The Complete Alf D'Arcy

[anthony.brown]

Hitchin were struggling in the very early 50s. A five game cameo by Alf D'Arcy before he went on to greater things with Barnet helped raise the gloom, perhaps.
Match 1: 29th April 1952 (at the end of HTFC's worst-ever season!) Herts Charity Cup Final. Hitchin 1 Barnet 4.
Match 2: 23rd August 1952. Athenian League Sutton 1 Hitchin 2 (Alf scored his only goal for us in this match) I have the match report if anyone is interested.
Match 3: 30th August 1952. Athenian League Hitchin 0 Leyton 1
Match 4: 3rd September 1952. Herts Charity Cup R1 Letchworth 0 Hitchin 3
Match 5: 6th September 1952. Athenian League Hayes 1 Hitchin 0

Thanks to Fishponder's stats.

Sadly I had to miss my opportunity to see Alf and the other legends at Roy's special match.

[Stuart]

I have the match report if anyone is interested.

yes please, great stuff as always Anthony

[anthony.brown]

From the Sutton & Epsom Advertiser Thursday 28th August 1952

SUTTON HAD FORWARD WEAKNESSES
SUTTON UNITED 1 HITCHIN 2
It may be hard to believe, but Hitchin, the wooden spoonists of last season, opened their Athenian League programme at Sutton by creating the biggest surprise of the day (writes W.R.Matthews).
While it may be a little uncharitable to be too critical of Sutton in their first game, their display was very much below their 1951-2 standard. The weakness was at inside forward, and there was an absence of understanding between the wingers. The new centre-forward, Paris, would have done better had he received a little more support. He made one or two good openings which his colleagues did not accept.
Hitchin's side was a delightful blend of youth and experience, with the accent on youth. Only three members of last season's senior team were included. Tillott, who gave a clever display at right-half, is captain of England's basketball team.
Had Collins, in the Sutton goal, been at fault in the slightest degree, Hitchin would have scored more often. Their narrow win did not flatter them, for they showed marked superiority in attack. Stoker once again revealed his outstanding ability, and, although he found Ward as elusive as an eel at times, he helped to keep down Hitchin's total.
If Sutton entertained any hopes that they were on an easy thing, they were soon disillusioned. In the opening stages D.D'Arcy hit the angle of the crossbar and upright. With the game only eight minutes old, Alec Smith had a drive tipped over the bar by Collins. Brian Smith took the corner, and bad positioning by the defence allowed A.D'Arcy to get in a low shot from close in. Collins had no chance to save.
Sorenson was the only Sutton forward who looked like scoring in the first half. He missed by a mere fraction on one occasion and later hit an upright.
Sutton displayed a more aggressive spirit after the interval, but their movements were rather disjointed. Hitchin, on the other hand, were businesslike in their methods, and twice Collins saved the situation by advancing to meet Ward. Dodd tried desperately at times, and once he completely beat Mockler, the goalkeeper, but his shot hit the crossbar.
SUTTON SCORE
While Alec Smith was off the field receiving attention for an injury after 73 minutes, Freeman sent Solari away. The winger's oblique shot was deflected by Mockler on to the head of Dodd, who netted. A few minutes later, Ward made a brilliant swerve after getting a pass from Brian Smith and beat Collins with an almost unstoppable drive.

Sutton: Collins; Griffin, Hockaday; Mannings, Stoker, Freeman; Dodd, Webb, Paris, Sorenson, Solari.
Hitchin: Mockler; Whitty, Smith (J); Tillott, Fisher, Devlin; Smith (B), D'Arcy (D), Ward, Smith (A), D'Arcy (A).

[Stuart]

Thanks Anthony