THE STUTES
The club was formed in 1904 as Histon Institute FC, and played for 44 years in the Cambridgeshire Football League. John Chivers, chairman of major Histon employer Chivers & Sons, helped to found the football club. The company donated a field then covered in roses for the club to play on, which is commemorated in the rose on Histon’s crest. From 1926 the club moved to its current location, where a grandstand was erected in 1934.
In 1948 the club became champions of the Cambs League and joined the Spartan League, winning promotion to its Premier Division in 1951. The “Institute” was dropped from the club’s name that season. The top forward in those days was Mo Thurston, who scored 63 goals in season 1949-50. In 1960 Histon entered the Delphian League, which became part of the Athenian League structure in 1963, but struggled at that level. The pitch was re-sited at right angles to the old one in 1960-61, and a replacement stand opened in 196465.
In 1965 Histon switched to the Eastern Counties League, where they were to play for the next 35 years. When the ECL adopted a two-division format in 1988, Histon were placed in the Premier
Division. In the 1989–90 season, with Alan Doyle as manager, Histon won the ECL League Cup and sold players Lance Key and Shaun Sowden to Sheffield Wednesday and Giuliano Maiorana to Manchester United. The transfer fee rescued the club financially, and a Manchester United team played Histon on 19 May 1989.
Following administrative and financial difficulties in 1993, the club was relegated to ECL Division One in 1995 but were promoted back to the Premier Division two years later. The 1997–98 season saw Neil Kennedy establish a club record by scoring 46 senior goals in the season, and Histon finished 3rd. Finally in the 1999–2000 season Histon won the ECL Premier Division title under the management of former Cambridge United player Steve Fallon, appointed on 27 July 1999, and were promoted to the Southern League Eastern Division.
In the first three Southern League seasons Histon managed 4th spot twice and then a disappointing 10th, which momentarily halted the rise in fortunes experienced under Steve Fallon, but the 2003–04 season saw the club finish 2nd in the Eastern Division to claim promotion to the Premier Division. The following year Histon took on League Two
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9 side Shrewsbury Town in the FA Cup 1st Round Proper, setting up a 2nd Round tie at home to Yeovil Town with a 2–0 victory. They lost to Yeovil, but clinched the Southern League Premier Division title on the last day of the 2004-05 season and were promoted to the Conference South.
In their first Conference South season Histon finished 5th, enough to secure a place in the play-offs for promotion to the Conference National. They won their first play-off game away at Farnborough Town 3–0, but lost 2–0 in the final against St. Albans City. In the FA Cup they reached the second round proper. The team managed a draw away at Nuneaton Borough but were defeated in the replay at Bridge Road 2–1 before a crowd of 3,077. The season was also notable for a 5 –0 win against local rivals Cambridge United in the FA Trophy.
On 14 April 2007 Histon, now popularly known as the Stutes, beat Welling United 1–0 at Bridge Road to go 19 points clear at the top of the Conference South in the final table. Two days previously, officials from the Conference had passed Bridge Road as fit for Conference National football, paving the way for promotion (the
club’s fourth in 7 years) to the highest point in the non league pyramid. In the same season striker Neil Kennedy scored his 300th goal for the club with a hat-trick against Havant & Waterlooville.
Histon’s 2007-08 season in the Conference National saw the Stutes play their first televised game, Setanta broadcasting the 1–0 home win against Oxford United. Later that season the club broke their record home attendance when a crowd of 3,721 saw Histon beat Cambridge United 1–0 on 1 January 2008. Histon finished the season 7th. The club’s record goal scorer, Neil Kennedy, played his last competitive game against Forest Green Rovers on the last day of the season in a substitute appearance.
The second season of Conference National football saw the Stutes finish third, qualifying for the play-offs, where they were defeated 2–1 on aggregate by Torquay United in the semi-final. In the FA Cup Histon reached the third round, losing 2-1 at home to Championship side Swansea City, after beating League One opposition in Swindon Town 1–0 at home in the first round, and Leeds United 1–0 at home in the second round, the first time
godmanchesterroversfc.co.uk
Leeds had lost to a nonleague side. The Leeds United match
was on national television, the attendance was 4,103, and the winning goal was scored by Matt Langston.
