 Yiewsley’s club crest, the coat of arms of Yiewsley and West Drayton Urban District | ||
| Full name | Yiewsley Football Club | |
|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | The blues | |
| Founded | 1872 | |
| Dissolved | 1964 Renamed: Hillingdon Borough F.C. | |
Yiewsley Football Club was an English association football club based in Yiewsley, Middlesex.
The club was founded in 1872 after a meeting of eight local businessmen who met at the instigation of Frederick E. Clinch, a baker and owner of the Maythorn bakery on Fairfield Road, Yiewsley. [1]
Yiewsley played friendly games with local clubs as Yiewsley F.C. until the 1885–86 season when they played under the name Yiewsley Rangers. [2] This continued until the 1888–89 season when they played as Yiewsley Unity, Yiewsley Rangers and Yiewsley Star. From the start of 1890 they played as Yiewsley Star, returning to play as Yiewsley F.C from the 1893–94 season.
In the 1887–88 season Yiewsley (Rangers) were playing at Mr Elton's Meadow, West Drayton Green. Here they competed in the West Middlesex Challenge Cup for the first time, playing St Mary's, Acton on 5 November 1887. [3] In the 1895–96 season Yiewsley joined the new West Middlesex League. [4] For the first two seasons Yiewsley only fielded the reserve side in the league. [5] In the 1898–99 season two West Middlesex leagues were ran with Yiewsley’s first team playing in the first division and the reserves in the second. [6]
In the 1903–04 season poor conduct by players, officials and fans at West Middlesex League games against Harmondsworth on 5 December 1903 and against Hillingdon on 12 December caused Yiewsley’s ground to be closed for six weeks by the Middlesex Football Association on 16 December and for Yiewsley were expelled from the West Middlesex League by the West Middlesex League Council on 17 December 1903. [7]
In the 1904–05 season with the first team having to play only friendly games, Yiewsley Reserves were able to continue playing in the Uxbridge and District Junior League, which had been formed in July 1903 for the start 1903–04 football season. [8] They finished the season as runners-up to Southall Athletic Reserves. [9] In the 1905–06 season the Yiewsley first team were winners of the Uxbridge and District Junior League. [10]
In the 1906–07 season Yiewsley were able to rejoin the West Middlesex League with the reserves playing in the Uxbridge and District League. [11] Yiewsley would go on to win the West Middlesex League in the 1907–08 and 1908–09 seasons. [12] Yiewsley entered the FA Cup competition for the first time in the 1908–09 season. [13] Having received a bye in the preliminary round after the withdrawal of Reading Amateurs, Yiewsley were defeated in the first qualifying round 2–1 at home by Aylesbury United on 3 October 1908. [14] In the same season Yiewsley competed in the FA Amateur Cup, [15] the Middlesex Senior Cup, [16] the Middlesex Senior Charity Cup, [17] the Middlesex Junior Cup [18] and the West Middlesex Cup. [19]
Yiewsley were undefeated winners of the West Middlesex League in the 1910–11 season. [20] In September 1911, with the West Middlesex League being suspended for the 1911–12 season, Yiewsley joined the Hounslow and District League. [21] They also played their first team in the Uxbridge and District League, ending the season as undefeated champions of the league and winners of the inaugural Uxbridge and District League Cup. [22] At the start of the 1912–13 season they were playing at Mr Sutton’s Meadow, Edgar Road, Yiewsley. [23] By early November 1912 the ground had been renamed Star Meadow. [24] Yiewsley would end the 1912–13 season as champions of both the West Middlesex League and the Hounslow and District League. [25] They would repeat this success in the 1913–14 season as well as being finalists in the 1913–14 West Middlesex Cup. [26] Yiewsley were to enter senior football in the Great Western Suburban League in the 1914–15 season having been elected at the league’s annual general meeting on 10 June 1914. [27] However the league was suspended on 16 September 1914 due to the start of First World War. [28]
With the recommencement of the Great Western Suburban League in the 1919–20 season Yiewsley opened the season on 31 August 1919 at home against Chesham United in front of 700 spectators. [29] For the 1919–20 season Yiewsley played at Raab’s Farm Meadow in Yiewsley. [30] In August 1920 Yiewsley transferred its home ground to Mr White’s Meadow at Trout Lane, but retained the name 'Star Meadow' from the Edgar Road ground. A friendly game against Arabian United took place on 28 August 1920 and Yiewsley's first league game at the new Star Meadow took place on 11 September in the Great Western Suburban League First Division against the 1st Grenadier Guards, ending in a 1–1 draw. [31]
