They used to indoctrinate you early ! Photo used to be taken annually before the club opening winter season run at Chigwell Row.
Think this is 1955. I’m the one in the middle on my fathers lap – next to the big scary man (club Chairman Bill Cockle).

Founding members Alf Moon top row (far left) and Edgar Moon top row (third from right)

Club 50th anniversary run (1973) at Cricklefields. Far right at the front John Batchelor flying off in to the lead, Ilford’s greatest race organiser and administrator Howard Williams (52), my first coach and mentor Alec Tiffin at the back immediately behind me (in grey T shirt lol) and my 1970’s coach Phil Postings must be in there somewhere but I cannot see him

Always nice to beat a local rival (Jim Goldring) on their home patch !

On way to 2.19.54 in 1985 London Marathon – The Highway at around 22 miles

Newman Hilly 5 at Hainault Forest sometime in the ’90’s

 

 

You have a list of phenomenal performances, but which one are you most proud of?

What a teaser to start with ! I guess it has to be finishing 18th in the 1980 National xc at Leicester because the depth of the field was of such high quality.
On the track probably the AAA National champs 5,000m at Crystal Palace (13:45.5) outkicking Samson Kimobwa (the then 10,000m world record holder), Marty Liquori (US 5,000m record holder) and Olympic medallist Rod Dixon on the last lap.
On the road maybe winning the classic Rochester 5 at the 6th attempt in 1983 but also smashing the club champs Chigwell Row road course record in 1982 was a bit special 

 

You trained a lot when you were in your prime but also had a full-time job and young family. How did you fit it all in?

A very tolerant and forgiving (mostly) wife ! Looking back I really don’t know how I got away with it. Most jobs back then were 9 to 5 so the routine of meeting all the others in a large squad of talented middle / long distance runners at Ilford for quality daily sessions was far easier than it would be now.

 

Kipchoge makes no secret of the fact that he sleeps 10 hours a day. How much sleep did you have when you were running 6/7 days a week?

Think I was around 9 hours, certainly a minimum of 8. When we had 3 kids under 5 it was a bit more difficult but Sheila tells me I slept through most of the feeds !

 

What was your best race; your worst ever race; your most bizarre race?

For best races the ones mentioned in Q1 would all have to rank, but the race which could be the best in terms of being nearly perfect and just absolutely “flying” throughout would be the Cambridge 10 (47:35) in 1978 where I broke clear after a 4.30 first mile and just kept going.

Worst races – erased from my memory ! Anything I ever dropped out of e.g. Southern and National xc races with stomach cramp.

Most bizarre probably the fell race in the 1977 Easter Festival of racing weekend on the Isle of Man. I was really unwell and on antibiotics and tried to finish last (but failed).

 

Will the moustache ever return?

Never ever !! Just like the 1970’s – you had to be there 🙂

 

I once won a joint of ham  in a race, what was your best worst prize?

That’s easy re worst prize – in an international xc race in Brussels I finished 6th and won a synthetic hairy yellow rug.

Best ever prize was a £500 holiday voucher for winning the Witney / Southern 10 miles – which paid for our first family trip to Disney World.

On another occasion I won a portable colour TV (Rainbow 10 miles at N Weald airfield) – first prize was a Microwave oven but I didn’t want that so let Graham Payne (local Southend rival) out dip me on the line o).

Was the 4.02 mile the downhill one at High Beech, was it really an attempt to run first sub 4 mile in Essex?

Not really, as being a straight downhill road mile it would not be counted. Obviously my aim and that of others in the race was to try and break the 4 mins. It used to be part of the brilliant Tour of Epping Forest series (10k on the Sunday morning, 5 miles hilly road race on the Monday evening, 7.5 miles xc on the Tuesday evening then ending with the 1 mile downhill 20 mins recovery then 1 mile back up on the Wednesday. Overall positions decided on cumulative total times.

 

You have raced overseas a few times, where different rules seem to apply,  any stories to share

 To say foreign runners were prone to cheating would be too wide sweeping and churlish but at numerous road races on the continent a small minority never used to bother with the first mile or two but hide in the bushes and join in later. This was of course long before chip timing. 

Course cutting was fairly rife as well. One race in France I was winding up the sprint finish with half a mile to go battling with former Belgian Olympian and 5,000m world record holder Emile Puttemans when he veered off and cut through a cafe and reappeared 20m up the road.