Histon’s fortunes declined after the high spots of the 2008-09 season, as the money ran out. In November 2009 Gareth Baldwin ended his 17-year tenure as chairman of the club, and in January 2010 Steve Fallon’s highly successful ten years as Histon manager came to an end. The club finished 18th in the Conference National in season 2009/10 and bottom in 2010/11. Alan Lewer, John Beck, and David Livermore served successively as managers. Histon finished their first Conference North season in 16th place and David Livermore left the club at the end of that season. Dennis Greene took over but left the Club in December 2012, to be replaced by former player Nacer Relizani assisted by the club’s youth team coach Brian Page. The duo led the team to Conference North safety on the last day of the 2012/13 season before Relizani stepped down and Page took over the top job.
Histon were now playing with a very young side largely drawn from the club’s youth structure. The 2013/14 season saw them relegated from the Conference North to the Southern Premier League. Brian Page kept them at that level in season 2014/15, securing an 18th place finish, but even the return of Steve Fallon in
October 2015 could not prevent further relegation to the Southern League Division 1 Central at the end of season 201516. In October 2016 Fallon became Director of Football, with Lance Key returning to the club (again) this time as manager. Season 2016/17 however saw yet another relegation, back to the Eastern Counties League where it all started in the 1990’s.
After a season of adjustment in 2017-18 at the end of which the team finished 6th in the Eastern Counties League Premier Division, 2018-19 saw the club heading in the right direction again as Key lead the side to promotion claiming the league title with an impressive 14 point margin.
On returning to Step 4, the club was unexpectedly allocated a place in the Isthmian League for the first time in it’s 115 year history. After spending much of the 2019/20 season in the top half of the league’s North division, a mid-table finish looked to be on the cards before the season was curtailed due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
The end of the season also saw the club Chairman John Hall step down after four years in which the focus had been upon restoring community links, simplifying the ownership structure, repaying debts, cutting costs and introducing ladies teams. Under John’s leadership, youth development continued to feature high on the club’s priorities list with a clear pathway from Academy through Scholarship and into the First Team for our young players. John was succeeded by Richard
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Barlow, an existing Board member and long-term supporter of the club.
After the 2020/21 season was curtailed Histon FC was moved into the new Northern Premier League Midlands Division and following the on and on-field disruption caused by that move was relegated to Step 5 at the end of the 2021/22, being placed in the United Counties League
Premier Division South for 2022/23. Richard Barlow had stepped down as Chairman in late 2021 and the club continued temporarily without a named Chairman until June 2022 when John Hall resumed in that role and the club welcomed a number of new directors to the board, uniting to move the club forward on and off the pitch.
DATE HOME TEAM AWAY TEAM COMPETITION RESULT 11-Nov Histon Rugby Borough Premier South 6 - 0 W 18-Nov Racing Club Warwick Histon Premier South 2 - 1 L 25-Nov Bugbrooke St.Michaels Histon Premier South 3 - 0 L 05-Dec Histon March Town United CambsInvitation Cup 0 - 0 D 16-Dec Rugby Borough Histon Premier South 1 - 1 D 23-Dec Newport Pagnell Town Histon Premier South 1 - 3 W 26-Dec Histon Godmanchester Rovers Premier South 2 - 1 W 30-Dec St Neots Town Histon Premier South 3 - 2 L 06-Jan G.N.G Oadby Town Histon Premier South 0 - 0 D 13-Jan Histon Racing Club Warwick Premier South 1 - 1 D 27-Jan Histon Daventry Town Premier South 0 - 5 L 03-Feb Lutterworth Town Histon Premier South 0 - 0 D 10-Feb Coventry United Histon Premier South 2 - 2 D 17-Feb Histon Eynesbury Rovers Premier South 1 - 0 W 24-Feb Histon Easington Sports Premier South 2 - 1 W 27-Feb Wisbech Town Histon Cambs Invitation Cup 2 - 2 D 09-Mar Histon Lutterworth Town Premier South 3 - 1 W 16-Mar Yaxley Histon Premier South 1 - 2 W 19-Mar Histon Bugbrooke St.Michaels Premier South 3 - 1 W 23-Mar Histon Aylestone Park Premier South 3 - 2 W 30-Mar Histon Desborough Town Premier South 1 - 3 L
Fans all across the world dream of a career in football. To make our living playing the game, enjoying the perks of the lifestyle and mixing with our heroes and idols. But most of us have never had the talent to get close to that dream. Filtered out of the system at school, or Sunday League, or if you were especially talented, in the lower ages of professional youth teams. The 0.01% that make it professionally have a talent most of us could never imagine, even if we hurl abuse at them on a Saturday afternoon. But for one man, the lack of ability was simply a detail, an obstacle to be overcome. 13 years, 12 transfers, and precisely zero appearances. Carlos Henrique Raposo conned his way into a footballing career.
