As we are now celebrating the Centenary of Northwood FC, we continue to look back at the 100 years of history of our club. In the 1930s, last time we found that Northwood United - as they were known then -  were Harrow & Wembley League Premier Division champions in 1933 and 1934; could they make it a third title?

The Premier Division champions Northwood United started the 1934-35 season with a 1-1 local derby draw at home to Holy Trinity Northwood – but that was to be the last campaign the local clubs met as Trinity finished bottom of the table the following May, never returning to the top division, then did not reappear after World War II. United had a three-way battle with Wembley Institute and Sudbury to retain their title – but they had clinched the championship by the time they met the Wembley outfit at The Rec. in the final match, and were soundly beaten 2-5 -it didn't matter!

Northwood United played nine ties to reach the 1935 final of the Middlesex County Junior Cup – including two semi-final replays against West Ealing Railwaymen Social & Athletic Club of the Dauntless League. Their opponents in the final were South-West Middlesex League club Hanworth, who eventually won 5-4 after extra time. Bob Bell, Albert Welch, Tom Bell and Harry Gutteridge scored for United, who led until the 87th minute. Northwood United’s team was: Alan Friend, H. Cross, Leslie Giddings, J. Ellworthy, Tom Carmedy, Harry Darvill, Bob Bell, Fred Taylor, Tom Bell, Albert Welch, Harry Gutteridge. Bob Bell broke the club scoring record with 62 goals in 35 games in the season.

Champions again, Northwood United – playing in “red shirts and white knickers” – commenced the 1935-36 campaign in great form, winning their opening seven league games whilst netting 34 goals, whilst also making progress in two cup competitions. They were shocked, therefore, when Shahinian came to Northwood Recreation Ground and won 4-1 – and the visitors would chase them at the top all season. But United bounced back, winning 9-1, 9-3, 3-0 and 7-3 in successive games, with Bob Bell continuing to find the net regularly.

United enjoyed another great run in the Middlesex Junior Cup, seeing off Hanwell Mental Hospital 5-1 in the semi-final to reach a second successive final, where they met Minimax – sadly, the South-West Middlesex League side won 6-1. But they did win the Northwood Hospital Charity Cup and Harrow & Wembley League Senior Cup – the latter in a replay against Neasden Association 4-3, Taylor, Darvil, Gill, Gutteridge scoring, and the team was: Alan Friend, H. Cross, T. Watt, A. Weightman, Joe Long, H. Darvill, Bob Bell, Fred Taylor, Joe Gill, Tom Bell, H. Gutteridge.

In the penultimate league game, Northwood crashed 0-6 at Shahinian, which meant they had to win their last match, at Sudbury Rangers, to lift the title again – which they did, 3-2. Bob Bell slipped a little from his high standards – only getting 60 for the season! United used just 16 players in the entire campaign.

Northwood United held their annual dinner at The True Lovers' Knot Hotel, at which 62 members and supporters were present. Lieut.-Commander S. W. Todd, J.P., the Club's President, who was also chairman of the Ruislip-Northwood Council, proposed the toast of the club, and extended his congratulations to them on their many successes.

But at the club’s annual meeting in May 1936, it was announced that the club secretary Leslie Faint was leaving due to his moving to Eastbourne for work. Mr Faint had been involved with the failed previous Northwood FC and had been one of the main instigators in the launch of Northwood United in 1926, and he said: “I attribute the club’s success to working with a small committee, no grumbling on the field of play, and no “inquests” on what should have been.” Mr Tom Bell and Mr H. Erswell, were elected joint  hon. Secretaries; Mr. S. Carter, hon. treasurer; Mr J. Wyatt, the club's left-back, was appointed captain, Mr J. Gill, vice-captain, and Messrs E. Ellworthy, W. Walford and S. Cumbling, committee members.

As we are now celebrating the Centenary of Northwood FC, we are reviewing the 100 years of history of our club; last time Northwood United, as they were known then, had joined a league, now they are progressing.....

At the club’s first ever official annual meeting in May 1930 the club’s officials were elected, as follows: President: Lt. Cmdr. S. W. Todd; Hon. Secretary.: L H Faint; Hon. Treasurer: J. Herring; Hon. Ass. Treasurer: F. C. Smith; Team Secretary: J. White; Committee: S. Gill, E. Milton, T. Bell snr, C.W. Teasdale. The club continued to play on Northwood Playing Fields, Dane End (adjacent Haste Hill golf course), off The Drive, Northwood, and after losing 3-4 at home to Harrow Sheet Metal Works in their first fixture in the Harrow & District League Division One, they went on a good run during which Billy Bunce scored three hat-tricks in four games, and they settled down well. The Boxing Day derby home game versus Eastcote (6-2) attracted an attendance of 100.

Northwood United continued to enjoy success in the league and they won 11-2 away to Sudbury AC in March to move to the top of the table, where they stayed to lift the title. Scorers at Sudbury were Gill 3, Gutteridge 3, King, Hall, Brown, Prince, T Bell, and the United team was: Alan Friend, Bob Bell, B. Prince, J. Evans, Tom Bell, Joe Gill, H. Hall, Fred Taylor, B. Brown, King, H. Gutteridge. They also had a great run to the final of the League Senior Cup, though it took three replays to get past Geeko in the preliminary round! Sadly, they lost to Premier Division runners-up Wembley Institute 4-7 in the final, played at Wealdstone’s ground. Meanwhile, the United second team finished mid-table in the Third Division.