 

I see Your Godfather Edgar Moon was founder of the club – Did you ever find out why he chose the colours and also the design for the Ilford AC vest?

I’m really not sure. Maybe some of our older (than even me) statesmen or women know. Think it may have been something to do with Ilford Borough (pre Redbridge days) and the roots of the original Valentines Park base who’s colours were dark blue and light blue but I was also told that as so much of amateur athletics was University based in the early 1900’s the colours were “Oxford blue” and “Cambridge blue”. No idea about the way in which the current badge was designed or when (not until the 1940’s ?) but does incorporate the Essex shield.

 

How did the Chigwell HQ at Hainault Forest come about?

I’m not that old !! The house at Chigwell Row was owned by Edgar and Betty Moon and had extensive lands (where all the houses and shops on Lambourne Rd are now and also part of the housing estate behind). This included tea rooms and large sheds which as Edgar was a leading member of the new Ilford AC he had converted into male and female changing rooms for winter training in the forest. Full details and pictures in the 75th Anniversary history book (still a few copies available to purchase).

 

In your heyday did you follow any nutritional guidelines – in fact what was your racing weight then and now?

Absolutely none ! Just a balanced healthy diet and best bitter. My racing weight in my 20’s was 8st 10lbs I am now normally around 9st 4lbs (if you want that in kgs you will have to convert it yourself :)) Trouble is that is 6lbs of lost muscle and 6lbs of gained fat !

 

How Many County Medals in your collection?

To the best of my knowledge is 120 individual medals and about 80 team medals. 

 

When ‘New Breed’ running clubs like ‘Dagenham Joggers’ and ‘Castle Point Joggers’ started in the 1980’s after the success of the London Marathon what did you think?

To be honest didn’t really give them much thought initially. They met a need for the huge boom in social runners and as their names indicate “joggers”. But when clubs like Colchester Joggers, Springfield Striders and Serpentine RC started really expanding, improving and getting huge membership I think it was worrying for long established athletic clubs such as IAC because the majority of the core of club volunteers usually came from endurance athletes. As we know the infrastructure required to run just a senior road running club as against a full road, country, track, field & walking club with young athletes as well is hugely different and more onerous. I don’t have a problem with the type of new generation running clubs – just way too many of them ! 

 

Do you wish Park Run had been around in your heyday?  And what is Your opinion of Park Run? Favourite?

Not really. We had enough quality road races and back then the numbers of runners would not have been around in the sport. 

I have come round to thinking they are terrific for the health and well being of a huge number of people and as the catalyst for the odd one or two progressing to club competition. Great also for established athletes who just want a low key hard training run or get a nice run in some super venues with normally a well organised friendly bunch of people. I have only taken part in I think 12 park runs in the last 5 or 6 years and enjoy the trail runs better – favourite would be the really tough Parke park run on the edge of Dartmoor in Devon.

 

What running shoes did you wear in your best races?

Wow that’s a memory test. Obviously nothing like the massive range of shoes back in the late ’70’s and 80’s that we have now. But I cannot really recall the models. I was fortunate enough to be sponsored by New Balance for quite a few years and then by Nike. So most of my best races would have been in their shoes. NB were great as they do wide fittings and I have broad feet.  I seem to recall my 13.45 AAA race would have been in a pair of “state of the art” kangaroo leather (in green) Adidas spikes. Most of the last 30 years since the 90’s I would have raced and trained in ASICS DS series shoes, but of late New Balance Fresh Foam shoes have been really good.

 

What was your original ultimate ambitions?

Olympic gold and a couple of world records. 

 

Worst Injury?

Definitely achilles tendon rupture in 2000. Thought was pretty much career ending at the time. Had been suffering with “sore” achilles off and on for a decade and after it finally went (turned ankle over on a step) the consultant said it had just been hanging on by a thread waiting to go. Took nearly two years to get back to proper competition but never really found form again.  

 

How has Ilford AC changed Over the years?

In so many ways it really hasn’t during my 53 years of membership. Same ethos of club camaraderie, all encompassing and welcoming for all ages and athletes wanting to achieve their potential in all disciplines of the sport. Yes people have come and gone, some stalwarts, core coaches and dedicated volunteers passed on, but the spirit lives on. Certainly a roller coaster ride of great decades and poor ones in terms of competition achievements but whether it is young athletes on the track, veteran road runners or walkers the club continues to generally punch above its weight and produce or nurture terrific talent. Still very much the local club for local athletes but with a former membership base still following the clubs fortunes from all over the world and still feeling very much part of the family.

