In Memoriam – John “Johnny” Biddle
All at Cray Wanderers are saddened to learn of the passing of one of the club’s most successful managers, John “Johnny” Biddle at the age of 91.
John came to Cray Wanderers after a pretty turbulent end to the 1971-72 season along with many of his players with no senior experience having come through junior football with clubs like Vokins and 279 Chislehurst. Many players signed would go on to be become stars like John Duffy, Pat Carey, Gerry Collier, Terry Smart and club legend Dave Jackson in goal.
The 1972-73 season was the club’s last at Grassmeade and Cray Wanderers finished 4th in the Met London League. Cray also beat Southern League opposition in the FA Cup in Canterbury City in perhaps the last great Grassmeade cup scalp. The following season saw the Wands at Oxford Road, Sidcup and finished 4th once again with added quality like John and Bob Scott, captain Phil Emblen, strikers Paul Martin and Phil Lawrence added and also one of the club’s finest midfield players, Dave Waight who would have three spells with Cray Wanderers going into the 1980’s. Silverware was won in the Harry Sunderland Memorial Trophy after victory against Eton Manor with goals from Emblen and Duffy.
The 1974-75 season would go on to be one of the finest in the club’s history in the Met London League and after losing the first game of the season would go on to lose just one more match and went 29 games unbeaten winning the 38 game league by nine points and scoring 128 goals with Waight scoring 39 and six more players notching into double figures like Lawrence, Martin, McCarty, Smart and Tony Smith. Cray also won the Met League Cup defeating Alma Swanley 3-1 in the final at Chingford with goals from Emblen, Bob Scott and Waight.
Back row l-r – Johnny Biddle, Simon Emblen, Bob Scott, Steve Pateman, Mal Sutton, Paul Martin, John Scott, Paul McCarthy – Front row – l-r Tony Smith, Phl Lawrence, Dave Waight, Phil Emblen, Dave Prountzos, Gerry Collier, Terry Smart
It was not just the league that made the headlines. There was also a fine run in the FA Cup which earned the nickname “Biddle’s Battlers” due to a perceived robust style of play saw victories against Aveley and against one of the iconic FA Cup names in Walthamstow Avenue who were beaten 2-0 at Oxford Road before losing to a strong Sutton United side. Including cup games Cray scored 170 goals that season a record that let’s face is never going to be beaten.
John’s success hadn’t gone unnoticed and for 1975-76 season took up the vacant managerial post at a then struggling Bromley along with most of the first team squad and achieved solid success over six seasons including promotion from the Isthmian League Division One in 1979-80 the same year another great Wands team was building a head of steam at Oxford Road.
John also managed the likes of Dartford and Tooting & Mitcham United but for those fans that remember the incredible three seasons under Johnny’s management at Cray Wanderers his impact here will never be forgotten.
John’s funeral will take place on Monday 12th January, The Bluebell Cemetery, Halstead TN14 7AE at 12.30 pm.
