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.
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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.
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CRAIG'S BOOSTS
MANAGERIAL stalwart Craig Edwards is back in charge of Barking – 23 years after he left!
LENNIE GETS THE LOVE
VETERAN caretaker chief Lennie Lawrence says he is “excited” to be handed the reins at Hartlepool United permanently – just a few weeks before his 77th birthday!
MOTORS FEELS LIKE HOLMES!
WHEN he was younger, Danny Holmes played video games that simulated being a football manager.
REES HITS FAB FOUR AS TOWN ROMP IT
RICARDO REES struck four times to help Merthyr Town maintain their spot at the top of the table with a dominant home win against play-off chasing Havant & Waterlooville.
DULWICH DISPLAY DELIGHTS COACHES
GOALS from Danny Mills, Luke Wanadio and Lorenzo’s stoppage-time finish fired Dulwich Hamlet to a comfortable win over fellow play-off hopefuls Potters Bar Town, though the scoreline doesn’t tell the full story.
ANCHORS A RAPID
ASHTON UNITED hit two goals in two minutes to come from behind to win at Stockton Town.
SEAGULLS KEEP THE HEAT ON ROMANS
BATH City were made to pay for their mistakes by high-flying Weston-super-Mare.
CLINICAL COLEMAN KEEN AS MUSTARD
CIAN COLEMAN’S hat-trick lifted Buxton to their highest league position of the season as they became the latest side to frustrate Scunthorpe.
KEV SEES RED IN REE PANT!
SOUTHEND United boss Kevin Maher hit out at referee Abigail Byrne following his side’s defeat to Yeovil Town at Roots Hall.
MARVEL MATTY DENIES MOORS
BOTH managers insisted their teams deserved more after Altrincham came from behind to steal a point in a six-goal thriller at Solihull Moors.
