup + Runners-Up, Northwich Senior Cup, North West Floodlight League Twice, Cheshire Senior Cup + Runners-Up, Cheshire County League Runners-Up and at the first time of competing, the Northern Premier League Runners-Up.
An amazing total of fourteen players from this era have been chosen to be placed on the “Greats” wall. Expected therefore to be with us this afternoon along with Brian Booth are:
Mark Fielding (25/10/75-19/3/83) 272 appearances 5 goals.
John Goryl (25/11/67-26/12/79) 538 appearances – Already initiated.
Brian Griffin (26/3/77-2/5/81) 233 appearances 77 goals.
Dave Griffiths (25/8/73-29/5/79) 310 appearances 35 goals.
Alan Heathcote (16/8/75-11/12/78) 151 appearances 50 goals.
Peter Henderson (2/3/77-3/3/84) 92 appearances 70 goals.
Bob Johnston (25/1/78-30/10/82) 246 appearances 20 goals.
Tony Keyes (19/8/78-1/10/83) 275 appearances 17 goals.
Alan McNeill (24/8/77-28/3/81) 163 appearances 12 goals
John Walker (31/3/79-23/2/85) 119 appearances 85 goals
John White (17/8/74-21/9/82) 452 appearances 155 goals.
John Yates (16/8/75-27/3/82) 316 appearances 18 goals.
The two remaining players that we would like to be here are:
Bob Fletcher (19/8/78-2/5/81) 167 appearances 62 clean sheets – No contact details for him but we have put out appeals to try and locate him but may possibly be able to get to him via the RAF.
Alex Gibson (27/12/76-6/4/82) 210 appearances 23 goals – Apologises for not being able to attend as he is now Director of Coaching in Dubai for David O’Leary’s Al Ahli club.
If you digest the respective figures then these players have a combined appearance record of 3,544 matches and have accounted for 606 goals for what they all consider to be their favourite club.
In addition also with us will be Terry Murphy, who was Brian’s Assistant Manager, Keith Higgins who was the Trainer and Dave Moss who played in the first couple of our NPL seasons.
If the event goes as well as the initial one back in October then the invitees, their close families and friends together with all associated with Witton Albion, officials and supporters alike, should we hope be in for a very pleasant afternoon.