 

What do you think of Mo Farah’s return to track racing?

For his phenomenal high standards his Marathons have been a failure so not surprised. I doubt if he can recreate his 2012 form again !

 

Favourite Surface?

Used to be muddier the better. Certainly the road now bashes up my poor old legs too much.

 

Why the Moustache when you were young?

1. a) To avoid not getting served in pubs for looking too young 
   b)  David Bedford had one 
   c) it was cool ! 🙂

 

Including yourself, name a 4 x 400m Dream Ilford mens team, assuming all the runners are at their peak. What leg would you run?

Really – I would never have come close to making an Ilford 4 x 400 team !  We had a great 4 x 4 squad in the 70’s Southern League including Ivor Emmanuel and Alan Cearns, add in say Pat Jones from the ’60’s and Karl Hick from the 80’s that would probably be a beautiful bunch of athletes to watch getting the baton round.

 

Alive or dead (although for the purpose of the question they are alive at the actual event) you and Mrs C can hold a dinner party that includes 12 guests. 4 from the world of running, 4 from any other sport and 4 musicians. Who would you invite, and who would cook

OMG – so many different criteria to apply. Ok so 4 legends from running – John Walker, Steve Ovett, Emil Zatopek, Tony Nixon, 4 sports people – Jimmy Greaves (football), Jim Clarke (motor racing), Ken Rosewall (tennis), David Lloyd (cricket – for all the anecdotes !);  4 musicians – John Lennon, Paul Simon, Phil Collins, Frank Sinatra (just to try and find out the truth behind the JFK assassination ! lol). Obviously this is just a boys night !!  If pushed, might have to swap Tony for Jessica Ennis-Hill 🙂

On cooking would have to be my favourite TV chef James Martin.

 

Many runners when they get past their prime drop out of the sport. What is your motivation to keep competing?  Are you still looking for age graded prizes or is it simply now the enjoyment of still competing?

Just too pig headed to give up ! Only the motivation of competition, however much it now hurts, keeps me enthused to keep training. Really it is the Ilford team spirit whether a Southern Vets league or county champs or ELVIS race that keeps me going. Nice to pick up the rare age group prize or medal still but not the be all and end all anymore.

 

Todays runners have fancy GPS watches to measure time and distance. When you went out on a Cross country run did you simply guess the distance, or did you run purely on time?

Never used or had a GPS watch. Only just got the Strava app because of virtual runs during virus lockdown. 

Used a stopwatch for track sessions of course but never bothered with times on road and country training or racing. 

For the majority of steady endurance training runs at my peak I would just have run 30 mins, 60 mins or 90 mins then divided by 6 to get the 

distance !

 

Runners today have ‘energy return’ trainers that apparently make you 4% quicker. Had you had a pair when you ran your 4:07 mile on the track this would have equated to 3:57. If these trainers had been around then would you have used them or would you have always wondered if that sub 4 was down to the trainers rather than yourself?

In general what is your opinion of long standing records (I’m thinking of Paula Radcliffe’s marathon time for example) being broken by people wearing spring-loaded trainers. Do you think that is just progress or is there an unfairness to it?

I really would like to think I would not have worn them. Unlike all the other innovations like all weather tracks or lightweight racers or bespoke trainers or even lifestyle and diet improvements to increase performance these “energy return shoes” are not available to everyone due to cost or Nike having exclusive patents on every aspect of design / technology. So really I believe they do indeed provide an unfair advantage and should be illegal.

 

How and when do you think races could safely return in today’s COVID19 world?

Wish I had a crystal ball. Because of the numbers involved and types of competition and age range from 10 to 90 athletics obviously presents all sorts of issues for “safe” return. As long as we do not get the “second spike” of cases come the winter I would hope limited competition e.g. cross country could commence in November.

 

And Finally

When did you get your Knighthood?

Cannot remember the exact date or why – bestowed upon me by Lord Muir and Dame Knightley around the turn of the century (21st). Still waiting for my coronet and gown 🙂

Who said I loved mud !!! 1981 Inter Counties at Leicester

Discussing the race (probably a Southern xc) with Gary Webb at  Parliament Hill

Found one of my early 1970’s coach Phil Postings (167) – in start line up for a club road champs. Mike Herring (66), Henry Anderson (71), Roy Gill (185), Tony Nixon (44) in front of Dennis Plater (black vest No 2 on club Marathon list) and John Platt (red vest), Gordon Stewart (155) in front of my Dad Jim and Frank Bontoft.

