Highgate United v Enfield at VP 1967

[Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air]

I am sure some others must have been at this, I was a very young lad at the time and have only vague recollections.

For those unaware, Highgate United were playing Enfield in the FA Amateur Cup. Lightning struck and one of the Highgate players Tony Allden tragically died. The game was obviously abandoned and when rearranged it was staged at VP. An incredible 30,000 plus turned up to pay tribute. (Villa home games then were often in the low 20,000s). Enfield ran out 6-0 winners but the result didnt matter.

I remember the Sports Argus on the saturday of the first game had grainy pictures of the tragedy.
My only recollection of being at VP with my Dad was being in the Witton Lane stand with this massive unexpected crowd and obviously a uniquely different atmosphere around the event.
I still have the programme, a 4 page production along the lines of what they would do for central league games at that time.
Is there still a trophy played for named after Tony Allden ?

[spangley1812]

My dad John Langley may have played in that game, I may have been there too but I was only 2 then..........

[Dave Cooper please]

Is there still a trophy played for named after Tony Allden ?

Yes, the Tony Allden Memorial Cup is the Midland Combination's equivalent of the Charity Shield and is usually played pre-season by the previous season's Premier Division champions and the winners of the Mid Comb Challange Cup.


This year it was won by Heather St. Johns.

[nordenvillain]

I was there. You are right that the attendance was above that which we were getting for Villa home games. I remember lots of amateur club teams gong en amasse to see the game but more importantly raise money for the player's family.
Enfield were one of Amateur football's superstar teams at the time along with Wealdstone and Bishop Auckland.

[levico]

I was there too - queued for ages to get in. The gate took the Villa totally by surprise.

[Desi]

I was at the original game and it was something which one never forgets.


It was raining when the match started but about halfway through the first half it just poured down and went as black as night.
Highgate were on the attack and there were only about six players in the other half, when this bolt of lightening shot out of the sky and hit one of the defenders (Tony Allden, who must have been wearing some sort of medallion round his neck) and the other five players in that half of the pitch were knocked to the ground.

There was no panic, I think that most of the crowd were unaware of exactly what had happened, St John’s Ambulance ran on plus the coaches etc and everyone just stood around totally stunned before making their way out.


I was also at the Villa Park replay and it was one of those amazing occasions when the result really was secondary.


It will not surprise anyone to know that, even all these years later I am very uncomfortable being outside when there is lightening about!


http://www.twohundredpercent.net/?p=1830

[philthebar]

I was there, in the Holte, aged 14.  But apart form being there, the reason why, and thatattendance, that's all I remember.

[ClarrieBlue]

I just dug this one out of the archives. I was at this game too. As previously mentioned, it was surely one of the wettest nights ever at Villa Park. I was about 8 and my dad swore that the rain gave him arthritis. I think I'm right in saying that Highgate's normal kit then was all red but I reckon they played in Villa's kit that night or is my mind playing tricks. I have just read that the crowd that night was approaching 31,000. Unbelievable. I was in the Trinity Road Enclosure as it was known. A great example of how football fans can rally round when required.

[Ron Manager]

I too was there.The rain came down in torrents but it didn't  seem to matter.Big crowd and spine tingling atmosphere. I got home soaked through but I was glad I made the effort to go

[pooligan]

I was there ,i use to sell the Villa news and record and Golden goal tickets in the Trinity road stand.The attendance took the club by surprise and we soon sold out of programmes. I had forgotten the score but i can remember that Enfield won a one sided match but nobody was really to worried about the score