Ten years on from our last Kent Senior Cup success in 1965, England World Cup manager George Cohen is in the Angels’ manager’s chair and poised to deliver the cup again for Tonbridge.
It’s a timepiece picture which says it all. Long hair, sideburns, V-necked shirts with wing collars and a checked trench coat worn by general manager Dave Brennan. It’s got 1975 written all over it.
Two days after Monty Python and the Holy Grail hits cinemas, Cohen takes his side to the old Maidstone United ground at London Road hoping to go one better than the 2-2 draw fought out by the sides at the old Angel ground the previous Monday, with Dave Crush being the most effective Tonbridge player on the day.
Cohen’s side has already seen off Erith and Belvedere, Ramsgate and Dartford to reach the final of the Kent Senior Cup.
Progress in the Cup has perhaps taken Angels fans minds off the struggles in a Southern League Premier containing Kent rivals like Margate, Dover, Dartford and Maidstone themselves, and will soon be won by football league bound Wimbledon.
At the heart of the Angels team are two former Charlton Athletic stalwarts – the two Ks – captain Brian Kinsey (below) and John Keirs and strikers Phil Stonebridge and Crush.
It is Stones who lead at half time through a goal from Everest, who beats Angels’ keeper Ian Seymour on 19 minutes.
Stones are the better side in the first half but fail to hammer home their advantage giving Angels belief they can win it after the break.
Crush and Stonebridge draw good saves from Stones’ keeper Maggs while winger Gordon Hancock starts to exert an influence, as does Bobby Evans playing against his own club.
But the outstanding player on the day is the Scotsman Keirs and, on 73 minutes, he fires home after a Stonebridge throw-in causes consternation in the Stones defence.
Two minutes later, Cohen’s men get a second after Hancock hits a deep ball from the left and George Putman rises high to head the ball home.
It is enough to secure the trophy for Angels and a delighted Kinsey – shortly to head off to Kuwait on a three-year coaching contract – receives the Cup from Kent FA chairman, Eddie Butcher.
Soon the Angels players are pictured in the communal bath – standard issue for all changing rooms of old – guzzling champagne from the Cup.
After the game Cohen says Angels gained some good insight into the Stones style of play during Monday’s league game which they used to their advantage in the final, including a slight redeployment of Crush:
“I pushed him up front,” Cohen tells reporters, “and this probably caused them some worry. It took some pressure off Phil Stonebridge, who was able to make some of his runs.”
Angels: Ian Seymour; Bobby Evans, Len Prince, Brian Kinsey, John Keirs, Gordon Hancock, Paul Flood, Dave Crush, George Putman, Phil Stonebridge, Barry Smith. Sub: Kevin Walsh
What happens next? Angels win again on Monday after goals from Stonebridge and Putman give them victory over Bath City but they only preserve their Southern League premier status by a whisker only securing safety on the last day of the season courtesy of a 3-0 victory over relegated Barnet.
George Cohen remained Tonbridge manager until September 1976 when he was replaced by Ernie Morgan.
He received an MBE in 2000. In 2016, a statue of him was unveiled outside Craven Cottage, home of Fulham, for whom he made 459 appearances.
He is considered one of the finest right backs ever to represent England.
He died in December 2022 aged 83.
