A liberal sprinkling of Exiles’ magic dust on Saturday meant the result should never have been in doubt but there were still sighs of relief when the final whistle sounded and forty Exiles celebrated League One survival with a game to spare.
As usual the club did us proud with brilliant hospitality co-ordinated by Frances Fielding. We were joined for a time by BBM, Ian Henderson, Jim McNulty, Calvin Andrew and Ryan McLaughlin who posed for photos and chatted openly with guests. Board members David Bottomley, Tony Pockney and John Smallwood were also on hand to admire Chris Commins’ Dale Exiles banner which graced the room.
Although vital points were at stake for the current campaign, the day had an unashamedly 1968/69 focus. Members of the promotion winning team from fifty years ago joined us. Spontaneous applause broke out as Vinny Leech, Steve Melledew, Graham Smith, Derek Ryder, Dennis Butler, Bill Rudd and Norma Jenkins (Reg’s widow) joined us for chats and photos. Veteran exiles were misty eyed and went away with copies of Steve Jones’ “Echoes of 69” kindly donated by the author as well as the replica programme from 10 May 1969 produced by the Dale Trust.
Neil Watts won a signed shirt in the raffle and the pitch appeal benefitted by £100 as a result. The Man of the Match award threw up plenty of nominees and in the end, Aaron Wilbraham, was our decision. Mark Wagstaff and Janet Beecheno presented the award and a signed photo of the occasion is winging its way to Suffolk to 92-year-old Joan Watts who retains her title as senior Exile.
