The McClurg family and Bracknell Town’s famous FA Vase runs

Steve McClurg and Jamie McClurg. Photo's Connor Sharod-Southam and Neil Graham.
Steve McClurg and Jamie McClurg. Photo's Connor Sharod-Southam and Neil Graham.

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We’ve mentioned once or twice over the last few days that the last time Bracknell Town reached the FA Vase Fifth Round was during the 1982/83 season when they won through six rounds before going out to Great Yarmouth Town.

Key to the Robins progression to this season’s fifth round on Tuesday night was midfielder Jamie McClurg who continued the family legacy of taking Bracknell deep in to the latter stages of the competition.

We’ve been sent the programme details and match report on twitter from @richard242 which shows how influential Jamie’s uncle Steve was in the clubs run in 82/83 before succumbing to a 6-0 defeat in East Anglia.

The Great Yarmouth Town vs Bracknell Town programme. Photo: @richard242
The Great Yarmouth Town vs Bracknell Town programme. Photo: @richard242

The player profiles for the game state about the senior McClurg:

The midfield trio is led by 30 year old club veteran and player-manager S. [Steve] McClurg who contributes to aerial power and aggression to the midfield department.

Sounds eerily similar to the performance of Steve’s nephew Jamie’s man of the match performance in the Vase on Tuesday night against Blackfield & Langley doesn’t it!

According to the programme, the match was on Saturday 12th February 1983 at Wellesley Gardens (2.15pm ko) and the squad was: K. Greenaway, M. Sergison, C. Sturgess, A. O’Connor, B. Pratt, R. Dennison, T. Muskett, R. Milam, R.Whitty, N. Davies, P. Bevins, S. McClurg,

The 1982/83 FA Vase run (via fchd.info)

  • PREL Horsham YMCA (H) 3-2
  • 1 Greenwich Borough (H) 2-1
  • 2 Peacehaven & Telscombe (A) 1-1
  • 2r Peacehaven & Telscombe (H) 1-0
  • 3 Crockenhill (A) 1-1
  • 3r Crockenhill (H) 1-0
  • 4 Three Bridges (H) 1-0
  • 5 Great Yarmouth Town (A) 0-6

A ‘secret weapon’

According to ‘The Pink Un’, the football newspaper covering East Anglia at the time, Great Yarmouth had a ‘trump card’ going in to the game in the shape of a former Football League player.

The paper said:

Bill Punton revealed his FA Vase surprise trump card minutes before kick off of today’s game against Bracknell when Nolan Kelley made his come back for the Bloaters after several years.

He has been playing League football for Scunthorpe and Lincoln and in the Northern Premier League for Lynn and was due to play for Anglian Combination Fakenham today until their match was called off. He stepped up at the 11th hour to help Yarmouth’s glory bid.

Keeley went on to score one of Yarmouth’s six goals in the match, as the Bloaters went on to with their quarter final at home to Brandon United 2-0 before going out in the two legged semi final to VS Rugby – losing the first game 2-1 and drawing the second leg 1-1 at home.

Main image: Steve McClurg and Jamie McClurg. Photo’s Connor Sharod-Southam and Neil Graham.

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