I came back from Dorset in the early Spring of 1965 after three years away. The agricultural machinery company I worked for in Dorset became South Western Farmers when it aquired East Devon Farmers and I was promoted to be their first machinery salesman in Devon.

We moved into Rakehill Cottage, whose postal address was Wilmington, although it was nearer Stockland Hill TV mast than the village. We rented it from Major Hatswell at Wylmington Hayes, one of several properties he owned locally. There was no electricity but this was promised to arrive within twelve months. The cottage's saving grace was an Aga which provided warmth, hot water and our cooking facilities. Illumination was by oil or tilley lamp, and the occasional candle when we ran out of paraffin.

Two massive benefits that came with my new position were, a telephone, the first we`d ever owned, but the icing on the cake was a brand new Austin A40 Farina, he 'company car.' that accompanied the job. I could now at last say goodbye to my1938, ailing, unreliable Austin Big Seven.

One of the first things I did on my return was to get in touch with Perce Downton at Millwey Rise Football Club and it wasn't long before I was playing for Rise once more. It was a great feeling to be back, even if it meant playing on the much maligned 'slope.'

Millwey had won the Perry Street League Division 3 Cup in the previous 1963-64 season and in my first season back 1964-65 history repeated itself when we won it for the second successive season, beating Broadwindsor 6-3. This final was the first ever played at Combe St Nicholas where Jack Venn presented Rise with the cup. We also gained promotion to Division 2 as runners-up.

In 1965 when I began life as a machinery salesman in East Devon I was accompanied by the Rt. Hon. James Coleridge (well that`s how he was always referred to) who was a farm feed salesman with the company we had acquired. He was a real gentleman, an inveterate smoker and normally wore a long fawn duffle coat with his order book and leaflets stuffed in either pocket. His job was to introduce me to the company`s existing farm customers (normally those who provided him with a cup of tea and in some cases lunch).

We seemed to spend a great deal of our time talking about local football. He was the. either chairman or president of Whitford FC who had a great reputation for shipping lots of goals. In fact, they were featured on Westward Television playing a team from up-country to decide who was England`s worst team! I think that proved to be Whitford though someone may want to dispute that. Unfortunately, James didn`t stay with the company very long after the merger.

The year 1965-66 proved to be an eventful year for myself, Millwey Rise FC and England`s football team. I began to find my feet in my new role as a machinery salesman. The promised installation of electricity was now on the horizon. Millwey Rise began a successful campaign in Division 2 of the Perry Street League and England were playing in the World Cup, although like most years it did not pass without its trials and tribulations.

Calling on farmers trying to prise money from their wallets sometimes proved quite challenging as I was soon to find out. My very first visit to Mr. Bill Carter, the founder of Ladram Bay Caravan Park, ended nearly before it began when he informed me in very basic language where I could put my machinery. I made some suitable comments and retired gracefully but determined I would call again.

With some trepidation I returned a few weeks later and he apologised for his previous outburst and to cut a long story short I came away with a very substantial machinery order which was the first of many. It certainly reinforced the the old adage 'Try, and try again'.

On another farm I was plied with 'scrumpy' in an attempt to secure a better price on a plough. I got the order but was in no fit state to drive so I pulled in off the road and spent three hours sleeping it off. On another farm I congratulated the farmer`s wife on the imminent birth of her child. Only to receive a look of total bewilderment. She wasn`t expecting at all, just 'very big.' I will write that story one day.

Millwey Rise FC began the 1965-66 season with a mix of youth and experience in the team. Perce Downton, Tony Turner, Geoff Vickery and myself all played in Millwey`s inaugeral season. Alfie Dowell and Ray Tiller arrived soon after. The vital input of youth included Ian Galloway, Roger Hurrell, Andy Jackman, Monty Perry, Mike Albano and goalkeeper Nobby Swain.

The first game of the season in September was at home to Netherbury which we won 4-1 with two goals from Monty Perry and one each for Perce Downton and Cedric Slynn.The next match was a 4-1 away win at Donyatt before a run of three defeats away from home to Misterton, Winsham and in the Devon Junior Cup at Tipton St John.

October saw saw wins against Axminster, Axmouth and Upottery. (The latter game would have important ramifications for the final game of the season.) Wins throughout November kept Millwey on top of the Division 2 table. Only one game was played in December before beating Lyme Regis 10-2 on January 1st (before it became a Bank Holiday) Most of us were probably nursing headaches after the New Year's celebrations of the previous evening.

February`s games were marred by a 5-0 defeat at Winsham but March began with a 15-0 win against Shepton Beauchamp. Rise went into April with five away games remaining. They lost the first one which allowed the chasing teams to creep ever closer.

As the year progressed towards the World Cup Final at Wembley I was getting a little more concerned as there was still no sign of electricity arriving at Rakehill. I kept pressing Major Hatswell on the subject but he always assured me he expected work to start 'any day soon' I`ll will always remember that Christmas at Rakehill. The lamps and candles that lit the house glinting off the glass baubles on the tree. A fire burning in a grate decorated with ivy and holly. It was quite magical though it still didn`t alleviate my concern over the lack of electricity.

The excitement was rising throughout the country in the Spring of 1966 as World Cup qualifying games were reported from around the World. There was a big revolt from the African-Asian group over apartheid and representation so the only team that came to England for the final rounds was North Korea. In total there were 16 teams competing for a place in the final, though at one point it seemed there would not be a trophy to play for after it was stolen from an exhibition. It was eventually found some months later by a dog called 'Pickles' who sniffed it out hidden under a bush in a London park.

Rise won their next three games in April against Combe St Nicholas, Axminster and Chard Youth Club.which meant the final game between Millwey Rise and Upottery decided who finished top of Division 2. Millwey needed one point to become champions and promotion to Division 1 while Upottery needed a win and had the home advantage to achieve it. In a hard fought, end-to-end, evening game the result was settled but not before Perce Downton, on the wing for Millwey, went off injured in the first half. He returned but while taking a corner made contact with the post to further aggravate the injury but goals from Ray Tiller (2), Roger Hurrell and Ian Galloway saw Rise clinch the title with a 4-1 victory.

Poles to carry the electric wires began to appear along the lane. There was now just under two weeks remaining before the World Cup final. With one week remaining the final pole was in place. The electricians had already wired the house and we had ordered a 17-inch black and white television set to rent from John James in Honiton High Street.

I don`t know whether Major Hatswell was interested in football but I had instilled in him the importance of the occasion, (for me anyway.) Then with three days to go 'eureka' -electricity. This meant I watched Thursday`s third place play-off in which Portugal beat the Soviet Union 2-1 as well as England defeating Germany to win the World Cup final on that unforgettable Saturday in July.

So that was 1966. We had electric. I laid the foundation of a successful, lifelong career in agricultural sales. England won the World Cup and Millwey Rise FC moved into the highest echelon of Perry Street League football (with much criticism of the 'slope' to follow).

I'd like to thank Perce Downton, a founder member of Millwey Rise FC, for his assistance with names and dates to reinforce my own recollections of these times.