Leatherhead v Dartford  

The late 1970s was a great time to be a Leatherhead supporter as the club made national headlines with their FA Cup exploits and the infamous Leatherhead lip of Chris Kelly becoming a national icon. 

1978 also saw The Tanners flirting with success as they reached the Isthmian League Cup Final and the First Round proper of the FA Cup and the club finally made it to Wembley albeit in the FA Trophy. 

It was that FA trophy run which began in the strangest of circumstances with a match against Dartford which made headlines up and down the country.  Despite not taking place! 

After overcoming Banbury United in the First Round Leatherhead were paired with Dartford though poor weather put the game in doubt.  Happily the match referee ruled the Fetcham Grove pitch was playable 90 minutes before the match was due to kick off.   

Unfortunately that message either didn’t get through to the Dartford team bus or was misinterpreted because with the crowd in the stadium, Leatherhead on the pitch and their own directors in the stand the Dartford players made an abrupt u-turn and went home under the illusion the game was off. 

Quite why the Dartford bus turned back was never really established but the FA were obviously in charitable mood as they took no action against the club and ordered the match to be restaged.   

Fittingly Leatherhead won the rematch 5-1 with Kelly notching two and the Tanners went on to beat Wigan Athletic in the next round eventually reaching the Wembley Final after beating Bedford Town and then Spennymoor United in the two-legged semi-final.   

Unfortunately Altrincham proved too strong for the Isthmian League side and the Robins won comfortably 3-1 with Mickey Cook notching a consolation goal for the Tanners.