Ilford County High School 1st XI 5 - 8 Old Parkonians Invitation XI (Graham Murray Centenary Cup)

The Graham Murray Cup, an annual contest between the current Ilford County High 1st XI and an invitational XI of the Old Parkonians, took on an added twist this year as the might of the Old Parks was boosted by two ex-professionals, Alan Curbishley and Clive Allen. The Centenary Year of the school and of the football club resulted in surely the highest crowd ever witnessed at this fixture, a massive 602. The trophy is named after the most capped Old Parkonian of all time, Graham Murray or Murphy as he is better known, and his total of 701 1st XI appearances between 1959 and 1986 will surely never be bettered. Not even by Trev.

A strong Old Parks side - several 1st team regulars, some old faces and a smattering of ICHS teachers - squared up to one of the best school sides in recent years. In fact, five of the current School 1st XI side had been in the Old Parks 1st XI that defeated Lyonians the previous Saturday. Confused?

The atmosphere was electric in the Parks dressing room. Curbishley recounted how he knocked back the European bound Hammers pre-season for a relegation battle with Charlton, Clive Allen told us what we all knew (that Richard Keys is Monkey's father) and Eddy Bow was just happy to have found the School where he left it half a century ago. I went for experience in the starting line up, dragging the school into a false sense of security. It wasn't a difficult choice to put two players who have represented their country at centre midfield. The rest of the team was a bit of a mix of talent, age and weight. The latter easily overshadowing the first two. We strode out onto the School pitch, most of us not having trod that ground for at least fifteen years, proud to wear the red and white halves. Curbishley turned to me, "Jesus, it's like that Harry Potter game out here," he said, as about 500 small boys in glasses cheered our entrance. "Quidditch," I replied knowledgeably. That was the last time I was to impress Alan Curbishley in the following 90 minutes.

Dominic Turner and Daniel Parrish played a half each in goal. We started with John Ababio, who apparently turned down Real Madrid to teach Spanish at ICHS (an obvious career path), and Gary Streatfield, Technology maestro, at full backs. Lance Thomas (club chairman) and Stuart Knapman (club centre forward) slotted in at centre halves, with Sam Cooper (Grays, Ryman Premier) and John Russell (Physics, Physics Lab) wide in midfield. Pascoe and Chadwick up front were the jewels in our starting XI. A talented subs bench (combined age - at least 187) saw the likes of myself, Nicholls, Rowson, Bow, and Betchley itching to get on and prove our worth. Knapman still thought he had a chance of catching Curbishley's eye - although I think Curbishley was more interested in Carol Jordan than hiring a shorter version of Graham Stuart.

The game started at a fast pace which obviously suited the school better than the old boys. Having Biggles mark (to use the word in its loosest sense) Matt Williams was not the best decision of my short managerial career. After half an hour, with a Williams hat-trick already on the scoresheet, and Biggles on the verge of cardiac arrest, we changed it round. To be honest, the finer details of the game have passed me by. It was a great fixture, an excellent advert for the school and club, and a good laugh was had by all.

Matt Williams scored all five of the schools' goals - an excellent haul from the youngster - who was the MOM for the school. Clive Allen got three for the Old Parks, although one of them was definitely already over the line from Knapman (so that's how Allen got 49 in a season). Sam Cooper was exceptional for the Parks, an old boy who would be a serious asset to the club, if semi pro sides would stop paying him so much money. Rowson dusted off his left boot to turn back the years, in a free floating left flank role, although that number 3 shirt looked a bit tighter than the last time I saw him play. Clive Allen officially lost it after a penalty appeal was turned down, and Di Canio-ed the ref. Quality performances from Curbishley, Allen and Cooper meant that the the rest of the old boys frailties, namely pace and skill, went virtually unnoticed.

Loads of other incidents packed the 90 minutes, but as Murphy says "winning isn't everything, it's the only thing", and win we did. 8-5 was the final score, and it was all back to the Old Parks Clubhouse, for speeches, presentation of the trophy and lots of beer. Thanks to all involved, especially Stuart Devereux, the School Headmaster, who masterminded the whole event, and to the pupils who put in a lot of time and energy to make it run as smoothly as it did. Also, special thanks go to Clive Allen and Alan Curbishley, who took time out of their busy schedules to make a great impression on all of us both on and off the pitch.

See you all next year!!

Scorers ICHS: Williams 5
Scorers Parks: Chadwick, Allen 3, Cooper, Knapman, Pascoe, Curbishley

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