No.10 - Sat. 18th September 2010; Middlesex County League Prem Div;                            3.00pm at the Northolt Rugby Club, Cayton Road, Greenford, Midd'x.

 

Matchday images (38) http://picasaweb.google.com/footballgroundsinfocus/SouthallFC

Southall (1) 3  The Wilberforce Wanderers (0) 1

Top of the progs...

My interest in collecting football programmes dates back roughly to the mid 1960's. I almost felt that I had won the Pools (I suppose that would be like the Lottery now) when one of our neighbours (a fanatical Hull City season ticket holder) gave me a spare programme from a game he had just been to. I can remember vividly, as a young boy wearing short trousers, pouring over the twenty four or so pages of my first ever football magazine which featured the Tigers crucial home game against Chelsea in an FA Cup Sixth Round replay at Boothferry Park on 31 March 1966. Despite the result this was a real coup!

I read it over and over again, analysing every word, trawling through the club statistics, scanning all the photos and even memorising all those famous names (Wagstaff, Chilton, Houghton, Butler...and a few Chelsea players too) that made the TV and newspaper sporting headlines. I carried my new bounty around with me everywhere I went. I even slipped it under my pillow at bedtime (how sad is that?) I reckon most of my school mates had seen it by the end of the week. So thumbed were the creased pages that it wasn't long before they came away from the staples in the middle (shock, horror!!) but I still treasured it all the same. I was definitely hooked. Was it the sense of the occasion or the feeling of having something new? I'm not sure whether it may even have been the feel of the glossy pages, the colour, shape and size of the fonts or the smell of the print that may also have been responsible for my love affair with programmes. One thing for sure was that a fascinating hobby had just started and one that was ultimately set to grow beyond all recognition in time.

 

Over the years my collection has grown rapidly; initially based around Hull City matches, it soon included one from each of the ninety-two Football League and then thirty eight Scottish League clubs. As the obsession with ground ticking took off so did the quantity of non league club programmes that were added to my collection. My early editions were carefully aranged in alphabetical order and inserted into clear plastic wallets and then placed into sturdy ring binders. Running out of space my matchday magazines were later relegated into shoe boxes where they remain rather more anonymously stored today. Although the passion is still there, the necessity to keep each copy so well organised is no longer as important as it once was. I reckon most are now kept on a 'box per season' format on their dedidicated shelves. Although I do still like to pick up a programme from the games I go to these days, I am not too worried if a club doesn't issue. In fact I more than often pick a match now on the basis of whether it's on a new ground or where perhaps the fixture or competition is more appealing (eg cup ties), rather than on the desire of having a souvenir programme. I know many hoppers must have a programme on their travels but it's not that critcial for me to get one. Each to his/her own. I suppose to compensate I do like to write down the team line ups on my FGIF Match Stats Card and keep it as a record. As a result the number of matchday magazines I collect each season now seems to be dwindling. I don't really mind this to be honest and think that my missus approves of having a much tidier living room as well. Don't tell her I said that!

 

One of the joys of editing this website is reading about all the new clubs that issue programmes each season. For those of you that send in copies of your club's latest magazines or provide details of those that issue, I am eternally grateful. Although there are too many of you to name personally, I must say that your contributions are always very much appreciated and will always be given credit in the pages of this site.

 

Towards the end of last season I received one such copy sent in the post. I was thrilled to find that programme and website editor of Southall Football Club, Geoff Harrison, was currently producing a superb 24 pager for all club first team home games in the Middlesex County League Premier Division. In his covering letter Geoff requested that we review his programme for him. In the time it takes to say FGIF, the job was done. For more info and to view Geoff's programme go to the following link: http://footballgroundsinfocus.com/PRMAY10.htm. In fact it was so good that I soon decided to pencil in one of the club's home fixtures on my 'to do' list for 2010-11. Now what did I say earlier about the importance of getting a programme? Hmmm. Well there are some exceptions...

 

And that, in a roundabout sort of way, brings us onto our trip today. In fact it was our third attempt at reaching the club, having been thwarted earlier on two occasions - previously by heavy road works and an accident on the motorway. We made it (only by the skin of our teeth though) to the ground, at the Northolt Rugby Club, off the A40 in West London, where the team are based this season. Again roadworks on the M25 (on a section stretching between Watford and Aylesbury) almost scuppered our chances, meaning that we arrived at pitchside just as the teams were coming out onto the pitch. According to my trusty Lorus I made it that we had about ninety seconds to spare - phew!!

 

A fairly lacklustre MCFL Senior Open Cup First Round tie saw the hosts beat The Wilberforce Wanderers, from Division 1, by a 3-1 scoreline, played in bright sunshine on a bumpy pitch in front of sixteen spectators. Southall had the game sewn up before the hour mark with goals from the skilful Jay Holmes (34; 48) and Orin Fredericks (54) before the visitors replied through captain Jon Locke (74). The result earned the club a home second round tie against Broadfields United, a fixture to be played in October.

