On this weekend...
Today we take a look back at the last six years' worth of games for the three OHAFC teams on this weekend...
Six Seasons Ago: October 3rd 2009
OHAFC 1st XI 4 Old Salopians 2: The first game of the season saw a comfortable win for Quentin Baker’s 1st XI thanks to goals from Lederman, Bourke and Ed Martins, who scored twice. The game was the first from which the modern statistics including team lineups, goalscorers and fixture info was provided by the club.
Forest 2nd XI 4 OHAFC 2nd XI 3: A classic Arthurian League encounter took place at Forest School but despite the visitors scoring three times in the opening half an hour through Soyinka (2) and Arghebant (penalty) the home side took all three points. The sending off of striker Olly Hadden-Paton didn’t help, he was dismissed for a second booking midway through the second half.
Five Seasons Ago: October 2nd 2010
OHAFC 2nd XI 5 Old Wellingtonians 3: Another crazy goalsfest for the Harrow 2’s in a game played in appalling conditions on the Hill. The strong winds and driving rain helped produce defensive errors that contributed to the eight goals on offer for anyone brave enough to be standing on the touchline. Harrow took full advantage with Bemini Soyinka helping himself to a hat-trick, Joe Bone and Kamil Amin completing the scoring.
Four Seasons Ago: October 1st 2011
Old Westminsters 2nd XI 2 OHAFC 2nd XI 4: Again, the Harrow 2’s were the only side in action on this weekend and again there were goals aplenty, this time at the Civil Service Sports Ground in Chiswick. A very strong side including the likes of Freddie Brunt, Jamie Waugh and Alex Breeden proved far too strong for their hosts with Joe Bone scoring twice, Brunt and Soyinka (with his customary strike) the others.
Three Seasons Ago: October 6th 2012
OHAFC 1st XI 8 Old Tonbridgians 0: A record win for the 1st XI on the Hill, taking apart the newly-promoted and clearly shell-shocked Tonbridge team. An even first half-hour betrayed what was to come, with the hosts, incredibly, 5-0 to the good at half-time. Milln scored two headers, Lederman, Brunt and de Rougemont the other three. In the second half Piers Bourke and substitute Charlie Stebbings increased the lead and Milln was then allowed his shot at glory when Lederman kindly allowed him to take a late penalty, thereby completing his first and, almost certainly, last ever hat-trick in senior football.
Old Etonians 2nd XI 1 OHAFC 2nd XI 2: Another fine early October victory for the 2nd XI with Bemini Soyinka’s last-minute striker earning the 2’s a vital win at the home of the Old Enemy. Bemini had earlier given the away side the lead but with injury time nearing its conclusion at the end of the game a 1-1 draw looked the final result. That was until the 2’s leading marksman of recent years pounced to head home and send the visitors wild with delight.
Two Seasons Ago: October 5th 2013
Lancing Old Boys 4 OHAFC 1st XI 2: Some sloppy defending by the 1st XI saw them twice squander the lead in this game to head home with nothing to show for their efforts. Harry Hoffen scored against the run of play to put Ed Poulter’s men 1-0 up and after Lancing had deservedly equalised a towering Fred Milln header sent the visitors in with the advantage at the break.
But Lancing were gifted three goals to turn the game on its head: a corner wasn’t cleared and thumped home from close range, a comical mix-up between three defenders and ‘keeper Charlie Walsh presented a simple tap-in for a striker and the fourth came courtesy of a rare misplaced pass from Paul Molloy.
Old Wykehamists 2nd XI 1 OHAFC 2nd XI 2: The Harrow 2’s earned their first win of the season on the Astroturf down in Winchester but made hard work of beating inferior opponents. The Blues had to rely on an own goal and a strike from Max Curry a minute from time to seal the points.
Last Season: October 4th 2014
OHAFC 1st XI 1 Lancing Old Boys 6: A second home game, a second humiliating defeat for the 1st XI, with Lancing hitting six past their beleaguered hosts. Harry Hoffen scored the side’s only goal on the half hour but again the Blues were well off the pace
Old Brentwoods 4’s 4 OHAFC 3rd XI 2: A tough trip for the Harrow 3’s who put up a brave fight in the wind and rain on Brentwood’s notoriously tricky pitches. Tom Faber scored after half an hour to level matters at 1-1 but the visitors took advantage of a ‘keeping error to press forwards and despite a late goal from Fred Fife, the game was already out of reach
On this weekend…In the wider footballing world
October 2nd 1991 saw the lowest top flight attendance since the Second World War turn up to Selhurst Park on a cold midweek evening to watch Wimbledon beat Sheffield Wednesday 2-1. The crowd numbereded just 3,121 hardy souls.
October 3rd 2005 was the first time Manchester United were displaced at the top of Deloitte’s list of the world’s richest football clubs. Real Madrid were the new rich kids on the block – a position they have held ever since
Also on this weekend: Dalian Atkinson scored the 1992/3 Goal of the Season with a mazy run and sublime chip for Aston Villa against Wimbledon at Plough Lane – you can see Dalian's goal plus the other eight contenders for Goal of the Season here
Tottenham began the second half of their Premier League fixture at Newcastle with nine men – Les Ferdinand and Ruel Fox were still in the toilet when the game restarted! (1997)