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2. United's First Game at Grange Park


One week after the new club's first game, a 1-0 defeat at St Neots, Wellingborough Town visited Grange Park on Saturday 25th August.

A crowd of 920, the largest for three season's, came to see how the new Long Eaton club would fare and it seems they were not disappointed.

Ex Long Eaton Town player Bob Shackleton returned to the town after having a spell with Derby County and the popular forward delighted the Grange Park crowd with two goals, missing out on a hat-trick after firing a penalty over the bar.

Racing into a two-goal lead, United were pegged back before the interval to go in at half-time with the scores level at 2-2.

It seems that memories of long-hot summers of the 1950's were not always as sultry as they may have been recalled as a continuous downpour in the second half fell on Grange Park on that late August afternoon.

Nonetheless, Shackleton sent the fans home happy when he headed the winner to secure the club's first ever victory after becoming the scorer of the club's first-ever goal earlier in the game.

Barrie Clarke, who ended the season as leading scorer, made his debut in the game

United Team:

Arthur Warry; Robinson, Lincoln; Barry Halford, Tony Watson, Arnie Bennett; Tommy Ellis, Barrie Clarke, Alec Sanders, Mick Fitch, Bob Shackleton