CLIFF CAMPBELL - POACHER TURNED GAMEKEEPER?

Photo © Elaine Waumsley 2006
The referee at the Reserves home game against Hoddesdon Reserves, on Sat 25 Feb 2006, commented that he had last been at Hertingfordbury Park in 1987, when playing for Aylesbury United in the FA Cup.
It was only when I saw that the ref's name was Mr Campbell that I realised it was Cliff Campbell. I remember him well, for both Aylesbury and the original Bedford Town. He was one the biggest, strongest, players I ever saw, and although a forward, wore number 6. Have a feeling he was a policeman. Nice to see an ex player of some note doing the whistling!

The 1987/88 season saw the Ducks not only beat us 4-0 in the FA Cup, but win the Southern League title and earn promotion to the Conference. Even more famously it was a few months after our FA Cup clash that the Ducks were themselves beaten 7-0 by ... England! Bobby Robson took his full squad, including icons like Lineker and Beardsley to open Aylesbury's new Buckingham Road ground .. I don't know for sure that Cliff played against England (if you're reading this Cliff, please let us know), but what a story - Hertford Town and England in the same season!