As we are now celebrating the Centenary of Northwood FC, the club having been founded in 1926 as Northwood United, we are also looking back at the earlier football clubs which represented the town in their day. Our photo above shows Green Lane, Northwood, in 1910!

Following the demise of the first Northwood FC, a new club named Northwood Rovers, was formed, and they played only friendly matches in their season, 1910-11, with the first match taking place at Pinner Recreation Ground on 22nd October against Pinner Juniors. They started with what was described as “a brilliant win by six goals to nil”, J. Milton 2, F. Puddiford 2, G. Askew, R. Lord scoring.

Northwood Rovers, playing at Dene Road enclosure, staged their first-ever home game seven days later, and they defeated St Andrew’s Institute, Cricklewood 3-1 after conceding the first goal. Rovers’ team was: P. Bugden, A. King, T. Allen, F. Fountain, F. Frayne, A. Cherry, G. Askew (capt.), F. Puddifoot, J. Milton, R. Lord, J. Parks – Cherry, Milton and Puddiford getting the goals. Rovers enjoyed a good season, losing just once at home, to Brondesbury Argyle on Good Friday, watched by “over 350 people”.

They joined the Wembley & Harrow League first division in 1911, winning 4-1 versus Allen’s Athletic at Dene Road in the first league; the players were: E. Gray, G. Baldwin, J. Park, H. Lord, W. Bugden, S. Frayne, W. Grainger, J. Milton, A. Parker, A. Cherry, R. Lord – Cherry scored all four goals!. Rovers finished the campaign in sixth place of nine clubs. Rovers moved to the pitch in Northwood Recreation Ground for the following season, but it turned out to be a poor one – they finished tenth of ten teams, with just three league wins all season.

1912-13 proved to be a poor season for Northwood Rovers. They got off to a bad start, losing 1-7 away to Elgin Rovers in the opening game, when Rovers fielded: R. Cox, G. Baldwin, J. Park, H. Fincher, W. Grainger, J. Milton, C. Wilson, F. Arnold, A. Cherry, W. Milton (scorer), R. Lord. The club finished bottom of the table with eight points; however, they still continued in the top division the next season!

The Rovers believed that their prospects for the 1913-14 season were very bright, and they also started a reserve team to compete in the newly formed Third Division of the Harrow and Wembley League. The club also adapted new colours of claret and sky blue (described as “Aston Villa pattern”), having previously worn white. However, the high hopes were not rewarded, as the team struggled from the start, winning just one game all season, against bottom side Perivale Rubber Works, and took seventh place of eight clubs. The opening game had seen Rovers lose 0-1 to Roxeth & Harrow Brigade Old Boys at the Rec, and set the tone for the coming months; the players that day were A. Palmer; G. Green, J. Park; S. Woodman, A. Cherry, S. Frayne. W. Milton, F. Rowland, J. Milton, F. Arnold, R. Lord.

After World War I broke out in July 1914, local football was suspended as many young men volunteered to serve including seventeen members of Northwood Rovers; over 1,000 players registered with the Middlesex FA signed up within a few weeks. It is sobering to think that those young men playing football in Northwood went off to war, some never to return.  Some were killed, including Reginald Lord (who was club secretary and also a player; he was a postman in Northwood), R. Cox (also a postman), Sidney Frayne, Albert King (killed at Battle of the Somme) and Arthur Parker; others were seriously injured. That was the end of Northwood Rovers – like some of their players, the club did not return after the war.

We are now celebrating the Centenary of Northwood FC, which was founded in 1926 as Northwood United. But what of the earlier football clubs which represented the town in their day? Football clubs in Northwood have included: Northwood (1), Trinity Northwood, Northwood Endeavour, Holy Trinity Northwood, Northwood Rovers, Northwood (2), Northwood United (1), Oaklands Gate Northwood and Emmanuel Northwood. Then there was Northwood United (2), renamed Northwood (3) in 1946.

The first Northwood FC was formed in 1899 – still Victorian England – and played their initial match on 23 September 1899, but lost 0-4 at home to Amersham. The team was:  E. Price, W.H. Brownbill, H. Green, A. Marks, R. Price-Williams, E. Nichols, A. Price, Partridge, Hadd, Castle, Brown. The population of the village at the time was 711!

