Why remarkable? Well, it was the fourth time he had achieved the managerial feat in six years. The fact he did it again in 2000 to make it five in seven was staggering.
The time I recall was just a simple walk around the perimeter of the Wembley pitch at the old stadium just past 6pm after Ks had beaten Rovers 1-0, thanks to Tarkan Mustafa's goal.
A few moments of quiet contemplation. Just Geoff and I.
Despite the understandable clamour for his attention, he spared me a few minutes as we walked and talked, not quite able to comprehend what he had just accomplished. I felt like I was in the presence of greatness.
Geoff always has time for his ex-players, most of them anyway, and I was privileged to have a special bond with him that I'd like to think we still share today.
Geoff's reaction to his own triumphs has always been that he is almost in awe of what has happened to him.
His achievements as a tough-tackling midfielder were far outdone by the subsequent waving of his managerial wand.
Windsor & Eton, where he also played, saw him build a reputation. Then, from 87 people watching his first game in charge at Woking in 1984, he put the Cards on the map.
The history books will forever list the matches that mattered the most. Cambridge United, Millwall, Everton and Coventry City are among them in the FA Cup. Beating West Bromwich Albion 4-2 in the same competition at The Hawthorns as an Isthmian League Premier Division club was up there with the greatest upsets of all time.
Hallmark
In addition, those five Wembley victories with two different clubs in seven years will never be beaten.
This was at a time when the word rotation was used more to explain the sun in relation to the earth's movement than team selection in the beautiful game.
Incidentally, his teams did play beautiful football. His hallmark.
Denne historien er fra October 15, 2023-utgaven av The Non-League Football Paper.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra October 15, 2023-utgaven av The Non-League Football Paper.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
ENSIGN TEEN IS TAYLOR MADE!
WHITE Ensign boss Aaron Bloxham has hailed teenage talent Taylor Jacobi after his stoppage-time winner created history.
RAMADAN A RHYTHM IS BACK IN AT BLUES!
CEMAL RAMADAN reckons Bury Town have got back into their rhythm- but knows the Isthmian North title race is going to be a long haul.
DECRUZ IS SINGING THE BLUES FOR DREAM TIE
MERSTHAM manager Jamie Decruz says it would be \"crazy\" not to stage his side's glamour FA Youth Cup tie with Chelsea anywhere other than Stamford Bridge.
GLASSBOYS'JORDAAN IS A SCROOGE FOR BUCKS!
STOURBRIDGE snatched a dramatic stoppage time equaliser to seal a share of the points following a pulsating contest with promotion rivals Telford.
CLINICAL CALLUM HITS THE BULLSEYE
DARTFORD their D place in the play-off places as a 79th-minute goal from Callum Jones gave Adrian Pennock's side all three points.
ARDLEY'S OFF TO A WINNER!
NEAL Ardley got off to a winning start as Woking boss with victory over play-off chasing Altrincham and then admitted the Robins have set the mantra he would like the Cards to follow.
MADINE'S A MARVEL AT POOLS
GARY Madine's third goal in a Hartlepool United shirt fired his team to within two points of the National League play-offs after a dramatic victory over Yeovil Town.
BEES RATTLED BY TOP TOWN
BARNET slipped behind York City at the top of the National League after they were held to a draw by FC Halifax Town - a result thoroughly deserved by the Shaymen who battled for the whole game and gave the Bees barely a sight of goal.
Rovers denied by resilient Shots
DISAPPOINTED Steve Cotterill believes that his side had enough chances to beat Aldershot Town after dropping two points in their title quest.
KEEPER JOS REVELS AS GOAL HERO
IF you think goalkeepers never score, you must be Bark-ing mad.
