Banbury Spencer reached the First Round Proper of the FA Cup in season 1961/62. Though not rewarded with a home game, they were to meet a Football League side, being drawn away at Gay Meadow to mid-table Third Division Shrewsbury Town, the game played on Saturday 4th November 1961.

To get their supporters to the game, the Spencer Committee stated that, provided at least 400 people were willing to travel, they would arrange for a “Special Train” to run from Banbury to Shrewsbury. With FA Cup fever gripping the town it was evident within 24 hours that there was indeed sufficient demand. Members of the Football Club committee, together with volunteer supporters, were in the railway sidings on the morning of the game to decorate the front of the engine ready for the journey with a headboard proclaiming “Banbury Spencer - Gay Puritans to Gay Meadow”.

The reserved coach for players and officials was though rather empty when it left Banbury for there was only one local player in the side, that being Pete Svenson. With most of the others living around Birmingham, there was a mass pick-up of players, and Birmingham based manager Norman Rees, at Snow Hill. With many more supporters travelling by coach and private car it was estimated by the local press that there were around 1,000 Spencer supporters amongst the crowd of 7,750.

On the field though there was to be no upset. Goals from Jimmy McLaughlin and Mike Kenning gave Shrewsbury a 2-0 half time lead and they did not let up in the second half, McLaughlin scoring on the hour mark and then Kenning on 69 minutes before Arthur Rowley got a fifth with ten minutes to go. Banbury Spencer fans then finally had something to cheer about when John Redding thrust his way down the middle and beat the advancing goalkeeper Mike Gibson from the edge of the penalty area with a hard drive. Shrewsbury were though still not finished and with the Banbury backs visibly tiring under the onslaught of the superbly fit Shrewsbury professionals they added two more goals. Malcolm Starkey scored the sixth and Rowley added a final flourish by netting the seventh a minute from time to make the final score 7-1.

Despite the hammering, local and national press recognised Spencer’s fighting spirit and though outclassed how they had never given up and were always trying to play good football. Newspaper headlines included “Gallant Spencer Swamped”, “Shrewsbury’s experience was too much for gallant Spencer”. Banbury had not though been disgraced in defeat and richly deserved the sympathetic applause of the 7,750 spectators as they trooped off. Manager Norman Rees said “They were too good for us. They were faster to the man and to the ball. That’s what full time training does for a team.”

The Banbury Spencer team at Shrewsbury was: Bob Williams, Alan Bury, Alan Rees, Pete Svenson, Dave Dann, Roy Warhurst, Harry Ironmonger, Trevor Thomas, John Redding, Kevin Cornwell, and Johnny Hicks.

Photos show the special train with the “Gay Puritans to Gay Meadow” headboard on its way to Shrewsbury, supporters decorating the front of the train with the headboard before leaving, a newspaper advert for the train, a photo of a section of the Spencer crowd at Gay Meadow, extracts from the match programme and a photo of the team that played at Shrewsbury. The players in the team photo are:

Back Row (Left to Right): Jack Ballinger (Trainer), Alan Bury, Pete Svenson, Dave Dann, Bob Williams, Roy Warhurst, Alan Rees, Unknown (ordinary clothes)

Front Row: (Left to Right): Harry Ironmonger, Trevor Thomas, John Redding, Norman Rees (manager), Kevin Cornwell, Johnny Hicks.

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