LES PROSSER'S GOAL AT GRESLEY

'Twas the spring of 1983 and everything in the garden was lovely. VS Rugby were lined up for demolition in the FA Vase Final at Wembley, the West Midlands League title was all but wrapped up and we'd booked a place in the League Cup Final.

With a week to go to the Vase final, a day out in deepest Derbyshire seemed rather a good idea, so off we all went to that center of footballing excellence that is Gresley.

They were around mid-table at the time, but included David Nish, Roger Davies and Kevin Hector. Little did these internationally famous players realise that they'd be eclipsed by the mighty talent that made up that colossus of the game - Les Prosser

Now for those who don't remember, Les bore a striking resemblance to Clive James and was so laid back he was almost horizontal. The only way he remained upright was to use his stomach as a counterweight.

AN ARTIST'S IMPRESSION OF LES

We're sorry to say most of the match has been forgotten in these parts, so overshadowed was it by the piece of skill which was to follow.

It was late in the second half, and Les had come on as substitute and taken up his customary position as full-back. He picked up the ball just inside his own half, and in an amazing burst of speed, broke into a brisk walk towards the halfway line. After playing a neat one-two that would have put the Brazilians of 1970 to shame, he continued on to the Gresley goal.

By now, Les had reached full speed and was hurtling along at a rate of knots only fractionally slower than that of a giant tortoise as he approached the opponent's penalty area. Bets were being taken around the ground as to whether he would actually make it to the other end, and if so, whether he could reach it before the final whistle.

We needn't have worried. With the Gresley defence bearing down on this solitary figure, Les summoned up those reserves of effort that only superheroes can manage at these times, and let fly with an unstoppable cannonball of a shot that flew into the top corner from 25 yards. The clouds parted, the sun came out and the birds started singing.

Les left us at the end of the following season and missed out on the Wembley appearance he so richly deserved. OK, so maybe he was fat, bald and slow but he definitely knew how to compensate using his experience and his brain (a rare enough trait in most footballers).

We would like to take this opportunity to wish Les all the best wherever he is now, and thank him for all the memories, Cheers, Les!

Frank