One of Warwickshire’s and Non-League football’s best ever Managers, Jimmy Knox and ten of his VS Rugby players, who won the FA Vase at Wembley Stadium, are to attend a 25th anniversary celebration at the William Webb Ellis pub in Warwick Street, Rugby on Saturday 10th May 2008.
Rugby resident Knox took over at VS in January 1981 and a little over 2 years later proudly led his local side to success at Wembley Stadium, an incredible achievement for the manager and a club in only their 27th since its formation.
One of the Valley heroes in that 1-0 victory over Halesowen Town on 30th April 1983 was Derek Owen, who is now landlord of the Webb Ellis and is welcoming his former team-mates, supporters and officials to the event, which starts at 4pm.
The six players who played in all 11 Vase ties – skipper Mick Preston, Colin Burton, John McGinty, Steve Harrison, Steve Knox and Dave Ingram – will join John Setchell, Gordon Beecham, Martin Haskins and Derek Owen, who played in the final, while it is hoped that squad member Alan Brotherton, coach Barrie Fergusson and mascot Kevin Mills will also be attending.
However, the thoughts of everyone will be with Coventry born Ian Crawley and his family. Ian, scored the only goal of the game soon after half-time on that historic Wembley day but at 48 is now suffering from Motor Neurone Disease.
Also missing will be squad members Alan Vaughan and Robbie Farmer and Assistant Manager Bob Ward, who have all sadly passed away.
Midfield dynamo Keith Evans, who also played in the final, is unavailable due to business commitments.
