CLASSIC PROGRAMMES - ENFIELD V HORNCHURCH 1961

Saturday 21st October 1961 saw Hornchuch visit Southbury Road for an Athenian League senior section fixture. The E's had started the league with a 100% record of eight wins in eight and were top of the table but by only two points from local rival's Barnet who had won six and drawn two of their games. The Urchins were in seventh place winning 2, drawing 4 and losing 2 of their eight games. The Athenian League of 1961/62 contained some really big non-league names with Enfield, Barnet, Wealdstone, Hayes, Hendon and Sutton United all included.

The club notes state "our first defeat of the season, registered by Barnet a fortnight ago, terminated our dreams of a long FA Cup run. We would like to put on record, however, how much we enjoyed the talented and match-winning football displayed by our senior team in providing an opening to the season of fourteen successive victories."

Above - What a start to the season for The E's

The notes also state "Our best wishes go to young Terry McQuade, a promising winger, who had signed professional formed for Millwall." McQuade, born in Central London, went on to make 37 appearances for The Lions in two spells as well as 20 appearances for Queens Park Rangers. He also played for Dover FC and in South Africa for Addington and Durban City.

The game was won 3-1 by The E's with goals from Thomas, Hyde and Lawrence with Hornchurch's goal coming from Lewis. Roy Thomas is the featured player in the programme who was born in the Rhonda Valley. He played football for Enfield Schoolboys but as a youngster preferred boxing as a sport. He spent sometime in the Army before joining Cheshunt and then Enfield in 1956 when he played as a centre-forward. He moved onto Hendon where he converted to play on the right wing before moving back to The E's. He went back to Hendon before re-joining Enfield once again for his third spell in August 1959.

One brilliant note from the Supporter's Club section mentions "The Enfield Roar" which was a "real booster' for the players. Hopefully this is something the newly formed Enfield Town Ultras can being back for the Ryman Premier League season in 2013/14.

BRING BACK THE ENFIELD ROAR

THE TURSDAY CLUB #7 - WEST THURROCK FC

West Thurrock Football Club were formed in 2012 having previously played as part of County Park FC. Last season was a very successful one as they were title winners in Division Two of the Essex Sunday Corinthian Football League playing against teams such as Romford Galaxy and Wanstead United. Their home games are played at The Sydney Russell Sports Centre in Dagenham.

You can follow them on Twitter @westthurrockfc or check out their website here.

PRE-SEASON FRIENDLIES START THIS SATURDAY

The pre-season friendlies season start this Saturday. League One side Gillingham will be busy as they send two side's to Ryman Division One (South) Faversham Town (1pm kick off) and Kent League side Ashford Town (3pm). Another D1S team are in action when Whitstable Town entertain a side sent from League Two Dagenham and Redbridge.

A little bit closer to Cold End country is a very interesting International game at Thamesmead Town's Bayliss Avenue when The Sealand National Football Association play a team from The London Turkish Community Football Association. The Principality of Sealand (which is an old Sea Fort around 13 kilometres off of the Felixstowe coastline) has an amazing history and the football team's first game came in 2004.

Above - Felixstowe Beach where you can see Sealand if you look out to sea.

Sealand are warming up for the first Tynwald Tournament, which takes place from July 4th to 7th where they will compete against teams representing Alderney, Raetia, Tamileelam, Occitania and St Johns United who host the tournament on the Isle of Man.

The game on Saturday kicks off at 2pm.

TAKE A BOW CONCORD RANGERS

Every once in a while there is a story from the non-league game that shows football is not all about the latest foreign signing for £40m for a Premier League team.

Step forward the board of directors at Concord Rangers whom have offered to drive elderly and infirm fans to their ground for home games this forthcoming season free of charge.

The Beachboys use a minibus to get to away games which is not used when they are at home so they have come up with this fantastic idea.

It goes to show the majority of local clubs are not just there for the football but also a real hub for all members of the community.

WELL DONE CONCORD RANGERS!!

OPENING DAY FIXTURES IN THE SPARTAN SOUTH MIDLANDS LEAGUE

The Spartan South Midlands League season starts on Saturday 10th August and here are the big opening day fixtures.

In the Premier Division new boy's Cockfosters host AFC Dunstable, London Lions travel to Leverstock Greeen and Hoddesdon Town mark their return to the top division with an away trip to Tring Athletic.

In Division One Baldock Town (promoted from the Herts Senior County League) face a local derby in their opening fixture with a trip to Forde Park to play Langford. Two promoted teams face off when Risborough Rangers (from Division Two) host Arlesey Town Reserves (from the Bedfordshire County League). Under new management FC Broxbourne Borough (from Division Two) entertain Crawley Green.

In Division Two football returns home to Brimsdown when new club Brimsdown FC host Kent Athletic. The other new club in the league are Willen who host Mursley United.  