As folks were interested in historical ones from Chigwell Row, here is another club group I think in 1957.

In British League action, 5,000m with Nick Rose. Looks like I’m wearing my favourite green kangaroo skin Adidas spikes 🙂

Why did you start running?I started running in order to lose weight and get my fitness back after years of playing many other sports including badminton, squash, tennis, football, cricket , cycling , swimming, Karate, table tennis and darts ! What happened was my nutrition was awful and the weight piled on as I got older.

 

What was your first race?

Brentwood 3 Mile Fun Run

 

Have you ever been sent the wrong way in a race or had any disputes about trophies?

Many times but the main one that springs to mind is The Essex Marathon Championships held at Basildon in September 1999 on a really hot day. I was leading the race with fellow Ilford AC member Nick Berill and Paul Prosser from Thurrock Harriers. The three of us reached two women marshals at a junction in the road and we were all shouting ‘which way?’ To which they replied they had no idea they had just been told to stand at the road junction !!! OMG !!  We all took one way which was the wrong way! After running eyeballs out for a while we started to realise we were going the wrong way and we’re totally unhappy as you can imagine! To cut a long story short Paul Prosser dropped out completely unhappy and me and Nick eventually back tracked and found our way back to the race and had to overtake most of the field. I finished 7th in the end and despite running an extra two miles still broke three hours! Nick finished ahead of me having gone off like a mad man in anger! We were both fuming at the end but never saw those two women marshals again (except in nightmares!) and we still won Essex Gold Team Medals!

And

I have also had a few tantrums at trophy presentations where the wrong people get awarded the prize but some are so embarrassing I cringe about them now but they appeared so very important at the time!

 

 

On scale of 1-10 How important is Ilford AC and running to you?

Running is very important 10/10 – if I miss a run any day I get really down and need my endorphin fix!

What running shoes do you recommend?

Asics GT 2000 series – got over twenty versions of them – fit like a glove and well cushioned.

 

Brilliant running career Terry , I was very interested to see that you train every day including LSD ( not a performance enhancing drug) , do you supplement your running with any other exercise particularly considering your severe back injury.

I do run every day but some runs are very slow and others are quality – you have to do what works for you plus I am addicted to running ! Being a Personal Trainer i do a lot of core and weights session regularly (sports specific)  and spend quality time stretching everyday including foam rolling and have a regular sports massage – when I was younger I never stretched and spent way too long training on roads but now I train over the country whenever I can as it’s much kinder to the joints – experience is a great teacher !

 

When did you start running at BRR and do you think you were a latecomer to running?

Joined Barking Road Runners in about 1989 and yes I suppose being in my late twenties I was a latecomer – I remember the great Dale Laughlin of Chelmsford AC (whom I become great friends with) chatting to me once at a party in about 1990 and I was in awe of this guys achievements and telling him so and was asking him how I could be as great as him and he was drunk listening to me and after my machine gun chatter to him he turned around and said  with a slurred speech ‘You’ve left it a bit late really Tel !’ And that was my cue and inspiration from that moment to train like a maniac and reach my absolute potential because I realised that age was not on my side and had to do the best I could. Funny thing is I now meet a lot of fellow runners who are already in their 40s and 50s before they even started running so I supposes I wasn’t that late a starter really!

 

What was your target for the marathon when you set your PB?

My target that day was Sub 2-40 but I felt so strong and fit on the day and ran a ‘perfect storm’ of a race. Finishing in 2-34 and I can remember being on my toes and running what felt like a sprint to the finish line !

 

Did you improve noticeably after joining Ilford AC?

I loved the years I was with Barking Road Runners but Yes – in those days by joining  Ilford AC I felt inspired by being with a prestigious club to train harder and longer and with more quality with great runners (e.g. Sir Andrew)

 

It is understood that you has a very high flying job in pensions at the height of your running career – how did you find time for training?

I was lucky in that I was ‘Sponsored’ financially and personally by my company Save and Prosper in Romford to run and I was allowed to take long lunch breaks and regularly trained with Martin Clarke over Raphael Park and Harrow Lodge Park. Martin worked in the I.T. Department at Save and Prosper and they were great days and thought they would never end. In fact I was influential in getting the company to build showers in the ground floor so we could use them for after training! In reality although I had an important job I was not really interested in it and being sponsored was the icing on the cake.

