That was Mick Cornwell, he played for Sutton United in the years when they had the odd win against league clubs in the Cup. I was a Varndean boy but knew him through mutual friends at BhasVIC (or Brighton and Hove Grammar as it was then known).
It's based on a Stephen King novella called "Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption" . It's in a book of 4 short stories by King called Different Seasons which also includes the short story that the film Stand By Me was based on.
My first post!
For you statisticians this site gives dates and scores for 1979-80 season, less reliable dates on other seasons though.
http://www.sportamok.com/football-soccer/fixtures/181-1-English-Premier-League-1979-1980/55-Brighton