Three missed penalties, one taken twice, two disallowed goals and Anstey Nomads beaten. That was the story of the thrill-packed FA Amateur Cup second round match at Cropston Road, Anstey on Saturday 29 January 1955. Each evening during the week leading up to match the Anstey players put in some hard training at Filbert Street under the supervision of City trainer, David Jones. Supporters began arriving in their droves from 1.00 pm as the rain began to fall. The club had spent £250 to improve standing room surrounding the pitch with sloping banking to ensure a good view for everyone. Due to a clash of colours Anstey played in white, in a kit borrowed from Leicester Amateurs.
The most important ‘date’ in Nomad’s history was a nerve-racking affair, with excitement reaching fever pitch in the last ten minutes. Anstey scored first through Clay midway through the first half. After the visitors had gone into the lead after 80 minutes, the Leicestershire Senior League Champions bombarded the Hayes goal seeking an equaliser. The record-breaking crowd of 5,000 fell silent as the Nomads were awarded a penalty. Up came Ken Matts to take the kick, but the right back flung his arms up in anguish as he slammed the ball a foot wide. The crowd groaned, but that was not the end of the thrills. Just four minutes from the close, after a mix up in the goalmouth, a Hayes defender was penalised for hands. Outside-right Lowther was entrusted with the spot kick, and again a fine chance of equalising was missed, the ball being sent at no great speed direct to goalkeeper Rive. Referee Whitehead provided the crowning drama in a hard if not pretty match by ordering the kick to be retaken. Lowther grateful for another opportunity, made his second attempt a replica of the first, Rive simply scooping up the ball which came straight to him. It would nevertheless have been an injustice had the Nomads won the game as Hayes had been the more impressive team throughout the ninety minutes. The quickness and covering of their defence was immaculate, Hudson and Gadsden holding the Nomads wingers Lowther and Payne tightly in check. Woodford, Anstey’s star player, covered miles, darting back to help his defence whenever necessary. Clay, persistent and speedy seized his opportunity neatly in the 22 minute to put Anstey ahead. He deserved another goal shortly afterwards, a fierce angle shot beating Rive but hit the post and rebounded to safety. Wingers Neale and Watts took a prominent part in Hayes’ success, responding smartly to the dangerous probing of Rawlings and Champelovier. The latter scored both goals for Hayes, with a low hard shot in the 54th minute and from a powerful header ten minutes from the end. In between these two goals, Rawlings missed a penalty for Hayes, Weston in goal having little difficulty in saving a ground shot to his left. Hayes had the ball in the net on two further occasions, Neale and Willis forcing it home, but each time the referee ruled offside. Anstey’s remarkable six match Football Association Amateur Cup campaign which brought the club to the attention of the nation’s football fans came to an end.
The Nomads Amateur Cup adventure began in September with a home tie against Barwell Athletic in the preliminary qualifying round. After recent displays it was expected that Barwell would prove stiff opposition for Anstey, but this was not the case, the Nomads cantered to an easy 6-0 victory. They narrowly defeated Cosby United away in the first qualifying round, then overcame Stapenhill 7-4 on a slippery Anstey pitch. Two weeks later several hundred Anstey fans made the trip to Coventry quietly confident they could beat Rootes Athletic to reach the final qualifying round. Rootes had already eliminated two Leicestershire Senior League clubs, defeating Burgess Products 1-0 at home and Enderby Town 2-0 at Enderby. The Nomads scored twice within the opening 11 minutes. The first goal was scored by Remington after two minutes. After Watkins had narrowly missed for Rooters. Anstey scored again through Payne after 11 minutes. McCartney started a movement in which Watkins finished, and Harris scored a good goal for Rootes after 16 minutes. When McCartney snapped up a pass from Clare to equalise. 35 minutes Clay scored for Anstey from a breakaway. Shortly afterwards. Clare was injured and had to leave the field. From this point onwards Anstey took complete control of the game and just before half-time Lowther scored a good fourth goal. Shortly after half-time Watkins missed an open goal for Rootes and with both teams tiring play deteriorated. – Five minutes from the end, Lowther scored Anstey’s fifth goal from 30 yards. Result: Rootes 2, Anstey Nomads 5.
There was some doubt whether the Cropston Road ground would be fit for the final qualifying round tie against Smethwick Town, as two days before the match parts of the pitch were underwater. While the Smethwick keeper was tested several times and during a hectic spell of Anstey pressure had to receive attention, Remington scored following a sustained attack. Malvin had a chance to equalise, but his shot was too high. Anstey doubled their advantage when from a corner the ball was defected into the net by one of the defenders. Anstey continued on top throughout the second period, Remington scored their third and Clay their fourth. From a corner, Payne made it a ‘nap’ hand.
Anstey had molded together a strong side – a team without any individual stars, but an effective combination. The same team played in almost all of the cup matches. Johnnie Weston, a young and agile goalkeeper; right back Geoge Preston who had played several times for Leicestershire XI; Ken Palmer, left back, a strong vigorous player. At right back, Jack Cave a constructive player with a powerful shot. Centre half Ron Ford, the old man of the team, who used his head to save his legs; left-half Danny Orme, another County XI player and a rugged ninety minute man. Of the forwards, right winger and baby of the team, Ralph Lowther, a 17-year-old Leicester University student, and a fast winger who had an eye for an opening. Inside right Denis Remington was a live-wire goal scorer, and at centre forward ‘digger’ Clay was a real danger in front of goal. Inside left Freddy Woodford was the brains of the forward line, and left winger Jeff Payne was another County XI player with a shot like a rocket,
There was much excitement on hearing that the Nomads were drawn against Grays Athletic in the first round. Founded in 1906 Grays were four times winners of the Essex Senior Cup, twice winners of both the Corinthians League and Memorial Shield. Anstey Nomads Supporters Club arranged for an Anstey Special from London Road train station at 0900 to take 300 supporters to Grays Athletic. Town coaches were also booked, and numerous cars made the journey down to Essex on the last Saturday before Christmas. As a thoughtful gesture the Supporters Club supplied train and stand tickets to old age pensioners for free. The exploits of the eleven men from the Leicestershire village attracted the attention of the national press. Anstey’s giant killing exploits in Essex were due to the opportunism of their forwards and a defence which refused to panic, especially in the first quarter, when Grays Athletic had all the play. Preston and Partner defended splendidly, and Weston was sound in goal. The Nomads’ three goals scored by Remington, Payne and Clay were all solo efforts. Lambert got Gray’s only goal, a header from a corner.