Date: February 5th 2000

Venue: Nick Warner's Flat, Westbourne Terrace

Time: Around 11pm

Perhaps the sweetest OHAFC victory over old enemy Eton was the first one recorded in the modern era on Saturday February 5th 2000.

The two sides had not met for many years, Eton having been a mainstay of the Premier Division and Harrow having been mired in the mid to lower reaches of Division One. The teams had even been kept apart in the opening round of years of Dunn Cup draws, at that time enough to ensure they would not meet later in the season.

Eton's surprise relegation into Division One at the end of the Century produced huge expectation among the Harrow contingent but by a quirk of the fixture computer, the teams were kept apart until February 2000 when it had become clear that both teams were firm favourites for promotion.

Indeed, under Quentin Baker's leadership, the Harrow 1st XI had won every match that season barring a dreadful 3-1 defeat away to Haberdashers on the opening day. From that moment on the determination to put things right had seen the side, containing several players still regularly turning out for the 1's today, sweep all before them.

As expected, the two matches against the Etonians were ferociously intense. The dark blues came out on top both times by a solitary goal, winning 2-1 at home, in those days the excellent pitches at Cobham where Chelsea now train, then 1-0 away a few weeks later at Eton College. By that stage, Harrow had been crowned Division One champions and the second win merely confirmed the start of a golden era for the 1st XI as they first survived, then later flourished in the Premier Division.

To celebrate the first of the two wins, Nick Warner kindly invited everyone around to his flat for drinks and food, no doubt prepared by his mum. However, the highlight of the night was undoubtedly the confirmation of the afternoon's result on Teletext (page 477). Ru Hoffen chose to record the moment for posterity and is pictured here in front of the TV in Warner's bedroom with a slightly unattractive young girl (what happened later that night has unfortunately been lost in the midst of time).

It is hoped that further success tomorrow against the Old Enemy will not lead to similar scenes.