The 1920s proved to be a period of significant financial instability for Yiewsley. In February 1922 the Great Western Suburban League granted Yiewsley a loan of £20 to help with their debts, in particular their ground rent. [32] At Yiewsley's annual meeting on 20 June 1923 it was reported that the football club ended the 1922–23 season just over £54 in debt. Despite their financial difficulties Yiewsley were able to finish runners-up in the Great Western Suburban League in the 1924–25 season. [33] In the 1925–26 season Yiewsley finished third in the league but they ended the season with total receipts of only £325. [34] In the 1926–27 season Yiewsley were admitted into the Spartan League Division II but by the November were in financial difficulties and withdrew from the league. [35]
After the 1926 collapse Yiewsley returned to junior football, joining the Uxbridge and District League Division III in the 1927–28 season as Yiewsley Juniors. [36] In the next season 1928–29 they finished as Division I champions. [37] In the 1929–30 season Yiewsley Juniors played in the Great Western Suburban League with reserve teams playing in the Uxbridge and District League Divisions I and III. [38]
In the 1930–31 season Yiewsley changed their name to Yiewsley and West Drayton F.C. in honour of the recently created Yiewsley and West Drayton Urban District, finishing as joint winners in the Uxbridge and District League Division I with Cowley St Laurence and winners of the Junior Cup. [39] They played the 1930–31 season at Thorney Meadow. [40] For the following 1931–32 season Yiewsley and West Drayton moved to the Clarke's Meadow ground on Royal Lane. [41] In the 1931–32 season they won the Uxbridge and District Premier League and Premier Cup, defeating Botwell Wanderers 5–3 in the final. [42] In the 1932–33 season Yiewsley were runners up in the Uxbridge and District Premier League and defeated finalists in the Premier Cup; however, they won the Middlesex Junior Cup for the first time, defeating Pinner 6–4 in the replayed final. [43] In the 1933–34 season Yiewsley and West Drayton joined the South-West Middlesex League Intermediate Division B and played their first home game of the season at Star Meadow, Trout Lane against N.P.L.(National Physical Laboratory) on 21 October 1933, winning 7–1. [44] Yiewsley and West Drayton finished the 1933–34 season as league champions and winners of the Middlesex Intermediate Cup after winning 4–1 in a replayed final against Enfield Reserves. [45] [46]
In the 1934–35 season the club's name reverted to Yiewsley F.C. Having gained promotion in the previous season, they played in the Premier Division of the South-West Middlesex League. [47] The 1935–36 season saw Yiewsley's last game at Star Meadow which took place on 18 April 1936 with a 10–1 win against F.G. Minter's. [48] For the 1936–37 season Yiewsley's new ground was on the Evelyn's estate, Falling Lane, where they were granted a 21-year lease. To mark the change Yiewsley reverted to their old colours of Oxford and Cambridge blue instead of the black and white they had played in for the previous six seasons. [49] Ten to twelve thousand people attended the Evelyn's Stadium opening ceremony and fete which took place on 22 August 1936. [50] The first game of the 1936–37 season took place at Evelyn's on 29 August 1936 against Hayesco II in the South-West Middlesex Premier League, resulting in a 4–0 win. [51] In the 1936–37 season Yiewsley won the South-West Middlesex Premier league, the Middlesex Intermediate Cup and the South-West Middlesex Victory Cup. [52] In the 1937–38 season they won the South-West Middlesex Premier league and the Middlesex Intermediate Cup, winning the league by a clear eight points. [53] [54] In the 1938–39 season Yiewsley competed in the South-West Middlesex Premier League and the newly created Senior Division of the Middlesex County League, winning the Middlesex County League Senior Cup 1–0 against Deerfield and West Hendon on 3 May 1939. [55]
At the annual meeting of the Spartan league on 8 June 1939 Yiewsley were admitted for the second time. [56] They were to play the 1939–40 season in the Spartan League Division II. Yiewsley started the season with two away wins, defeating Apsley Reserves 8–4 on 26 and Harrow Town 4–2 on 30 August. [57] [58] However, the declaration of war on 3 September 1939 caused the league to be abandoned after its general meeting on 14 September 1939. [59] In early October 1939 Yiewsley were transferred to the Western No 2 Group which was renamed the West Middlesex Combination League on 17 October 1939. [60] Yiewsley's first game in the new league was away at Pinner on 21 October 1939 which ended in a 5–5 draw. [61] Yiewsley ended the 1939–40 season as runners-up to Edgware Town. [62] For the 1940–41 season the West Middlesex Combination League was replaced by the Middlesex Senior League. [63] However, Yiewsley tendered its resignation from the league on 9 September 1940 because of being unable to field a competitive team, as players and supporters were working weekends as part of the war effort. [64] In the 1941–42 to 1943–44 seasons Yiewsley were able to field a team in the Middlesex Senior league and in the 1944–45 season also competed in the Great Western Combination League. [65] Yiewsley joined the Great Western Combination League again when it was reestablished in the 1946–47 season and played in the league until the 1950–51 season. [66]
