LEGENDARY Layer Road goal-getter Bobby Hunt was reliving his past glories today - 60 years after Colchester United won their first ever Football League promotion, writes FRANCIS PONDER.

'Bobby Dazzler’ Hunt cracked in an incredible 39 League goals as the U’s finished runners-up to Division Four champions Millwall in the 1961-62 season.

Hunt’s feat remains a U’s record today and together with his fellow striker Martyn King - 32 goals - hit a staggering 71 League goals between them.

King and Hunt netted a further four goals between them that season - two each - in the FA Cup and Football League Cup.

Hunt’s outstanding achievement still stands the test of time today because nobody has been anywhere near to beating the “Master Blaster’s” record!

“Those were the days,” said Hunt, who celebrates his 80th birthday in October and is still an avid supporter at most of the U’s home games.

“I remember cracking goals in from all angles and with the kind of players I had around me I couldn’t help scoring.

“Our two wingers, Michael Grice and Peter Wright created so many chances and Martyn and I only had to be in the right places to put them away.

Gazette:

“In my view, Gricey and Wright were the two best wingers in our Division and together with Tommy Williams and Russell Blake Colchester boasted four of the quickest wingers in the Fourth Division and they laid on the chances thick and fast.

“Our two midfielders Sammy McCleod and Bobby Hill also had a great knack of piercing opposing defences and when they were on the ball I always knew instinctively when and where to run.

“I was so proud and being a Colchester boy I didn’t even think about looking for rewards for it.”

Bobby’s record would have been 40 League goals had one not been wiped off because of the original Accrington Stanley’s untimely demise on March 3, 1962 after 33 matches.

King also had two goals ruled out when Accrington’s record was expunged.

Together Hunt and King netted 75 goals in the League and cups and goals flew in from all-angles as 19-year-old former dental mechanic Hunt went on the rampage.

In his four years with Colchester Bobby netted 98 league and cup goals, including two hat-tricks; two four-goal hauls and ten doubles - 67 of them scored at Layer Road.

Gazette:

“I’m so proud my record has stood for so long,” said Bobby.

"But another goal-getter will surely come along one day and beat it.

“Until then I am very happy to enjoy a part of the club’s history.”

Millwall won the Fourth Division title with 56 points, just one point ahead of the U’s.

Accrington’s demise more than two thirds of the way through the season cost Colchester the Division Four Championship as the U’s had beaten them twice and had four points deducted from their record. (Two points were awarded for wins back then).

Millwall dropped only two points because of Accrington’s failure to finish the season.

* Bobby did actually score more than 100 goals for the club because he recorded yet another hat-trick in a 4-2 victory over Leyton Orient in the Essex Professional Cup final on March 23, 1961.