PREMIER DIVISION
Ampthill Town v St Margaretsbury
Biggleswade United v London Colney
Cockfosters v AFC Dunstable
Hanwell Town v Berkhamsted
Harefield United v Hadley
Hertford Town v Hatfield Town
Holmer Green v Colney Heath
Leverstock Green v London Lions
London Tigers v Oxhey Jets
Stotfold v Hillingdon Borough
Tring Athletic v Hoddesdon Town

DIVISION ONE
Amersham Town v Southall
Bedford v Welwyn Garden City
Codicote v Chesham United Reserves
FC Broxbourne Borough v Crawley Green
Harpenden Town v Winslow United
Kings Langley v Buckingham Athletic
Langford v Baldock Town
Risborough Rangers v Arlesey Town Reserves
Sun Postal Sports v Stony Stratford Town
Wodson Park v Kentish Town

DIVISION TWO
Brimsdown v Kent Athletic
Hale Leys United v Old Bradwell United
The 61FC (Luton) v Pitstone & Ivinghoe
Totternhoe v Aston Clinton
Tring Corinthians v New Bradwell St Peter
Willen v Mursley United
Wolverton Town v Caddington

FOUR TEAM TOURNAMENT AT CORINTHIAN CASUALS

The above details the four team tournament to be held at Corinthian Casuals over the weekend of Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st July 2013. Casuals face Kingstonian and Dulwich Hamlet face Carshalton Athletic on the first day followed by a 3rd/4th place play off and the final on Sunday.

The competition is named in honour of Geoff Harvey who sadly died in 2009. He was 'Mr Corinthian Casuals' saving the historic club from folding when they had no ground to play on in the early 1980's. His hard work and determination helped Casuals find their current King George's Arena home in Tolworth in 1988.

DRAWS MADE FOR MIDDLESEX CUPS

The draws have been made for the Middlesex Senior Challenge and Senior Charity (supporting Help the Heroes) Cups today.

Enfield Town enter the Senior Cup at the Second Round stage and host Southern League Division One (Central) side Ashford Town.

In the Charity Cup there is a chance of a really decent game in the second round if Enfield Town can beat Combined Counties League Premier Division side Hanworth Villa at home and Cockfosters can beat Ashford Town away in the first round. This would set up a Cockfosters v Enfield Town clash in the second round which would see the host of ex Towners at 'Fosters facing their old club.

The full draws are below -

Middlesex Senior Challenge Cup 2013/14 


First Round - to be played in week commencing Monday 11th November 2013
Hillingdon Borough v Hanwell Town
Hanworth Villa     v Bedfont Sports
Enfield 1893       v Wembley

Second Round - to be played in week commencing Monday 2nd December


Northwood               v Hillingdon Borough or Hanwell Town
Wealdstone              v Uxbridge
AFC Hayes               v Hanworth Villa or Bedfont Sports
Enfield Town            v Ashford Town
Enfield 1893 or Wembley v Hampton & Richmond Borough
Harefield United        v Hayes & Yeading United
Staines Town            v Harrow Borough
North Greenford United  v Hendon
Middlesex Senior Charity Cup supporting Help for Heroes

First Round - to be played by week ending Friday 18th October 2013

Wingate & Finchley v Hampton & Richmond Borough
Enfield Town       v Hanworth Villa
Ashford Town       v Cockfosters
Rayners Lane       v North Greenford United

Second Round - to be played by week ending 14th February 2013


Ashford Town or Cockfosters            v Enfield Town or Hanworth Villa
Rayners Lane or North Greenford United v Uxbridge
Wembley                                v Hanwell Town
Bedfont & Feltham                      v W & F or H & R

ENFIELD TOWN LADIES FIXTURES ANNOUNCED FOR 2013/14

The line-up and fixtures for the South East Combination Women's Football League for 2013/14 has recently been announced. Twelve teams will compete as follows -

Arlesey Town
Brentwood Town
C&K Basildon
Cambridge Women
Denham United Ladies
Ebbsfleet United
Enfield Town
Ipswich Town
Luton Town
MK Dons
Norwich City
Queens Park Rangers

New teams in the league line-up this season are C&K Basildon along with Denham United Ladies.

Denham move up from the London and South East Regional Women's Premier Division where they were champions last season. C&K also move up as they were title winners in the Eastern Region Women's Football League Premier Division.

Enfield Town's first fixtures are as follows

Sunday 18th August - Queens Park Rangers @ Uxbridge FC
Sunday 25th August - MK DONS
Sunday 1st September - LUTON TOWN
Sunday 8th September - Cambridge @ Ely City
Sunday 15th September - C&K BASILDON
Sunday 22nd September - Denham United (Cup)
Wednesday 25th September - Arlesey Town
Sunday 29th September - BRENTWOOD TOWN

THE THURSDAY CLUB #6 - NORSEMEN FC

The Norsemen Football Club can trace it's history back over 100 years to 1895 when some of the players at the Orion Gymnasium Football Club of Clapton were dissatisfied with the poor arrangements at the club made the big decision to form their own club.

Originally named Northmen Football Club as most members lived in and around the Clapton area of North London it was quickly changed to Norsemen FC with the first pitch being behind the Cross Keys Public House in Edmonton Green. The pub was used as a changing room!

The 28th September 1895 saw the Norsemen play their first game against The Druids of Neasden which was won 2-1.