In 1945–46 Yiewsley were finally successful in completing a season in the Spartan League. They competed in Diversion I Western Section, opening the season at Aylesbury on 15 September 1945 with a 5–3 defeat. [67] Having finished runners-up in the 1948–49 season, [68] in the 1949–50 season Yiewsley finished winners of the league, gaining promotion to the Spartan League Premier Division. [69] They followed this by going on to win the championship play-off game against the Eastern Section winners Hertford Town 6–1. [70] In the following 1950–51 season they won the Spartan Premier Division at the first attempt, clinching the title with a 2–1 win at Aylesbury, who finished the season in third place. [71] In March 1951 Yiewsley were one of the 14 clubs who founded the Delphian League which was to commence from the following 1951–52 season. [72] Yiewsley's first game in the new league took place on 18 August against Wembley at Vale Farm ending in a 1–0 defeat. [1] [73]
In the 1954–55 season Yiewsley joined the Corinthian League, opening the season with a 1–0 win against Edgware Town on 21 August at their new ground, Leas Stadium in front of 2,600 spectators. [1] Yiewsley had wanted a new ground for several years due to the limited facilities at the leased Evelyn's Stadium. [1] In early 1946 a site was purchased. [74] A Yiewsley F.C. 'New Ground Fund' was established to pay for the purchasing loan with many local individuals and businesses contributing. A 'Sports and Fete day' took place at Evelyn's on 23 July 1946 raising £320 for the fund. This brought the total raised to £600 towards a target of £1000. [75] However it wasn't until the 1951–52 season that work began on the site of Leas Stadium. [1] It was situated west of the Evelyn's stadium along Falling Lane and was named after a house there called 'The Leas'. Construction of the 10,000 capacity stadium took three years to complete at a cost of £7000. [76]
Yiewsley topped the Corinthian League in their third season, 1956–57. [77] In the FA Cup that season Yiewsley drew 2–2 with Third Division Gillingham at the Leas Stadium in the first round. [78] The game was watched by Yiewsley’s record home crowd of 5400 spectators. [79] Gillingham went on to defeat Yiewsley 2–0 at Priestfield in the replay. [77]
Yiewsley were elected to the Southern League at the league’s annual general meeting on 31 May 1958. [80] The club turned professional and played in the South-East zone of the league in the 1958-59 season. [81] From the 1959–60 season Yiewsley played in the Southern League Division One. [77] In November 1960 Jackie Milburn formerly of Newcastle United and England signed for Yiewsley, soon becoming Player-manager. [82] Under Milburn's tenure Yiewsley achieved their highest league position, finishing ninth in the 1961–62 season. [83] He left in March 1963 when offered the manager's job at First Division Ipswich Town. [1]
The 1963–64 season was Yiewsley F.C.’s last. On 1 May 1964 the F.A. Council granted permission for Yiewsley to change their name to Hillingdon Borough F.C. [84] This was done to reflect the local government reorganisation in London that was to see the formation of the London Borough of Hillingdon on 1 April 1965. [85]
Yiewsley were known as The blues and played for much of the club’s existence in a kit of Oxford blue and Cambridge blue striped shirts and white shorts. In the 1930–31 to 1935–36 seasons the club played in a black and white kit. [86]
On 20 May 1953, shortly before the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, the Yiewsley and West Drayton Urban District was granted its coat of arms. This was adopted by Yiewsley F.C. as their club crest. Yiewsley players wore the crest on their football shirts and it also adorned the front cover of the club’s official programmes. [87]
Yiewsley is a large suburban village in the London Borough of Hillingdon, England, 2 miles (3 km) south of Uxbridge, the borough's commercial and administrative centre. Yiewsley was a chapelry in the ancient parish of Hillingdon, Middlesex. The population of the ward was 12,979 at the 2011 Census.
The London Borough of Hillingdon is the largest and westernmost borough in West London, England. It was formed in 1965 from the districts of Hayes and Harlington, Ruislip-Northwood, Uxbridge, and Yiewsley and West Drayton in the ceremonial county of Greater London. Today, Hillingdon is home to Heathrow Airport and Brunel University, and is the second largest of the 32 London boroughs by area.
