Mr Ore Posted October 8, 2020 Report Share Posted October 8, 2020 2 hours ago, wealdstone said: Is this the team once known as Walthamstow Avenue a one time force in Amateur football Side-tracking a bit the long gone Walthamstow Avenue ground was definitely my favourite of all time. A very sad loss. All very complicated so I apologise for any minor errors (hopefully none). The straight answer to your query is, "NO". Avenue are actually now part of Dagenham and Redbridge FC. Two other historic sides, Ilford and Leytonstone (I am sadly too young to have done their grounds) ultimately merged to form Leytonstone and Ilford FC after the former sold their ground, which I believe was literally next door to the tube station. When Ilford also sold their ground, the merged team moved in at WA in a ground share. My own opinion, based on watching a L/I game there was that they actually became the dominant force in the stadium and ultimately the 3 sides merged under the Redbridge Forest FC banner. Finally RF were integrated with Dagenham to become Dagenham and Redbridge FC who actually got as high as the third tier in the professional game, although now back in National League. The current Walthamstow team have links with another historic London team, Leyton, whose original ground is still standing, albeit in a desolate condition, a stone's throw from the Lea Bridge speedway track. They were originally called Pennant but added the Walthamstow tag (becoming Walthamstow Pennant) when Avenue went through their merger, effectively stopping the loss of the Walthamstow name from senior football. Leyton have gone through numerous incarnations/reformations, including a period as Leyton Wingate, when the latter lost their ground, but are now integrated within Wingate and Finchley FC at step 3 in the pyramid. Another offshoot of Wingate played under their generic name for a while in Barnet at a stadium currently owned by Hadley FC. Ultimately Leyton and WP merged becoming Leyton Pennant FC. However during a period of instability, much of it not football related, the then owner changed the club name to Waltham Forest and initially started playing at Wadham Lodge stadium, but to continue the above links. later entered a ground share with the reformed Ilford FC at their current Cricklefields stadium. From memory it was around 4 years ago they however returned to Wadham Lodge stadium and reclaimed the Walthamstow name to reflect their "homecoming" . Currently they share the ground with Clapton Community FC, a phenomenally successful group who have had 4 figure crowds playing on "park pitches" and who, to the chagrin of some, have bought the fun side back to the game and actually encourage putting donations into the local food bank in lieu of admission to their games. They have recently acquired the freehold of the old Clapton FC Old Spotted Dog ground and are already improving the pitch and ground for their return to another traditional old London venue. The original Clapton currently play behind closed doors at Terrence MacMillan stadium, which was considered as a possible venue for West Ham speedway when Custom House closed. Finally (Thank God) during the Waltham Forest "exile" from Wadham Lodge a breakaway team formed by some of the former management , called Wadham Lodge FC moved in ensuring continued use of the ground. When Walthamstow FC "returned" they changed their name to Leyton Athletic to reflect the original history of Waltham Forest FC. Following a year's sabbatical they were to return this season with a high profile manager and quality players but clearly "Something is rotten in the state of Denmark" and a sweary departure days after he signed saw the manager resign and nothing further being heard of a return. . 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wealdstone Posted October 8, 2020 Report Share Posted October 8, 2020 If anybody remembers during the 1950's for while BBC showed the second half of amateur football matches on what became Grandstand. The only one I remember as we did not have a TV at the time and I saw it at a friends house was a match featuring and coming from Walthamstow Avenue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cityrebel Posted October 8, 2020 Author Report Share Posted October 8, 2020 I was lucky enough to do Ilford, Romford, Leytonstone and Walthamstow Avenue. One of my School mates old man was something to do with the Surrey FA. He was also a fan of Wimbledon and Tooting and Mitcham. I cut my football teeth visiting those famous old non league London grounds. A very similar path to my speedway roots. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cityrebel Posted October 10, 2020 Author Report Share Posted October 10, 2020 Tooting and Mitcham v Waltham Abbey today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HertsRacer Posted October 10, 2020 Report Share Posted October 10, 2020 On 10/8/2020 at 11:30 AM, wealdstone said: Is this the team once known as Walthamstow Avenue a one time force in Amateur football Remember seeing them win the Amateur Cup at Wembley in 1961 against West Auckland Town in front of 100,000 spectators. Great side back then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ovalman Posted October 11, 2020 Report Share Posted October 11, 2020 (edited) Be good to see a few non- league posters on the General Discussions Football thread. Can remember watching east London Walthamstow, Leytonstone, Ilford, Barking, Clapton, at Dulwich Hamlet/Casuals in SE22. The Amlet shared with Corinthian Casuals, both played in pink, crowds of around 100-200. In the 60s the Isthmian League had teams such as Enfield,Hendon,Sutton,Wycombe, Kingstonian, Bromley, Maidstone, Wealdstone, St.Albans, Oxford City, Toot and Mitch, Woking, Hitchin. The Amlet were getting biggest crowds in National League South before lockdown hit, around 2000 average. New stadium approved. My dad played for Casuals at The Oval in early 50s, just before their defeat to Bishop Auckland at Wembley in 1956, crowd of 100000. The only cockney lad in a team of Oxbridge students, and still amateur. Edited October 11, 2020 by auntie doris 