Norsemen moved to their current home sharing with Edmonton Cricket Club at the junction of the Great Cambridge Road and Church Street in 1896. The first XI's pitch is practically in the same position to this day.

Nowadays the club has numerous adult sides in the Southern Amateur League along with a thriving youth section.

Last season the club's first team finished seventh of eleven teams in the Southern Amateur League Senior Division Two playing games against Polytechnic, Alexandra Park, Crouch End Vampires, BB Eagles, Old Actonians Association, Merton, Old Finchleians, Carshalton, HSBC and Old Esthameians.

Links -
Southern Amateur League
Norsemen FC
@Norsefc on Twitter

WELCOME TO TOOTING AND MITCHAM WANDERERS

A new non-league club has been formed named 'Tooting and Mitcham Wanderers' as a group of disgruntled former Tooting & Mitcham United supporters and staff have made the decision to create a new club in protest as they are reportedly dissatisfied with the current running of the Ryman League Division One South club.

 

Wanderers will play in the Surrey South Eastern Combination Intermediate Division next season at St Catherine's Playing Field in Raynes Park.

 

The SSEC League had two Intermediate Divisions last season with Division One including Westminster Casuals, Project Clapham, Cheam Village Wanderers and South East London. Division Two included Balham, Fulham Deaf, Ashtead and Kerria Knights amongst others.

 

Danny Lee whom is a former caretaker manager at Tooting & Mitcham United will be the man in charge for the new club's debut season. There will also be a Reserve Team, Sunday Team, Academy Squad and under 10's side in place for the 2013/14 season.

 

The Terrors were relegated from the Premier Division in 2011/12 and finished sixteenth in Division One (South) last season when the club had three separate first team managers.

 

The new club's website can be found at tmwfc.co.uk and you can follow them on twitter @TheRealTMFC.

 

The 'Wanderers' name is nod to the Mitcham Wanderers (formed in 1912) who merged with Tooting FC (founded 1887) in 1932 to form Tooting and Mitcham United.

 

 

STONES NET PROLIFIC FRONTMAN PUTMAN

Wealdstone have secured the signing of Lewis Putman from Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division side Oxhey Jets for the 2013/14 Ryman Premier League season. The 22 year old scored an amazing 81 goals and was player of the season for the Hertfordshire side last season and did have a trial with League Two Wycombe Wanderers in April.

He moves up from Step 5 to Step 3 on the non-league ladder so it'll be interesting to see how good he does at Grosvenor Vale where he will no doubt learn from their other centre forwards/strikers Scott McGleish, Peter Dean and Chris Moore.

When TheColdEnd saw him play last season I thought he was more than just a goal-scorer. He is tall, good in the air, holds the ball up and brings other players into the game as well. The Stones have netted a decent promising player in my opinion.

AVELEY BRING IN TWO PLAYERS

Division One (North) Aveley have brought in two new players as Justin Gardner strengthens his squad for the 2013/14 season. Highly rated 17 year old midfielder Sammy Knott has joined from Concord Rangers where he played eighteen times in their promotion winning campaign. Also joining is striker Sos Yao who has played for Brentwood Town, Maldon and Tiptree, Metropolitan Police and Harlow Town recently.

ESSEX BUSINESS HOUSES LEAGUE 2013/14

Looking at the Essex Business Houses League over the past decade is a clear indication of the decline in grass roots football which makes the signing of the e-petition set up to save the game at this level more important than ever. Please click and sign - It only takes a few minutes!!!!

The 2003/2004 season saw the League have Five Divisions and a total of 61 teams competing. The 2013/13 sees the league running with just one "Premier Division" of 13 clubs.

Four clubs have left the league in Blue Marlin, Flanders, Essex United and current champion's Snaresbrook.

Joining are six new clubs which is great to see. The Lord's Sanctury, Asianos, Dagenham United, Scouts United (Hackney Marshes), Brenthill Rovers and May & Baker 'A'.

The full line up is as follows -

Asianos
Brenthill Rovers
Dagenham United
FC Hamlets
May & Baker Club 'A'
Newtown Wesley
Rainham Working Men's Club
St John's Deaf
Scouts United
Silk
Singh Sabha Barking
Switch Bar
The Lord's Sanctuary
FOOTBALL FACT
If just 0.5% of the current £3billion FA Premier League television deal is used to develop and promote the grass roots game at Adult and Youth level it would see a massive amount of £15,000,000 invested.

THE THURSDAY CLUB #5 - WESTHAMIANS FC

Westhamians FC's history goes back to 1925 when a group of pupils from the old West Ham Central Secondary School formed a club to provide football for the old boys of the school. Originally named 'West Ham Secondary Old Boys FC' this was quickly changed to 'Old Westhamians' and now 'Westhamians FC'.

The club played in the Amateur Football Alliance prior to the second World War with the club re-emerging in 1947 to join the Old Boys League for season 1948/49. They stayed members of the Amateur Football Alliance until the mid 1990's. The club then moved over to the Ilford and District League, the Essex Business Houses League and then onto the Essex Olympian League. A veterans team, a Sunday team and an under 18's team were also formed.

