ENFIELD TOWN'S LEAGUE OPPONENTS FOR 2012/13 - PART TWO

For Part One please click here

CRAY WANDERERS FC

One of the oldest football clubs in the world and the oldest Association Football club in London. Cray Wanderers were founded in 1860 (a full thirty three years prior to the old Enfield FC in 1893) when St Marys Cray and St Pauls Cray were just Kent villages. Nowadays they make up the town of Orpington with the club currently playing their home games at Bromley FC's ground at Hayes Lane.

Their home ground at Oxford Road is still used by youth and reserve sides but they can't erect floodlights so since 1998 the first team have not played there.

In 2008 the club revealed plans to develop a Sports Village Complex on wasteground off of Sandy Lane in St Pauls Cray which is a stone's throw from Oxford Road. The planning application is currently lodged with Bromley Council and the club hope to move into the new ground in 2014.

They were members of the Kent League from 1978 through to 2004 when they gained promotion to the Isthmian League. In 2008 they reached the play-off final losing to Tooting and Mitcham United in the final but went one better in 2009 when they beat Metropolitan Police 1-0 to win promotion to the Premier Division.

Since then the historic club have steadily improved and stabilised at Step 4 of the non-league ladder finishing 15th (2009/10), 9th (2010/11) and 9th (2011/12).

Manager Ian Jenkins has been in the hot-seat for over a decade (the success the club have had proves that stability in the key at this level of football) and is a club legend having played over 500 times for The Wanderers. Their Assistant Manger will be a familar face to Enfield FC fans of the 1990's - Joe Francis has also been with the club for over 10 years.

BIGGEST HOME LEAGUE CROWD OF 2011/12 - 369 v Margate

FACT ABOUT THE CLUB - In the early 1900's the club were fully professional and acted as a feeder club for one of South London's most famous clubs at the time in Woolwich Arsenal.

FACT ABOUT THE AREA - In 1872 the Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales listed the population of St Pauls Cray as 532 people with 132 houses in the area.

Adam Wallace takes on The Rock's at Rookery Hill in 2010

EAST THURROCK UNITED

Enfield Town fans will know all about The Rocks having played them in league fixtures in 2008/09 and 2010/11. The Division One (North) champions of 2010/11 had a decent season back in the Premier Division with the highlight being a run to the FA Cup 1st Round Proper when they entertained League Two side Macclesfield Town at Rookery Hill in front of 1,207 people. The Silkmen ran out 0-3 winners.

They struggled prior to the turn of the year winning just 6 of 19 matches but there was a marked improvement for 2012 when they won 12 out of 23 games losing just 5 (two to the promoted sides of Billiericay Town and AFC Hornchurch) to gain an eventual finishing position of 10th.

Attacker Sam Higgins is a decent player and will be amongst the goals for John Coventry's side in 2012/13.

BIGGEST HOME LEAGUE CROWD OF 2011/12 - 276 v Canvey Island

FACT ABOUT THE CLUB - The crowd versus Macclesfield Town was just shy of the club's record attendance which was 1,250 versus Working in another FA Cup (4th QR) tie.

FACT ABOUT THE AREA - Hip Hop electro duo Dan Le Sac (from Corringham) and Scroobius Pip (Standford-Le-Hope) hail from the area.

HAMPTON AND RICHMOND BOROUGH

Relegated from the Blue Square South last season and will be looking to bounce back in their first season back at Isthmian level since being crowned champions in 2007. West Ham legend Alan Devonshire took The Beavers from being in the Isthmian League Division One in 2003 to so nearly gaining promotion to the Blue Square Premier losing out in the play-off final to Eastbourne Borough (2008) and Hayes and Yeading United (2009). Devonshire left in the Summer of 2011 to join Braintree Town allowing his assistant Mark Harper to take over.

BIGGEST HOME LEAGUE CROWD OF 2011/12 - 1,069 versus Woking

FACT ABOUT THE CLUB - In 2009 the club received a record fee for striker Ben Wright who moved to Peterborough United after a transfer to Premier League Fulham was rumoured. His move to London Road didn't really work out and played on loan for no less than five clubs in 2009 and 2010. Wright re-joined Devonshire at Brainree Town where he scored 18 league goals last season and recently moved to Forest Green Rovers who have assembled a good squad for the 2012/13 season.

FACT ABOUT THE TOWN - One of the lesser known River Thames crossings operates from Hampton on the North side to Molesey on the South side. The Hampton Ferry operates from March to October.

HARROW BOROUGH

Harrow have been members of the Isthmian Premier Division for over 30 years having been promoted from Division One in 1979, Since being crowned Champions in 1984 their best finish has been 5th place in 2010/11 when managed by Dave Howell (who was part of the 1984 championship side). Howell has since moved on to Southern League side St Albans City with new manager Dave Anderson steadying the ship last season with a 17th place finish. Anderson is the former boss of Hendon, AFC Wimbledon and Northwood amongst others.

BIGGEST HOME LEAGUE CROWD OF 2011/12 - 617 v Wealdstone

FACT ABOUT THE CLUB - Well travelled stiker and now pundit Steve Claridge played four games for Borough in 2007

FACT ABOUT THE AREA - Most people assume singer Peter Andre in Australian but in fact he was born in Brent, London and his family lived in the Harrow area until he was three years old and moved down under.

HASTINGS UNITED

The history of football in Hastings is a little complex so hopefully the below will explain it -

The present day 'Hastings United' were formed in 1894 as Rock-a-Nore playing in local leagues until a merger in 1921 (with All Saints) resulted in the club becoming Hastings and St Leonards Amateurs playing mostly in the Sussex County League until 1985. In 1979 the club changed it's name to Hastings Town.

In 1985 the original 'Hastings United' who were formed in 1948 folded following financial problems. Hastings Town took their place in the Southern League albeit in the Southern Division and not the Premier Division where United has finished 16th of 20 teams in their final season.

Town had been using Pilot Field up until 1948 when the lease was granted to the newly formed United club. In 1948 H&SL moved next door to The Firs ground.

Town won the Southern Division to be promoted to the Premier Division in 1992 At the end of the 1998/99 season the club were in adminstration and looked set to either fold or leave the Southern League only for a last ditch bid to save the club being succesful and the club holding onto their Southern League status.