After playing just friendlies initially, Northwood joined the Willesden & District League for the 1900-01 season, which wasn’t terribly successful as they finished ninth of ten teams with three wins – Wealdstone were placed fifth. The population had risen to 2,500 in two years. Northwood’s best season in the Willesden League was in 1903-04 when they were promoted to the first division. The photo above is from the 1905-06 season.

In October 1906, a crowd of over 350 watched Northwood – whose home ground was a private field in Dene Road – play a second round Middlesex Junior Cup tie when Breakspear Institute from Harefield were the visitors. Breakspear took a two-goal lead within ten minutes, but Northwood levelled before half-time through W. Nichols and F. Elms, and although Breakspear scored a penalty, Elms equalised again to level the tie “amidst great excitement”. Unfortunately, Northwood lost 0-4 in the replay when there were three more penalties scored!

Northwood’s biggest victory came in October 1907, when they won a League game 13-1 against Paddington Technical Institute; J. Thomson 3, M. Aris 5, W. Park, F. Nicholls 2 and S. Aris 2 all scoring. An estimated 1,000 people at Rickmansworth saw Northwood lose 0-2 to Pinner in the final of the Rickmansworth Charity Cup on Easter Monday in April 1908. But the final season for Northwood was 1908-09, when they were placed second last in the top division of the Willesden League, and the club had disappeared when the next season arrived.

In the same time-frame as the first Northwood existed, Northwood Endeavour took over the Willesden & District League division two fixtures of Kilburn Springfield during the 1903-04 season, but they then entered the Wembley & Harrow District League division two in 1906-07, taking a win and a draw from their first two games before losing 1-7 to Breakspear Institute in the Middlesex Junior Cup. W.S. Park scored for Endeavour, who fielded: E. Foster, H. Hilton, G. Milton, E. Ford, W.S. Park, T.E. Shaw, J.B. Fulford, A.S. Park, W. Moon, W. Smith, T. White. Endeavour played on a pitch in Pinner Road, and were Wembley & Harrow District League division two runners-up behind Wembley in 1907-08, but seem to have disappeared by the following season.

The town’s third club at this time was Trinity Northwood, who played on a pitch at Park Farm in Duck’s Hill Road, and in 1908-09 competed in the Willesden & District League division two, one below Northwood. A year later, Northwood had gone, whilst Trinity struggled near the foot of the Willesden League, and also failed to re-start after that season.

What next for football in Northwood, you ask? Very soon, another new outfit came along…..

We are, of course, now celebrating the Centenary of Northwood FC, the club having been founded in 1926 as Northwood United. But what of the earlier football clubs which represented the town in their day?

Our recent researches have revealed that there were several more clubs in the past than we are aware, so coming up soon will be a review of Northwood football in the early years, dating back to the end of the 19th century! Our photos here show the Northwood team of 1906 and Maxwell Road in 1910!

Past football clubs in Northwood have included: Northwood (1), Trinity Northwood, Northwood Endeavour, Holy Trinity Northwood, Northwood Rovers, Northwood (2), Northwood United (1), Oaklands Gate Northwood and Emmanuel Northwood.

But what leagues did they play in? Who were their players? Where were their grounds? We will be bringing you this information over the coming days….!!

On this day 94 years ago - 8th June 1930 - Northwood United held their Annual Meeting at Emmanuel School, at which the Chairman of Northwood Urban Council - Lieutenant-Commander Samuel William Jabez Todd R.N. (retd.) - was elected President of the club.

The meeting reported that the club had been promoted to the first division of the Harrow & District League, their second promotion in three seasons of taking part in competitive football, and that they were now forming a reserve team for the first time.

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At the time, Northwood United were still playing home games at Northwood Playing Fields, Dane End (adjacent Haste Hill golf course), off The Drive, Northwood - but the following season would move to Northwood Recreation Ground.

A great time was had by all at the celebrity football match last month - but it wasn't the first time that such games have been staged by the Woods!

The stars were out in force at Northwood Park for the stadium's official opening match game on 27th March 1978, when a Northwood Select XI played the Entertainers and over 1,000 people turned up to watch. The Entertainers XI had been formed in 1960, and travelled the country playing charity football matches, and included many stars of the time from television, theatre, and the music world - and they won the match 7-6.

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And on 22 January 2006, the Arsenal Ex-Professionals XI and Celebrity XI visited Northwood Park. Again there was a large crowd, but this time the former footballers and celebrities were much more talented and fitter than the Northwood Select XI, and they were 7-1 winners.