The club's sides have played at Fairlop since formation aside from two season's in Chingford in the mid 70's. They now have many youth sides and the first team are scheduled to play in Division One of the Essex Olympian League (Step 8 of the non-league ladder) for the 2013/14 season.

Last season they finished second bottom in the Premier Division winning only six of their twenty-six league games. Their most memorable season in recent times came in 2008/09 when they the Division One title gaining promotion to the Premier Division where they were members for four seasons up until relegation at the end of 2012/13.

Follow Westhamians FC on twitter @westhamiansfc or visit their website here

ESSEX OLYMPIAN LEAGUE CONSTITUTION FOR 2013/14

The proposed constitution for the 2013/14 Essex Olympian League four Senior Divisions has been announced. At the end of the 2013/14 season the league lost six senior teams in Premier Division Alborough Athletic (11th), Division Two side's Burnham Ramblers Res (10th) and Castle United (9th), Division Three side's Chingford Athletic (9th), Forest United (10th) and Writtle (12th).

I am unsure at present where some of the above club's will end up but can confirm that Castle United have tweeted the club have folded which is a great shame.

Four new sides join Division Three in Alemite Athletic, Forest Glade, Rochford Town and Snaresbrook.

*Alemite Athletic are based in Harlow and finished third in the Hertford and District Premier Division last season. They play their games at the Paringdon Sports club in the town.

*Forest Glade are based in Billericay and are a big youth football club with teams from under 5's to under 18s. They were formed in 1992.

*Rochford Town were champions of the Southend Borough Combination last season. They only lost one out of their sixteen league games on their way to winning the Premier Division title.

*Snaresbrook were Champions of the Essex Business Houses League last season. They play at the wonderfully named Nutterfield on Nutter Lane just off of the main A12 near to Wanstead station.

The Premier Division sees three promoted clubs in Bishops Stortford Swifts, Wadham Lodge and Newbury Forest and should be highly competitive next season.

The EOFL have also formed a new Under 21 division which currently has twelve teams involved as below. Barca, Basildon United, Dagenham United, Harold Hill, Hutton, LOASS, Little Thurrock Dynamos, Redbridge, Riverhawks, Romford Flyers, Ryan and Upminster will compete in the inugriaul season

Essex Olympian Football League 2013/14 Constitution

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

ALLIANCE PREMIER LEAGUE 1979/80 - THE FIRST CONFERENCE

ALLIANCE PREMIER LEAGUE 1979/80 - FINAL LEAGUE TABLE

TEAM	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	PTS
ALTRINCHAM	38	28	4	6	79	35	+44	56
WEYMOUTH	38	22	10	6	73	37	+36	54
WORCESTER CITY	38	19	11	8	53	36	+17	49
BOSTON UNITED	38	16	13	9	52	43	+9	45
GRAVESEND & NORTHFLEET	38	17	10	11	49	44	+5	44
MAIDSTONE UNITED	38	16	11	11	54	37	+17	43
KETTERING TOWN	38	15	13	10	55	50	+5	43
NORTHWICH VICTORIA	38	16	10	12	50	38	+12	42
BANGOR CITY	38	14	14	10	41	46	-5	42
NUNEATON BOROUGH	38	13	13	12	58	44	+14	39
SCARBOROUGH	38	12	15	11	47	38	+9	39
YEOVIL TOWN	38	13	10	15	46	49	-3	36
TELFORD UNITED	38	13	8	17	52	60	-8	34
BARROW	38	14	6	18	47	55	-7	34
WEALDSTONE	38	9	15	14	42	54	-12	33
BATH CITY	38	10	12	16	43	69	-26	32
BARNET	38	10	10	18	32	48	-16	30
AP LEAMINGTON	38	7	11	20	32	63	-31	25
STAFFORD RANGERS	38	6	10	22	41	57	-16	22
REDDITCH UNITED	38	5	8	25	26	69	-43	18

The first Conference (formed as the Alliance Premier League) was played in the 1979/80 season and was the ground breaking first season of a non-league national division. Twenty teams were drawn from the Northern Premier and Southern Premier Leagues. The Isthmian League saw Dagenham and Enfield leave at the end of the 1980/81 season to join the newly expanded twenty-two team division for the 1981/82 season.

The first title winners were Altrincham and with no automatic promotion to Division Four brought in until 1987 they were entitled to apply for election to the Football League subsequently missing out by one vote as they received 25 and Rochdale (24th in Division Four) received 26.

When Enfield won the league title in 1983 the club couldn't apply as it didn't meet football league requirements but in 1986 (the season prior to automatic promotion) The E's did and the vote went as follows. Three out of the four teams involved have subsequently been relegated from the football league.  -

Exeter City (21st) - 64
Preston North End (23rd) - 62.5
Cambridge United (22nd) - 61
Torquay United (24th) - 61
Enfield (1st APL) - 7.5

An indication as to how the league has changed especially with the advent of automatic promotion in 1986/1987 and then two up/two down in 2002/03 is to look at where the original competing teams have been and where are they now. The fact that every team competing in the first season has either been relegated or promoted at least once to the various levels of the football pyramid is another good example. This includes the four clubs that have officially folded and reformed. The table is worked on the fact the FA Premier League is Level One on the pyramid and downwards as follows.