West Drayton is a suburban town in the London Borough of Hillingdon. It was an ancient parish in the county of Middlesex and from 1929 was part of the Yiewsley and West Drayton Urban District, which became part of Greater London in 1965. The settlement is near the Colne Valley Regional Park and its centre lies 1.9 miles (3 km) north of Heathrow Airport.
RAF West Drayton was a non-flying Royal Air Force station in West Drayton, within the London Borough of Hillingdon, which served as the main centre for military air traffic control in the United Kingdom. It was co-located with the civilian London Air Traffic Control Centre to provide a vital link between civil and military flying and airspace requirements. Following the departure of the remaining civil and military air traffic control systems by 2008, the site was closed and demolished for a new residential development.
Hillingdon Borough Football Club is a semi-professional football club based in Ruislip, in the London Borough of Hillingdon. The club is affiliated to the Middlesex County Football Association. Its name was revived in 1990 from the original club, which had been based in Yiewsley. They currently play in the Combined Counties League Division One.
Harrow Borough Football Club is an English football club based in Harrow, London. They were founded in 1933 and compete in the Southern League Premier Division South. Harrow Borough's home ground is Earlsmead Stadium, which has a capacity of 3,070. Harrow Borough moved into Earlsmead Stadium in 1934 and have kept it as their home stadium since then. Harrow Borough's colour is red, which is the colour of their home kit. Their crest depicts the coat of arms of the London Borough of Harrow.
Wembley Football Club is an English semi-professional football club based in Wembley, in the London Borough of Brent, London, England. Founded in 1946, the club currently play in the Combined Counties League Premier Division North.
Uxbridge Football Club is a football club representing Uxbridge, based in Yiewsley, in the London Borough of Hillingdon, England. They were established in 1871 and are one of the oldest clubs in the South of England. They were founding members of the Southern League Division Two in 1894 and have reached the 2nd round of the FA Cup once; in the 1873–74 season. The club is affiliated to the Middlesex County Football Association and is a FA chartered standard club. They are currently members of the Isthmian League South Central Division.
Chalfont St Peter Association Football Club is a football club based in Chalfont St Peter, Buckinghamshire, England. They are currently members of the Combined Counties Premier Division North and play at Mill Meadow.
North Greenford United Football Club is a football club based in Greenford in the London Borough of Ealing, England. They play in the Combined Counties League Premier Division North. The club is affiliated to the Middlesex County Football Association.
Northwood Football Club is an English football club based in Northwood in the London Borough of Hillingdon. The club is affiliated to the Middlesex County Football Association. They play their home games at The Skyline Stadium in Northwood Recreation Ground, Chestnut Avenue. The club are currently members of the Isthmian League South Central Division.
The Middlesex Senior Charity Cup is a knock-out system football competition that has been running since 1901. It was presented in 1901 by C.S. Goldmann, Esq. and was first played for in the 1901–02 season, the first winners being Clapton Orient. The competition is run mainly for non-league clubs in the region, although league sides have been known to enter the competition, such as Barnet, Brentford Chelsea Tottenham Hotspur and Q.P.R. Hayes have won the competition the most times, with 15 wins.
Stockley Park is a business estate and public country park located between Hayes, Yiewsley and West Drayton in the London Borough of Hillingdon. In August 2020 it was listed in the Register of Historic Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in England as Grade II. Stockley Park is the home of the VAR hub.
Frays River is a semi-canalised short river in England that branches off the River Colne at Uxbridge Moor and rejoins it at West Drayton. It is believed to be a mainly man-made anabranch north of the confluence with the River Pinn to feed watermills in the Parish of Hillingdon. The river is believed to be named after John Fray who owned Cowley Hall in the fifteenth century. Other names for the river are the Uxbridge and Cowley Mill Stream, the Cowley Stream or the Colham Mill Stream. Two of the three mills in Hillingdon Parish recorded in the Domesday book are believed to have been located on the southern section of the river.
The Pinn is a suburban, outer west London river. It has dendritic headwaters, the furthest is considered its source – in Harrow Weald. Its confluence with Frays River makes it a tributary of the Colne. It is one of three principal rivers wholly in the historic county of Middlesex.
Otter Dock was a branch of the Grand Junction Canal in Yiewsley, Middlesex.
Joseph Nash was an English professional footballer who played as a wing half or centre half in the Football League for Burnley and Manchester City. He began his career with his home-town club, Uxbridge, and spent two spells with Lancashire League club Nelson.
Ruislip Football Club was a semi-professional football club based in Ruislip, West London. They played in the Southern League during the 1980s.
The Great Western Suburban League was a football league that was primarily held in the Home counties, founded in 1904.
