This article, sourced from cuttings, provided by Brian York, from the Eastbourne Gazette / Eastbourne Herald Chronicle and published, it is believed, during the 1961/62 season gives an insight into the Old Grammarians’ teams approach to football – and how they were viewed. At that time, and indeed for most of the post-war period until the closure of the Grammar School in 1977, the Old Boys FC – competing as Old Grammarians – fielded field two teams in the Eastbourne League. As well as former EGS pupils the teams featured several masters (including George Dixon, Bob Wisden, Alan Stratford and Chris Tune) and, occasionally, players still attending the School. Meanwhile, Bob Mallen was the coach for a number of years.

A report by correspondent John O’Callaghan from the Eastbourne Gazette (or Herald?) in, probably, 1960/61 included the following passage on a match between the OGs and the Dental Estimates Board:
“It says much for the resilience of the pitches at Hampden Park that this match was played at all. It says even more for the innate football qualities of both teams that they were able to overcome the handicaps of wind and weather to make this the more interesting sort of goalless draw.
The OGs, of course, have always been ones for playing cultured football; it has not often put their name in the record books, though there was one never-to-be forgotten season when they won promotion from Division 2 and the Eastbourne Cup – a rare double. I feel they get a certain quiet satisfaction from playing football their own way. Results in their case are not so important as enjoyment of the game.

There are those who regards the Grammarians as being, shall we say, a little “toffee-nosed”: their style of play and gay shirts may perhaps give that impression but, as goalkeeper and club secretary Brian York told me, “We give as good as we get. We try and play good football and we try and play as a team”.

I was a bit saddened to hear, though, that the Grammarians have the same playing membership problems as most other Eastbourne League teams. As always, the worry is that the younger footballers are not coming forward as they should. The Grammarians really have an almost unlimited field to pick from. They have been running a second eleven for some seasons now and there can hardly be a side in the Eastbourne League that does not contain Grammarian Players. Theoretically they could field a side that would not disgrace itself in the County League.

As it is, they have some more than useful players. Brian York himself and centre-half Dennis Kirby were both outstanding in the struggle that developed in the closing stages of this match to take a point. Ex-United Youth Cup player Vic Smith lent cultured support at right back and there was another Smith – Digger, formerly with the Town – to add a bit more class at right-half. Two masters, George Dixon and newcomer Chris Tune, are more than competent footballers while much is thought of John Bishop, who has already achieved a measure of fame in the tennis world.

The two players I admired most, however, were both dyed-in-the-wool Grammarians club men. Outside-left Brian Wood, much nearer 40 than 30 now, is just as dangerous as ever he was; “it worries me every time he gets the ball” said one Dental Board supporter. Centre-forward Gilbert French was Wood’s chief ally, and his speed and tenacity could so easily have earned him that one vital goal. Old Gramms looked most dangerous in the early stages when young Tarrant showed himself a most able deputy for Doug Marion, who played in the unaccustomed position of right-winger, but towards half-time Board got on top and shivered the OG’s crossbar with a tremendous 25-yarder.

More chances came Old Gramms way after the interval and they had their share of bad luck when French hit a post but the last ten minutes or so belonged entirely to the Dental Board. In the very last minute, they hit the bar with a centre and had the goal at their mercy from the rebound, but York and Kirby managed to scramble the ball away between them.
OGs: B York; V Smith, M Funnell; D Smith, D Kirby, G Dixon; D Allchorn, C Tune, G French, J Bishop, B Wood”

Another Old Grammarians’ game later that season was reported with headlines “It Just Wasn’t Soccer” and “Agreement Not To Score Goals”. The context is relevant: the match was a second semi-final of the Eastbourne Cup played against Seeboard at The Saffrons. As the final whistle was about to blow, a clash of heads between OG’s centre-half Dennis Kirby and the Seeboard centre-forward saw both knocked out and carried off. The score at full-time was 0-0 and the referee had been instructed to play an extra ten minutes each way. However, the referee called the match off after less than two minutes of extra time as the teams had come to an understanding not to score any goals.

The Secretary of Eastbourne FA was quoted afterwards as saying “We were disgusted with both teams, but the players started fiddling about and obviously did not want to get on with the match. The referee should have sent a couple of them off to show that he meant business. He told me that their conduct had given him no option but to stop the game – bringing it into disrepute was the term I think he used.” Meanwhile Old Gramms FC Brian York was reported as explaining “There was a discussion between our vice-captain Alan Stratford and the Seeboard captain the outcome of which was a mutual agreement that, in view of what happened in the other semi-final – still undecided after extra time when conditions were much better – extra time would serve no useful purpose as the game would have to be abandoned anyway. It was decided to pass the ball about in midfield and make no attempt to score. When the referee saw what was happening, he called the match off, quite rightly, I think. I felt sorry for the official in that he got the blame for something which was not really his fault.” Whether any disciplinary action followed is not recorded.

The report of the replay ran as follows: “No further controversy marred this Eastbourne Cup semi-final played in a non-stop downpour at Wartling Road. Considering the conditions and the stage of the season, both sides gave a most creditable account of themselves in a well and closely fought struggle. Seeboard are, of course, well accustomed to playing three matches a week. They seem to stand up to this sort of pressure far better than most and in this game certainly finished more strongly than the Grammarians. Nevertheless, it was good to see the OGs, with their undoubted propensity for playing attractive football, challenging for honours at this point in the season.

Tactically, however, they erred badly. Little intelligent use was made of speedy wingers Brian Wood and Chris Tune, and no attempt was made to take advantage, with a crafty through ball or two, of the turning difficulties which the slippery conditions presented to the heavily built Seeboard defenders. Seeboard took the lead when a low centre which Brian York seemed to have saved at full stretch squirmed out of his hands and was swept home. Four minutes before half-time the Gramms equalised when George Dixon forced the ball in after Gilbert French had headed a cunning Stratford chip on to the bar.

The winner for Seaboard came three minutes after the interval with a fine solo effort past three defenders. Gramms tried desperately hard to get on terms again, but Seeboard played better and better as the game progressed to emerge most worthy winners.
OG’s team for first match: B York; P Simmons, V Smith; D Minns, D Kirby, D Smith; D Petherick, A Stratford, G French, M Banks, B Wood. For the replay C Tune and G Dixon came into the side for D Petherick and M Banks.

Another match report covered an Eastbourne League Div 1 match when the OGs visited Pevensey. “Territorially Pevensey had more of the game and their football and approach work were in no way inferior to that of the visitors, but the ball did not run kindly – though this must not lessen the credit due to the Gramms’ defence and particularly to the goalkeeper who brought off a series of excellent saves from all angles.

It was completely against the run of play when Allchorn put the visitors one up and they were a trifle lucky to retain this lead till half-time. The second half was only a few minutes old when Pevensey hit the bar with the visiting keeper utterly beaten. Old Grammarians, however, were next to score when Dixon got his head to a corner kick. Two minutes later Pevensey scored the goal they had striven for and deserved but, try as they might, they were not able to pierce the visiting defence again.”

Further memories of Old Gramms football or other sports would be welcomed by the Hon Secretary