TEAM	HIGHEST POSITION SINCE	2013/14
ALTRINCHAM	1st - Level 5 79/80 & 80/81	LEVEL 6 - CONFERENCE NORTH
WEYMOUTH	2nd - Level 5 79/80	LEVEL 7 - SOUTHERN PREMIER LEAGUE
WORCESTER CITY	3rd - Level 5 79/80	LEVEL 6 - CONFERENCE NORTH
BOSTON UNITED	11th - Level 5 - 03/04 & 05/06	LEVEL 6 - CONFERENCE NORTH
GRAVESEND & NORTHFLEET	5th - Level 5 79/80	LEVEL 6 - CONFERENCE NORTH
MAIDSTONE UNITED*	5th - Level 4 89/90	LEVEL 7 - RYMAN PREMIER*
KETTERING TOWN	2nd -Level 5 80/81, 88/89, 93/94 & 98/99	LEVEL 8 - SOUTHERN LEAGUE DIVISION ONE (CENTRAL)
NORTHWICH VICTORIA	4th - Level 5 80/81	LEVEL 8 - NORTHERN PREMIER LEAGUE DIVISION ONE (NORTH)
BANGOR CITY	9th - Level 5 79/80	WELSH PREMIER LEAGUE
NUNEATON BOROUGH*	2nd - Level 5 83/84 & 84/85	LEVEL 5 - CONFERENCE*
SCARBOROUGH*	5th - Level 4 88/89	LEVEL 8 - NORTHERN PREMIER LEAGUE DIVISION ONE (NORTH)*
YEOVIL TOWN	4th - Level 3 12/13	LEVEL 2 - CHAMPIONSHIP
TELFORD UNITED*	3rd - Level 5 81/82	LEVEL 6 - CONFERENCE NORTH*
BARROW	8th - Level 5 81/82	LEVEL 6 - CONFERENCE NORTH
WEALDSTONE	1st - Level 5 84/85	LEVEL 7 - RYMAN PREMIER
BATH CITY	4th - Level 5 84/85	LEVEL 6 - CONFERENCE SOUTH
BARNET	24th - Level 3 93/94	LEVEL 5 - CONFERENCE
AP LEAMINGTON#	16th - Level 5 80/81	LEVEL 6 - CONFERENCE NORTH#
STAFFORD RANGERS	6th - Level 5 87/88 & 92/93	LEVEL 7 - NORTHERN PREMIER LEAGUE
REDDITCH UNITED	20th - Level 5 79/80	LEVEL 7 - SOUTHERN PREMIER LEAGUE

* denotes teams folded and subsequently re-formed as follows -
1) Maidstone United folded in 1992 and re-formed as 'Maidstone Invicta'
2) Nuneaton Borough went into liquidation in 2008 and a re-formed as 'Nuneaton Town'
3) Scarborough were wound-up in 2007. A new club 'Scarborough Athletic' were formed in 2007 and 'Scarborough Town' in 2008. Athletic were promoted to Level 8 at the end of last season with Town unfortunately folding after last season's campaign.
4) Telford United were wound-up in 2004. Re-Formed as 'AFC Telford United'
# denotes 'Autmotive Products Leamington' became 'Leamington FC' in 1985 and withdrew from the Midland Combination at the end of season 87/88. The club were re-launched after over a decade of inactivity in 2000.

The 2013/14 season's Conference is a 24 team division and contains eleven former football league teams or if you prefer to include the reformed teams it's fourteen. Back in 1979 it was only two clubs out of twenty in Northwich Victoria (1892-94) and Barrow (1921-72).

The most unluckiest team has to be Kettering Town whom finished in the runner's up position a total of four times in 80/81, 88/89, 93/94 and 98/99. They missed out on automatic promotion to the football league on three of those occasions. In 1989 they finished eight points behind Maidstone United, In 1994 three points behind Kidderminster Harriers and 1999 four points behind Cheltenham Town. How things have changed for The Poppies as they now no longer have a ground moving from their historic Rockingham Road in 2011 onto Rushden & Diamonds' former ground Nene Park and now ground share at Corby Town after series of well reported financial problems.  

Officially only one club from the original APL will be in Enfield Town's Ryman Premier Division this season in Wealdstone although Maidstone United (re-formed in 1992) could be unofficially counted too. Canvey Island, Grays Athletic, Kingstonian, Lewes and Margate have also been members of non-league's top division and will be playing Ryman Premier football for 2013/14.

There are currently only seven teams who have won the title twice with Altrincham's the only side to retain the title. Those seven teams are Altrincham, Enfield FC, Barnet, Kidderminster Harriers, Macclesfield Town, Maidstone United and Stevenage Borough.

