Cockfosters FC

Cockfosters 0 Brimsdown Rovers 0 - London Spartan League

Cockfosters is a section of North London, lying partly in the London Borough of Enfield and partly in the London Borough of Barnet. The name has been recorded as far back as 1524, and is thought to be either the name of a family, or that of a house which stood on Enfield Chase. One suggestion is that it was the residence of the cock forester. There can not be too many easier venues to reach by public transport in the London area. Chalk Lane is adjacent to Cockfosters Underground Station at the northern terminus of the Piccadilly Line.

Cockfosters Station

On this occasion I had travelled from South West London and it was a fairly lengthy jaunt on the tube from Earls Court. However on reaching Cockfosters, the travelling was complete.


The Club was originally formed in 1921 by local residents and the ground allocated to the Club by Lady Bevan, from her family estate.
The first league entered was the local Barnet League and moderate success was enjoyed as the Club moved through the lower divisions. In 1991, having competed in the Herts Senior County League for twenty five years, the Club gained “Senior Status” from it’s parent F.A. (London) and an application was accepted by the London Spartan League for entry into their Premier Division.

This fixture is in many ways a derby match with Brimsdown Rovers coming from the opposite side of the Borough of Enfield. A reasonable game took place, with little between the teams and a draw was a fair result. The Pieman would have loved to have seen at least one goal though and could only dream of such fare as he headed south on the Piccadilly line.

Millwall FC

Millwall 2 Notts County 0 - Football League Division One

Millwall is an area in London, on the western side of the Isle of Dogs, in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. It lies to the south of the developments at West India Docks, including Canary Wharf. Originally known as Marshwall, its name derives from the large number of windmills built on the river wall, in the 19th century. Corn was brought along the River Thames to be ground into flour here, before being delivered to bakers who kneaded the dough. Millwall is arguably most famous for its football club, Millwall F.C., founded in 1885 as "Millwall Rovers" and nicknamed "The Dockers", (changed to "The Lions" in 1900) which moved south of the river to New Cross in 1910, after occupying no fewer than four separate grounds in the 25 years since its formation as a football club.

Stevedores loading a ship in the Millwall Docks 1871

I had already visited Millwall’s former home ‘The Den’ on a few occasions and this time was invited by a colleague to join him at the New Den. An easy five-minute or so train journey from London Bridge to South Bermondsey enabled us to reach this venue.


The old place was quite an intimidating ground to visit for players and supporters and although the modern feel of the presnt ground has improved the feel of the place, the fans still cling to their 'no one like us' attitude.


As for the match, Millwall were comfortable winners over Notts County. For me the home side’s Pat Van Den Hawe was man of the match with a very professional controlled performance. At Spurs towards the end of his time there, I thought he was struggling but his class certainly shone through at the lower level.



The Pieman's initial visit to The Den

Oxford City FC

Oxford City 2 Cove 3 - Isthmian League, Division Three

Stalybridge Celtic FC

Stalybridge Celtic 1 Halifax Town 1 - Football Conference

Hyde United FC

Hyde United 1 Marine 3 - Northern Premier League, Premier Division

Peppard FC

Peppard 5 Fleet Town 2 - FA Vase, Preliminary Round

March Town United FC

March Town United 1 Chateris Town 2 - Eastern Counties league, Premier Division

Frimley Green FC

Frimley Green 0 Peppard 5 - Combined Counties League

Burgess Hill Town FC

Burgess Hill Town 4 Three Bridges 0 - Sussex County League, Division One

Although a Roman road was built connecting London to the South coast and passing through what is now Burgess Hill, there is no evidence that the Romans settled. Until the nineteenth century, the town was known as St John's Common, and much of what is now the town centre was common land used by the tenants of the manors of Clayton and Keymer for grazing and as a source of fuel. The town gradually enlarged, having its largest population increase between the years of 1951 and 1961, when the population of about 7,000 residents almost doubled. This earned Burgess Hill the title of fastest growing town in the southeast.

Welling United FC

Welling United 2 Tottenham Hotspur 1 - Friendly



Welling United: From - Williams, Hone, Collins, Brown, Ransom, Copley, White, Hales, Abbott, Robbins, Reynolds, Clemmence, Slater, Burgess, Dennis.

Tottenham Hotspur: Dearden, Marlowe, Anderson, Grogan, Young (Hodges 46), Phirson (Townley 79), Moran (Robinson 46), Minton, Beadle, McDougald (Hendry 46), McMahon
Goal: Beadle

Referee: Mr J Pettitt
Linesmen: Mr E Smith and Mr P King

Dover Athletic FC

Dover Athletic 1 Tottenham Hotspur 1 - Friendly Match

Ash United

Ash United 0 Sandhurst Town 3 - Combined Counties League

Leverstock Green FC

Leverstock Green 0 Letchworth Garden City 7 - South Midlands League

Darenth Heathside FC

Darenth Heathside 1 Thamesmead Town 3 - Kent League

Redhill FC

Redhill 3 Sidley United 0 - Sussex County League, Division Two

Cray Wanderers FC

Cray Wanderers 7 Ramsgate 2 - Kent League

Tonbridge FC

Tonbridge 0 Tottenham Hotspur 3 - Friendly

Eltham Town FC

Eltham Town 2 Cockfosters 1 - London Spartan League, Premier Division

Lancing FC

Lancing 3 Saltdean 1 - Sussex County League, Division Two

Ramsgate FC

Ramsgate 0 Tottenham Hotspur 5 - Friendly Match

Ramsgate began as a fishing and farming hamlet. Ramsgate as a name has its earliest reference as Hraefn's ate, or cliff gap, later to be rendered 'Ramisgate' or 'Remmesgate' around 1225 and 'Ramesgate' from 1357. The legendary mercenaries Hengest and Horsa landed in the 5th century to herald the pagan Anglo-Saxon age in England. The Christian missionary St. Augustine landed in Ramsgate in 597, which re-established the link between England and the Christian church in Rome. Ramsgate's harbour is a defining characteristic of the town. The construction of Ramsgate Harbour began in 1749 and was completed in about 1850. The Harbour has the unique distinction of being the only Royal Harbour in the United Kingdom. Because of its proximity to mainland Europe, Ramsgate was a chief embarkation point both during the Napoleonic Wars and for the Dunkirk evacuation in 1940.


