Laurie Topp had an outstanding career with Hendon, and was one of the club’s longest serving players. He made his début in a 6-1 win over Clapton in 1944 and played his last game 18 seasons later. In all, he played 586 League and cup games, scoring 16 goals. A wing-half he made his England amateur début against Wales at Dulwich Hamlet in 1947 and went on to win 32 caps. He was selected for the 1952 and 1956 Olympics and played in all three of Britain’s games in those two tournaments. He scored his only goal in the 9-0 win over Thailand in 1956. Having played in the Amateur Cup final in 1955, when Hendon lost to Bishop Auckland in what was their first final, he had the honour of skippering the side when Hendon won the trophy for the first time in 1960. He scored a dramatic equaliser from the edge of the box before Hendon went on to beat Kingstonian 2-1.
Great Britain