RIP Martin Chivers

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His partnership with Ron Davies, served by Terry Paine and John Sydenham, was lethal. Between them they scored over 50 goals in our first season in the top flight in 1966-67. Ted Bates only allowed him to leave in 1968, for a record transfer fee of £125,000, because Mick Channon was ready to step up to the first team.
 
His partnership with Ron Davies, served by Terry Paine and John Sydenham, was lethal. Between them they scored over 50 goals in our first season in the top flight in 1966-67. Ted Bates only allowed him to leave in 1968, for a record transfer fee of £125,000, because Mick Channon was ready to step up to the first team.
As a SJAB cadet I was on duty sitting on the corner bench underneath the score board at Archers Road end and saw him play his first home game. Couldn’t believe he was only a few years older than me and looked so strong. Scored a great goal(among many!) v Man U at the Dell 3rdFA CUP, Terry scored as well but despite being 2-0 up we ended up losing 2-3. What a player. RIP.
 
We got Frank Saul as part of the deal. Not sure how many league goals he scored but he certainly had a good record scoring in the FA Cup I seem to recall?
He was not that prolific scoring just two goals in 50 appearances for the club, Not that it mattered too much as Ron Davies was just so prolific. In those days SFC would win a home game by three or four goals and travel away and lose by a similar scoreline. Must have been travel sickness!!!
 
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He was not that prolific scoring just two goals in 50 appearances for the club, Not that it mattered too much as Ron Davies was just so prolific. In those days SFC would win a home game by three or four goals and travel away and lose by a similar scoreline. Must have been travel sickness!!!
Those were the days!
 
Sad news - he was before my time as a Saints fan. I do remember him scoring for England against Scotland in a 5-0 win however. I`d have loved to see him, Sydenham and Paine playing together. RIP.
There was a lot wrong with the way Saints played in the late 60’s, but the sheer beauty of having two big target men, along with Sydenham who had pace, and Paine who had accuracy, has no parallel in the modern game.
 
Big C was a former pupil at Taunton school and was deceptively fast, I think I'm correct in saying that he held the Hampshire 100 yards sprint record for many, many years. Saints were fairly happy to cash in on him because we had some bloke called Channon coming through the ranks.

Channon? Not much of a replacement, was he? Didn't amount to much, if I recall. I used his picture for my avatar in case anyone forgot who he was. Incidentally, he was bloody quick over 100 yards too. Used to always win the sprint in Superstars. Was also often wrongly flagged offside because the officials thought he must be when he got the ball five yards in front of the nearest defender.

I remember Chivers scoring in the first minute against Liverpool and we ended up winning 1-0 (year anyone?). Like others I also recall hammering teams at The Dell - 6-2 against West Ham when they had Moore, Hurst and Peters was a highlight - and getting stuffed by big scores away. That first season in the First Division we were second for goals scored behind the League Winners, the Best, Law and Charlton United, but bottom of the heap for goals conceded just escaping relegation. Maybe it's just my age, it always seemed exciting watching Saints back then. RIP Martin