Southall is a club with a very pround history that dates back to its formation over a hundred years ago. The club joined the Southern Football League in 1896 and also fielded sides in the Middlesex Football League and London Football League concurrently. However, despite the success in previous seasons Southall folded in the summer of 1905. A local team playing in the West Middlesex League, called Southall Athletic, moved into the defunct club's home and dropped the "Athletic" from their name in March 1906. They played in a variety of leagues around Greater London until settling in the Athenian League. They became founding members of the Isthmian League Second Division. Never reaching the top level, they were finally relegated out of the league entirely following a last place finish in the bottom division in 2000. They joined the Combined Counties League, but were expelled in March 2006 and their record expunged due to financial irregularities. However, the club was able to clear its debts and continued to operate, restarting two levels lower, in the Middlesex County Football League from the 2006–07 season.

Southall reached the 1st round of the FA Cup six times, and in the 1935–36 season, they reached the 3rd round, losing to Watford. The club also reached the final of the FA Amateur Cup in 1924–25 and reached the semifinals on two other occasions. After the demise of the FA Amateur Cup, Southall also had success in the FA Vase, reaching the final in 1985–86. However, they have only won two out of 20 Vase matches since their cup run. The club's most famous ex-player is the former QPR, Spurs and England striker Les Ferdinand, who originally started his career at Southall. Other notable former players include Jay DeMerit, Gordon Hill, Eric Young, Justin Fashinu, Colin Viljoen, Frederick Chapman and Roger Joseph. A recent successful Bollywood film, Dhan Dhan Dhan Goal, makes use of the name "Southall FC" for a fictional club integral to the storyline, although the club referred to in the movie has no connection at all to the actual Southall FC.

Southall who have experienced a nomadic existence in previous seasons, have only been playing home games at Northolt since the new campaign commenced in August. The first game was not without controversy either as the pitch dimensions were deemed by MCFL officials to be too small. Since then the playing area has been moved through ninety degrees and marked on a new area of land at the farthest side of the playing field beyond the main rugby pitch and club house/car park. The far touch line runs closely and parallel with main railway line, set on an embankment which is partly obscured behind some trees. Along with the constant distractions from the sight and sound of passing cars, trains and planes (from nearby Heathrow) it can be quite difficult to concentrate on the action at times although it does add a certain atmosphere to the place. The furthest goal is bordered by a low hedge and local houses from the neighbouring conurbation. The rest of the site comprises of open fields. Without cover and dug outs I think that it would be best to your visit here for a sunny day.

 

Just like last season Geoff is producing another 24 pager for 2010-11. Beautifully arranged, it's a cracking effort with loads of interesting content to keep the eager hopper happy for ages. All of the important match details are highlighted in a box on the front of the red and white cover which also features a sketch of a player dressed in club kit from the heady Athenian days (the main club honours are listed inside the cover). This is followed by a contents page; a preview of today's game; history and current playing record of the visitors; general non league news; major stats (fixtures, results and a table); a map and directions for the club's next away game and today's line ups. One special two page article entitled 'From The Touchline'* prvides a report from a previous game edited by the club correspondent pen-named Lennie Mainwaring and particularly caught my eye. An advert from the league sponsors Cherry Red is printed on the back page. Priced at only £1 this is a superb programme and no doubt when the MCFL publish their honours come next May this wonderful publication should retain it's well deserved title as the 'MCFL Programme of the Year'. I certainly hope so.

 

Although I didn't get the 'hoppertunity to meet Geoff personally on the day (he was busy at a prior engagement) I did get into conversation with several other committee members, all of whom spoke enthuastically and with real affection about their team. A small but perfectly formed Tibetan puppy was also in attendance and went down well with all members of the Wray clan. It cannot be emphasised too strongly that they are a terrific, friendly bunch of fans who made the hoppers from racing HQ feel more than welcome. If you do get chance to visit Southall FC at the Northolt Rugby Club this season (there's talk about them moving on again soon) you will thoroughly enjoy your short stay there. A great club, great people, great programme and a great day out...have fun wherever you go!

 

Postscript* - Since our visit, Geoff sent me another programme (from a subsequent game). This is rather special as it contains several photos from our visit today. For more click here. Thanks once again Geoff for the terrific PR!!                                      

FGIF Match Stats

Scorers: (H) J Holmes (34; 48); O Fredericks (54) and (A) J Locke (74)

Attendance: 10; Admission: None; Programme: £1, 24pp; Match rating: 3/5; Ground rating: 2/5.

http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/southall

 

edited 19/09/10