A look at Northwood FC #2 - they ran from 1919-1924

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 the Northwood War Memorial Charity Cup and the memorial in Green Lane.

The war ended on 11 November 1918, so the first season afterwards for local football was 1919-20, and following demise of Northwood Rovers, a new Northwood Football Club were formed in just five weeks from early August, and they were able to enter two teams into the Harrow & District League. The club “tendered most hearty thanks to the residents of Northwood for their monetary assistance, and good wishes, which enabled them to form a brand new club in the short space of time”. Mr W. Weller was club president, Mr Fountain, chairman and Mr L Faint secretary. However, in their first game, on 13 September 1919, they lost 1-7 away to No. 4 Stores Depot. Harrow St Peter’s were beaten 4-2 in the first game at Northwood Recreation Ground a week later, but then followed a series of reverses. The season saw the new Northwood FC finish eighth of 12 clubs, whilst the second team were also eighth, of ten teams.

At the same time, another club was formed in the town, named Northwood United, and they competed in Division 2 of the Harrow League, alongside Northwood Reserves. Mr E. H. Parramore was United’s secretary. However, they struggled all season, finishing in last place in the table – and then agreed to merge the club into Northwood FC at the annual meeting.

Northwood had a fine start to the 1920-21 season, winning 12 of their first 13 league games, including a 5-1 defeat of Ruislip Manor at the Rec, J. Milton scoring four and S. Tilbury getting the other; the team was: L. Faint, C. West, R. Allen, P. Osbourne, F. Arnold, W. Allen, S. Tilbury, P. Barr, W. Barr, J. Milton, G. Beckford. Northwood slipped to only their second defeat of the season on 26th March, to Alperton, but that was the first of six successive losses that saw the side slip from top to fifth in the final table.

1920-21 saw the launch of another team in the town, the church side Emmanuel Northwood, who acquired a pitch on Moor Park Road, Northwood, and entered into Division 2 of the Harrow & District League. They finished the season 9th of 13 clubs – four places and 13 points behind Northwood’s second team.

Northwood had prospects of not having a pitch to play on when in the summer of 1921 the Council decided to close the Recreation Ground to football teams. Fortunately, they reversed that decision in mid-August and players and officials worked rapidly to bring the area into order; the club made their headquarters and dressing room at the Northwood Men’s Club – something of a trek to the pitch! The club also said that “the old warrior, W. Allen, has again signed, this being his twenty-first year of football”. Three of the Northwood men – Beckford, H. Parramore and G. Green – had trials with Queen’s Park Rangers during the summer.

They started with a 2-1 home win against Stanmore Athletic in mid-September, W. Barr and A. Wrights scoring for Northwood, whose team was: H. Parramore, H. Butler, G. Green, J Cook, C. West, F. Arnold (capt.), T. Saunderson, J. Elworthy, W. Barr, A. Wright, H. King. The best win of the season, 8-0, came a week later against Wembley Brigade Old Boys, W. Barr getting a hat-trick. Northwood enjoyed a steady campaign, finishing fifth in the table.

A highlight came in the inaugural Northwood War Memorial Charity Cup, in which Northwood defeated Harrow St Mary’s, Rickmansworth and Wealdstone Rangers to reach the final at Northwood Recreation Ground on Easter Monday. The Rec was closed by permission of the Council so that an admission of men 6d, boys 3d (no mention of females!) could be charged – and “fully 1,000 souls” paid to watch Northwood beat Hamilton’s Wealdstone 1-0! The Rickmansworth & District brass band “had kept the crowd entertained with several selections”. Northwood’s team in that match was: E.H. Parramore, C. West. G. Walden, J. Cook, J. Wright, F. Arnold, P. Barr, W. Barr, F. Nicholls, A. Wright, Ratcliffe.
The cup was in later years known as the Northwood & Pinner Hospital Cup, won a few times by the present club under the names of Northwood United and Northwood.

However, at the end of February 1922, Northwood had an important league fixture away to Wembley Institute, and after a hard-fought match with disputed decisions, Northwood lost 2-1 despite a goal from C. Green. At the final whistle there was mayhem and “abuse in the air” from the Northwood players. The club was charged by the Middlesex Football Association, the referee saying that he had been strongly sworn at by two players. C. West and G. Green. At the hearing both players denied swearing, and when asked if the referee was lying, they replied, “He must be.” Club secretary Leslie Faint was asked if he had heard any bad language, and he said: “No.” However the referee was believed, and the two players were suspended for the rest of the season. Additionally, the whole Northwood club was suspended for two weeks from 1st April 1922.

