IT WAS the last match to be played at Petersfield Football Club’s pitch at Princes Road before they moved to the club’s present ground at Love Lane.

The Hanna Cup game in 1948 between the town’s team and Liphook proved quite memorable.

As previously described in a Nostalgia feature, the Hanna Cup was given to the club in 1911 by its first president, Colonel HB Hanna, to be played between Petersfield and other community clubs in the area, including Horndean, Haslemere, Midhurst, Liss and Liphook.

As the matches were not held during the Second World War, the tie held on May 6, 1948, was eagerly anticipated.

Nearly 500 fans gathered around the edge of the pitch to watch Petersfield United take on Liphook Football Club, who, having beaten Petersfield before the war, were holders of the cup.

A newspaper report of the time printed this report: “After a shaky start, Petersfield got their act together and were awarded a penalty in the tenth minute.

“Leading scorer Sid McCutcheon – 43 league and cup goals – stepped up only to see his spot kick saved by Liphook keeper Lambert.

“Five minutes later, the deadlock was broken when right half Jim Futcher put the home side one up.

“The reply came two minutes later as outside right Humphries tapped in from close range to make the score level.

“Petersfield got off to a bad start in the second half when outside right Kenny Geer was stretchered off with a broken leg.

“Shortly afterwards, Cannon and Humphries scored a goal each and the cup was destined for Liphook.

“This was confirmed after 25 minutes when Rushton forced the ball and goalkeeper Les Yates into the net to make it 4-1.

“No more goals were scored and after the game Petersfield president Brigadier HB Kingsley presented Liphook skipper F Stevens with the cup.”

Petersfield did not have any substitutes available and Jim Futcher, who is now 89 and still lives in Petersfield, said having only ten men made a big difference to the result.

Jim grew up living opposite the Princes Road ground and spent a lot of time at the club, although he was stationed at Horsham with the Royal Artillery at the time of the 1948 cup match and returned to play when he could.

He and Kenny Geer, whose accident had such an effect on the result, were the two youngest in the team.

Kenny is sitting front left with Jim behind him.

Among the other club members Jim can remember are brothers Doug and Peter Talbot, top scorer Sid McCutcheon, whose brother Eddie was landlord at Steep’s Harrow Inn, and Norman James, who was a goalkeeper.

Petersfield United had to move from Princes Road when its grandstand was burnt down.