Amateur Football Alliance

Southern Amateur League

Chapter One - 'The 1920s'
Traditionally, we celebrate the founding of the Football Club in 1920, a self-managing Section of the Cricket Club. However, a Winchmore Hill Village Football Club was in fact formed in September 1898 under the Presidency of Mr. W.T. Paulin and had its ground in Middle Lane (Station Road). Although entirely a separate organisation, members of the WHVCC played for them. To mention some - the Duck brothers, H.J. was the goalkeeper, Lowden and London. They seem to have had their financial difficulties and even lost their ground in 1903 'in consequence of building operations', but were able with the help of the President and Vice Presidents, to overcome their difficulties and secure a new pitch in Green Lanes near Green Dragon Lane. Here, they erected a fine pavilion for the 1903/04 Season. They played continuously until the 1913/14 Season, when they were in the Second Division of the North London League. It is assumed, in the absence of records that, in common with other Clubs, they ceased to exist at the outbreak of the Great War in 1914.

Towards the end of Season 1919/20 pre war cricket members, F.G. (Bill) Lavers and J. (Jim) Follett, returned to the Club and were able to interest enough prospective members to field a scratch side and in fact played seven games (the first of which was against Latymer Old Boys) on a wandering basis. It was with this background that a football general meeting was held on 16 May 1920 at St. Paul's Institute, when it was decided upon the constitution of the Winchmore Hill Football Club and to accept the Cricket Club's generous offer of a pitch at a rental of £15. This was situated at the top of the ground to the rear of the pavilion and was in fact the 1st XI pitch for the next 25 years.

Season 1920-21
(Friendly Matches)
In Season 1920/21 two elevens were run and the Club had 33 playing and 18 non-playing members. Friendly games, mainly in North London were arranged with the following results:

This excellent performance and a balance now of £13 after all expenses had been paid were due in particular to the efforts of Bill Lavers (Chairman and 1st XI Captain), Jim Follett (Treasurer), George Burgoyne (Secretary) and Peter Calkin (Committee).

Season 1921-22
(Middlesex County Amateur League)
Winners Middlesex County Amateur League
Winners Middlesex County Amateur Cup

For the following Season 1921/22, having become a self-managing Section of the Cricket Club, they applied for League status. An offer to participate in the Northern Suburban League was rejected but both teams entered the Middlesex County Amateur League and the 1st XI the County Amateur Charity Cup. The 2nd XI had a moderate Season but the 1st XI won both the League and the Cup. At the commencement of the Season the Club colours were fixed as white shirts, blue knickers and Club stockings. Changing arrangements were Spartan. The Cricket Club's second small pavilion was used by the Football Club whilst visiting teams were housed in round corrugated iron sheds. The rent for this season was £25, raised to £30 the following season at the time of the opening of the new pavilion.

Season 1922-23
(Southern Olympian League - Division B)
Season 1922/23 saw the 1st XI entered in 'B' Division of the Southern Olympian League and the A.F.A. Senior Cup, whilst the 2nd XI remained in the County Amateur League and entered the A.F.A. Junior Cup. The loss of three or four of their best players, the stronger opposition and end of season slackness produced a poor result. The Club was faced with ten months' notice to quit from the Parent Club, but fortunately this was soon withdrawn, 

Season 1923-24
(Southern Olympian League - Division B)
Winners Southern Olympian League Division B

The 1st XI won 'B' Division of the Southern Olympian League and the 2nd XI also improved.

Season 1924-25
(Southern Olympian League - Premier Division)
After a bad start, the 1st XI secured 19 points in 16 games in the Premier Division, Southern Olympian League. 

Season 1925-26
(Southern Olympian League - Premier Division)
After a moderate season in 1925/26 the Club revived under the Captaincy of Bill Gower, who was fortunate in the arrival of excellent players such as Laurie Punchard, Ted Boden and Frank Smith.

Season 1926-27
(Southern Olympian League - Premier Division)
1st XI finished 3rd in the S.O.L. which included Lensbury, Catford Wanderers, London Welsh, Chingford and Watford Amateurs, and they won the Middlesex A.F.A. Senior Cup.

Season 1927-28
(Southern Olympian League - Premier Division)
Champions of  the Southern Olympian League.

This run of success under Gower and Smith led to the election of the 1st and 2nd XIs to Division III Senior and Junior of the Southern Amateur League and to the formation of a 3rd XI which played on the second pitch (today's main pitch) that now became necessary.

Season 1928-29
(Southern Amateur League - Senior Division 3)
In their first season in the new competition, the 1st XI were runners-up, finishing one point behind Brittanic House, and were promoted to Division II. The Reserves finished fifth in Division Three of the Reserve Team Section, which included the reserve teams of Hastings & St. Leonards and Eastbourne. No records of the Third XI have been discovered at this stage.

Season 1929-30
(Southern Amateur League - Senior Division 2)
The First XI finished their first season in the Second Division in 6th Place whilst the Reserves finished in 7th place. Ipswich Town were Champions of the Southern Amateur League.

Back to History

[page updated 1 March 2003]