Saturday 28 January 2017

Slough of Despond

Leamington went down 0-6 at home to Slough Town this afternoon and were toppled off top position in the Southern Premier by Chippenham, although they are only two points ahead and the Brakes have a game in hand.

This was my first live game since my knee operation. It has been evident that form has been slipping a bit, but this was a disaster. Slough were given too much space for their first goal which was a curling effort from 20 yards. About five defenders were then unable to stop them scoring their second.

Rowe then got himself sent off and Slough scored their third with a free header from a free kick.

I'm not sure what I would do if I was the manager and I was 0-3 down at half time. What I wouldn't do is get another player sent off which is what happened to Jack Edwards when he got a second yellow for grabbing an opposition player by the throat.

There were four dogs present, which was a record canine attendance in a crowd of 655.

Wednesday 18 January 2017

When a town has more than one non-league club

It's quite unusual for a town to have more than one non-league club, but it does happen: Eastbourne currently has three.

Both of the last programme articles I wrote for Leamington FC concerned towns which at one time had more than one non-league club. First, St. Ives before the First World War: Mr Doyle said that they had lost several of their players, who had joined the Amateur Football Association club in the town. He thought that the principal reason was that the players did not like the ground that was hired. Mr Corbett said that he was the first secretary of the opposition club, and he should be sorry to see the Town Club to go under. He moved, “That this meeting send a deputation to the Arthurian Club to suggest a compromise, viz., that they should run a junior team and the Town Club the senior team.”’ The proposal was rejected by the meeting.

‘Mr. Golding said it was impossible for the two clubs to be run in the way that was suggested if the Arthurians still kept up the A.F.A. as members could not play for both. Mr Corbett thought the Arthurians would drop out of the A.F.A., and join the Hunts F.A. The Mayor thought that they ought to form their own club first, and then if they thought it wise this club could go to the other club and see if the compromise could be made. A show of hands was taken of those playing members present, and it was found that there were about 14.’

Chippenham

Chippenham was in the unusual position of having two senior non-league clubs for two periods in the 20th century. Chippenham Town and Chippenham United both existed in the early years of the century and then Chippenham United was revived after the Second World War. Chippenham United joined the Western League Division Two for the 1948-49 season, winning their division at their first attempt and gaining promotion to Division One. The following season, they finished above Chippenham Town for what was to be the only time in the club’s history. United’s best league finish was in 1950-51, when they finished fourth with Town in third position. The following seasons were less successful, and they only escaped relegation in 1955-56 due to the expansion of Division One. However, the club was relegated in 1957-58 after finishing bottom of the table. The club dropped out of the Western League at the end of the 1959-60 season and disbanded a couple of years later.

When the two clubs were at the height of their success, letters to the local paper called on them to merge so that the town might aspire to Southern League football, but to no avail. United were well supported, taking 2,000 fans to one away match in 1950. They also had professional players, some with Football League experience, no less than twelve in 1949. However, this does seem to have stretched them financially, as an urgent appeal was made in 1953 over the loudspeakers at the game and in the local press for additional financial support.

The presence of their rivals also seems to have put financial pressures on Chippenham Town. A loss of £711 was reported at their annual general meeting in 1951. This amounts to the substantial sum of £20,145 at today’s prices. This was in spite of a donation of £1,000 from the Supporters’ Club and the £1,000 transfer of a player to Plymouth Argyle. Taken together, these sums would amount to around £56,000 at today’s prices, so the underlying loss was £76,000. Admission fees and share of gates brought in £3,184, but this was exceeded by the £3,232 spent on wages for players. (£91,500 at today’s prices). In addition the player-manager was on £905 a year (£25,600 today) and £37 was spent on decorating his house which appears to have been provided rent free.

Sunday 8 January 2017

Following a game online

I am still not well enough to get to the New Windmill Ground (apart from anything else, I can't drive). Recently, the Brakes have suffered setbacks against local rivals (the Bardsmen and the Pilgrims, the latter apparently not being very pleasant). You can't expect to win every game in football, but are the wheels coming off?

It's a strange experience following a game through tweets. Some argued that we were playing well against a resilient Chippenham, others that we were poor and all hope of the title had gone. Strange how negative fans sometimes are about their own team.

So I was heartened by the report in today's Non-League Paper. It said that the Brakes 'were much improved from their disappointing Christmas results ... the hosts were putting together some neat passing football.' And Leamington are still top, albeit on goal difference from Hitchin, but they have played one more game.'

Sunday 1 January 2017

New Year in Leamington in 1917

Once I have recuperated from my knee replacement, I hope to be back at the New Windmill Ground and providing short match reports. Meanwhile, here is the article I wrote for the Stratford Town programme.

Between Christmas and the New Year in 1916, officials met with Warwickshire farmers to discuss how agricultural production could be increased and made more efficient to boost the war effort. What immediately came up was ‘The Drink Question’. The Chairman of the meeting pointed out that Germany had reduced the production of beer to 25 per cent of the total quantity consumed before the war. Alderman Metters said that this ‘was a matter which should be faced manfully and at once if we wanted to win the war.’ Some farmers did not want to curb profitable barley production but it was argued that ‘The great waste of barley in brewing could not possibly be justified.’ What is now often forgotten is that in some parts of the country such as Carlisle the pubs were nationalised to curb drinking and they remained in state ownership until the 1970s.

The 213th Army Troops Company, Royal Engineers, all Leamington men, enjoyed a good Christmas Day menu on the front. For breakfast they had fried bacon and sausages, bread, butter and tea. For dinner (lunch) they had roast pork, boiled potatoes, cabbage, plum pudding, rum sauce, stewed fruit, custard and bread. Tea was bread, butter, cake and jam. Supper was biscuits, cheese, boiled beef, pickles, hot rum and coffee. Presumably, as an engineers’ battalion, they were a little way back from the front line.

A more sombre note was provided by news of local men killed in action. Private Hepton of Portland Street had been employed at the Leamington Skating Rink and left a wife. Corporal Avis had been the chauffeur to the Vicar of Stoneleigh and was well known as an athlete. Writing to his mother, his commanding officer said, ‘It may be some small consolation to you to know that your son suffered no pain, being killed instantaneously by a machine gun bullet through the brain.’ At the end of these reports, the Courier mentioned that they were selling a special series of naval and military In Memorial cards at their offices.

On a more cheerful note, what was described as ‘good old English pleasure’ took place at the Town Hall on New Year’s Day in the form of a party for 200 local children organised by the Mayor and Mayoress. The large hall had what was described as a ‘beautiful illuminated Christmas tree – bright with red., gold and silver’ on the stage. Punch and Judy started the party. They then played games such as ‘Fox and Geese’, ‘Kiss in the Ring’ and ‘Oranges and Lemons’. Cakes were then made available in the council chamber, but without icing because of the war. Tales told by ‘Roma the Storyteller’ were followed by musical chairs. A beautiful sleigh, designed by the manager of the Theatre Royal, was then drawn in by three teddy bears. On the sleigh were Father Christmas and a fairy queen. Each child received a silver medal with the borough arms. A conjuror was next on the programme and then, by popular demand, there was another session of musical chairs. The event concluded with everyone joining hands to sign Auld Lang Syne and the National Anthem. This was some party and, as the Courier observed, ‘one in which it was good to be for a few hours and forget the world of sorrow and suffering.’