A swarm of delighted fans clapped the 11 Banbury players off the pitch after one of the most exciting games ever seen at The Stadium, as United came back on Ssturday from a 3-0 deficit to beat Rugby Town 4-3 in this Southern League First Division game.

It was a game which saw United – reeling and punch-drunk after conceding three goals – haul themselves off the canvas to fight back and finally land the knockout punch. Executioner-in-chief was legendary striker Tony Foster, who in one devastating 15 minute period hammered four goals. The 24 year-old, who had recently been watched by Chelsea, had after this game taken his league goal tally for the season to 16, making him one of the hottest properties in the Southern League.

Foster’s blitz turned a dream game into a nightmare for former Banbury players Colin Holder and Jimmy Knox. They played a big part in establishing Rugby’s three goal lead before the fighting, never say die Banbury revival turned what looked like ignominious defeat into glorious victory.

United manager Johnny Crichton was so excited by his team’s revival that he was almost speechless after the game but after regaining his composure, he paid tribute to what he described as “essentially a team effort”.

Rugby started the game as if they intended to knock Banbury off their perch. They took an early lead through Keeley and the same player headed number two after only 19 minutes. Rugby went further ahead with a goal from Ward just 30 seconds after the interval.

Foster started Banbury’s fight back with a goal in the 60th minute. Fifteen minutes later he had scored three more and set the Banbury fans roaring with delight.

The winning goal was the result of a tremendous shot by Steve Lee. Picking the ball up 30 yards out he hit a fierce curling shot which cannoned off the bar. The rebound landed at the feet of Foster, who coolly picked his spot.

Brave Rugby, visibly shattered by what was happening to them, refused to stay down. In a desperate final 10 minutes they threw everything into attack. It took a diving header from Bob Haynes to prevent them sharing the points.

Banbury United: Stewart Rennie, Cyril Beavon, Terry Jeakings, Colin Moulsdale, Roger Darvell, Bob Haynes, Alan Hellyer, Tony Bradbury, Barry Kelcher, Tony Foster, Steve Lee. Sub: Pete Svenson.

Team photo below shows the Banbury United team that played Rugby Town that afternoon. The players are:

Back Row (Left to Right): Pete Svenson, Cyril Beavon, Roger Darvell, Stewart Rennie, Bob Haynes, Steve Lee, Terry Jeakings.

Front Row (Left to Right): Barry Kelcher, Tony Bradbury, Colin Moulsdale, Alistair Smilie (mascot), Tony Foster, Alan Hellyer.
.

.
A Rugby player sprawls full length as Foster slots home goal number one.
.

.
Foster watches his shot beat the Rugby goalkeeper for his second.
.

.
Two Rugby defenders arrive too late to stop Foster equalising
.

.
Foster watches intently after firing in the shot which produced Banbury’s winner
.

.
Tony Foster joined Banbury United from Brentwood Town in the summer of 1969. He had made a big impression at the Spencer Stadium the previous season when Brentwood came to Banbury, a local newspaper match report for the mid-August game said “Full back Jim Cassidy had a hectic evening trying to contain the speedy Tony Foster on the left flank.”

After two seasons as United’s leading goalscorer, Tony left to join West Midland League side Tamworth for season 1971/72 and was appointed their player/manager part way through that season. His departure from Banbury was though shrouded in controversy and shocked the club’s supporters. Tony’s version of events was that about six weeks before the end of the season he had been told verbally he would be retained but after not receiving written notice by the end of the season started to look elsewhere adding he did not want to leave it too late to sign for someone else if he was not going to be retained by Banbury after all. Banbury United Chairman Albert Stevens had a different view claiming Foster had left on a pure technicality due to the delay in sending the requisite letter by a club official and was shocked at his attitude and that he was just looking for a loophole to leave.

There follows a scan of press articles giving the two sides of the story
.

.
Nevertheless, Tony returned to Banbury for the start of season 1972/73 teaming up to form a lethal twin strike force with club record goalscorer Tony Jacques until, as a consequence of him moving out of the area, he joined Basingstoke Town in March 1974.

Tony scored in all competitions 140 goals in 223 appearances which puts him in third place in the all-time Banbury United (excluding Banbury Spencer) goalscorers list behind only Tony Jacques and Jody McKay.

The game against Rugby Town was not the only time Tony scored four goals for United in a game. Photo below shows Tony scoring one of his four goals as United beat Canterbury City 8-1 in a Southern League game on Saturday 28th November 1970. Chris Riley got a hat-trick that day with Steve Lee getting the other Banbury goal.
.

.
The club has for many years been trying to make contact with Tony and recently the club were delighted to have been successful in doing so. Tony is well and seems keen to have a meet up with former teammates. We hope to be able to re-unite the deadly strikeforce of Tony Jacques and Tony Foster at a former player's re-union game when the current situation allows and we are back to some form of normality