Hatfield Heath’s 1985 cup final side reunites for team photo 40 years to the day

By Bishop's Stortford Independent reporter

newsdesk@bishopsstortfordindependent.co.uk

Published: 10:51, 14 May 2025

A village football team reunited to mark the 40th anniversary of a cup final defeat!

The players from Hatfield Heath FC got back together to mark their extra time loss four decades ago to the day.

Of the 12 players in the team photo from 1985, 11 were able to make the reunion – the only one who couldn’t attend has moved to St Kitts in the Caribbean.

The Hatfield Heath side of 1985 - back from left: John Deamer, Mark Fleming, Andy Lines, Richard Banks, Ian Barnett, Dave Brown, Richard Lines; front from left: Paul Chinnery, Ian Kettridge, Michael Bamber, Andy Clayden, Martin Pyle

For the 2025 photo, he was replaced by a regular player who had been injured earlier in the 1984-85 season but wasn’t selected in the cup final squad.

They all took exactly the same positions for the team pic 40 years on.

Andy Clayden, whose son Adam plays for the current Heath team, said: “It was a brilliant day. We’re all still great mates and most of us still live in the area.

The Hatfield Heath side of 2025 - back from left: John Deamer, Mark Fleming, Andy Lines, Richard Banks, Ian Barnett, Dave Brown, Richard Lines; front from left: Paul Chinnery, Ian Kettridge, Michael Bamber, Andy Clayden, Michael Barnett (in place of Martin Pyle)

“It was a special time to play for the Heath and we all have got very happy memories of that period. I can’t believe it was 40 years ago.”

Hatfield Heath won the North West Essex Sunday League in 1984-85, clinching the title with victory in the last game of the season. But in May 1985 they lost the inter-divisional cup final 3-1 to rivals Braughing at Stansted FC’s Hargrave Park ground.

Two of the players, John Deamer and Dave Brown, are now in their mid 70s. The others are in their early 60s and late 50s.

Bishops Stortford Human Interest Stansted Trending Bishop's Stortford Independent reporter