Amateur Football Alliance

Southern Amateur League

Chapter Four - 'The 1950s'
The need for a new constitution had been apparent for some time. With the growth of the Club, the reformation of the Women's Hockey Section, and the suggestion that the Football Club should cease to be a Self-Managing Section, the opportunity was taken to compile a completely new constitution, comprising Fundamental and General Rules and Rules for each Section. At the Annual General Meeting of the parent Club held on 29 January 1950, the new Rules were approved and the Football Section became a Section of the parent Club with effect from 1 October 1950, thus enjoying equal status with the Cricket and other Sections.

During the immediate post-war years a Sub Committee consisting of representatives of Cricket, Tennis and Football, had been considering the form of a suitable and permanent War Memorial to the memory of Club Members who lost their lives in the two World Wars. On the 14 October 1951, a Service of Remembrance, held in the Club Pavilion, was conducted by the Rev. B.E.T. Janz, M.A., a member of the Southgate Cricket club, at which a Roll of Honour was unveiled by Mr. J. North, Chairman of the Club from 1939-1946, who delivered a short address. The Service was attended by a large congregation of members, friends and relatives. The Roll of Honour hangs in the Pavilion Lounge. Subsequently, after members had constructed the Veranda on the Ford's Grove side of the Pavilion, it was decided that this should be regarded as the permanent Memorial, and a plaque was placed upon it to that effect.

In 1957 a sub-committee of all Sections produced a Badge in the Club colours of silver, mauve and black. At the suggestion of Don Wragg, it incorporated Deer which links the Club with the Arms of its own Borough of Southgate (now incorporated in the London Borough of Enfield), as well as the great Cedar Tree overlooking the front of the Ground, and symbol of the New River suggestive of 'The Paulin Ground'. The Latin motto, 'Amicitia Per Ludos' which may be translated as 'Friendship through Sport' was added by Gus Gowers.

In 1950/51 the First XI won the Championship for the third time in four Seasons, which was followed by further title wins in 1951/52, 1954/55 and 1955/56. Six times Champions in nine Seasons. With this success came representative recognition by selection of J. Pearl, A. Bailey, L. Lambert and C. Burrett for the A.F.A. with many more for the SAL. During these years, the Captaincy passed from Gus Gowers 1946/48, to Alec Lambert 1948/52, Charles Burrett 1952/54, Ian Bedford 1954 and because of illness to Ian, first to Charles Burrett and then to Howard Felton in 1955/56.

An extra 5th XI became the regular 6th XI in 1950/51, when the 5th XI entered the SAL. There were times in 1952/53 and 1953/54 when seven sides took the field, such was the strength of the membership. The depth of playing strength of the Cub at the end of the 1955/56 Season is reflected in the final League positions, for, in addition to 1st XI achievements, the Reserves were champions of their League in 1953/54 and were runners-up in 1955/56 when the 3rd and 5th XIs headed their Leagues.

AFA Senior Cup results saw the Club reach the semi-finals in 1948/49, 1950/51 and 1954/55 and the Final in three consecutive Seasons. In 1951/52 losing to Norsemen at Leyton Orient, in 1952/53 against HMS Daedalus with whom they drew 0-0 after extra time, at the ground of the now Football League Club, Wimbledon, and shared the cup, and in 1953/54 losing to Southgate Olympic at Barnet. After all these years of endeavour it was not to be until the end of the 1959/60 Season that this Cup was eventually won outright (against Cuaco 1-0) for what has turned out to be the only time.

 
Season 1950-51
(Southern Amateur League)
First XI Champions of the SAL for the 3rd time in 4 seasons. Semi-Finalists AFA Senior Cup.
Third XI Champions.
A Fifth XI was entered into the Southern Amateur League for the first time and finished Runners-up in their respective section.

Season 1951-52
(Southern Amateur League)
First XI Champions of the SAL and Finalists AFA Senior Cup.
Second XI Runners up Division 1 Reserve Team Section

Season 1952-53
(Southern Amateur League)
Finalists AFA Senior Cup. The Cup was shared after a draw.

Season 1953-54
(Southern Amateur League)
Reserves Champions SAL Reserve Team Section

Season 1954-55
(Southern Amateur League)
First XI Champions SAL and Finalists AFA Senior Cup.
Third XI Runners up Third Team Section Division  1

Season 1955-56
(Southern Amateur League)
First XI Champions SAL.
Reserves Runners Up Reserve Team Section.
Third XI Champions Third Team Section.
Fifth XI Champions Fifth Team Section.

Season 1956-57
(Southern Amateur League)
Fourth XI Runners Up Fourth Team Section.

Season 1957-58
(Southern Amateur League)
Sixth Team enter SAL.

Season 1958-59
(Southern Amateur League)

Season 1959-60
(Southern Amateur League)
Winners AFA Senior Cup.
Reserves finish bottom of table and are relegated.
Third XI Runners up SAL.
Sixth XI withdrew from SAL.

Winners AFA Senior Cup. (Click to enlarge) Inset: G. Wilson, H. Felton Standing: Serg. Ambridge, M. Fusedale, J. Hardman, J.C. Tait, K. Gibbs, D. Constable, W.K. Brooks, C.A. Burrett Seated: P.I. Bedford, J. Taylor, D. Carter, A.R. Bailey (Captain), D.B. Callwood,  L. Rogers

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[page updated 1 March 2003]