Raposo, nicknamed Carlos Kaiser for his resemblance to Franz Beckenbauer, didn’t start that career from scratch. Physically impressive, he had enough ability to join the academy at Botofogo, and then Flamengo. He was fit and athletic, which was enough to make up for his lack of technical ability. At the age of 16, in 1979, he was signed by Mexican side Puebla. But, months later, without having made the grade, they released him. He made his way
back to Brazil with his tail between his legs, footballing dreams in tatters.
Back in Rio de Janeiro, Raposo made use of his most impressive ability, his charm. ‘Life’, he would say, ‘is marketing’. He schmoozed his way through Rio’s nightlife, making friends in high places. Among them were the likes of Romario and Bebeto. And thus, the scam was born.
After ingratiating himself to some of the biggest stars in Brazilian football, he convinced them to add his name to any transfer negotiations. When a big club wanted to sign Romario, he would insist that his friend Carlos got a short deal. Most clubs saw three months as a risk-free option, but Raposo could pick up some wages. He always lacked fitness when the contract was signed, so would spend the three months mostly away from the first team, working on his fitness. When it came time for him Raposo
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13to kick a ball, all of a sudden he’d writhe in agony and complain of a torn hamstring. Medical technology made it difficult to detect. That would buy him a few more months on the sideline, before he was finally released.
Botofogo, Flamengo, and Independiente were taken in over the first couple of years. Raposo’s scam grew more elaborate as his name got around. He had a doctor repeatedly make the case that he had a recurrent infection. As that ruse grew tired, he bought a toy mobile phone - the real thing was expensive and extravagant in the 1980s - and would have fake phone calls in broken English, knocking back big fictional offers from Europe, so that coaches and scouts could hear how in demand he was.
Registrations in Brazil were difficult to keep track of, so Raposo slipped through the cracks. Careers were built on word of mouth, and with his impressive array of references there was no shortage of suitors. The most audacious move came when he had the opportunity to actually move to Europe. Gazalec Ajaccio thought they had found a bargain when he was signed, and even arranged for him to be presented to the fans.
Faced with the prospect of being exposed whilst doing tricks in front of the supporters in the stand, Raposo instead decided to simply fire the balls into the crowd. When there were no more, the expected skillbased presentation became a fitness session, just as Raposo had hoped. When it came to game time, the mysterious injuries reappeared, and his didn’t make an appearance for a year. He went back to Brazil and signed with Bangu,
At Bangu, the chairman grew tired of seeing him on the treatment table, and demanded he be played. With the side losing, he was sent to warm up, his fraud mo-
ments away from being exposed. But Raposo was ever an opportunist. He saw supporters abusing the players, and started a fight with them. He received a red card for his troubles, and a six-month suspension. It should have been the end of his time at the club, but he professed a deep loyalty to the chairman who he claimed the fans were calling a thief, prompting his outburst. That ingratiated him to the board, and he was kept on through his suspension. When it was up, injuries led to his release.
As his ‘career’ wound down, Raposo moved between clubs more rapidly, including a short spell in the United States. His final move would be to Botofogo, where a coach spoke fluent English. He overhead Raposo on the phone and knew what he said was gibberish. The ruse was up, and Raposo retired into obscurity.
Carlos Henrique Raposo. 12 transfers, one red card, and zero appearances.
Enjoy the game.
Martyn Green, The Untold Game
Find more at TheUntoldGame.co.uk and on social media @TheUntoldGame
Raposo with ball (rare!)
Dan Gleeson – Manager
Dan has re-joined us and this time steps into the number 1 seat, Dan is an ex-pro with Luton Town & Cambridge United who brings a lot of experience with him to the club. Dan will work well with the young squad we have for this season and has built a good back-room staff to join him.