2013/14 FOOTBALL CONFERENCE NATIONAL
ex football league teams in red

TEAM	LEAUGE PLAYED IN SEASON 79/80
ALDERSHOT TOWN	#Aldershot FC - Football League Division Four
ALFRETON TOWN	Midland League Premier Division
BARNET	Alliance Premier League
BRAINTREE TOWN	Eastern Counties League Premier
CAMBRIDGE UNITED	Football League Division Two
CHESTER	#Chester City - Football League Division Three
DARTFORD	Southern League South Division
FC HALIFAX TOWN	#Halifax Town - Level 4 - Division Four
FOREST GREEN ROVERS	Hellenic Premier Division
GATESHEAD	Northern Premier League  (#Gateshead AFC were Football League members between 1930 to 1960. The present Gateshead club were re-formed in 1977)
GRIMSBY TOWN	Football League Division Three
HEREFORD UNITED	Football League Division Four
HYDE	Cheshire League Division One
KIDDERMINSTER HARRIERS	Southern League Midland Division
LINCOLN CITY	Football League Division Four
LUTON TOWN	Football League Division Two
MACCLESFIELD TOWN	Northern Premier League
NUNEATON TOWN	#Nuneaton Borough - Alliance Premier League
SALISBURY CITY	Southern League South Division
SOUTHPORT	Northern Premier League
TAMWORTH	Northern Premier League
WELLING UNITED	Athenian League
WOKING	Isthmian League Premier Division
WREXHAM	Football League Division Two

With Luton Town, now managed by John Still, facing their fifth season outside the football league along with a host of other clubs looking for promotion it really looks like a very exciting 2013/13 season in prospect. BetVictor.com currently make Luton 7/2 favourites with FGR at 4/1. Nuneaton Town and Tamworth are highest rated at 250/1.

THE THURSDAY CLUB #4 - GRENDON RANGERS FC

Grendon Rangers FC represent the village of Grendon Underwood in Buckinghamshire which is located between Aylesbury and Bicester on the Oxfordshire border. They were formed in 1947 with a previous club named Grendon FC. Last season, managed by Scott Reynolds, Rangers finished second in the North Bucks and District League Premier Division only three points behind Champion's Pottersbury. They also played teams such as Silverstone, City Colts, MK Titans and Yardley Gobion.
In 2011/12 they finished in sixth place. For the 2013/14 season Rangers, it has been reported, will play in the Spartan South Midlands League Division Two.

SOME NEWS FROM THE RYMAN NORTH DIVISION

WROXHAM ANNOUNCE NEW MANAGER

Pawal Guziejko is the new man in the hot-seat at Trafford Park. Guziejko leaves Anglian Combination Premier Division side Reepham Town to move to Wroxham. He guided Reepham to promotion from Division One in 2011/12 and they ended up comfortably in mid-table (7th of 16) last season. Born in Poland, Pav as he is known, has spent seven years in the USA as a coach at Spectrum Soccer Schools and moved to the UK to be a community coach for Norwich City.

He takes over from John Batch whom has moved to Division One (North) rival's AFC Sudbury.

AVELEY PRE-SEASON LINE UP

Aveley have announced their pre-season schedule with a Tuesday night visit from a Dagenham and Redbridge XI the highlight. The Millers start with an away trip to Essex Olympian League Premier Division Southminster St Leonards on Saturday 13th July. Their schedule also includes a trip to Kent League Corinthians FC.

Sat 13th July - Southminster St Leonards
Sat 20th July - Corinthians FC
Sat 27th July - DULWICH HAMLET
Tue 30th July - DAGENHAM AND REDBRIDGE XI
Sat 3rd August - St Neots Town
Mon 5th August - AFC HORNCHURCH
Tue 6th August - Merstham

DOCKER'S VERY BUSY IN  PRE-SEASON

Tilbury have a really busy pre-season scheduled stating with a home Thursday night friendly to Premier Division Billericay Town. Saturday 3rd August will be a busy day at Chadfields as local rival's Grays Athletic visit in The Stan Venness Cup.

Thu 18th July - BILLERICAY TOWN
Sat 20th July - Haringey Borough
Tue 23rd July - Basildon United
Sat 27th July - Barking *Peter Webster Trophy*
Tue 30th July - THAMESMEAD TOWN
Tue 30th July - Bowers & Pitsea
Sat 3rd August - GRAYS ATHLETIC *Stan Venness Trophy*
Tue 6th August - EAST THURROCK UNITED

WELCOME TO THE DERES

New boy's Erith and Belvedere have officially been announced Kent Hurlimann League Champions after being cleared of all charges relating to playing Adam Burchell ineligibly. A Kent League disciplinary committee found that the club had no case to answer.

Joint Manager's Chris Cosgrove and Martin Ford (who took over from the departing Micky Collins who resigned in May) have secured the service's of coaches Martin Barnard, Darren Mace and Joe Ford from former Kent League rival's Cray Valley for the forthcoming season. Moving in the opposite direction is the 2012/13 club captain and midfielder Jamie Wood.

Prolific scorer and Ex Thamesmead Town striker Andy Constable plays for The Deres. The Cold End predicts he will be up the top of the league's scoring charts for the 2013/14 season.

