TOWN and Dagenham and Redbridge go head to head for the first time when they clash in the FA Cup first round at the Galpharm on Friday.

But older supporters of Dagenham, who merged with Redbridge Forest to create the current club in 1992, might well remember a previous trip to Huddersfield.

It was made in January 1970, and the FA Amateur Cup third-round clash at Emley certainly made an impression on the Essex club’s programme editor.

The showdown, which drew a 2,117 crowd to the hill-top ground, took place on a bracing West Riding Saturday afternoon.

It finished goalless, and the programme for the replay at Victoria Road, still the home of the current club, noted: “We hope to offer our visitors better weather. It was dry up in Emley, but with a bitterly cold wind. But that didn’t bother the home fans.

“While I stood shivering, the local alongside me wasn’t even wearing a top coat, and never flinched once. He told me ‘it’s so healthy up here, they had to shoot someone to start a cemetery’. If I have to attend another game there, I’ll be joining the victim!”

Emley, who had just moved from the District to the Yorkshire League, were hoping to reach the last 16 of the Amateur Cup for the second season running.

Bossed by former Town goalkeeper Harry Fearnley, they had seen off Dulwich Hamlet at the same stage in 1968-69 before going down 1-0 to Barking, and Dagenham, of the Athenian League and skippered by England amateur international Denis Moore, would have been a top scalp.

Emley, including the likes of tough-tackling full-back Granville Ellam, brawny striker Mick Pamment and tricky winger Ian Kettlewell, gave Dagenham a tough time.

Against a visiting side missing 21-goal top scorer Tony Bass through injury, they created the better chances, but were made to pay for their failure to finish them off.

The replay trip started badly, when one of three coaches carrying players, officials and supporters caught fire on the M1.

And there was misery at the final whistle of a game won 5-0 by Dagenham, who went on to reach the Wembley final, where Enfield ran out 5-1 winners.

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