Moving from a tiny cottage in Donnington, outside Newbury, to a slightly bigger cottage in Church Street, Great Bedwyn was a good move for the Williams family which, at the time, only consisted of myself, my wife Hilary and baby Michael.

The parent company that published Jimmy Hill’s Football Weekly had closed down, so as editor, I had been out of a job. As a freelance I had managed to get Rothmans to sponsor a Football Yearbook so life was hectic but exciting. I was now too old to continue playing in serious non-league football but had obtained an F.A.coaching badge, so, after a brief enjoyable season with Donnington village, I played a couple of games for Great Bedwyn one f which was at Bulpit Lane, Hungerford where I met manager Dennis Giles and Chairman Ron Tarry.

Dennis suggested I might enjoy coaching alongside him as the club attempted to consolidate in the Premier Division. Hungerford Town had just finished a glorious season in the Hellenic League’s second tier where Dennis had led them to The Championship and promotion. A strike force built around the bustling David Watts and the languid finishing skills of Colin Desmeules was joined by Sid Webb who had senior experience while on Reading’s books. Rod Oland was an outstanding goalkeeper but the defence hadn’t been under severe pressure very often in the previous season and one or two stalwarts were going to be tested at the higher level.

With morale very high at the club and plans to improve facilities under way, I was able to help by contacting some old friends who brought their clubs for pre season friendlies and Hungerford Town applied to compete in the F.A. Amateur Cup for the first time. This application was accepted, and in the draw the club received a bye followed by a home tie against the winners of Melksham Town and Calne Town. This news was particularly welcome as great rivals Newbury had failed to gain entry to the famous competition.

Pre-season games brought Dulwich Hamlet (3-2), Wokingham Town (1-1) and a very young Reading XI (6-1) to Hungerford to give the club an unbeaten home record and with a 2-0 victory in a return game at Wokingham the competitive fixtures couldn’t come quick enough. We had lost 0-2 to Thornycroft Athletic away, but Colin Desmeules had already scored five goals, training had gone well and there was competition for places in the first team.

How often does it happen that pre season form proves to be no real guide to a club’s potential?

Dennis Giles admitted after the club’s first league fixture, that the quality of visitors Cirencester Town surprised him, but the Gloucestershire club deserved their 3-1 victory although Colin Desmeules scored the club’s first Premier League goal of the season, but it wasn’t enough. Another jolt to club confidence was an early season mid week defeat at neighbours Newbury Town. Skipper Jeff Hutchins, huge centre half Miles Welch, who was a tower of strength, and Barrie Hutchins were all Newbury ‘old boys’ as was Dennis Giles himself and the defeat hurt, but the club was still settling down at the higher level.

The F.A. Amateur Cup brought a visit from Melksham Town and a Neville Andrews goal gave the club an historic
victory that lifted morale but a 0-3 defeat at Wantage brought interest in the competition to an end and by mid season it was accepted that there would be a serious battle for survival. The classy Rod Desmeules returned from abroad, David Ingram, a brilliant local youngster showed great promise and David Watts hit goalscoring form in the New Year as every point proved vital.

If the squad needed confirmation they were good enough for the Premier Division the second game with Newbury answered the doubters emphatically. A wonderful 4-0 victory, with goals from Rod Desmeules, Billy Todd, David Watts and an opponent, lifted everyone involved with the club and further victories over Didcot Town, Wantage Town, Thame United and Morris Motors brought a marvellous climax to the season when the powerful Moreton Town were thrashed in Gloucestershire 5-1, with goals from Watts (2) the Desmeules brothers and David Ingram. .Hungerford Town were safe and able to think positively about the next campaign.

The football club hadn’t been separated by a fence from the cricket field for very long, but although now enclosed, the ground was very basic. The playing surface was traditionally superb, but a little stand on the left hand side looking up the slope was the only cover and the changing rooms were squeezed into a little hut on the same side in the top corner, where snacks were also available on matchdays. For important games the team sometimes met for a pre-match snack and team talk in ’The Three Swans Hotel’

While in the Royal Air Force I had played for an F.A. Amateur XI against London University, alongside a soldier stationed at Devizes, We became friends and he went on to become a record goalscorer for Liverpool and one of the famous England team that won the World Cup in 1966. Roger Hunt agreed to play in an all star eleven to open our new facilities and the day proved a great success. Jim Finney, one of the most famous referees in the world took control and Gordon Milne (Liverpool and England), Harold Jarman (Bristol Rovers), Mike Gibson and Ken Wimshurst (Bristol City), Douggie Webb ,Mike Travers and Dave Bridger (Reading) all helped us celebrate a special day. The final score finished as a very tactful 3-3 draw with two special efforts from Roger Hunt and one from the very skilful Harold Jarman matched by goals from Colin Desmeues, David Watts and Stuart Dinham. Rothmans of Pall Mall had kindly sponsored the day and provided tankards for all the players and Chairman Ron Tarry thanked all the helpers, with special mentions for the North family and Alan Richards, who had worked so hard to build the club house.

Pre-Match Group picture:
Back row left to right: Tony Williams, Dennis Giles, Miles Welch, Stuart Walker, Norman Matthews (Secretary Hellenic League),Harold Jarman (Bristol Rovers),David Bridger (Reading), Billy Todd, David Watts, Mike Gibson (Bristol City), Rod Oland, Keith Morgan (Swindon Town),Ken Wimshurst (Bristol City), Jim Finney (International Referee from Hereford), Ron Tarry and David Loader (Linesman). Sitting: David Ingram, Bruce Walker, Bob Ponsford, Gordon Milne, Jeff Hutchins, Roger Hunt, and Douggie Webb. Front row: Mick Travers (Reading) Colin Desmeules, Jamie Richens, David Johnston (Reading), Roger Aniszewski and Neville Andrews. Missing from photo: Roy Jones (Swindon Town), Bob Alton, Terry Gow and Mick Gainey