WARE PRE-SEASON LINE UP INCLUDES LOCAL DERBY AGAINST HERTFORD 

Ware's pre-season line up includes a local derby versus Hertford Town which will be well contested on Saturday 20th July.

Thu 18th July - DUNSTABLE TOWN
Sat 20th July - HERTFORD TOWN
Tue 23rd July - HINTON
Sat 27th July - NORWICH UNITED
Tue 30th July - Colney Heath
Sat 3rd August - HITCHIN TOWN
TBA - Bishops Stortford (Herts Charity Cup)

A QUICK WORD WITH....MUNAF ABHRAM

FC LEYTONSTONE have had an amazing debut season in the South Essex Sunday League as they won the Premier Division title under the guidance of Chairman/Manager Munaf Abhram. The Cold End caught up with Munaf to get his thoughts on the season and football in general.

SOUTH ESSEX SUNDAY LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION 2013/14

POS	TEAM	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	PTS
1.	FC LEYTONSTONE	22	14	4	4	70	52	+18	46
2.	LONDON APSA	22	14	2	6	70	31	+39	44
3.	LONDON HAMMERS	22	13	4	5	72	46	+26	43
4.	WALTHAM ATHLETIC	20	10	5	5	55	53	+2	35
5.	PLAISTOW	22	9	8	5	28	26	+2	35
6.	RENAISSANCE SENIORS	22	8	6	8	45	48	-3	30
7.	VALLEY PARK	22	9	2	11	54	54	0	29
8.	WALTHAMSTOW RED STAR	21	9	2	10	40	43	-3	29
9.	HORSE AND WELLS	21	8	3	10	47	52	-5	27
10.	LF OLYMPICO	21	7	4	10	50	61	-11	25
11.	AC MANOR PARK	22	5	6	11	38	53	-15	21
12.	AC MILANO	22	0	3	19	20	68	-48	3

WHAT IS YOU FOOTBALL HISTORY/EXPERIENCE?
I started out as a player for London Bari in 1990 and eventually switched to management. I then set up FC Leytonstone in 2003 working as a youth team coach and completed my FA coaching badges. I wanted to set up a structure for the youth within my community where I was brought up in an organised manner thus preventing them from being lured by the street life. I felt it was imperative to give them something to look forward to and somewhere they can channel their energy in the correct manner.
(As the FC Leytonstone website states the club was formed to bring together youngsters within the local community and provide them with a platform to express their footballing talents.)

HOW HAS YOUR DEBUT SEASON BEEN IN THE SOUTH ESSEX SUNDAY LEAGUE?
After Last season’s success in winning the Asian Champions Cup at Loftus Road we were all looking forward to the new season in the Premier Division of South Essex Sunday League. It was a real honour for us that the league recognised our ability and talent giving us the opportunity to play in the premier division as some other well established teams have been members of the league for four or five seasons and are still in Division One. We knew it wouldn’t be easy but relished the challenge, knowing full well that we would be facing some great teams with some players who compete at semi-pro level on Saturdays. We were in poll position by the end of December and never looked back, clinching the title in April against AC Milano with one game to spare. It was truly a great achievement to win the championship in our debut season as in the league's history this has never been achieved by any other club.

WHERE DO YOU SEE FC LEYTONSTONE IN FIVE YEARS TIME?
It would be great to see the club progress to onto one of the Saturday Essex Leagues. I'm confident my players have the talent and ability to do so. The club has been very successful on the pitch over the last decade and much more importantly successful off the pitch, attracting two hundred players over five separate age groups. I hope to see FC Leytonstone ranked top of the league for many years to come and I would love it if some of my players get the opportunity to further their career higher up the football ladder.

DO YOU HAVE ANY PLAYERS WHO HAVE POTENTIAL TO PLAY AT A HIGHER LEVEL?
With regards to players with potential it would be difficult to narrow it down to one or two as we have only lost three games all season. In order to maintain continuity throughout the season, the whole team had to chip in, especially when the strikers were having a hard time. Bradley Williams, Zulqi Khan, Justin Hountkapin, Sergio Garcia, Fesar Rafiq, Daniel Owusu, Ahmed Faisal, Levi Fletcher, Imran Patel, Ayaaz Alam, Micah Stenett, Kahit Raouf , Saad Wadia, Asif Malik, Obi Ekochu, Kash Shabbir and Dawid Opkara all managed to get their names on the score sheet in this campaign. The squad has an average age of only 19 and we set a new league record for most different goal-scorers in one season. 

WHO ARE FC LEYTONSTONE'S MAIN RIVALS?
My principal from day one has always been never underestimate any team and not to be over confident. Treat every team as a rival team as its 11 v 11 in every game. It's important to stick to the game plan and execute it in every match.