As a result of the suspension, Northwood were unable to play Roxeth & Harrow Old Boys on 1st April and lost the points. The club were annoyed at the Harrow League’s response, so much so that during the close season they pulled out of the league after the Annual General Meeting, and gained election to the Uxbridge & District League Premier Division for 1922-23. Amongst their opponents in the new league were Harefield, later to merge with Breakspear Rovers to form Harefield United. It wasn’t a good season – Northwood lost 2-7 at home to Botwell Mission in their first game, whilst in Uxbridge Division 1, the reserves opened by losing 0-9 to Tickler’s Works. The first team managed just two wins all season, versus Iver Unity and Steel Barrel Works, and finished second bottom, whilst the reserves won seven games for 14 points and were placed 7th.

1923-24 proved to be a disaster for Northwood FC; the reserves struggled for players from the start, and pulled out of their division in January. Meanwhile, the first team gained zero points all season, losing every fixture until they lost 0-7 away to Yiewsley reserves on 1 March, and they were unable to field a side for the remaining games – all of which were marked as a defeat but recorded nevertheless as 0-0 in the table. That was the end of the second club named Northwood FC, leaving Emmanuel Northwood in the Harrow & District League as the only team to represent the town over the next two years.

But in 1926 came the forming of a new club, named Northwood United, and one hundred years later we would be celebrating the Centenary - and we will be reviewing those 100 years in the coming weeks and months!

8 July 2026

WOODSFEST100 is great success as part of Northwood FC centenary celebrations

Many thanks to all who came to enjoy WOODSFEST100 today, taking in live entertainment, family activities, community spirit, fun dogs show, vintage car rally and fundraising – as Northwood FC celebrates its centenary year while supporting Mount Vernon Cancer Centre Charity and the Lynda Jackson Centre!

There was a great day’s entertainment for all the family, and we hope that everyone had a great time with us!

Well done to the organisers Liz and John Joyce, who put in marvellous efforts to put the event on, along with their great team of volunteers – they were all rewarded by a great turnout – thank you!

Thanks also to event sponsors Darwin Wellness and 8Build, whose support was invaluable.

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Enjoy the photos by JAMES BROWN!

5 July 2026

Woods lose 2-1 at Everett Rovers in opening friendly

Our first pre-season game away to Everett Rovers this afternoon ended in a 2-1 victory for our hosts.

A goal in each half left the Woods trailing before pulling a goal back on 73 minutes – a trialist scoring.

James Brown’s photos are here.

4 July 2026

Early rounds FA competition draws are released

The draws for the early rounds of the Football Association competitions were released today – and in the Emirates FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round the Woods have been drawn at home to Hutton, of the Essex Senior League, to be played on Saturday 8th August. The winners will be at home to Hilltop or Grays Athletic in the Preliminary Round two weeks later.

Northwood will play in the FA Vase for the first time since 1999, and we have an away First Qualifying Round draw at Spartan South Midlands League Division One Rothwell Corinthians on Saturday 15th August, with a home tie for the winners against Maidenhead Town in the next round.

3 July 2026

Get your season ticket now – 2026-27 campaign is coming soon!

For the 2026-27 campaign, the club are again offering our incredible season ticket deal – which enables you to watch all home Combined Counties League games at Northwood for just £75 for the whole season!! And if we receive your order by 11 July 2026, it will cost you only £65!!!

Not only that, but a year’s social membership to the excellent clubhouse is included, as well as admission to all home Isthmian Youth League fixtures. The fee is applicable to all groups – adults, concessions and juniors.

Click here for details of how to order and pay for your Woods Super Season Ticket.

Also back again for the new season is our Club 1926 package. This premium membership, costing only £179 a year – the same as last season – includes the following benefits:

One Club 1926 membership card incorporating season ticket
One Player or Management Sponsorship (you can choose once the starting squad is known)
One Sponsored Match (you can choose once the fixtures are known) - to include up to four people for Boardroom Hospitality on the day (if required)
An announcement over the PA system

Click here for details of how to order and pay for your Club 1926 membership for 2026-27.

Whichever option you choose, we thank you for your continuing support of the Woods!!

2 July 2026

War results in short life for Northwood Rovers: 1910-1914

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.

29 June 2026

Manny Williams announces his management team

New Woods Manager Manny Williams has assembled the backroom staff that will assist him for the forthcoming season after taking charge at the Skyline Roofing Stadium.

