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A Famous Day At The Memorial

A Famous Day At The Memorial

Charlie Bright11 Jan 2020 - 06:27
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The day George Best came to Redhill.

Article - David Barber (club historian)

Historian David Barber recalls when George Best, Bobby Moore and Rodney Marsh played at Redhill's ground

The Memorial Sports Ground in the centre of town was home to Redhill FC for more than 80 years. One of its most special matches was a friendly against Fulham that drew a crowd of more than 2,000. The Whites were riding high in the old Second Division and their line-up on that cold October night in 1976 - only a year after their Wembley meeting with West Ham in the FA Cup Final - included George Best, Bobby Moore and Rodney Marsh.

Yes, that trio of football legends actually played at Redhill. They were in the same team and were on the field for the full 90 minutes!

The match to raise much needed funds was arranged through Ernie Clay, the Fulham chairman. When Redhill FC contacted Mr Clay about the possibility of them sending a team to Redhill, the Club were unaware that many years earlier they had done him a great service. He was at Newcastle United when their suspended London-based player George Eastham had needed somewhere to train and Redhill had been able to oblige.

The result was Redhill 2 Fulham 6. But the Reds gave a good account of themselves with Phil Butler and Peter Farrell scoring their goals. Redhill boss Colin Turner played the whole of his first-team squad to give them "something to remember" for the rest of their lives.

George Best was voted European Player of the Year in 1968 and won the European Cup with Manchester United on a magical night at Wembley. Bobby Moore captained England to World Cup glory and won the FA Cup and European Cup Winners' Cup with West Ham. Rodney Marsh was a Wembley winner with QPR before joining Manchester City and playing for England.

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