From 2002/03 Town became 'Hastings United' and reverted back to the 1948 club's colours of Claret and Blue. Following the resturcturing of non-league football the club moved to the Isthmian League for 2004/05 and were promoted via the play-offs at the end of 2007/08

Hastings and St Leonards are not to be confused with St Leonards FC (formed as STAMCO in 1971 - Sussex Turney and Molding Company). St Leonards folded in 2003 following one season spent back in the Sussex County League (where they had started out) in 2003/04 after a short spell in the Southern League. The Firs is now used as/for five-a-side pitches. The old Enfield FC visited St Leonards back in 1998 for an FA Trophy tie. Those that went on a game which was played on a Sunday if my memory serves me correctly will confirm much fun was had and a few beers were drunk on the Saturday night.

United have missed out on relegation by one point in 2010/11 and six points in 2011/12 finishing in eighteenth place in both seasons so will want to improve on that for 2012/13.

They are currently player/managed by Sean Ray whom has made over 250+ appearences for the club. Another familiar face for football fans from Enfield will be seen in the dug-out as the first team coach is currently Gary Abbott whom played so many famous games for the old Enfield FC in the 1990's. He recently joined in March 2012 having left a similar role at Cray Wanderers.

BIGGEST HOME LEAGUE CROWD OF 2011/12 - 689 v Lewes

FACT ABOUT THE CLUB - Hastings United played an incredible eight games in their 1971/72 FA Cup campaign and didn't even qualify for the 1st Round Proper. It took them three games to get past Southwick in 1st QR, then a victory over Burgess Hill Town in the 2nd QR followed by two games against Chichester City (first game was 1-1 and the replay 9-1!!) to get through to the 4th QR where Crawley Town won a replay 3-2.

FACT ABOUT THE TOWN - I'll avoid the obvious mentions of 1066 and go for the following fact -On the St Leonard's seafront is a building called Marine Court which was built (1937) in an Art Deco style and was originally called 'The Ship' due to its style being based on the ocean liner RMS Queen Mary. This block can be seen up to 20 miles away, in Eastbourne, on a clear day.

Part Three - Hendon to Lowestoft Town coming soon

TWELVE PROGRAMMES BECOME EIGHT!

It's been a busy week for The Cold End so I haven't had time to fit in the remaining four programmes of June. Therefore, The Twelve programmes of June have just become eight.

Local non-league football makes a return soon with lots pre-season friendlies arranged, so hopefully The Cold End will hopefully bring some match action and pictures over the next few weeks.

For the hardcore local non-league fans there is even a match this Saturday 30th June when Spartan South Midlands League Division One side London Lions take on Kent League Fisher FC at Rowley Lane Sports Ground in Barnet. The game kicks off at 2pm.

Then, just a week on Sunday, is the Supporter's Direct Cup and Shield at The Queen Elizabeth II Stadium. Ryman Premier Lewes play Fisher FC for the Shield at 1pm and Enfield Town take on a team from Blue Square Premier Wrexham for the Cup at 3.30pm.

It's going to a fantastic day of football and a celebration of supporter's owned football clubs.

 

THURLOW NUNN (EASTERN COUNTIES) LEAGUE CONSTITUTIONS ANNOUNCED

WHO WILL BE THE NEXT LEISTON, NEEDHAM MARKET OR LOWESTOFT TOWN??

The Eastern Counties League which for 2012/13 has a new sponsor in Thurlow Nunn has announced the constitutions for each of it's divisions for the forthcoming season.

The Premier Division welcomes last season's Division One top two in Godmanchester Rovers and Thetford Town whilst Division One welcomes Cold End favourite's Great Yarmouth Town and Newmarket Town whom were relegatated from the Premier Division along with Braintree Town Reserves and Saffron Walden Town. It's a welcome return for Town, who are the oldest Senior football team in Essex as they withdrew from the league in August 2011. There will be many happy faces when the league kicks off for the club on Saturday 11th August as there have been many hours of hardwork put in behind the scenes. When the new comittee was formed just three months ago the club no senior team, no league and no manager. Well done to all at Saffron Walden Town. Their Catons Lane stadium is well worth a visit.

One change has been announced for the league rules for this season in it will operate a three up/three down promotion/relegation between the Premier and First Division. No reserve sides competing at Step 6 and no team who finish outside of the top three will be considered for promotion to Step 5 at the end of the season - meaning if Braintree Town Reserves finish in the top three only two sides will go up.

PREMIER DIVISION
Brantham Athletic
CRC
Dereham Town
Diss Town
Ely City
Felixstowe & Walton United
FC Clacton
Godmanchester Rovers
Gorleston
Hadleigh United
Haverhill Rovers
Kirkley & Pakefield
Mildenhall Town
Norwich United
Stanway Rovers
Thetford Town
Walsham le Willows
Wisbech Town
Wivenhoe Town
Woodbridge Town

FIRST DIVISION
Braintree Town Reserves
Brightlingsea Regent
Cambridge University Press
Cornard United
Debenham LC
Downham Town
Fakenham Town
Great Yarmouth Town
Halstead Town
Ipswich Wanderers
Long Melford
March Town United
Newmarket Town
Saffron Walden Town
Stowmarket Town
Swaffham Town
Team Bury
Whitton United

THE TWELVE PROGRAMMES OF JUNE - PART EIGHT

BARNET V AYLESBURY UNITED -1977

The 1976/77 season was Barnet's most successful season since they won the Athenian League twice in a row in 1964 and 1965 and then the Southern League Division One in 1966. The Bees had spent just under a decade in The Southern League Premier Division before they were relegated to Division One (North) in 1975.

The North division contained Barry Town, Kings Lynn, Oswestry Town and Stevenage Athletic (their final season in the league) amongst others for 1975/76 with Division One (South) where The Bees were moved in 1976/77 counting Romford, Poole Town and Crawley Town as members alongside Barnet whom were top (to be crowned champions) in this game against The Ducks who were bottom of the table.

Barnet were managed at the time by Billy Meadows whom in the 76/77 season famously signed Jimmy Greaves for The Underhill club. He was replaced in 1978 by one Barry Fry who had apparently narrowly lost out when Meadow's originally got the job....and the rest they say is history.