Gary Marheineke - Assistant Manager
Gary is a pro-A licence coach who works for the local FA, brings lots of coaching talent to the training ground and to the pitch on match day, one of the most liked people in non-league football and has some England caps to his name as England's number 1 between the sticks. Gary is a great person to have in and around the club.
Paul France – Assistant
Mr Calm in the dug-out passionate as anybody about Godmanchester Rovers Fc, Paul is constantly looking for ways in which he can support the progress of the club, on and off the field. Very popular in the dressing room, the place wouldn’t be the same without him.
Errol McGammon - Fitness Coach
Errol is the beast of the engine room within the dressing room, combining his understanding of sports fitness with his understanding of the game. Errol has been around the non-league game for years and brings a wealth of knowledge to the coaching team.
Richard Cosbey – Kit Man
Rich is exactly the sort of person who makes a non-league club run. If there is a job that Rich hasn’t done, we are yet to find it (and if we do, he will no doubt have a go). A top bloke and someone you want fighting for you not against you! Will not be in the dug-out next season as he steps up to his new role within the club.
Ben Newton (GK)
New to Godmanchester this season after we have tried a couple of people to fill this number 1 spot, Ben is just what we have been looking for and we wish we have found him sooner. Ben has immediately showed his quality. we wish Ben all the best for the season and look forwarded to working with over the coming seasons.
Charlie Nicolson (GK)
Charlie joins us from our U18 squad, he has already stepped in and played 90 mins for the first team at only the age of 16 years old. Charlie has been part of our youth set up since he was 13 years old and has worked his way through to our U18 squad, Reserves squad and now steps up as the backup keeper to Ben.
Alfie-Ray Turner
Alfie was part of our youth set up and at only 16 years old is a full-time member of the first team squad this season, he is young fearless and a rock of a defender for someone of his age. Alfie is keen to learn more and is always the first on the
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training ground and taking information in.
Ruari O'Boyle
Rauri joined us in October from Coventry United, Ruari is a solid left back and a key member to our squad for this season. Ruari is calm on the ball and has a wicked left peg and places a lovely cross from set pieces and corners, we wish Ruari a warm welcome and hope we see him here for a long time.
Tom Spark
Another who played in a variety of positions last season but will be aiming to make a central role his own for the coming season. Sparky has great quality in possession and an ability to glide past players at speed. Will be looking to add more goals and assists to his game.
Owen Wallis
Owen joins us from Sweden in October and after taking 9 weeks for international clearance is was a pleasure to see him grace the field, hardworking centre back who can play some lovely football, won't shy away from a challenge and is a real leader on the pitch. We look forward to having Owen with us for a long time and become a legend of Godmanchester.
Ricki Goodale
Bob the builder, jack of all trades but what a centre back, great lad to have around the changing room, likes to see how far he can kick a ball out of the ground. Ricki is a old school centre back – head & kick it, do the simple things
correct. Ricki joins us halfway through the season and has already made a big difference to the squad.
Ben Arnold
Ben has joined us from just up the A1 and Yaxley Fc, Ben can play either centre back or holding midfield and is a very talented footballer, Ben does not mind a tackle and likes to get stuck in. He is a great talker throughout the game and is great to support the young guns of the squad.
Matt Green (Captain)
Matt is the most experienced player in our squad this season and is the club captain, Matt is a solid player and can play centre back or holding midfield. Matt is very good with the younger ones and is a real leader on and off the pitch. we look forward to seeing Matt lead our team this season and many more to come.
Ben Tait
we chased and chased for Ben's signature last season, but he was loyal to his previous club Ely City Fc (which is good, great guy) Ben is a young centre attacking midfielder who has a great engine to get around the pitch. Ben is a key member of this squad, and he is a very talented young guy. His quick feet and the drop of the shoulder leaves most players on the pitch for dust. Ben oversees the tunes for the dressing room.
Sammy Fisher-Diaz
Another signed for this season who can
Delivering quality Homes
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play left full back, young and pacey who likes to get forward when he can, Sammy is keen to learn and always first to training and last to leave. Showed a great attitude during preseason, takes responsibility defensively and comfortable in possession.
Sam Tagg
Another signed from this seasons U18's, young centre midfielder who impressed in pre-season and has been called up to the senior squad, has a great left foot.
Mani Gbejuade
Mani rejoins us after having started with us at the beginning of the season, then departing to play step 4 football, after 2 months he is now back where he belongs, good strong forward player. Mani is big and powerful and has full backs running scared all day long.
