BACK in season 1967-68, Chesham went on a FA Amateur Cup run that I regard as one of the finest a Non-League knock-out competition has seen.

The Generals played a whopping 16 matches to get to the Wembley final and knocked out four clubs from a higher league on their way.

Prior to this memorable season, the club had finished near the top of the Athenian League Division One in the past three campaigns but a new dawn arrived when John Rearden was promoted from reserve-team coach to first team manager.

The new boss inherited a squad of just three players but astutely built a new side that began with the signings of two giant centre-halves in captain Les Burgess and Brian Caterer.

Dennis Wells would make the goalkeeping position his own and Brian Thackeray and Derek Smith were uncompromising full-backs that completed a formidable back-five. Kenny Kent and David Black gave style to a midfield which was balanced by the ball-winning skills of Mick McCaffrey while up top, the goalscoring prowess of Ron Fruen would become a feature of the club’s success.

Chesham began their run away to Hemel Hempstead in the preliminary round and a 2-0 win saw them qualify for the first of four more qualifying rounds.

Didcot Town were next to be overcome following a 3-0 win before Hazells were beaten 2-0 and Marlow were defeated 3-1.

Those results saw Chesham drawn away to Soham. A 1-1 draw in the away game saw phase one completed before a 1-0 win at home put the Generals into the competition proper having already played six matches.

Next up was a marathon tussle with Maidenhead United. After two ties, the sides could not be separated following two 2-2 draws and as there were no penalty shoot-outs in those days, a third match was played at Wycombe Wanderers’ Loakes Park ground – Chesham eventually edging through 2-1.

The overworked team’s second round fixture saw them as underdogs against a Dulwich Hamlet side who were a senior Isthmian club The game was at Dulwich’s Champion Hill ground but again, a replay was earned with a 1-1 draw before an exciting 4-2 replay-win saw Chesham roll on.

Dagenham, Enfield, Leytonstone, Sutton United and Wealdstone were in the Third Round draw but Chesham went to Champion Hill again where Corinthian-Casuals were ground sharing. A 0-0 draw was followed by a 1-0 home win and a place in the last eight.

This meant Oxford City were the next opponents – again away from home – but another firm defensive display earned a 0-0 draw before a 2-0 replay win in front of a crowd of 4,150.

Now one of the big three of Leytonstone, Sutton United or Wealdstone had to be faced and it was the last of trio that Chesham were paired with.

However, in Fruen – who had already hit eight goals in the run – Chesham had a prolific danger-man and after his opener was followed by a second from winger Dave Ellis, United were in the final.

A crowd of 52,000 attended and although Chesham could not quite overcome the final hurdle, they turned in yet another fine display in holding their more fancied opponents to a 1-0 win. Rearden went on to work with current Conference chairman Brian Lee in Lee’s Wycombe Wanderers’ backroom staff but he’ll always be remembered for his achievements in guiding this Chesham squad to a marvellous Wembley showpiece.

I’ll always be grateful for the successful cup run as at the time, I was working on the ‘Amateur Football’ magazine and compiled a commemorative souvenir Wembley booklet for the club. With the money earned, I could afford to buy an engagement ring!

WEMBLEY BOUND: The Chesham side that beat Dulwich on their way to the FA Amateur Cup final. Back row (left to right): John Rearden, Kenny Kent, Brian Thackeray, Dennis Wells, Les Burgess, Brian Caterer, Peter Frost. Front row: Mick McCaffrey, Derek Smith, Ron Fruen, David Black, Joe Harper, Dave Ellis