MANY OF YOUR PLAYERS COME FROM THE STRONG ASIAN COMMUNITY IN EAST LONDON. WHY IS IT ONLY A FEW ASIAN PLAYERS HAVE MADE IT THROUGH TO FOOTBALL LEAGUE CLUBS AND WHAT CAN BE DONE TO IMPROVE THE SITUATION?
More focus should be placed on developing young Asian talent. Focus also needs to come from, not just the local community and football clubs, but also the families. From my experience, being a son of migrant workers, it was more important for them that I have a successful education rather than play football. However, the thinking has changed and the now the Asian community is full of  support and encouragement for the children to pursue their goals and dreams. No doubt the talent is there, and I am very confident that within the next five years we will be seeing a lot of young Asian footballers playing at the highest level. I believe the best way talent will be recognised is for the Asian kids to play in a good standard league where scouts can spot them.

WHO IS THE BEST TEAM FC LEYTONSTONE HAVE PLAYED THIS SEASON?
Most of the teams we have played this season have been great teams, but the only two that I can highlight simply for the reason that they beat us were London Hammers & London APSA.

WHAT PREMIER LEAGUE MANAGER WOULD YOUR PLAYERS DESCRIBED YOU AS?
I think if they had to compare me with a manager it would have to be Jose Mourinho, (Because of the grey hair… Lol!!) not because of my attitude and arrogance but for simply getting them to play good standard football and making each player realise how important they are in being part of this great club. This is probably why FC Leytonstone's most striking feature is the family feel to the club. Whilst many other clubs locally have formed and since folded we have continued to grow. The unique aspect of this club has been that it has maintained its core set of players over the last ten years. The current first team, having started at ten years of age, are now standard bearers for the club, mentoring and instilling the core principles of the club which are respect, attitude and determination within the new younger players. 

HOW WOULD YOU IMPROVE THE SOUTH ESSEX SUNDAY LEAGUE?
It's a great league with some impressive teams and with an excellent management committee. It's structure and discipline standards have been exemplary. If I had to change anything this would not only be for the South Essex League but for most Sunday Leagues, is an incentive giving teams (if they want it) a chance to play for promotion into a Saturday league. This can only be achieved with liaising with the London FA as I feel the current structure is somewhat unfair. I be FC Leytonstone have the ability and talent to play at a higher level of football but our structure doesn’t match with the criteria the London FA currently enforce. I think the rules need some updating and hopefully then you will see some real talent from the grass roots of football moving onwards and upwards. 

Thanks to Munaf for taking the time to answer the questions. I wish him and his club the very best of luck for the 2013/14 season. They play their home games at The Leyton Youth Centre on Crawley Road, E10 just off of the High Road, Leyton. If your a local Leytonstone/Leyton resident why not take a Sunday morning stroll down to watch your local side next season?

You can follow FC LEYTONSTONE on twitter - here
Here is a link to FC LEYTONSTONE's website - LINK
Here is a link to the South Essex Sunday League's website - LINK

WELCOME TO BRIMSDOWN FC

The Cold End can bring you some exciting news from the local non-league scene as a new club has been formed for the 2013/14 season. BRIMSDOWN FC's first team will play on the Downs pitch at Goldsdown Road and have applied to play in the Spartan South Midlands League Division Two (step 7). The club will also have under 18s, under 16s and under 15s teams. Brimsdown FC are currently holding trials on the Alma Road football pitches every Saturday morning between 10am to 12.30pm. Please see their  website for more details. Some of the first team players will come from the Kentish Town Under 18's side from last season.

The Cold End thinks it brilliant news as the name of Brimsdown will be once again represented in senior football following Brimsdown Rover's merger with Enfield 1893 FC in 2010. I'll bring you news of their first fixtures in due course.

The very best of luck to all those involved in the formation of the new club. The club's moto is "SUPERBIA UNITATE CONATU" which means PRIDE UNITY & EFFORT.

THE MAGPIES - 1947 to 2010

SATURDAY 10th AUGUST 2013

The above is the all important date for the start of the 2013/14 Ryman League season. The league hope to announce the fixtures on or around Monday 15th July. This means it's only just over two months until the start of what will hopefully be an exciting new season.

RYMAN LEAGUE UNDER 21 LEAGUE CONSTITUTION ANNOUNCED

The Ryman League has announced the details and line-ups for the newly formed Under 21 League which for the first season will be split into North and South divisions. Matches can be played on either Saturday or midweek with the teams allowed to contain three 'over age' players. Enfield Town's new team longest trips will be to Suffolk to Leiston and Needham Market with a good number of local games against Ware, Wingate, Waltham Forest and Waltham Abbey.

Hopefully the league will produce some excellent players who can make the jump up to first team football and beyond.

RYMAN LEAGUE UNDER 21 DIVISIONS FOR 2013/14 

NORTH DIVISION             SOUTH DIVISION 

ENFIELD TOWN               BURGESS HILL TOWN
GRAYS ATHLETIC             CRAWLEY DOWN GATWICK 
HEYBRIDGE SWIFTS           HASTINGS UNITED 
LEISTON                    LEATHERHEAD 
NEEDHAM MARKET             MAIDSTONE UNITED
VCD ATHLETIC               MARGATE 
WALTHAM FOREST             RAMSGATE
WALTHAM ABBEY              THAMESMEAD TOWN 
WARE                       THREE BRIDGES 
WINGATE & FINCHLEY         WHITSTABLE TOWN