Joining as Assistant Manager is the 38-year-old Liam Enver-Marum, a vastly-experienced striker who started out at Reading And Cambridge United, enjoying a long and successful career which included spells at National League sides Woking, Eastbourne Borough, Forest Green Rovers, Ebbsfleet United, Braintree Town and Maidstone United. Other clubs have included Bishop’s Stortford, Basingstoke Town, Slough Town, Chelmsford City, Farnborough Town and the Met. Police before finishing at Step 5 sides Risborough Rangers and Winslow United. We welcome Liam to the club.

Onto the coaches, and we are also delighted to welcome Tom Nyama, Abdul Osman and Chico Ramos to Northwood for the new campaign.

Tommy arrives having been with Metropolitan Police as first-team coach in recent seasons. The 41-year-old enjoyed a long career as an attacking midfielder, playing in Sierra Leone and Sweden (for Akropolis and Arameisk Syrianska) as well at here in the UK for Met. Police, Merstham, Kings Langley and Hendon. Tom founded his own coaching academy – TK Born and Raised - which operates both here and in Sierra Leone.

Abdul is 39 years old and has also enjoyed an extensive playing career as a midfielder which started at Hampton & Richmond Borough before he joined Watford’s Academy and then Maidenhead United. From there he played for Gretna, the first of four Scottish clubs he has played for which includes Partick Thistle, Queen of the South and Brechin City. After Gretna went into administration, he moved to Northampton Town, making over 100 appearances before 69 matches for Crewe Alexandra. He has also played for two club in Greece – Kerkyra and Lamia – while more recently he saw service at Dartford, Walton Casuals, Sittingbourne and Hanwell Town.

Finally, Chico joins the club as a Goalkeeping Coach, also with vast experience behind him. He had spells at Belenenses, Benfica and Amora as a young goalkeeper in Portugal before coming to the Uk and playing for Maidenhead United, Yeovil Town, Hampton & Richmond Borough, Dulwich Hamlet and Walthamstow amongst others. Now 42, Chico has since coached, managed and assisted at a variety of clubs including a spell in charge at Arlesey Town.

Everyone at the club looks forward to meeting them all in the coming weeks as we build up to the new season!

23 June 2026

First there was Northwood, Endeavour and Trinity....

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 the aforementioned 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…..

19 June 2026

Revealing the many football clubs formerly based in Northwood

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….!!

12 June 2026

Council Chairman elected Woods President on this day in 1930

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.

8 June 2026

Manny says he aims to bring back success to the Woods

Newly-appointed Woods manager Manny Williams has told John Lyons in the Non-League Paper today that he aims to bring back the success the club have had before.

"I live very close to the club and it's a good club," said Williams, appointed a week-and-a-half ago. "They have had a really difficult time and I'm hoping to give them that fresh belief.

"We are definitely going to be challenging – I wouldn't go there just to make up the numbers. Northwood are a big club that should be playing Step 4 and above.

"My aim is to be the one that brings back that success they have had before. I am definitely looking to compete in that league and it's getting a squad together to do that.

"I'm getting an exciting squad together – a few experienced players with a lot of young players around them. The experienced players have to be the right ones in the changing room to guide the younger boys."

As a player, Williams' aim was to get on the scoresheet, but he stresses that his focus as a manager will be on getting the right balance throughout his team.

"We will definitely be a team that looks to score goals, but we will look to defend first," he explained. "We will defend from the front, I'm getting players in who can do a high-energy press.

"I want defenders that want to defend first, but are going to be able to play themselves as modern day defenders do.

"We want to build a solid foundation and then look to play attacking football further up the pitch where it's needed.

"It's a fresh start, an exciting time and I'm going to grab this opportunity with both hands."

We are all wishing you all the very best with that, Manny!

7 June 2026

Under 18s celebrate great season at presentation evening

A fabulous time was had by all at the Northwood Under 18s Presentation night! The clubhouse was packed with players, parents, supporters and volunteers attending.

Manager Jamie Barry chaired the evening alongside his dad, Club Chairman Ian, and there was a great reception as well as plenty of emotion due to Jamie stepping down after two amazing seasons, with the team winning the Isthmian Youth League and Middlesex Senior Youth Cup. Ian also presented Jamie with his Chairman’s award to mark his wonderful efforts for the club.

A very memorable evening and a great celebration of the fantastic achievements of this group of players and the management team!

It may have been mainly about the Under 18s, but the club also presented a First Team Player of the Season award which went to Freddie Ford and was presented by Chairman Ian Barry. Freddie played in pre-season and impressed enough to start in games and his all action displays combined with goals made him a regular and a deserved winner of this award.

Check out all the photos from the evening here.

6 June 2026

Looking back at previous celebrity matches at Northwood

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.

2 June 2026

Check out the Woods Players A-Z - now updated!

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!

1 June 2026

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