Ron Sosoli
Ron joins us from local step 3 outfit St Ives Town Fc, Ron is a great lad who can play either side full back, likes to attack as well but is a sloid defender first. Ron is a quite lad off the field but comes out of his shell on the field.
Luke Lindsay
Luke is a big strong centre forward who re-joins us after spending a couple of seasons away at Histon Fc. Luke is big and powerful who can hold the ball up well and wins 99% of his headers. we are very pleased to have Luke back at Godmanchester Rovers Fc.
Hashim Bakar
Hashim is new to the squad for this season and is a striker who can play anywhere across the front three, Hashim is very quiet and keeps himself to himself but out on the pitch he comes alive. Hashim is strong and powerful and likes to run at the defence line of any squad he is facing.
Louis Aftersmith
Louis is from our last season U16 and now in our U18 set up, he is a young strong centre back and has already had 5 run outs in the first team squad. Louis will only get better and better while training and playing with the senior squad. We are super proud to have brought so many of the U18's into the senior side.
Ed Watson
Ed is another young gun from the Royston U18 set up. Ed can play anywhere across the forward line who likes to get in and around the defence of any team we are playing against. Ed is learning every time he steps onto the pitch and is becoming a key member of the senior squad.
Kingsley Bates
Kinglsey is another young gun from the Royston U18 set up. Kingsley is a young quick and tricky winger, drives at defences all day long as is very direct for someone of his age. New to the squad Kingsley has fitted in straight away.
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United Counties Football League RECENT RESULTS
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DATE HOME TEAM AWAY TEAM COMPETITION RESULT 19-Mar Eynesbury Rovers Newport Pagnell Town Premier South 0 - 0 19-Mar Godmanchester Rovers Cogenhoe United Premier South 2 - 0 19-Mar Histon Bugbrooke St.Michaels Premier South 3 - 1 19-Mar Leicester Nirvana Racing Club Warwick Premier South 4 - 2 19-Mar Lutterworth Town Easington Sports Premier South 2 - 1 20-Mar G.N.G Oadby Town Yaxley Premier South 1 - 1 23-Mar Histon Aylestone Park Premier South 3 - 2 23-Mar Bugbrooke St.Michaels St Neots Town Premier South 1 - 1 23-Mar Coventry United Cogenhoe United Premier South 5 - 0 23-Mar Eynesbury Rovers Desborough Town Premier South 2 - 1 23-Mar G.N.G Oadby Town Easington Sports Premier South 1 - 0 23-Mar Godmanchester Rovers Leicester Nirvana Premier South 3 - 2 23-Mar March Town United Lutterworth Town Premier South 1 - 0 23-Mar Racing Club Warwick Daventry Town Premier South 2 - 0 23-Mar Rugby Borough Newport Pagnell Town Premier South 2 - 4 23-Mar Wellingborough Town Yaxley Premier South 3 - 2 26-Mar Eynesbury Rovers March Town United Premier South 0 - 4 26-Mar Leicester Nirvana Lutterworth Town Premier South P - P 26-Mar Newport Pagnell Town St Neots Town Premier South 1 - 0 26-Mar Racing Club Warwick Leamington Birmingham Senior Cup 2 - 0 26-Mar Godmanchester Rovers G.N.G Oadby Town Premier South 2 - 4 28-Mar Godmanchester Rovers Yaxley Premier South P - P 30-Mar Histon Desborough Town Premier South 1 - 3 30-Mar Lutterworth Town Wellingborough Town Premier South 0 - 5 30-Mar Coventry United Godmanchester Rovers Premier South 2 - 0 30-Mar Eynesbury Rovers Cogenhoe United Premier South 3 - 2 30-Mar Racing Club Warwick Newport Pagnell Town Premier South 1 - 1 30-Mar Rugby Borough Leicester Nirvana Premier South 4 - 1 30-Mar St Neots Town Aylestone Park Premier South 1 - 2
