A Look Into Histories

A LOOK INTO HISTORY TWO HUNDRED AND SIXTY SIX

McLARENS AND PETTER SPORTS FC

Our story starts with a great name in automobile history, Lagonda and the club were formed in 1919 using the name of Lagonda Works competing in the Hounslow and District League then Great Western Suburban League. In 1947 they moved in with Aston Martin in Feltham, Middlesex. Their old Staines works at Egham Hythe passed to Petters Limited.

Petters were a spin off from the British Electrical Group in 1949 joining another engine manufacturer J & H McLaren and employing over 1,000 people at its peak. So, McLarens Sports FC were formed. I have a very rare Programme for Chertsey Town v McLarens Sports in a Surrey Senior League fixture on March 26th 1951. It was 4 3 to the visitors who were welcomed, from Staines. When Petters produced the Bryce Fuel Injection Systems for all of Brush’s diesel engines at its Staines factory, the club changed its name to Petters and Bryce but when the Bryce Company moved to Gloucester in 1959/60, Petters Sports carried on. In 1964 Petter was merged with Lister to form Lister Petter Co. Ltd. The Staines site was sold in 1988 and all production was concentrated at the former Lister factory in Dursley, Gloucestershire.

The Competition in which these factories had teams was the Surrey Senior League. Lagonda Sports first appeared in 1946-47 season finishing last of 13 clubs but in 1947-48 climbed to fourth place before changing their name to McLarens Sports in 1948-49 but last of 14 clubs. After a ninth and eighth placements in the following two seasons then second bottom in 1951-52, life became much better in 1952-53 with third position and a League Cup success. Two more Cup wins came then another name change occurred prior to season 1956-57 to Petters and Bryce FC lasting for three seasons with the final name of Petters Sports emerging in 1959-60 with a move to the more prestigious Spartan League in 1960-61.

In their first Spartan League season 1960-61, success was dramatic with a runners up to Vauxhall Motors of Luton on goal difference. This placing was reversed in 1961-62 to a Champions spot from Vauxhall Motors by one point and after a mid-table spot a year later they came third behind Croydon Amateurs and now National League, Boreham Wood. A sad fall from grace came in the next two seasons with last place in both and in season 1967-68 after a shocking season with no wins and just five draws in thirty four games and a 33-139 goal difference they shut up shop for good !

The home ground of these clubs was Green Lane, Egham in Surrey with the factory being in Staines and on the club folding it transpired that the former ground had a rich archaeological history that revealed evidence of settlement dating back to the Neolithic Age with the most important finds from the Late Bronze and Early Iron Age. It is now housing with the M25 very close by.

Now to our very rare Match Programme, a very odd size priced at 3d was for a Spartan League fixture on Tuesday 3rd September 1963 against Marlow and was their first home game of the season at Green Lane with a Club History, Club Notes, and looking forward to a mighty F A Cup game at Southern League Guildford City on 7th with two coaches booked for Supporters. Both teams line-up were given, Petters in Blue and Gold and all their results from the previous season given.