 

Do you still suffer from calf cramps? How many races did you have to abandon because of and this condition?

Yes – still suffer and have tried everything to stop it! The worst times was leading the Billericay Striders 10K in 1999 (having won it in 1998) and was clear by over a minute and then both calves seized up and tried to keep going running like Frankenstein but then collapsed in agony (physically and mentally) and also at other races.

 

When you lived more locally did you use to train at the track?

Initially yes at Cricklefields and Haverings Track at Mayesbrook Park and then moved to Leigh-On-Sea in August 2000 and somehow and for some reason started training with Thurrock Harriers with the great Dave Staines over at Blackshots in Grays – probably because by then I was working as Personal Trainer at David Lloyd in Basildon.

 

What are your objective/targets in running over the next few year

To do my best in Male Veteran Over 60 age category – Covid19 permitting!

What do you make of the obsession with running gadgets and ever-increasing technology for running shoes? Do you think that these things improve runners?

No No No – There is way too much technology and strava  and all that nonsense and yet most runners are generally slower than years ago – nothing beats really hard work and training to your ‘full potential’ and correct diet and  ‘Wanting it so much it hurts’ . I can remember regularly getting up at 5am and training in the dark in mid-winter freezing cold and sometimes doing a Twenty Miler and then be at my desk at work for 9am and then in the evening or lunchtime doing a second run. I was so tired I used to go to the toilets in work for a kip!

 

Who was your biggest rival when you banging out your best performances and how did you do against them?

Biggest rival at Ilford AC was Nick Berill and we had a lot of major battles and he was ex RAF and was just that tiny bit better than me but some days I used to beat him but it was ‘Armageddon’ between us when we raced ! (R.I.P. NICK) and Pete West from Colchester Harriers (another tough cookie) and we mustn’t forget ‘The Kiddy with a Ponytail’ as the legendary Pat Dobbs of Thurrock Harriers used to call him, yes Malcolm Muir !

 

What is your favourite parkrun, what is your view on parkruns and best time at one?

Southend Park Run – very quick if not windy on the Seafront – best time as MV55 is 18-38 and think they are great for  a fun Saturday morning eyeballs out speed session and Parkrun results technology is second to none and think UK Athletics should adopt a similar system. The social side is great but they are very addictive! Wish they had been around in my hey day!

Will we ever see a return of the long-highlighted hair?

Yes – for years and years I used to shave my head (An Essex Twenty it used to called by Martin) to be faster and as I got older thought I would let it grow as most people my age haven’t got any hair ! The colouring hides the grey bits!

 

I know you have met a few rock stars over the years, who were the best and worst

I have met many Rock Legends over the years and Met Johnny Rotten (Sex Pistols) at Heathrow Airport who was an absolute delight and really funny and chatted to him for ages and have photographs taken with him. So was Glen Matlock (Also Sex Pistols) who I met at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival another nice guy and chatted him into submission! I think the worst was Carl Palmer from ELP who wouldn’t sign anything unless you bought something. The last star I met was Francis Rossi, another really nice bloke, of Status Quo who signed my guitar.

 

We used to have a lot of discussions at The White Horse about Arnold Schwarzenegger films, do you agree Hercules goes to New York is his finest work

Oh yes The White Horse in Chadwell Heath which is no more! Anyway I believe he was credited as Arnold Strong in that movie which is his worst film but his best is Terminator 1 and 2 plus like Twins and Jingle All The Way and Last Action Hero.

 

You can have a dinner party at home with 3 athletes, 3 footballers and 3 rock stars (alive or dead). Who would you invite and what would you cook them?

3 Athletes – Haile Gabrsalles (Always smiling and happy) , Ben Johnson (To ask him WHY ?), Eliud  Kipchoge (To ask him HOW ?)

3 Footballers – Tony Cottee, Paul Gascoigne , Bobby Moore (Great football talk from Yesteryear before overpaid prima donnas started playing in the sport)

3 Rock Stars – Angus Young, Jimmy Page, Suggs and Jim Morrison of The Doors to wreck the place!

And I would cook them egg and chips!

 

When you have been so good and winning races is it hard to accept when those days are in the past and what motivates you now to get out there and race. Is it the sheer enjoyment of a race or do you still push hard for age related medals?