Table as at 31/03/2024 - full-time.thefa.com Premier South POS Team P W D L GD PTS 1 Wellingborough Town 35 26 5 4 56 83 2 Aylestone Park 35 23 5 7 40 74 3 Racing Club Warwick 34 22 7 5 44 73 4 March Town United 34 20 7 7 26 67 5 St Neots Town 35 19 9 7 32 66 6 Newport Pagnell Town 35 19 4 12 18 58 7 G.N.G Oadby Town 35 15 7 13 -16 52 8 Yaxley 33 15 6 12 16 51 9 Daventry Town 34 15 2 17 8 47 10 Bugbrooke St.Michaels 34 14 4 16 -6 46 11 Histon 34 12 8 14 -13 44 12 Coventry United 35 12 7 16 0 43 13 Lutterworth Town 34 13 4 17 -14 43 14 Cogenhoe United 35 10 9 16 -25 39 15 Easington Sports 32 11 6 15 0 36 16 Rugby Borough 35 10 6 19 -16 36 17 Eynesbury Rovers 34 8 4 22 -37 27 18 Godmanchester Rovers 32 8 2 22 -38 26 19 Desborough Town 34 5 8 21 -36 23 20 Leicester Nirvana 33 4 10 19 -39 22
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POS TEAM F A GD Pts < - - - Old New - - - > 1 Wellingborough Town 15 5 10 15 W W W L W W 2 Histon 14 9 5 15 W W W W W L 3 Aylestone Park 17 7 10 13 W W D W L W 4 Racing Club Warwick 10 6 4 11 D W W L W D 5 March Town United 11 8 3 11 L D D W W W 6 Coventry United 17 9 8 10 L D W L W W 7 Bugbrooke St.Michaels 9 7 2 10 W W W L L D 8 G.N.G Oadby Town 11 9 2 10 L L W D W W 9 Eynesbury Rovers 6 10 -4 10 W L D W L W 10 Newport Pagnell Town 9 7 2 9 D L D W W D 11 Lutterworth Town 9 12 -3 9 W L W W L L 12 Yaxley 12 8 4 8 D W W L D L 13 Leicester Nirvana 14 14 0 7 D W L W L L 14 Desborough Town 8 13 -5 7 L L D W L W 15 Godmanchester Rovers 8 13 -5 6 L L W W L L 16 St Neots Town 4 6 -2 5 W L D D L L 17 Easington Sports 6 10 -4 4 L L W D L L 18 Rugby Borough 9 14 -5 4 L L L D L W 19 Cogenhoe United 5 15 -10 2 L D D L L L 20 Daventry Town 2 11 -9 0 L L L L L L
IN FORM TEAMS Lastsixleaguematches
One of football’s great mysteries is the struggle of the subcontinent to make an impact on the global game. India now has the biggest population in the world, nearly 1.5 billion people, and yet the nation has been unable to find 11 individuals to get them to a level where they can even take part in a World Cup, let alone compete for one. Of course, football fights a losing battle for popularity with cricket in India, but perennial underachievement didn’t have to be the expectation. There was a time when the future of Indian
football looked bright, and they reached the summit of their continent’s elite.
The Asian nation had shown promise in the previous decade, taking on France in an infamous barefooted performance at the 1948 Olympics and losing by a single goal. The appointment of Syed Abdul Rahim brought a focus on tactics rather than endurance. As the 1950s progressed, he adopted the successful Hungarian style that brought them so close to the World Cup in 1954, and saw his team grow in stature.
India reached the semi-finals of the 1960 Olympics with impressive victories against Hungary and France. But the 1962 Asian Games in Jakarta were nearly missed altogether. Tthe Indian government almost didn’t provide the finances for the team to travel to Indonesia, and then, under pressure from some countries, the Indonesian government refused to provide visas for Israeli and Taiwanese athletes. Guru Dott Sondhi, the Indian member of the International Olympic Committee, suggested the games be renamed the Jakarta games, if
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Syed Abdul Rahim
27 not every nation in Asia were able to compete. There was uproar.
India’s team arrived in Indonesia to jeers that would continue throughout the tournament. Players had to sit on the floor of the team bus to avoid missiles. The offices of the Indian High Commission were ransacked by baying mobs. Not the best preparation for a talented team. And the team was talented. Peter Thangaraj had been voted the best goalkeeper in Asia just a few years before. Jarnail Singh was a powerful centre-back who had won international acclaim in the Olympics. Yusuf Khan was a beautifully versatile midfielder who gave the team whatever they needed. And Chuni Goswami, the best footballer India has ever produced, and a prolific inside-forward. He turned down a trial with Tottenham to stay at home, such was his talent. The omens were promising.
