IMAGINE a manager being sacked in his dugout during a game. That was exactly the fate to befall Hounslow Town boss Ray Brandon in 1989.

It led to a baptism of fire for player Danny Pipe, who was made Brandon’s replacement, and ended up being Hounslow’s final manager before they were wound up two years later.

At the time, Pipe, who still lives nearby in Staines, had already passed the 1,000-game barrier as a player with Hounslow, following earlier spells with Brentford, Hayes and Ruislip.

He said: "Ray took over when Gordon Bartlett left, and I became reserve-team manager. Gordon wanted to take me with him, but Hounslow were my club, why would I want to go to Yeading?

“Ray only lasted six games, we had a terrible start and lost all six. He was actually sacked during a game - they walked up to the dugout during the second half and gave him his marching orders.

“It was quite bizarre. I’ll never forget it as the Spurs legend Terry Dyson was in the dugout too. I think he was Ray’s assistant. The irony is, we were playing the best we had in that game under Ray.

“We had some good players, including Steve Compton, who played in the FA Youth Cup final for Man City, but we just didn’t click under Ray, and I was asked to take over.

“I was left with a mini-riot on my hands due to the way Ray was sacked - some players left and others stayed - but we eventually turned it around and had a decent season."

Even as first-team manager, Pipe was non the wiser about what was going on when the club went bust in 1991.

With the debts building up, Hounslow Council took over their Denbigh Road ground and rebuilt on it a school which was in the way of their town centre redevelopment - the deal done before anyone could step forward and save the club.

Pipe said: "What happened to the club was an absolute disgrace and the way it happened was disgusting - we were sold down the river.

“It was a great little ground, and being based so close to an Underground station, players would love coming to play for us.

“I’d like to think if they were still going, 20 years on, I’d still be there in some capacity. I’d do anything for the club, including shinning up the floodlights to paint them during the summer.

“We had some great players, like the Howell brothers (David and Micky) and Martin Francis. There was no better player on the ball than Joe Auguste, and Arnie Venturi was another who loved the club. I know he sometimes goes to stand where the ground used to be just to reminisce.

“We also had Steve Darlington, who went on to play for the likes of Farnborough, Enfield and Kingstonian, but who would play for us for a fiver - and not even that if he turned up late.

“But that’s what Hounslow was about. It was never about the money, players just loved playing for us as the club was built on characters. No other club was like it. Whenever I see anyone who played for us, like Eddie Reeve and Peter Gelson, who was also a Brentford legend, all they want to do is talk about their Hounslow days."