The programme which cost 10p at the time has bundles of information inside and shows Barnet attracted some decent crowds (for what was a Step 2 on the non-league pyramid side) at the time. 1,085 for a FA Cup home tie against Hatfield Town. 1,541 for Wycombe Wanderers in the FA Trophy and 1,336 in for a league game against Hastings United. They had also recently played friendlies against Queens Park Rangers and Norwegian side Stromsgodset IF.

The team line-ups. Jimmy Greaves was not listed in The Bees line up but was a Barnet player at the time

Billy Meadows states in his Managerial Murmurings 'Before last Saturday's friendly with Queens Park Rangers I had a meeting with the players to discuss with them what has been going wrong in our play recently' and 'I hope now that we have got over our bad period and the goals will start coming again'... From looking at their results and their league position The Bees were doing quite well.

Barnet won the game 4-0.

THE TWELVE PROGRAMMES OF JUNE - PART SEVEN

HIGHGATE UNITED v ENFIELD
Tuesday 7th March 1967

The FA Amateur Cup Quarter Final tie between Highgate United (then of the Worcestershire Combination Division One) and Enfield FC (of the Isthmian League Premier Division) will always be remembered for the terrible events in the first game which was abandoned at Highgate United on 25th February 1967.

Halfway through the first half with approx 4,000 people packed into the ground lighting struck Highgate player Tony Allden, which led to the game being abandoned. Tony never regained consciousness and tragically died in hospital the following day.

As a gesture of good will and sympathy football league neighbour's Aston Villa agreed to stage the replay and also donated a kit for Highgate United to wear for the match.

The result being the football community coming together to honour the memory of Tony Allden with the game drawing an incredible attendance of 31,632 people - many waiting for a long time to get into Villa Park. Villa, at the time were regularly attracting low 20,000s which indicates what a fantastic crowd it was. Many Amateur club's players attended the game to pay respects to Tony Allden as well as to see Enfield who were considered one of the Amateur game's giants at the time.

The programme is a simple four pager with Enfield described as 'among the strongest forces in the Amateur game' and details the fact that a local side in Alvechuch 'shook' Enfield in the previous season's competition. It states 'Little chance was given Alvechurch in their quest at Enfield, but the Worcestershire side came out victorious by three goals to two'. 'At Highgate they say that what Alvechurch can do, the United could do better.

In the end in a game where the result really didn't matter it was Enfield who ran out 0-6 winners. The E's famously went on to lift the trophy for the first time by beating Skelmersdale United 3-0 at Maine Road after a 0-0 draw at Wembley.

Highgate United went one better in the 1972/73 season when they faced Walton & Hersham in the Amateur Cup Semi-Final. After a 0-0 draw at Highfield Road, Coventry they lost out 0-4 to W&H at Crystal Palace.

Tony Allden's memory is honoured by The Midland Combination League (which The Gate won three years in row from 1972 to 1975) who stage annually "The Tony Allden Memorial Cup". The game is played in pre-season and the current holder's are Castle Vale who beat Heather St John 2-0 on 28th July 2011.

Highgate United currently play in the Midland Football Alliance (Step 5 of the non-league pyramid) which feeds into the Southern Football League Midlands Division and Northern Premier League Division One South.  They currently play at The Coppice in nearby Shirley to the South of Birmingham and last season finished 20th of 22 clubs with only Atherstone United and Willenhall Town finishing below them.

For 2012/13 they will play the following teams -

Alvechurch
Boldmere St. Michaels
Bridgnorth Town
Causeway United
Coleshill Town
Continental Star
Coventry Sphinx
Dunkirk
Ellesmere Rangers
Gornal Athletic
Heath Hayes
Heather St. John's
Kirby Muxloe
Loughborough University
Rocester
Stourport Swifts
Stratford Town
Studley
Tipton Town
Tividale
Westfields

THE TWELVE PROGRAMMES OF JUNE - PART SIX

IRTHLINGBOROUGH DIAMONDS v STAFFORD RANGERS 1983

Back in 1983 which Irthlingborough Diamonds or Rushden Town fan would of thought that the two Northamptonshire rivals would of merged and gone on to be promoted to the football league??

The joining together wasn't to happen for just under a decade when Irthlingborough welcomed Alliance Premier League Stafford Rangers to the then Nene Park for a Midland Floodlit Cup game on Tuesday 11th January 1983.

Also in the United Counties League at the time were Stevenage Borough who, of course, also went through the divisions to join the football league in 2010.

The programme welcomes Stafford Rangers to Nene Park and went into details of the FA Vase encounters the diamonds had just had against Stamford. They were described as 'hardly classics' but 'typically tough cup ties fought out between great rivals'.

It also details a victory over Rushden Town in the County Cup where goals from Roger Ashby and Neil Redding to set up a short journey to Rockingham Road to play Kettering Town.

There is a whole page dedicated to The Midland Floodlit Cup which states it was Irthlingborough's first ever season in the prestigious competition.

The interesting bit is the table which shows Nuneation Borough on top with 44 points from just 5 games. Yes, you've read it right FORTY-FOUR points!

How the UCL looked in January 1983.
Diamonds went on to win the league that season losing just one more of their twenty remaining league games.
They pipped Rushden Town to the title by just two points.

The Midland Floodlit Cup had seven teams entered who were Nuneaton Borough, Bedworth United, Kettering Town, AP Leamington and Redditch United along with the two teams in this game.

The programme states 'each team plays 3 home and 3 away matches and 10 points are awarded for a win, five for a draw and one point for each goal scored. A good win then can see a dramtic rise in the table - Nuneaton recently took 19 points from their 9-0 rout of Redditch. When the qualifying matches have been completed the two top sides play off, at home and away, to decide the destination of the cup.'

There are two pages dedicated to Stafford Rangers which details that Roger Ashby (an Irthlingbourough player at the time) was a member of the Kettering Town side whom Stafford Rangers beat 2-0 in the 1979 FA Trophy final. Ashby went on to manage Irthlingborough Diamonds, Rushden Town, Rushden and Diamonds, Bedford Town, Grantham Town, Nuneaton Borough and Brackley Town as well as being Assistant Manager at Kettering Town and Solihull Moors.

The Diamonds were knocked out in the next round of the Vase versus VS Rugby at home where they lost 1-2 after the original game which was also won (0-1) by VS was ordered to be replayed. VS Rugby went onto to lift the Vase at Wembley. Irlingbourgh were Vase specialists at the time and went so close to Wembley in 1981 and 1984 when they reached the semi-final.