Mrs Pieman and I travelled down to Ramsgate by train. With time to spare before the match, we explored the seaside town, which was pleasant enough, if a little run-down. However, run-down is nothing in comparison to the state of the model village near the seafront! Clearly this 'attraction' had seen better days. Covered in dirt and cobwebs, the whole place was in need of repair (demolition - Ed). An elderly woman and a young boy appeared to be in charge of the place and were more than happy to take admission money. Needless to say we have never considered going back.

Ramsgate FC 1898-99 - Amost as old as that model village

The Southwood Stadium is centrally located and only a short walk from both the seafront and the railway station. The bank holiday crowd were entertained by a fine passing game from the young Spurs side.

Oakwood FC

Oakwood 0 Wick 3 - Sussex County League, Division One

Dorchester Town FC

Dorchester Town 5 Cambridge City 0 - Southern League, Premier Division

Willesden (Hawkeye) FC

Willesden (Hawkeye) 0 Beaconsfield United 1 - London Spartan League, Premier Division

Chipstead FC

Chipstead 3 Sandhurst Town 0 - Combined Counties League

Tower Hamlets FC

Tower Hamlets 2 Cockfosters 3 - London Spartan League, Premier Division


PIEMAN'S UPDATE

In 1995 Tower Hamlets FC left the Spartan League, a full Senior History is available courtesy of the Football Club History Database

Dunstable FC

Dunstable 0 Baldock Town 3 - Southern League, Southern Division

Abingdon Town FC

Abingdon Town 1 Barking 2 - Isthmian League Division One

Abingdon is eight miles south of Oxford, in the flat valley of the Thames and is situated on the west (right) bank of that river, where the small river Ock flows in from the Vale of White Horse. The town is situated on the A415 between Witney and Dorchester and has the benefit of being adjacent to the A34 trunk road, linking it with the M4 and M40 motorways. Abingdon was the county town of Berkshire and the magnificent county hall and court house, now the museum, was supposedly designed by Christopher Wren. However, Abingdon's failure to engage fully with the railway revolution, accepting only a branch line, sidelined the town in favour of Reading. The corporation was reformed, under the Municipal Reform Act 1835 and was abolished under the Local Government Act 1972. In 1974, under local government reorganisation, Abingdon became part of the non-metropolitan shire county of Oxfordshire and the seat of the new Vale of White Horse District Council, with Abingdon becoming a civil parish with a town council.


Abingdon is not the most straightforward place to reach by public transport. In the main, due to there not being a railway station as highlighted above. However , the line between Reading/Didcot and Oxford does pass nearby and provides a couple of options. Travelling to Abingdon, we took the train to Radley, from where a decent stroll took us to the edge of Abingdon and then onwards into town. I'm informed that this route took us past the ground of neighbours Abingdon United FC, but confess to not having seen it.


After a time exploring the pleasant town centre, we made our way to the Culham Road base of Abingdon Town FC. A decent setting for the football ground with the river running close by. Culham Road leads, after a bit of a hike, to Culham railway station. After the match there was a conveniently timed train back to Reading (less trains stop here than do at Radley - Ed)

Thamesmead Town FC

Thamesmead Town 4 Kent Police 2 - Kent League

Southend Manor FC

Southend Manor 4 Stansted 0 - Essex Senior League

Milton Keynes Borough FC

Milton Keynes Borough 2 Oxford City 1 - Spartan South Midlands League, Premier Division

Newbury Town FC

Newbury Town 0 Witham Town 0 - Isthmian League Division Two

Newbury is a civil parish and the principal town in the west of the county of Berkshire in England. It is situated on the River Kennet and the Kennet and Avon Canal, and has a town centre containing many 17th century buildings. Newbury is best known for its racecourse and the adjoining former airbase at Greenham Common. Newbury was founded late in the eleventh century following the Norman invasion as a new borough, hence its name. Although there are references to the borough that predate the Domesday Survey it is not mentioned by name in the survey. However, its existence within the manor of Ulvritone is evident from the massive rise in value of that manor at a time when most manors were worth less than in Saxon times.

Bootle FC

Bootle 1 St Helens Town 1 - Floodlit Trophy, Group Match 6

Bootle is a town in Merseyside. It is 4 miles to the north of Liverpool city centre. Historically part of Lancashire, Bootle's economy has been around the docks and their associated industries for decades. The docks made Bootle a target for German bombers during the Liverpool Blitz and approximately 90% of the houses in the town were damaged. Situated immediately adjoining the City of Liverpool, and the site of numerous docks, Bootle had the distinction of being the most heavily bombed borough in the UK. Rock singer Billy J. Kramer came from Bootle.

Burnham Ramblers FC

Burnham Ramblers 1 Great Wakering Rovers 2 - Essex Senior League

Sittingbourne FC

Sittingbourne 0 Tottenham Hotspur 1 - Friendly

Eastbourne Town FC

Eastbourne Town 2 Arundel 2 - Sussex County League, Division One

Horsham YMCA FC

Horsham YMCA 1 Hassocks 1 - Sussex County League, Division Two