Neston Win The H.A. Cup 1983

H.A. Cup Final
Neston 3-2 Slough

In 1983, Neston got to the Club Championship Final, then called The HA Cup sponsored by Rank Xerox. They beat Slough 3-2 in an exciting Final in St Alban's in April 1983.

The story began the previous day as they played the semi-final against Southgate, a side with ten internationals and who had dominated Southern and English Hockey and were the holders of the competition, three of whom would go on to get Bronze in Atlanta the following year and then Gold in the 1988 Seoul Olympics five years later, Steven Batchelor, Richard Dodds and Sean Kerly!

It has been reported by more than one person that Southgate were already looking forward to The Final and wondered how many goals they would get past Neston to get there, who were without two of their first choice players, Ashcroft and Peters, both Welsh internationals. After full time it was 0-0 and it went to Penalties, Pete Wise saved Batchelors flick and Wilkinson converted to win, we won 5-4.

The next day Slough who had beaten Beckenham 5-0 in the other semi where ready for Neston. Within eight minutes Neston had scored twice, Renshaw found Pickthall on the right who lofted it over their keeper. Smith came through the middle and found a speedy Greene who shot on target 2-0. They got a Penalty corner goal 2-1, however some bad tackles gave us a Penalty flick, Greene put it away, 3-1. With seven minutes left they got one back 3-2, but Neston held on to win the Cup 3-2 and represent England in Europe the following year.

1983 England Club Champions HA Cup Winners

Team: Wise, Cubley, McKeown, Wilkinson, Stannard, Greene, Royce, Smith, Renshaw, Church, Manchett, Haslem, Pickthall, Rowntree

Goals: Pickthall, Greene x2

Standing L to R: G.Poole (Manager), S.Smith, C.Ashcroft, D.Peters, S.Greene, C.Cubley, (Capt), J.Royce, A.Rowntree, M.Wilkinson, P.Renshaw, T.Clarke (Coach)
Sitting L to R: J.Peters, D Stanard, A.Pickthall, R.Beswick, P.McKeown, D.Church, P.Wise