In the UCL round-up it states 'At Stevenage, manager Derek Montgomery and his assistant Paul Peterson have quit Broadhall Way after a series of poor results. The decision was made after the manager selected himself for the team for the match against Newport Pagnell, which Stevenage lost 1-4' - HOW TIMES CHANGE AT STEVENAGE!!!

THE FUTURE

Following Rushden and Diamonds being expelled from the Conference at the end of the 2010/11 season and subsequently the club entering administration in July 2011 a new club was formed called 'AFC RUSHDEN & DIAMONDS' whom competed in the Northamptonshire Senior Youth League for the 2011/12 season.

For 2012/13 AFC will play in the United Counties League Division One (Step 6 of the Non-League pyramid) playing their home games at Wellingborough Town's Dog and Duck Ground. They will play (amongst others) Bourne Town, Potton United, Wootton Blue Cross, Buckingham Town and Eynesbury Rovers whom both Rushden Tow and Irthlingborough played in the UCL Premier Divison in 1982/83.

They will also face a local derby against Rushden and Higham United whom play at Rushden Town's old ground at Hayden Road. They were formed in 2007 following a merger of Higham Town (then of the United Counties League Division One) and youth football team Rushden Rangers whom had played at Hayden Road from 1995.

Hopefully happier times for The Diamonds!
The old and new for football in Rushden and Irthlingborough
Above - Rushden and Diamonds
Below - AFC Rushden and Diamonds

The United Counties League has, as you can see from above, announced it's constitutions for 2012/13 and they are as follows -

PREMIER DIVISION
AFC Kempston Rovers
Blackstones
Boston Town
Cogenhoe United
Deeping Rangers
Desborough Town
Harborough Town (promoted from Division One)
Holbeach United
Huntingdon Town (promoted from Division One)
Irchester United (finished in bottom two but not relegated - see Northampton Spencer)
Long Buckby
Newport Pagnell Town
Peterborough Northern Star
Quorn (relegated from Northern Premier League Division One South)
St Ives Town
Shepshed Dynamo (relegated from Northern Premier League Division One South)
Sleaford Town
Spalding United
Stewarts & Lloyds Corby
Wellingborough Town
Yaxley

DIVISION ONE
AFC Rushden & Diamonds
Bourne Town
Buckingham Town
Bugbrooke St Michaels
Burton Park Wanderers
Eynesbury Rovers
Harrowby United (promoted from Grantham & District League)
Northampton ON Chenecks
Northampton Sileby Rangers
Northampton Spencer (sought Voluntary demotion from Premier Division)
Oadby Town (demoted from Division One)
Olney Town (moved from East Midlands Counties League)
Potton United
Raunds Town
Rothwell Corinthians
Rushden & Higham United
Thrapston Town
Wellingborough Whitworth
Wootton Blue Cross

Divison One has a really local feel to it with AFC Rushden & Diamonds, Bugbrooke St Michaels, Burton Park Wanderers (based in Burton Latimer North of Wellingborough), The three Northampton clubs (ON Chenecks, Sileby Rangers & Spencer), Raunds Town,  Rushden & Higham, Rothwell Corinthians, Thrapston Town and Wellingborough Whitworth all being close to each other. This should make it a really competative division.

THE PLAN IS WORKING.....

Back at the beginning of June TheColdEnd predicted Euro2012 and the below shows what an awful tipper I am. I wrote 'Hopefully predicting England's failure to get out of Group D may go the other way and Roy's Boys will do us England fans proud.'.....SO THE PLAN IS WORKING!! 

PREDICTIONS	THROUGH TO Q/F
RUSSIA	CZECH REPUBLIC
POLAND	GREECE
HOLLAND	PORTUGAL
GERMANY	GERMANY
SPAIN	SPAIN
REP OF IRELAND	ITALY
UKRAINE	ENGLAND
FRANCE	FRANCE

HTML Tables

So that's 3 out of 8 correct predictions!!!  TheColdEnd needs to go to tipping school.

ESSEX OLYMPIAN LEAGUE CONSTITUTION FOR 2012/13 ANNOUNCED

The Essex Olympian League constitution has been announced for 2012/13 and is as follows. Joining the league are Forest United, LOASS and Newbury Forest.

Newbury Forest join Division One from the Essex & Suffolk Border Football League.

LOASS and Forest United join Division Three from the Premier Division of the Ilford and District League. LOASS were champions of the ILF&D league for 2011/12 pipping Forest United to the the title by just two points. "LOASS" stands for 'Leyton Orient Advance Soccer School'.

PREMIER DIVISION	DIVISION ONE	DIVISION TWO	DIVISION THREE
Aldborough Athletic	Benfleet	Broomfield	Basildon Town
Buckhurst Hill	Bishops Stortford Swifts	Burnham Ramblers Res.	Catholic United
Frenford Senior	Canning Town	Castle United	Chingford Athleic
Harold Hill	Galleywood	Epping	Debden Sports
Hannakins Farm	Herongate Athletic	Lakeside	Forest Glade
Harold wood Athletic	Newbury Forest	Leigh Ramblers	Forest United
Hutton	Old Chelmsfordians	Leytonstone United	LOASS
Kelvedon Hatch	Old Southendian	Newham United	Ramsden Scotia
M & B Club	Ongar Town	Old Barkabbeyans	Shenfield A.F.C.
Manford Way	Runwell Hospital	Roydon	Stambridge United
Rayleigh Town	Springfield	Ryan F.C.	Sungate
Southminster St. Leonards	Wadham Lodge	Upminster	Toby
Westhamians			Writtle
White Ensign

'LONDON BARI' JOIN THE ESSEX SENIOR LEAGUE

The constitution for the Essex Senior League 2012/13 has been announced with Great Wakering Rovers joining after relegation from the Ryman Division One (North) along with a brand new side named "London Bari FC".

Bari FC won the Essex Sunday Corinthian League Premier Division last season and the club were formed in 1995. They ground share at Clapton's Old Spotted Dog ground and have been highly successful in the local Sunday football scene since formation in 1995. As well as the ESCL the club have also fielded teams in the Asian Premier Football League.  

