Written by John Lewis and David Knight
A Note from the Editors: We are thrilled to be able to feature an article from the 1979/80 1st XI. We are especially grateful to John, David, and Martyn for their work on the piece.
Nearly 45 years ago in May 1980, The Beaver covered the exploits of the all-conquering LSE 1st XI Football Team of the 1979-80 season. For the first time in our esteemed history, the LSE ‘Firsts’ had won something. In fact, the team, of which I was a member, did ‘The Double’, winning both the London University Football League and the Challenge Cup.
That is a feat that (as far as I’m aware) remains unmatched. Some of the same players from the Double-winning team did win the league again in the 1981/82 season. Far more recently, the league was finally won again by the Firsts in the 2022/23 season. However, another Double has remained frustratingly elusive.
And that’s absolutely fine. It would be great if LSE had a tradition of success down the years, but, quite frankly, no one applies to attend the best university in the world for the football. But I suspect that another thing that was true back then still holds true today: so many of us achieve so much more whilst we are at LSE because of the football.
Late last year, it struck me that with the 45th anniversary of our team’s success approaching, it was an opportunity to celebrate our unique achievement and to reconnect with my old teammates. It meant tracking down my fellow players with the help of the one teammate I was still in touch with, Nigel Hopkins. And from the LSE itself, in the form of the Alumni Office. I am delighted to say that we made it happen.
On 22 February, most of the original 1st XI, with a couple of welcome additions, met up and, in time-honoured tradition, took the train from Waterloo to New Malden- the home of our past glories and still the home of LSE Football- to watch the current LSE 1sts play their final league fixture of this season – and ‘thrash’ Imperial 3-2 – whilst sharing our own unreliable memories.
It was a wonderful occasion, which was only made possible by the support that Nigel and I received from LSE’s Alumni Office and the LSESU Athletics Union (AU) – especially from AU Secretary Matt Carl and Will Warren, the 1st XI captain. I am delighted to report that we found the AU and the LSESU Football Club (now an unbelievable seven teams strong) to be in very good hands.
Mind you, that is coming from a couple of profane and degenerate punks of yesteryear. When we weren’t playing football, beating everyone in sight, some of us were at gigs, watching Joy Division, Siouxsie and the Banshees and a new band called The Cure. And during our time at LSE, the most headline-grabbing punk band The Sex Pistols released their only album, Never Mind the Bollocks Here’s The Sex Pistols, which Nigel and I referenced in the title of our shoutout message to old teammates. Or would have done, if it hadn’t been amended by the Alumni Office, due to our use of the ‘B’ word. I did explain that back in the day, the cover was neither illegal nor censored and, in fact, regarded as a cultural landmark. But they would not be swayed.
Nevertheless, we still tracked down some of those old punks, post-punks, and the rest of the team, and it was marvellous to discover that our teammates have gone on to enjoy long and rewarding careers, happy lives, and rewarding relationships. While neither success at LSE nor on the football pitch can absolutely guarantee you the good life, it appears that putting the two together certainly helps.
However, it’s important to add that bringing the ‘old boys’ back together also involved some real sadness, with the discovery that one of our number was no longer with us. Just a week before the reunion, we heard the devastating news that John Glennon, our team captain, passed away last year. John was so important to the team – as a player and person. He was at the heart of most of our extraordinary memories – some unreliable, but most of them true.
We raised a glass to John on February 22 – a poignant moment during a very happy day. And we will be staying in touch with each other, hopefully meeting again in future. We have rediscovered old friends and that punk spirit is certainly still there among us.
We wish everyone who joins the AU and plays football, at whatever level, during their time at LSE a great future and firmly believe it is the best decision you will ever make.
With special thanks to Skye & Joey, LSE Library Services, and the LSE Digital Library.
