Memories of Michael Eagleton and Marlow Football Club

Marlow vs Spurs

Michael’s tenure as Chairman of the club covered the 1992/93 season, one of the proudest in their long history, when they played the mighty Tottenham Hotspur (known as Spurs) in the third round of the F A Cup competition.

Michael’s ‘The Chairman’s Viewpoint’ for the official programme is reproduced here, and the pride he felt for this achievement by the club shines through in these notes. For the 30th anniversary of the match he wrote in the Marlow Free Press edition of January 13, 2023:

“Permission had been granted for the team to train on the White Hart Lane pitch in an empty stadium on the day before the game. This picture shows the compete squad on that occasion with Manager Dave Russell and Assistant Manager Laurie Craker. The latter, who had played for Chelsea and Watford, sadly passed away in 2020. The line up also includes three officials who are no longer with the Club. Far right, Peter Cole, and third from left Ray Wiltshire, both looking much the same today: the passing years have been kind to them.

Not sure the same can be said for the figure far left who also contributed a page to the matchday programme [that is Michael!]. This included reasons for the controversial decision to switch the 3rd Round tie to White Hart Lane. The eventual winners of a nervy 2nd Round replay, Marlow versus Rugby, had been drawn at home to Tottenham Hotspur. In fact, it was not a decision: it was an order from local police, due to the capacity limit of Marlow’s Alfred Davis ground. The Club had provision for advance ticketing, but the concern seemed to be the number of Spurs supporters, many from the local area, who would have attempted to gain entry without tickets.”

Marlow lost the match 5-1 but were by no means disgraced as Michael explained: “The 5 – 1 scoreline was actually flattering to Spurs: striker Ansil Bushay missed two golden chances that at one point would have made the score 3 – 3. The game received prime coverage on BBC’s Match Of The Day. I wonder what became of Ansil – he was predicted to have a big professional future but I think stayed in Non-League football.”

A tribute from Rod Farrell

I first met Michael over 50 years ago when I went into his record shop in Marlow. We started talking about Marlow FC, as my neighbour was Peter Sewell who was the club captain at the time. That started a conversation and a friendship that lasted a long time until he passed away. Michael was a font of knowledge on Marlow FC, Music and Marlow. I have a lot of memories here are a couple:

When we played Spurs in the FA Cup, which was a massive occasion for the club and the town and the crowd was over 28,000, Michael was allowed to make his way round the pitch to meet the Marlow fans. Coming to where I was sitting he said ‘I’m so pleased you are here and thank you for coming’, and then told me that he did not like Chas and Dave who were providing the musical entertainment, ‘Lets get on with the football’!

Another time was when Marlow were playing Met Police at their ground Imber Court, Surrey, they were all policemen in their team. I travelled to the ground with Michael, we met up with Robert Biffa who was Marlow’s vice president. During the game Marlow were struggling. Then out of nowhere Robert said to the goalkeeper ‘Here’s £500 let us score a couple of goals and win, the money is yours.’ This went on all the game, with Robert holding out his money. Michael said we will all be arrested and then asked me if I snored in case we were sharing a cell!

There are so many stories, I could write a book, maybe one day I will. I miss our phone calls and when we would meet up, which was still happening until just before he passed away. He always got in touch if he wanted to know something about the football club. He was the person to speak to about the football club or Marlow he had so much knowledge. Thank you Michael for your friendship, I will really miss you.

George Best

A reminiscence from Michael himself, from his article on June 7 this year about a charity football match fifty years ago. This was when Marlow Football Club played a TV All Stars eleven which included George Best, Michael wrote:

“I have my own fond little memory of George Best: I was always a big fan. A few years after this game, and during the time I had my record shop in Spittal Street, he was a regular visitor to Marlow. His ex-wife Angie lived at The Old Parsonage (before Jim Capaldi moved there) and George came to see his son Calum who I suppose was only about 7. They often came round the town and into the shop. George’s taste in music was varied: I remember he was into Pink Floyd at the time along with assorted Irish bands.

George sometimes left Calum with me choosing his own records whilst he popped along to either the Cross Keys or the Carpenters Arms for a quick one (or two); although I have to say I never saw him anything other than totally sober, polite and very softly spoken, almost shy. On one occasion, with Calum getting to grips with ABBA for the first time, George came back in and asked if we had a toilet. I directed him upstairs. Next day I made arrangements for a little plastic plaque to be made up: GEORGE BEST USED THIS TOILET”