Essex Senior League 2012/13

Barking
Barkingside
Basildon United
Bethnal Green United
Bowers & Pitsea
Burnham Ramblers
Clapton
Enfield 1893 FC
Eton Manor
Great Wakering Rovers
Haringey & Waltham
Hullbridge Sports
London APSA    
London Bari
Sawbridgeworth Town
Southend Manor
Sporting Bengal United
Stansted
Takeley

The draw for the ESL League cup has also been made and has given Bari a home tie against Sawbridgeworth Town. Other first round ties see Southend Manor play Burnham Ramblers and Takeley visit The Mile End Stadium to play Bethnal Green United. If Bari beat Sawbo they face a local derby versus Clapton.

First Round
London Bari v Sawbridgeworth Town
Southend Manor v Burnham Ramblers
Bethnal Green United v Takeley

Second Round
Southend Manor or Burnham Ramblers v Bethnal Green United or Takeley
Enfield 1893 FC v Stansted
Eton Manor v Haringey & Waltham
London APSA v Barkingside
Bowers & Pitsea v Basildon United
Great Wakering Rovers v Hullbridge Sports
London Bari or Sawbridgeworth Town v Clapton
Barking v Sporting Bengal United

ENFIELD TOWN RESERVES JOIN THE ESSEX SENIOR LEAGUE

Enfield Town Reserves have been placed in the Essex Senior League Reserve Division West for 2012/13. They will play alongside Enfield 1893 FC, Grays Athletic and Romford amongst other teams.
Essex Senior League Reserve Division West 2012/13

Barking FC
Barkingside FC
Bethnal Green FC
Enfield FC 1893
Enfield Town FC
Grays Athletic FC
London APSA FC
Romford FC
Sawbridgeworth Town FC
Waltham Abbey

The reserves will be managed by last season's ultra-successful under 18's boss Barry Bolton. The philosophy will be to introduce some new exciting young players, continue to develop many of last year's under 18 players by allowing them to play with established first team players in what should be a competitive division. Games will mostly be played on a Saturday afternoon.

SPARTAN SOUTH MIDLANDS LEAGUE CONSTITUTION FOR 2012/13

The Spartan South Midlands League constitution for 2012/13 has been released with Hanwell Town supporters breathing a big sigh of relief as they have not been relegated. The Premier Division has not received a relegated team from Step 4 (because of other reprieves further up the pyramid) so therefore to keep the numbers in the division up Hanwell stay up. Also joining the Premier Division are London Colney (Division One champions) and Ampthill Town (runners up).

Premier Division
AFC Dunstable
Ampthill Town (promoted from Division One)
Aylesbury United
Berkhamsted
Biggleswade United
Broxbourne Borough V&E
Colney Heath
Dunstable Town
Hadley
Hanwell Town
Harefield United
Haringey Borough
Hertford Town
Hillingdon Borough
Holmer Green
Leverstock Green
London Colney (promoted from Division One)
London Tigers
Oxhey Jets
St Margaretsbury
Stotfold
Tring Athletic

In Division One there are four new clubs. Hatfield Town are relegated from the Premier Division with their local rival's Codicote joining from the Herts Senior County League and Southall from the Middlesex County League. Also moving up from Division Two are Winslow United who were promoted following a vote at the league's AGM.  It's a welcome return to Step 6 football for Southall whom left the Combined Counties League in March 2006. They have spent the last six seasons in the Middx County League...Could this be the start of a rise back up to the Isthmian League the club left in 2000? The club currently ground share at Hanwell Town's Reynold's Field Stadium but there are apparently plans for a new ground in the Town.

For Winslow it is a very welcome return to the level of football they left in 2009 when their first team withdrew from the league prior to the start of the season. There is no room for Tokyngton Manor whom have failed to find an adequate groundshare for the season.

Division One
Amersham Town
Bedford
Buckingham Athletic
Chesham United Reserves
Cockfosters
Codicote (promoted from the Hertfordshire Senior County Premier Division)
Cranfield United
Crawley Green
Harpenden Town
Hatfield Town (relegated from Premier Division)
Hoddesdon Town
Kentish Town
Kings Langley
Langford
London Lions
New Bradwell St Peter
Southall (promoted from the Middlesex County League)
Stony Stratford Town
Sun Postal Sports
Welwyn Garden City
Winslow United (promoted from Division One)
Wodson Park        

Division Two see's two new teams with the reserve side of Aylesbury FC. The Swans first team were champions of the Premier Division in 2009/10 . It's also great to see a famous name from non-league football's past in Wolverton Town re-joining the SSMFL from the North Bucks and District League. The club which folded after a few names changes (AFC Wolverton and MK Wolverton Town) in 1992 but were re-formed in 2004 competing in the North Bucks League from 2005.

They recently moved to a new ground named The New Park in Field Lane, Greenleys which is a stone's throw from Wolverton Park where the club's fantastic and well loved old ground once stood. The main stand which had stood since 1899 and was worshipped by many fans from far and wide has since been redeveloped as shown in this article. I never visited the ground but from looking at the pictures I know which of the two I prefer.

Bletchley Town have withdrawn their first team from Division Two for 2012/13.

Division Two
Aston Clinton
Aylesbury Reserves (played last season in the Capital League Western Division)
Caddington
Hale Leys United
Kent Athletic
MK Wanderers
Mursley United
Old Bradwell United
Pitstone & Ivinghoe
Risborough Rangers
The 61FC (Luton)
Totternhoe
Tring Corinthians
Wolverton Town (from the North Bucks League) 

HAPPY TIMES AHEAD FOR SOUTHALL AND WOLVERTON TOWN?

ENFIELD TOWN'S LEAGUE OPPONENTS FOR 2012/13 - PART ONE

BOGNOR REGIS TOWN

Two views of the wonderful beach at Bognor

The Rocks agonisingly lost the 2010/11 Division One (South) title by goal difference of +1 and then went onto lost to Dulwich Hamlet (whom had finished an amazing 31 points below them) in the play-off semi-final. For 2011/12 they were top of the division for most of the season but were pipped to the title by Whitehawk who pushed their South Coast rivals into the play offs for the second year running. The Rocks won an amazing semi-final against Godalming Town which finished 4-4 AET - Godalming battled back from 1-0 & 3-2 down with The Rocks fighting back from 2-1 and 4-3 down and eventually winning 5-3 on penalty kicks. They gained revenge against Dulwich Hamlet in the final with a 1-0 victory in front of over 2,000 people at Nyewood Lane.