71 players wore the Northwood shirt in competitive matches during the 2025-26 season - and they have now all been added to the Woods Players A-Z, which details all 1,309 who have represented the club since we moved up from junior football to join the Middlesex League in 1970!

You can read about any or all of the 1,309 Northwood footballers here.

If you have any information or photos to add to this record, indeed if you have played for Northwood at any time (including prior to 1970), please email us at NFC.enquiries@gmail.com. We are particularly keen to add to our pre-1970 records!

Following the demise of the previous Northwood FC in 1924, two years later plans were put together to form a new club, and a group of youngsters started playing under the name Northwood United in 1926. They were guided by Rev. L. Gordon M. Sheldon and Mr Leslie Faint, and for the first two seasons played only friendly matches, and initially they shared the pitch in Northwood Recreation Ground with St John's Old Boys FC on alternate Saturdays at a cost of 2s 6d (12.5p) per match.

The first annual meeting of the Northwood United club was held in May 1928, when the honorary Secretary reported on a successful season, from a playing and financial point of view. The club had played 23 friendly matches, winning 16, losing three and drawing four.

They were affiliated to the Middlesex FA, and entered the Northwood Hospital Cup competition, but were knocked out in the first round at home by Sarratt.The A.G.M. decided to make application to join the Harrow and District League, and that permission be asked from the Council for use of a pitch on the new playing fields at Dane End, Northwood - this was agreed and the rent for 1928-29 was £4 for the season.

The club was duly elected to the Harrow League, and would play in Division Two. Players had to supply their own kit, costing about £2.The club's Officers were appointed at the A.G.M, the honorary secretary being F.C. Smith of 96 Hallowell Road and the assistant secretary L. Faint of Addison Road. R. Waring was elected Captain for the season.

As we continue to look back over one hundred years of local football history at Northwood Football Club, today we are reviewing the men who took the helm as first team manager over the years. Prior to 1971, Northwood's teams had been organised by the committee, although in practical terms the club secretary looked after things, and Pat Byrne became the first designated manager.

The next man appointed to the Woods hot seat will be the 32nd "permanent" team boss; our graphic shows six past managers who have had a significant impact - Colin Payne, Alan Merison, Pat Byrne, Ben Bukowski, Tony Choules and Pat Byrne.

Our run-down on the Northwood managers over the years can be read here.

Northwood Football Club is now celebrating its Centenary Year, with events marking the launch having taken place last weekend. The current club was formed in 1926, following several other outfits that had carried the town’s name in earlier years, the first known, Northwood FC, being formed in September 1899, but it is not clear how long they existed. A team called Northwood Rovers played in the Harrow, Wembley & District League up to the First World War, the highlight being reaching the semi-final of the Middlesex Junior Cup in 1913.

A new Northwood FC was launched after the conflict, in September 1919, and soon Emmanuel Northwood were also competing in the Harrow & District League. The next club to commence was Holy Trinity Northwood, again in the Harrow League, whilst in 1922 Northwood moved to the Uxbridge & District League. However, they folded during the 1923-24 season due to being unable to raise a team, and around the same time, Emmanuel Northwood also withdrew from the Harrow League.

After two seasons in which just Holy Trinity represented the town on the football field, a few people who had been involved with the two failed set-ups decided to form a new club, and Northwood United was launched for the 1926-27 campaign. And now in 2026, we have the thriving club which is Northwood FC (the suffix was dropped after World War II).

Over the coming weeks and months we will bring you a whole host of stories covering the past century, telling of games, players, club officials, league titles, cup wins, and yes, the odd relegation. Though actually this season’s demotion was the first relegation for Northwood since 2007, and only the fourth time it has happened in 100 years!

Our graphic above shows a number of people who have played a significant part in the club’s history:

• JOE SAUNDERS – played many games from 1949 to 1969 and secretary/treasurer/manager in the 1960s
• PAT COBURN – the club’s longest-serving manager, taking 302 games from 1976-1986
• DAVE NOLAN – made 450 appearances for the Woods
• BOB BELL – scored over 60 goals for three seasons in a row in the 1930s, over 250 in total
• MARTIN ELLIS – top modern-day Northwood scorer with 156 goals
• CHRIS GELL – club record appearances – 489 games (and scored 85 goals)
• PAUL BYRNE – holds the post-war record for scoring the most goals in a first team game for Northwood (seven!) and made around 375 appearances; was club secretary, player-manager and now a Life Member