A Look Into Histories

A LOOK INTO HISTORY TWO HUNDRED AND THIRTY EIGHT

SOUTHALL TOWN FC

At the end of season 1999-2000 Southall FC, the club we now know as members of the Isthmian League South Central Division were relegated to the CCL from the Isthmian League Division Three finishing bottom on 14 points, twenty below Clapton FC. East Thurrock United won the Division and were promoted along with Great Wakering Rovers and Tilbury.

As a result of this situation, a split took place and two clubs were formed out of the original club with both clubs having senior status from the Middlesex FA. SOUTHALL TOWN FC was founded by Manjit Lit in March 2000 and after application to the Hellenic League were accepted into Division One East, agreeing a groundshare with Yeading FC at the Warren.

It would appear that the financial backers of this club were those that who saved Southall FC , at least that it what is reported in their Match Programme.

Our Match Programme is for their very first game in the Hellenic League v Rayners Lane on Wednesday August 23rd 2000 and is a very reasonable black and white issue of some 20 pages with space for Match Results, fixtures, League tables, Hellenic League News and directions to next match at Henley Town. The teams were on the back page with Town playing in Red and White Stripes, black shirts and socks. Their next Home match would be v Chalfont Wasps.

Their first season was very successful and in achieving third place behind Henley Town and RS Basingstoke were promoted to the Premier Division for 2001/02 finishing 14th of 22, North Leigh were champions. 2002/03 found Town moving up to 11th and were runners up to Didcot Town at Abingdon Town FC on 5th May (1-2) in the Supplementary Cup. North Leigh were champions.

In the Hellenic League 5O Glorious Seasons book issued in 2003 it was stated that TOWN had been granted planning permission for a “ huge complex on a 5 acre site right in the heart of Southall “ . Season 2003/4 was the most successful of all with a second place on goal difference to Brackley Town. Although F A Vase results were not to bright, there was a 1-0 win at Clacton Town in 2002/03 and 5-2 v Ilford in 2003/04.

There is no joy in recording a club folding but at the end of season 2003/04 SOUTHALL TOWN did and Southall FC continue after a slightly rocky road to this day.