Legends meet in final match before move

There was no shortage of Stamford legends and former stars at Kettering Road as the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League club waved goodbye to the Daniels Stadium after 125 years and in the process raised £918 for Cancer Research and The Young Daniels Foundation.

The Premier Division’s Daniels are moving into their new home at Borderville, the newly sponsored Zeeco Stadium, in the new season and a Legends XI and an All Star XI, pictured, met in the final encounter at the old stadium before the club’s annual presentation and awards night.

The Legends XI, featuring many of the stars who lifted the FA Vase at Wembley in 1980 with a 2-0 win over Guisborough, were guided again by their manager that day, Malcolm Hird. They won 3-1, beating an All Stars side led by two long time champions of local football - manager Gary Hopkins and John Burke, now both passionate Stamford followers.

Eddie Broadhurst and Gordon Bull, key members of the winning 1980 squad, couldn't play last Saturday but looked on from the crowd who saw current Daniels manager David Batch opening the scoring.

The farewell event, which also featured a series of mini matches between many of the club’s boys and girls sides before the big game and was covered by Rutland Radio, was organised by Paul Pepper, the club’s commercial manager and former player from their Vase run.

Pepper was hailed for his efforts by Daniels' Director of Football Guy Walton who said: "Paul Pepper's vision and hard work, in creating such a positive feel, set the perfect atmosphere for a football family reunion which also remembered absent friends."

Former Daniels manager Hird added: "It was a very enjoyable and I must say that the game was played at a higher tempo than I expected. The Vase lads were all very happy to get together. It seemed as though it was only yesterday that we played in the final."

Image courtesy of Stamford and Rutland Sports News