Vince Taylor's lucky charm when Worthing won the Senior Cup, beating Bognor 3-2 at the Goldstone, was a piece of coal in his shorts pocket.

The winning goal that day in 1952 came from Norman Martin who volunteered to lead the attack after playing most of his games at the back. Norman was just the versatile sort of player that Worthing thrived on at that time.

Let's see now, how old are some of those survivors? Ken Shearwood, who won fame with Pegasus and was a master at Lancing College, is the fittest looking 80 I've seen for many a day with a great shock of silver hair but a rugged profile that speaks of countless aerial battles. Ron Wood and Norman Martin are 76, Vince Taylor 75, Johnny Lambourne is 77. Another old face from the mid-Fifties was Peter Wales.

Inevitably there were old friends sadly missed. Perhaps the bravest player of that generation was Jimmy Punter who, despite polio as a boy, won and kept his place on merit. Nobody ever heard Jimmy complain and, I vouch, nobody in the team went in harder. Nor did a player enjoy the Saturday night trawl of Worthing's pubs win, lose or draw and be such good company than Jimmy. First it was the Fountain, then on to the Marine before popping into the Ship and rounding off with an hour or so of cards at Ron's house in Centre Court Road.

Life was good, but then it will always be good among such friends as were united by the privilege of playing for a distinguished football club that has been splendidly served by those who came after my generation.