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve roberts Posted October 11, 2020 Report Share Posted October 11, 2020 (edited) 6 minutes ago, auntie doris said: Be good to see a few non- league posters on the General Discussions Football thread. Can remember watching Walthamstow, Leytonstone, Ilford, Barking, Clapton, at Dulwich Hamlet/Casuals in SE22. The Amlet shared with Corinthian Casuals, both played in pink, crowds of around 100-200. In the 60s the Isthmian League had teams such as Enfield,Hendon,Sutton,Wycombe, Kingstonian, Bromley, Maidstone, Wealdstone, St.Albans, Oxford City, Toot and Mitch. The Amlet were getting biggest crowds in National League South before lockdown hit. My dad played for Casuals at The Oval in early 50s just before their defeat to Bishop Auckland at Wembley in 1956, crowd of 100000. The only cockney lad in a team of Oxbridge students, and still amateur. Ah the old White House Ground on the Abingdon Road! Remember it well. Edited October 11, 2020 by steve roberts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ovalman Posted October 11, 2020 Report Share Posted October 11, 2020 Just now, steve roberts said: Ah the old White House Ground on the Abingdon Road! Remember it well. New ground for City now, in Marston by bypass. Drove past last week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve roberts Posted October 11, 2020 Report Share Posted October 11, 2020 2 minutes ago, auntie doris said: New ground for City now, in Marston by bypass. Drove past last week. The Headley 'Hawks' cycle speedway team used to compete just across the road from there! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ovalman Posted October 11, 2020 Report Share Posted October 11, 2020 4 minutes ago, steve roberts said: The Headley 'Hawks' cycle speedway team used to compete just across the road from there! And there was Horspath. Hoping to see Dulwich at Oxford, haven't seen that game for 53 years! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve roberts Posted October 11, 2020 Report Share Posted October 11, 2020 2 minutes ago, auntie doris said: And there was Horspath. Hoping to see Dulwich at Oxford, haven't seen that game for 53 years! Used to go and watch Horspath "Hammers" run by Geoff (can't remember his surname) who was a well known face on the terraces at Cowley and elsewhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cityrebel Posted October 11, 2020 Author Report Share Posted October 11, 2020 41 minutes ago, steve roberts said: Ah the old White House Ground on the Abingdon Road! Remember it well. I saw Tooting there in the early 1980's. Cray Wanderers v Bishops Stortford today, my 15th ground this season. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ovalman Posted October 11, 2020 Report Share Posted October 11, 2020 Can remember Tooting knocking Swindon out of FA Cup in 70s. My cousin lived in a flat at Figges Marsh overlooking Sandy Lane. Where do they play now? Always big rivals of The Amlet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Ore Posted October 11, 2020 Report Share Posted October 11, 2020 20 minutes ago, auntie doris said: Where do they play now? Moved from Tooting to Mitcham, about 15 years ago. Now playing at Imperial fields next to the National Trust Nature Reserve (Watermeads) in London Road. Share with Tooting Bec FC of the Combined Counties League. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cityrebel Posted October 12, 2020 Author Report Share Posted October 12, 2020 10 hours ago, auntie doris said: Can remember Tooting knocking Swindon out of FA Cup in 70s. My cousin lived in a flat at Figges Marsh overlooking Sandy Lane. Where do they play now? Always big rivals of The Amlet. I went to that. I also saw them play Palace in the FA cup in 1974. Sandy Lane was packed to the rafters! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ovalman Posted October 12, 2020 Report Share Posted October 12, 2020 (edited) 6 hours ago, cityrebel said: I went to that. I also saw them play Palace in the FA cup in 1974. Sandy Lane was packed to the rafters! Was there about 8000 there? Repeated highlights on tv. I think Amlet shared Tooting's ground last season when they were thrown out of Champion Hill temporarily. Edited October 12, 2020 by auntie doris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chunky Posted October 12, 2020 Report Share Posted October 12, 2020 17 hours ago, Mr Ore said: Moved from Tooting to Mitcham, about 15 years ago. Now playing at Imperial fields next to the National Trust Nature Reserve (Watermeads) in London Road. Share with Tooting Bec FC of the Combined Counties League. Hate to be pedantic, but that is considered the bottom of Bishopsford Road; it changes to London Road the other side of Wandle Road. My mate Jeff lives opposite. Imperial Fields (or whatever it was before) used to be a training ground for Chelsea. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Piotr Pyszny Posted October 12, 2020 Report Share Posted October 12, 2020 Carnforth Rangers v Furness Rovers last Saturday (10/10, West Lancashire League, Division Two - level 13!). Most stringent anti-COVID measures I've encountered since football resumed. Included a temperature check at the gate. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chunky Posted October 12, 2020 Report Share Posted October 12, 2020 19 hours ago, steve roberts said: Ah the old White House Ground on the Abingdon Road! Remember it well. I actually played there! Well, not football, but darts. The club used to be the home venue for the Oxfordshire County team. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chunky Posted October 12, 2020 Report Share Posted October 12, 2020 2 minutes ago, Piotr Pyszny said: Carnforth Rangers v Furness Rovers last Saturday (10/10, West Lancashire League, Division Two - level 13!). Most stringent anti-COVID measures I've encountered since football resumed. Included a temperature check at the gate. Probably because they thought you had to have a fever or something just because you showed up to watch them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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