Continuing our look back at OHAFC fixtures played on the corresponding weekend over the previous five seasons – including the infamous ‘six hours of sleep in four days’ Tour to Sofia in 2013…

Last Season: March 29th 2014

Old Carthusians 3 OHAFC 1st XI 1:

A chaotic week of preparation prior to the toughest fixture of the season did not bode well for the Harrow 1st XI and they took to the field in Godalming with one of the youngest sides in twenty years, no less than three schoolboys making their Club debuts. Matters were not helped when a police roadblock meant that with five minutes to the scheduled kick-off time there were six members of the team present and no kit.

After a two-minute warm-up it was little surprise that Charterhouse were immediately on the front foot and they deservedly opened the scoring after half an hour with an excellent passing move down their right.

Charlie Walsh was a busy man in the Harrow goal but to the visitors’ credit they at least forced their opponents to shoot from range, restricting the number of clear opportunities to a minimum.

Sadly, a second cheap goal was conceded immediately after the break when the marking at a corner went awry allowing a simple header. All concerns about the result were put in perspective with half an hour remaining however when Walsh collided awkwardly with a goalpost having made a fine diving stop. The collision resulted in a dislocated knee and left Charlie in considerable pain behind the goal and the game to be halted for ten minutes.

On the restart, the injured Harry Hoffen agreed to go in goal, the decision having been made to see out the remainder of the game and turn down the hosts’ generous offer of calling an end to proceedings.

Charterhouse did score a third but to their great credit the visitors kept plugging away and were rewarded for their efforts with an excellent goal of their own, a neat passing move allowing Lederman to feed Breeden inside the box and he turned the ball home first-time from a narrow angle. The three schoolboys all acquitted themselves well even if their first experience of Arthurian League football was not one that will live long in the memory.

Old Cholmeleians 4’s 4 OHAFC 3rd XI 1:

The Harrow 3rd XI fell to a heavy defeat in north London, conceding four to the Cholms’ fourth string side. Alex Elwell provided the sole moment of cheer for the visitors, scoring after half an hour, but the remainder of the game was one way traffic and the hosts ran out comfortable winners in the end.

Two Seasons Ago: March 30th & 31st 2013 - Easter Tour to Sofia

Two seasons ago the Club travelled to Sofia in Bulgaria for the Easter tour, organised on this occasion by Jack Orr-Ewing.

Accomodation was, remarkably, at the Bulgarian equivalent of St George’s Park, with several football pitches and excellent facilities on site. This was greatly appreciated by the group, who quickly realised they could, if so desired, literally roll out of bed and a few hundred yards down the road to attend the two fixtures.

The first game, on the Saturday, was played in ideal conditions and saw the tourists perform strongly, tour virgin Harry Sewell scoring twice in a 4-1 win.

In contrast, the second game, on Sunday, was played in appalling conditions, possibly the worst conditions many of the players had ever experienced with a howling wind accompanied by driving rain, sleet and snow.

Despite a general desire to roll back down the hill into bed, the game was completed and again the tourists came out on top, this time 2-1 with late goals from Coleridge-Cole and Trower.

The final night of tour saw a third fixture played, an unscheduled night time encounter with the Lancaster University Womens Rugby Club. This was declared a draw, with several members of the Harrow party receiving yellow cards for unsportsmanlike conduct and the lack of marking seeing Trower and Coleridge-Cole regularly exposed at the back.

Three Seasons Ago: March 24th 2012

OHAFC 1st XI 2 Old Etonians 1:

The OHAFC 1st XI completed their home league programme with a win over Eton, in the process completing the double over their arch rivals.

A stunning spring day and Conference level referee set the scene for an enjoyable game of football, even if the surface was rather bobbly, and both sides put in strong performances in the first half with little to choose between them.

Harry Hoffen came closest to breaking the deadlock early on when he fired just over with a left-foot volley but he made no mistake on the half hour, superbly converting a hopeful punt forward, showing great strength and perseverance before rounding the ‘keeper and slotting home.