As you get older and obviously slower you have to adjust your mentality and mindset that youngsters will  and do start beating you and initially it hurts but it’s a gradual thing that you get used to ( although I have known a lot of fellow runners who do not like it and drop out of the sport completely) but I love running so why stop and you just reset your goals to do the best you can in the veterans category which as the years have gone by is getting tougher. As one of my Heroes Winston Churchill once said ‘Never, Never, Never Give Up !’

 

You have a heck of a lot of Essex medals – are these all on display at home?

Everything I have ever won is on display at Silverware-On-Sea !

 

Danny Holeyman tells me you were once his boss. Did you know each other ran during this period and if so did you ever train together?

Yes I met Danny on his first Day at Save and Prosper in Romford and he worked on my section in the pensions department  and we became great friends but although I was training like a demon in those days, young Danny never really did much running – he probably thought I was a bit strange going off running all the time ? I think Danny wanted a career and I just wanted another big trophy LOL

 

Did you ever have a coach?

Various people have coached me over the years from other runners to Proper coaches, but they never lasted. As I said training in groups is fantastic but over the years you start to realise what works for you and you have to train hard. I remember some Track sessions where I would get more nervous before them than a real race because I knew they would hurt more!!!

 

Did you run for your school?

Only 100 metres and 200 metres on the grass tracks and was quite good however I recalled In my School Warren Comprehensive in Chadwell Heath in the 1970s Running Cross Country for boys was considered a ‘Punishment’ for some reason.

 

What is your favourite – Road or Cross Country, and can you tell us your favourite and least favourite venues for both

Road is definitely my favourite surface and have been very successful running on roads. As for Cross Country I can never seem to keep my feet that well over the Country and end up doing the dance of the hermit crab on some courses !

Current favourite Road Courses are The Wix 5 and Little Bromley 10K and Billericay 10K which are really quick and Worst is now The Roding Valley Half Marathon as over the years the traffic has increased and now it’s dangerous !

Cross Country favourite The Abbey Fields course at Colchester and South Weald in Brentwood.

Worst are all at Hadleigh Country Park !

 

You said you preferred the Bon Scott era for AC/DC but surely you have to agree that the album ‘Back in Black’ is probably one of the best rock albums of all time?

No Doubt about it Back in Black is a great rock album but look at the lyrics on some songs – it’s obvious Bon Scott wrote those lyrics before he died NOT Brian Johnson even though he gets the credit! I saw AC/DC 5 times with Bon Scott and The reason they were a different class then is that Bon Scott and Angus Young had a fantastic rapport and stage presence on stage in live concert with each other that Brian Johnson just does not have. Bon Scott was the better singer, better lyricist and superb frontman. Brian Johnson was the luckiest guy alive to get the job as AC/DCs singer and he knows it.

 

Is there any particular gig from history you wish you had been at?

I saw Led Zeppelin at Knebworth in 1979 and that was an experience and Wish I had seen David Bowie in concert anywhere and The Doors on any planet.

 

Do you listen to Planet Rock? If not what is your preferred radio station

CD’s, Vinyl or streaming?

 

I listen to GOLD and MAGIC and BBC Essex radio and also Planet Rock!

And Definitely Vinyl – I remember in my youth spending hours flicking through albums in record shops reading the covers, who wrote what song, who produced them and everything. Some artwork on the covers was incredible in those days.

 

What distance is your favourite for a road run

 

I used to love running half marathons in the day as you had time to and distance to beat your rivals who if they hadn’t trained for it would come apart in the latter stages but nowadays prefer 10K and 10 Miles.

 

Last Question

When Owen, Martin and Yourself left Barking Road Runners to Join an Athletic Club what factors made you choose Ilford AC.

 

In 1997 after years of glory at Barking Road Runners the late great Owen Phipps, who was our unofficial spokesperson and leader at Barking, Wanted to join Ilford AC along with Martin because I think of his Ilford connections from school and we realised that we had reached our peak at Barking and we wanted to move to a Athletic Club ! I was also keen to join and not knowing much about Ilford AC at the time (except for the Ilford AC Discos in the late 70s) and Legends like Sir Andrew and Gary Webb and others! In fact initially I wanted to join Woodford Green AC for no other reason except that loved the green hooped Celtic vests and thought they looked great!

 

In the end after discussing it many times we decided to all go to Ilford AC en mass! And the rest is history!

 

And some more photos from the Jurassic Park Years!

 

Long Live ILFORD AC AND One Hundred Years anniversary in 2023

 

THANKYOU ILFORD AC AND GOODNIGHT !