The club were founder member of the Conference South in 2004/05 and stayed in the division for five seasons finishing in 9th, 12th, 12th, 18th and 21st. For 2009/10 they competed in the Ryman Premier Division and were relegated for a second season in succession when they finished bottom of the table entering the 2010/11 season in Division One (South) as shown in the first paragraph.

Darin Killpatrick and Jamie Howell are joint managers and have been in charge since the summer of 2009. Howell is a club legend having played over 400+ games between 1997 and 2007. He was previously in charge of Burgess Hill Town. Killpatrick was coach for three seasons prior to being made manager and also played a number of games for Town.

FACT ABOUT THE CLUB
Top scorers in Division One (South) last season with 105 goals in just 40 league games.

FACT ABOUT THE TOWN
On the beach between Bognor Regis and Aldwick lies the wreck of a Floating Pontoon. It is part of the Mulberry Harbour which was towed across to Normandy on D-Day 6 June 1944. This particular section did not make it across the Channel and was washed up on the beach shortly afterwards. It is clearly visible at low tide throughout the year.

BEST HOME LEAGUE CROWD 2011/12
 2,002 v Dulwich Hamlet - Play Off Final

BURY TOWN

Bury Town were founded in 1872 and are among one the oldest football clubs in the country. Ram Meadow has been their home since 1978 and over the last few years they have hopped between leagues since moving back up to Step 4 football in 2006. Played in the Ryman Division One (North) for two season and then moved across to the Southern League Midland Division which they won in 2010 to achieve promotion to the Ryman Premier Division.

Since moving up Town have been right up the top of the division being in contention for the title/play offs over the past two seasons. They finished fifth last season and were beaten by AFC Hornchurch in the play-off semi-final. In 2010/11 they finished third and lost out to Suffolk rival's Lowestoft Town at Ram Meadow.

FACT ABOUT THE CLUB
Lifted the 2011/12 Alan Boon Isthmian League Cup by beating East Thurrock United 1-0 at Staines Town.

FACT ABOUT THE TOWN
The Nutshell public house, located just off the town's market place, has a bar measuring just 15ft by 7ft. It holds the title of the smallest pub in Britain as declared in The Guiness Book of Records. It first started selling beer in 1867! You'll be surprised how much is inside the pub which includes a mummified cat, military items and an aeroplane propeller for you to view whilst enjoying a pint. Got to be worth a visit!!

BEST HOME LEAGUE HOME CROWD 2011/12
868 v Lowestoft Town

CANVEY ISLAND

Two views of the seafront at Canvey.

The meteoric rise of Canvey Island from the Essex Senior League in 1994 to The Conference in 2004 is well documented. Jeff King who was owner and manager during this time and when he left at the end of the 2005/06 season the club resigned from the Conference and dropped three divisions to Ryman Division One (North). During the decade of success the club lifted the FA Trophy in 2001 and also qualified for the 2004 final when the lost 2-3 to Hednesford Town. Finished in 18th and 14th positions in their time at non-league's top table.

Spent two seasons in D1N and were promoted via the play-offs at the end of the 2007/08 season. Since then they have finished in 12th, 16th, 6th (missed out on play offs by goal difference) and 8th place.

John Batch stood down from the manager's position in January and was replaced by ex Waltham Abbey, Ware and Harlow Town boss Glen Alzapiedi who was the club's coach at the time.

Jeff King has recently returned to his spiritual home after spending time as Chelmsford City's manager and Director of Football but this time will take more of a back seat on the club's board and develop the youth and community side of the football club.

Talks between Canvey Island and local rival's Concord Rangers in order form an Island super club were held earlier in the year but the idea never took off and once again the two clubs will again play each other in league fixtures next season.

FACT ABOUT THE CLUB
Lifted the 2012 Essex Senior Cup by beating Colchester United 1-0 at Thurrock's Ship Lane ground.

FACT ABOUT THE TOWN/ISLAND
Musician Wilko Johnson, best known for being a member of Dr Feelgood, was born on the Island in 1947.

BEST HOME LEAGUE CROWD 2011/12
763 v Concord Rangers

CARSHALTON ATHLETIC

The Robin's were considered one of the pre-season favourites for the title last season but ended up finishing in a disappointing sixteenth place. Tasted glory in the FA Trophy when they beat Blue Square Premier Lincoln City in a replay at Colston Avenue. They lost out away to future finalist's Newport County in the next round

The club are managed by current club owner Paul Dipre who has attracted protests from supporter groups last season. Amongst other things this included an organised boycott from some fans of the club's final home game of the season reported on the CAFC website here.

Dipre has already been really busy recruiting players for the 2012/13 season as well as retaining a large number of last season's squad. Top scorer, Paul Vines, who (18 goals) scored 37.5% of the club's disappointing league goals tally last season (48) has stayed with a number of forwards/attackers joining. Jack Clark (16 goals for Cray Wanderers) has signed along with Ola Sogbanmu and the experience of Wayne Gray from Woking. Sogbanmu spent some time on loan at Colston Avenue last season. Joe Benjamin, another forward, who spent time in the Blue Square South with Tonbridge Angels has also been signed. Midfielder Ashley Carew who played regularly for Cambridge United in the Blue Square Premier has also been added along with keeper Darren Bechet (ex of Tooting and Mitcham and AFC Hornchuch)

With the quality players added expect The Robins to be right up the top of the league next season. They will certainly score more than 48 goals in the 42 league games they did in 2011/12.

 

 

TWO FACTS ABOUT THE CLUB
(1) A Grandstand was acquired from Epsom racecourse in 1926. It was dismantled, moved and rebuilt at the ground surviving until 1968 when gale force winds blew it down.
(2) Roy Hodgson finished his playing career with the club in 1976 when he retired early through injury.

FACT ABOUT THE TOWN
Carshalton appears in Domesday Book as Aultone.Carshalton was known for its springs; this may have given the town its name Cars - Aul - ton. Aul meaning well or spring. Ton meaning an enclosed farm. .

BEST HOME LEAGUE CROWD OF 2012/13
834 v Billericay Town

CONCORD RANGERS

Thames Road has been a familiar venue for Town fans over the years.
Top - Town fans travelled in huge numbers for the 2010 play off final
Bottom - The main stand

It's a case of wherever Enfield Town go Concord Rangers go and vice-versa since our formation in 2001. Rangers followed Town up to Step 4 and now we follow Rangers up to Step 3 after their victory in the play-off final of 2010 against Town saw Rangers promoted to the Ryman Premier.

