Tuesday, May 11, 2021

25TH ANNIVERSARY OF ONE OF BRIGG'S GREATEST SPORTING ACHIEVEMENTS


Brigg Blog thought we were on the ball when it came to realising that tomorrow (May 12) is the 25th anniversary of one of the town's greatest sporting achievements - Brigg Town Football Club winning the FA Vase final at the world famous Wembley Stadium in London, under the watchful eye of manager Ralph 'Raz' Clayton.
We were planning to post a piece this morning - a quarter of a century later - to remind Zebras' fans and others living locally to raise a glass tomorrow in memory of this famous victory which thousands of people from Brigg witnessed in person from the terraces.
However, overnight we received a message all the way from Australia, courtesy of brothers Paul and Simon Church, who emigrated Down-Under many years ago. Below are Paul's memories of that great day and some souvenir pictures, kindly sent to us by Simon - the former Brigg Town cricketer, now living in the Perth area...

1996 CARLSBERG F.A. VASE AT WEMBLEY STADIUM - MAY 12TH - BRIGG TOWN V CLITHEROE

Tomorrow is the 25th Anniversary of Brigg Town's famous victory in the 1996 Carlsberg Vase at the original Wembley Stadium, 12th May 1996.
Myself and my wife Maggie - along with Brian Markham, my nephew - walked Down Wembley Way to watch a great game of football with the bonus of a 3-0 win over Clitheroe.
Although we lived for a time in Barnetby and obviously went to Brigg regularly, we now live in Western Australia and were on an extended U.K. holiday at the time.
Maggie and I had travelled down from Fort William in Scotland overnight, where we had been to the Scottish Six Day Trial, and met up with Brian in Brigg to jump on one of the buses heading down to London. He also presented us with a couple of Brigg Town shirts, complete with the F.A. Vase badge.
Returning back to Brigg after the game, one of the coaches broke down, so the passengers all crowded onto our bus for a cramped but fun-filled trip, with everybody on a high from the amazing result. Much singing and cheering was undertaken.
A very wonderful day that will always be remembered.

PICTURED: Brian Markham, above left, with Paul Church, close to one of the famous Twin Towers at the original Wembley stadium 25 years ago, and souvenirs of the final.