Hinckley United Football Club

Members of the Southern League (Midland Division)

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    • MIDDLEFIELD HEROES

    Dudley Kernick and the Boys of '63

     Dudley Kernick managed Hinckley Athletic in its most succesful period in the Southern League - a time in which they gained promotion and got to the second round of the FA Cup. Formerly a forward with Torquay United and Shrewsbury Town, he led Kettering Town in the Southern League, before spells with Brierley Hill, Nuneaton and Evesham. Kernick came to Middlefield Lane as manager in June 1959, as the club entered the Southern League.

    The club opened its membership with a stunning 8-1 victory over Ashford at Middlefield Lane, a game in which Jackie Lane netted four. The Robins, despite a limited budget, quickly established themselves as a real force in the League, and in 1961 met neighbours Nuneaton in the FA Cup third qualifying round. It took three epic games to decide the outcome, Hinckley eventually coming out victorious with a 3-1 win at Filbert Street.

    It was Kernick's 1962-3 squad, however, which was soon to become legendary. In the League, famous names like leading scorer Stan Round, keeper Tony Lines and centre half Stan Aston helped Athletic to promotion with a close second place to Margate (who they had defeated 3-2 at Middlefield Lane). In the FA Cup the Robins earned a trip to the the White City Stadium to take on Queens Park Rangers after defeating Sittingbourne 3-0 in the first round. Despite eventually going down 7-2 , it was a never to be forgotten experience for the Hinckley side.

    Athletic quickly became the victim of their own success. Unable to compete financially with larger clubs, there was a mass exodus of players to Burton Albion at the end of the season. Kernick resigned at the dinner to celebrate Hinckley's promotion.

    For Athletic it marked the beginning of the end of the golden era. The following seasons were taken up with relegation battles which culminated in an eventual return to the West Midlands Regional League. Kernick's managerial career continued with more success, taking Nuneaton to the third round of the FA Cup in 1966-7. But for Robins' fans Kernick will always be synonymous with promotion, the White City and the "boys of '63" - Hinckley's most succesful side.

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