They have adapted to life in the Premier Division well finishing 14th (2011/12) and 8th (2010/11).

Danny Scopes has recently stood down at joint boss allowing Danny Cowley to take up the reigns as sole manger for next season. Former Grays Athletic assistant manger (to Julian Dicks) has joined as assistant manager for the forthcoming season. He was boss at relegated Tooting and Mitcham United last season.

FACT ABOUT THE CLUB
They only joined the Essex Senior League in 1991 and were crowned champions in 1999, 2004 and 2008 when they were promoted to the Ryman Division One (North). Won the 2008 title on goal difference to runner's up  Enfield FC 1893.

FACT ABOUT THE TOWN/ISLAND
Salt and Pepper were a famous pair of Children's horse arcade type horse rides which stood on Canvey seafront from 1946 through to 2010. They feature in the Dr Feelgood film 'Oil City Confidential'. Anyone who has spent time in Canvey during these years will know them.

BEST HOME LEAGUE CROWD 2011/12
672 v Canvey Island


Coming soon
CRAY WANDERERS
EAST THURROCK UNITED
HAMPTON AND RICHMOND BOROUGH
HARROW BOROUGH

THE TWELVE PROGRAMMES OF JUNE - PART FIVE

ENFIELD v BARNET 1981

The 1981/82 season saw Enfield FC join the Alliance Premier Football League which had been formed in 1979 and won by Altrincham for the first two seasons. The E's local rivals in Barnet had been members since the formation of the league having spent the late 60s and 1970's in the Southern League.

The 1980s would see Barnet and Enfield rekindle the rivalry they had when members of the Athenian League in 50s and 60s. Fans (of a certain age) of both clubs will have memories of a packed Underhill or Southbury Road on Boxing Day or New Year's Day in our Conference games.

This game was played on the back of Enfield's famous 4-1 win over Wimbledon in the FA Cup which was played in front of 2,730 people at Southbury Road and the end result was a 0-0 draw. Only 648 people saw this game. The E's next game was against Crystal Palace in the FA Cup which the then Division Two side narrowly won 2-3 in front of a packed stadium of 3,467 people.

The programme starts with Eddie McCluskey stating 'Although Barnet are near the foot of the table, local derbies are always the hardest of games to win, and our near neighbours understandably will be looking to take 3 points from us. I have no doubt that Steve Oliver and Steve Turner will be hoping to put one over on their old club today'. He goes on to wish Barnet all success next week as they had an FA Cup game at Brighton & HA.

Ticket details for the big Palace game show it was only £2 to gain entrance to the ground or £4 to sit in the stand.

The league table shows that Enfield were pushing Runcorn for the title in their debut season but it was eventually they who won the championship. Barnet were struggling at the foot of the table with only AP Leamington below them whom had a record of 3 points from 19 games.

In 1980/81 Barnet finished 17th of 20 team escaping relegation by 2 points and then 18th of 22 teams in 1981/82 when they missed out on relegation by just 1 point. Maybe they were getting in practise for the expert escape tactics they have used in League Two over the past few seasons??

The last league (GM Vauxhall Conference) local derby between Enfield FC and Barnet was played over two decades ago on January 1st 1990 at Southbury Road. Barnet ran out 1-3 winners in front of 2,212 people. This was after Barnet had beaten the E's on Boxing Day at Underhill 2-0 (crowd 4,481).

In 1991 the Match of The Day cameras and John Motson were at Southbury Road for an FA Cup 2nd Round match which pitted then Isthmian League Enfield against Conference Champions and Football League newcomer's Barnet. 5,125 people saw the last competitive game between the two sides ever played in which The Bees won 1-4.

Enfield Town are yet to face Barnet in a competitive match so who knows 2012 could be the year in the FA Cup maybe???

RYMAN LEAGUE TEAMS OF THE YEAR ANNOUNCED

The Ryman League divisional teams of the year have been announced over this past weekend. Managers from each club voted and the following teams were selected -

Ryman Premier
Jonathan North (Wealdstone)
Greg Oates (Billericay Town)
Rob Swaine (Billericay Town)
Steve Robinson (Lewes)
Joe Anderson (AFC Hornchurch)
Lubo Guentchev (Lowestoft Town)
Frankie Curley (AFC Hornchurch)
Lewis Smith (AFC Hornchurch)
Jack Clark (Cray Wanderers)
Richard Jolly (Wealdstone)
Martin Tuohy (AFC Hornchurch)
Ryman Division One North
Elliot Justham (Brentwood Town)
Craig Pope (Grays Athletic)
Darren Blewitt (Brentwood Town)
Junior Baker (Grays Athletic)
Danny Brown (Harlow Town)
Steve Cawley (Waltham Abbey)
Harry Agombar (Grays Athletic)
Gareth Heath (Leiston)
Joao Carlos (Grays Athletic)
Sam Newson (Needham Market)
James Baker (AFC Sudbury)
Ryman Division One South
Chris Winterton (Whitehawk)
Kalvin Morath-Gibbs (Dulwich Hamlet)
Lewis Goncalves (Dulwich Hamlet)
Stuart Axten (Bognor Regis Town)
Dean Carpenter (Dulwich Hamlet)
Darren Wheeler (Godalming Town)
James Fraser (Whitehawk)
Paul Armstrong (Whitehawk)
Peter Adeniyi (Dulwich Hamlet)
Stuart King (Folkestone Invicta)
Ashley Robinson (Bognor Regis Town)

As you can see AFC Hornchurch, Dulwich Hamlet and Grays Athletic dominated the divisions with four players each. No Enfield Town players were selected which with my Enfield Town supporting hat on baffles me somewhat. Both Darren Blewitt and Junior Baker are very good centre backs but surely Mark Kirby wouldn't look out of place in that squad after the brilliant performances he put in during the season. Division One North top scorer and golden boot winner Liam Hope was also not included. He was beaten into the XI by two very good players in Sam Newson and James Baker.

If all the players selected stay with their current clubs ten out of the eleven player's in the XI will still be playing in Division One (North) for 2012/13.