India certainly provided it. Goswami opened the scoring in a 4-1 victory, but Jarnail Singh picked up a head injury toward the end of the match. India’s confidence was up, though, and they cruised to a fairly comfortable 2-1 victory over Japan in their final group game, despite a late scare.
But the atmosphere was not. India wilted under the Indonesian pressure in their first game, against South Korea, who they had never beaten. They slumped to a disappointing 2-0 defeat, with nobody doing themselves any credit. The only superstar who avoided criticism was Thangaraj; the goalkeeper was absent with ‘flu.
The second match required a response, and after some harsh words from Rahim,
In the semi-finals, India would have to overcome a South Vietnam side who were quietly having a very good tournament, having scored 9 and conceded just 1 in the group stages. Rahim brough Jarnail Singh back into the team after missing out against Japan, but decided to reintroduce him as a striker.
India took the lead in the 12th minute, and ran riot in the first half, hitting the post before Jarnail Singh added a second just before half time. But South Vietnam were not overawed, and came out for the second half fighting. They reduced the deficit with a penalty, and then equalised just past the hour. India responded, and
India Team 1962
upped their attack again. On 75 minutes, Goswami scored a cheeky lob to reestablish their lead. It would turn out to be the winner
In the final, India’s opponents would be South Korea once again. The night before, unable to sleep, the squad went for a walk. They encountered Rahim, smoking in the darkness. With quiet calm, he asked them to win the gold for him.
India flew out of the blocks, and on 17 minutes Goswami danced around a couple of defenders to set up PK Banejee for the lead. Three minutes later, Jarnail Singh - playing as a forward again - headed home a free kick. His move forward confounded the Koreans.
But India didn’t extend their lead, and near the end of the game South Korea found a consolation. But the Indian defence held firm, and gave Rahim the gold he had wanted so desperately. As the players celebrated, and the disappointed crowd booed, they found their inspirational manager sitting quietly in the dressing room, crying with joy.
The country and the government were ecstatic, but that joy was short. Having achieved his gold, Rahim - a chain smoker - passed away from lung cancer the following year. His replacements, ever since, have focussed on the physical side of the game, to India’s detriment.
As one of his players said, Rahim took Indian football with him to the grave.
Enjoy the game.
Martyn Green, The Untold Game
Find more at TheUntoldGame.co.uk or on social media @TheUntoldGame
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Division RESERVES FIXTURES & RESULTS DATE HOME TEAM AWAY TEAM COMPETITION RESULT 09-Mar Wellingborough Town Godmanchester Rovers Reserve Division 2 - 1 L 16-Mar Godmanchester Rovers Kempston Rovers Reserve Division 0 - 8 L 30-Mar Godmanchester Rovers Raunds Town Reserve Division 2 - 2 D 06-Apr Godmanchester Rovers Bugbrooke St.Michaels Reserve Division10-Apr Buckingham Development Godmanchester Rovers Reserve Division13-Apr Desborough Town Godmanchester Rovers Reserve Division20-Apr Northampton ON Chenecks Godmanchester Rovers Reserve Division23-Apr Godmanchester Rovers Irchester United Reserve Division27-Apr Godmanchester Rovers Desborough Town Reserve Division04-May Godmanchester Rovers Harborough Town Reserve DivisionPOS Team P W D L GD PTS 1 Kempston Rovers Reserves 17 15 1 1 67 46 2 Desborough Town Reserves 20 12 4 4 20 40 3 Northampton ON Chenecks Reserves 18 11 3 4 13 36 4 Bourne Town Reserves 20 10 2 8 10 32 5 Harborough Town Reserves 21 9 5 7 9 32 6 Wellingborough Whitworth Reserves 20 9 3 8 6 30 7 Buckingham Development 17 9 2 6 11 29 8 Rothwell Corinthians Reserves 18 8 3 7 3 27 9 Bugbrooke St.Michaels Reserves 18 8 2 8 11 26 10 Irchester United Reserves 17 6 3 8 -6 21 11 Wellingborough Town Reserves 21 5 1 15 -33 16 12 Godmanchester Rovers Reserves 17 3 3 11 -50 12 13 Raunds Town Reserves 20 0 2 18 -61 2 14 Huntingdon Town U23s 0 0 0 0 0 0
Reserve
