THEIR footballing days might be behind them – but the memories of sporting glory remains strong for these former members of the Bournemouth Gasworks FC.

More than 20 team members, now in their 80s and 90s, who played together during they club’s 1950s heyday still meet to reminisce at the Hamworthy Club in Poole.

Although the football club is long gone – the name and the record of their achievements remains.

Bournemouth Gasworks FC, known as The Lights, was a strong force in amateur football from its founding in 1899.

The club hit a pinnacle in 1930, reaching the final of the final of the FA Amateur Cup, which they lost 1-5 to Ilford before a 21,800-strong crowd.

Former player Joss Jenkins, 86, said: “They were known all around the country. The Amateur Cup in those days was almost as big as the FA Cup - they were the names on everybody’s lips.”

Their footballing prowess was so well known that Joss, now 86, decided to join the Bournemouth Gas and Water Company after returning from the war just so he could get into the team.

His fondest memories are of a “supreme 10 years”, when they became the first amateur side to win the Hampshire Senior Cup in 1953, then won it again the following season.

Of the first win he told the Echo: “I had the pleasure of scoring the winner in the last dying seconds. It was pretty well the last kick of the match. We had a lot of supporters there, and so did Newport.

“There was a terrific atmosphere. I think a lot of people will remember that.

“We still speak about it every time we meet, and everyone has different stories every time.”

Joss himself went on to trials for the English amateur team – and made it in – until it emerged he was born in Cardiff. Then he missed out in the Welsh trials.

But there are no hard feelings. “It’s a good story,” he added.

Bournemouth Gasworks Athletic lost their Alder Road home ground in 1972, and became defunct two years later. But as this group of former players can testify, while they are gone, they’re not forgotten.