Liam Hope's gold boot award for being top scorer in the Ryman Division One (North) for 2011/12 

Enfield Town's runner's up shield which was presented at the Ryman League awards on Saturday night

THE TWELVE PROGRAMMES OF JUNE - PART FOUR

ILFORD V CLAPTON 1958

The Cold End has featured a few Ilford programmes of the past in the Classic Programme section so won't go into too much detail on this one and just feature the programme which is for a East London local derby against Clapton on Wednesday 30th April 1958. The programme shows the 'Ilford Cup Final Team for 1957/58' which relates to the Amateur Cup Final which Ilford lost to Woking 0-3. Both Woking and Ilford were members of the Isthmian League at the time with The Foxes clearly reserving their best form for the Amateur Cup where they beat Eastbourne, Bungay Town, Wycombe Wanderers, Vauxhall Motors and Crook Town to qualify for the final. This game was followed by another game at Newbury Park on the Thursday against Wycombe Wanderers.

As you can see Clapton won the game 0-2 thanks to goals from G.Belchamber and V.Abramson.

THE TWELVE PROGRAMMES OF JUNE - PART THREE

When Chingford played at White Hart Lane (or could it have been The Spurs Training Ground in Cheshunt???)

Chingford v Margate Reserves 1963

Today  we feature Chingford FC v Margate FC from Saturday 24th August 1963 in the Metropolitan League. The history of football in Enfield's neighbouring town is a rather complex one with numerous clubs popping up over the years. Here is time line which helps with the history (with thanks to Roger Reed of ETFC for completing some of the gaps that I had) -

1948 - Chingford Town join the Southern League and finish 21st (out of 22) and 24th (out of 24) in the two subsequent seasons. Eight teams from the 1948/49 season have since gone on to join The Football League.

1950/51 - Withdrew from the Southern League and first team take over Reserve team fixtures in the Metropolitan League. Town reached the 2nd Qualifying Round of the FA Cup where they lose to local rival's Woodford Town in a home replay 0-4. They beat Ilford and Crittall Athletic to reach this stage which is the furthest the club ever got in it's short history.  

1951 - Chingford Town fold

1952/53 - Parkhill (Chingford) enter the London League. There is a Parkhill Road in E4 which is just at the top of Kings Head Hill which is where this name may originate.

1955/56 - Parkhill (Chingford) become Chingford FC and continue to play in the London League until 1962/63

1963/64   - Chingford FC play in the Metropolitan League Division Two for one season.

1964/65 - Chingford FC join the Greater London League

1971/72 - Greater London League merges with Metropolitan League to form 'Metropolitan London League' 

1975 - Chingford FC are founder members of the London Spartan League which is formed when 'Metropolitan London League and 'Spartan League' merge.  

1979/80 - Chingford FC finish 5th in the Premier Division (the highest position in their 11 season stay)...competed against teams such at Berkhamsted Town, Amersham Town, Merstham, Fisher Athletic (who finished 8th) and Kingsbury Town amongst others.  

1987 - Chingford FC leave the London Spartan League

1991 - Chingford Wanderers join the London Spartan League Division Two

1992 - Chingford Wanderers change name to Chingford Town and complete in the London Spartan League

1993/94 - Chingford Town withdraw from the LSL and record expunged

1994/95 - Chingford United join the LSL Division Town

1997 - Chingford United change name to Chingford Town and are founder members of the Spartan South Midlands League Division One

1998/99 - Chingford Town leave SSML after finishing bottom of the table and conceding 174 goals in just 24 games.

1999 - Chingford Town join the London Intermediate League and compete for three seasons until 2002.

2007 - Chingford Athletic FC form and play in the Ilford and District League  

2009 - Chingford Harriers FC form and play in the Ilford and District League

2010 - Chingford Town whom had been playing in the GA Roberts Enfield Alliance withdraw from the League after failing to fulfill their fixtures.

2011/12 - Chingford Athletic move up the pyramid and join the Essex Olympian League finishing 9th in Division Three. The club also moves to the Matchday Centre aka Wadham Lodge.

The programme issued for this match was simple four pager with the team line ups in the centre pages along with club notes on the rear page. The club notes are very interesting as they state 'we would take this opportunity of expressing our sincere gratitude to the officials of Tottenham Hotspur FC for the use of the ground, it is indeed a very fine gesture by this great club' which appears to indicate this game was played at White Hart Lane??.... or most probably at the then Spur's training ground in Cheshunt which at the time had three pitches. One had a stand which held around 40-50 people. 

The notes go on 'of todays game, we are all anxious to see how our lads shape up to this new venture. Margate are considered to be one of the best teams in the league, but the lads have the ability to rise to the occasion and it should prove a truly great game. We hope that our own ground will be ready by the 14th September, when we entertain the Civil Services in the London Senior Cup'

This fixture was played in the Metropolitan League Division Two and it was against the reserve side of Margate as at the time their first team played in the Southern League.

The Metropolitan League was formed in 1949 and went on until 1975 when a merger with the Spartan League created the London Spartan League. It had been named the Metropolitan-London League from 1971 to 1975 after a merger with The Greater London League. The league featured many football league 'A' sides during the 1950's and 1960's with Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Charlton Athletic all wining the league title in this period. The winners of the last Metropolitan League in 1971 were Epping Town with Cray Wanderers winning the 1975 Metropolitan-London League. The wikipedia page for the league is full of lots of nice information here.

The notes end with 'GOOD LUCK CHINGFORD'

Chingford Town and Chingford FC played at a ground in Newgate Street which if your familiar with the area is just off of Friday Hill near to Woodford Golf Course. The following pictures were taken by TheColdEnd recently and they show that there is not much left of a football stadium let alone a pitch. There are remnants/remains of a scaffold type stand and some concrete terracing which I think were part of the ground -

It's not just football in the local area which has unfortunately seen stadiums disappear, as more famously the nearby Walthamstow Dog Stadium has very sadly stood empty and unused since August 2008. At one point in time there were 33 greyhound tracks in London but now only Romford, Wimbldeon and Crayford remain. As this Waltham Forest Guardian article reports (from Tuesday 8th May 2012) planning permission for the building of a housing estate have been passed. The Save Our Stow website also has news on the current status of the site. The current status is that the approved application has to be referred to London Mayor Boris Johnson and the Greater London Assembly. What will happen is still unknown??

The Iconic Walthamstow Stadium - June 2012