But Harrow failed to capitalise on their goal and the narrow lead at the break suggested a tough second half in prospect.

The hosts had plenty of chances to double their lead, Baker heading over from six yards out and Hoffen himself spurning to further one-on-ones when played through on goal. But the nerves were finally settled when a long throw was only half-cleared allowing Baker to fire home a left-foot volley into the bottom corner.

The visitors were handed a lifeline with a quarter of an hour remaining when Fred Milln was very harshly adjudged to have handled inside the box, the ball being drilled against him with his arm by his side. But the Eton left-back made a hash of his spot-kick, sending it high over the bar, Milln’s vocal celebration earning him a caution.

With time running out Eton did pull a goal back, a fortunate ricochet inside the Harrow box falling perfectly for an opposition striker. But the hosts held on to complete the win and their eighth home win of the season from nine games – the only defeat coming on the opening day of the season against a poor Winchester team.

Four Seasons Ago: March 26th 2011

OHAFC 1st XI 5 Old Brentwoods 1:

A fourth win in five games saw any lingering relegation fears comprehensively dispelled by the Harrow 1’s who put in a fine display to thrash Brentwood.

Fred Richardson and Freddie Brunt both scored their first goals of the season, Ed Martins grabbed a brace and David Lederman completed the scoring from the spot to ensure a comfortable win for a side clearly benefitting from the return from injury of some key players.

OHAFC 2nd XI 4 Old Amplefordians 2:

The Harrow 2nd XI also enjoyed a relatively comfortable win on the Hill, seeing off Ampleforth 4-2. Kamil Amin and Joe Bone both scored inside the opening half an hour and the win was confirmed in the second half with an own goal quickly followed by an Ed Arghebant strike.

Five Seasons Ago: March 27th & 28th2010

OHAFC 1st XI 2 Old Kings Wimbledon 1:

A fixture pile-up for their opponents saw Harrow asked to play on a Sunday but the inconvenience was minimal with only Lederman from the regular squad unable to play.

Despite playing the day before, Wimbledon provided a stern challenge and the game was in the balance right up until the final whistle.

Quentin Baker opened the scoring on the half hour, the visitors equalised but Ed Martins scored the vital winner five minutes into the second half to ensure the points stayed on the Hill and ensure that Harrow were still in contention for the League title going into the final few weeks of the season.

Old Brentwoods 2’s 2 OHAFC 2nd XI 2:

A late Johan Harder goal earned the OHAFC 2nd XI a point away to their Brentwood counterparts. The visitors were forced to come from two goals down but did so thanks to Bemini Soyinka’s goal and Harder’s late strike, ensuring the trip back round the M25 was a little more bearable.

On this Weekend...Premier League and Top of the Pops:

5 Years Ago: March 29th 2010

UK Singles Chart No.1: Lady Gaga featuring Beyonce “Telephone”

Premier League top three: 1st Man Utd 72pts from 32 games, 2nd Chelsea 71 (32), 3rd Arsenal 68 (32)

Premier League bottom three: 18th Hull City 27 (31), 19th Burnley 24 (32), 20th Portsmouth 22 (32)

10 Years Ago: March 27th 2005

UK Singles Chart No.1: Tony Christie featuring Peter Kay “Is This the Way to Amarillo”

Premier League top three: 1st Chelsea 77 (30), 2nd Manchester United 66 (30), 3rd Arsenal 64 (30)

Premier League bottom three: 18th Crystal Palace 26 (30), 19th West Brom 24 (30), 20th Norwich City 20 (30)

20 years Ago: March 29th 1995

UK Singles Chart No.1: Cher, Chrissie Hynde & Neneh Cherry “Love Can Build a Bridge”

Premier League top three: 1st Blackburn Rovers 76 (34), 2nd Manchester Utd 73 (35), 3rd Newcastle 63 (34)

Premier League bottom three: 20th Crystal Palace 34 (32), 21st Ipswich Town 23 (33), 22nd Leicester City 21 (34)