Magpie Miscellany Part 9

Gale at the double

In March 1934, Geoff Gale achieved the miraculous feat of playing two games for Maidenhead United at the same time. 

Initially selected for the Reserves’ trip to Watford British Legion, Gale kicked off for the second string in the outside right position (right wing). The hosts took an early lead but with Gale to the fore, the Magpies pushed hard for an equaliser, and in the 23rd he played in Dibley. The shot was charged down but Gigg was first to the loose ball to score.

Meanwhile the first team had travelled to Letchworth Town for a Spartan League fixture, The Magpies were pushing hard for the title, and had won their last four league matches, having lost just one all season. However they feared the worst when Brook failed to turn up, forcing United to start the match with ten men. Nevertheless Copas put the league leaders in front in the eighth minute, and Day had doubled the score by the quarter hour mark. Letchworth pulled one back by half time and with the sun and wind about to switch to their favour for the second half would have been confident about completing a remontada with a man advantage.

Fortunately, a plan to save the day was well underway. When it became clear that United would be one short, two club officials had set off from Letchworth to Watford by car, a journey of 25 miles. They arrived at the reserve match just as the equaliser hit the back of the net. Gale asked permission from the referee to leave the pitch and jumped into the car to head back to Letchworth. Left with ten men, the Reserves held on until half time, then collapsed in the second half eventually losing 6-1.

Back at Letchworth, Maidenhead held on valiantly to their lead, and appeared to be revitalised when Gale joined them after twenty minutes of the second half. Yet with eight minutes remaining the home team equalised. Maidenhead’s response was to go “all out” for the winner and in the eighty fifth minute, it was inevitably Gale who scored with a “well timed shot” to win the game by the odd goal in five.

Following the match the presence of Gale’s name on the teamsheets of two matches played simultaneously was spotted by the Spartan League registration secretary who assumed an error had been made. The importance of Gale’s contribution was that it maintained United’s winning run, which would stretch ten matches to the end of the season. This meant captain Fred Hampshire could lift the Spartan League title for the third time. Geoff Gale though would remain a fringe player, making only ten appearances and scoring one more goal for the first team.

Sources:

One for Sorrow, Two for Joy, Mark Smith, 2011

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