Promotion to the Premier Division of the Harrow & District League for 1931-32 saw the club gain the use of a pitch in Northwood Recreation Ground at an annual cost of £14 14s, including pitch marking and dressing room. Northwood United initially found the step up difficult , and they only took one point from their first four games before a 9-4 home thrashing of Stanmore in November – Berry, the goalkeeper, was amongst the goalscorers, and the team was: Berry, J. Brown, H. Cross, James, Tom Bell, Joe Gill, Hall, Bob Bell, Billy Bunce, Fred Taylor, H. Gutteridge.  They played local derbies against Holy Trinity Northwood over Christmas, drawing 3-3 at home but going down 1-4 at Trinity’s Park Farm ground on Ducks Hill Road – “good attendances” were reported at both games. United finished their first season in the top division in eighth place, just ahead of local rivals Trinity.

1932-33 saw the commencement of Northwood United’s dominance of local junior football over the next few years! After going down 5-6 (!) at home to Wm. Geipel’s in the opening game, Northwood United only lost thrice more all season; the next week saw Harrow Weald United defeated 9-1, and the local derby with Holy Trinity (1-1) attracted 250 to the Rec. United entered the Middlesex Junior Cup for the first time, winning through three rounds including 3-0 away to Craven Park in front of 750 people, the largest recorded crowd to date; they lost 1-5 to Yiewsley & West Drayton of the Uxbridge League in round 5.

Meanwhile, league wins continued to accrue, and Northwood United eventually clinched the Premier Division title by one point from Roxeth Institute – just five years after commencing league football.
United actually completed a treble in 1933, defeating Clare Athletic 4-0 in the final of the League Senior Cup; Bob Bell, Fred Taylor and Taffy Bennett (2) scored for this side: W. Wood, J. Brown, A. Branch,  A. Poulter, H. Darvill, J. Young, Bob Bell, R. Taylor, Taffy Bennett, Tom Bell, G. Ratcliffe. And even larger crowd than before – 900 – filled the Recreation Ground on Easter Monday as Northwood United beat Roxeth Institute 3-2 to win the Northwood Hospital Cup. Bob Bell, who was to become a scoring legend over the next few years, scored 23 goals in 32 games over the campaign. The reserves finished the campaign in sixth place in Division Three. The photo shows the United squad in 1933.

Champions Northwood United started the1933-34 season well, with five wins in six outings to top the table, though they had a shock 0-5 home derby defeat to Holy Trinity Northwood at Christmas! They bounced back well and 24 February 1934 they hammered Nash Athletic 16-0 – a score that has been equalled once since but never exceeded – yet! Scorers were Bob Bell 6, H. Gutteridge 3, Tom Bell 2, J. Brown 3 and Fred Taylor 2.

Professional heavyweight boxer Norman Archer played half a dozen games in defence for United that season (under the name Archie Norman) – he had 12 wins and 12 defeats in his boxing career. Another “notable” was Tom Carmedy, who had been a professional, playing 66 Football League games, scoring 20 goals, for Nelson in Third Division North – he moved South and joined Northwood United after ending his pro career; he died aged 80 in 1985.

The season came to a climax with Northwood United and Neasden Association tied on points at the top of the table; goal difference did not count, so there was a play-off for the title on the Telling United ground. And United truly smashed it, winning 5-0, to lift their second Premier Division title in a row. United’s team was: A. Felt, H. Cross, J. Brown, Poulter, Darvill, Wyatt, Tom Carmedy, Tom Bell, Bob Bell, Fred Taylor and H. Gutteridge; goals from B. Bell 3, T. Bell and Taylor.

As we are now celebrating the Centenary of Northwood FC, having looked at previous clubs which had represented the town, we will now consider over coming weeks the 100 years of history of our club. Our photo above shows Rickmansworth Road and the surrounding area in the 1920s.

After two seasons from 1924-1926 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 (Northwood and Emmanuel, Northwood) decided to form a new club, and Northwood United was launched for the 1926-27 campaign, with Leslie Faint, secretary of the previous Northwood FC, holding the same post for United.

The Rev. L. Gordon M. Sheldon from Emmanuel Church arranged with Ruislip-Northwood Council for the use on alternate weeks (St John's Old Boys FC also played there) of the pitch at Northwood Recreation Ground, at a cost of 2s 6d per match. For the first two seasons, just friendly matches were played, apart from entering the Northwood Hospital Charity Cup, but after the second campaign, in which sixteen of the twenty-three games had been won with three draws and three defeats, it was decided to join a league.

Northwood United were elected to Division Two of the Harrow & District League for 1928-29, playing at the new Northwood Playing Fields, Dane End, which were adjacent to Haste Hill golf course, at the end of The Drive, Northwood. The pitch rent was £4 for the season; playing subs were 5s 6d per season – and players had to supply their own kit, costing about £2. Initially, Northwood United had just 15 playing members, but within weeks had formed a second eleven, which would play friendlies. The club officers appointed at the A.G.M. on 18th May 1928 were F.C. Smith of 96 Hallowell Road as hon. secretary with the assistant secretary being Leslie Faint.

The club’s first-ever league match was at Pinner Green versus Pinner Gas Works in the Harrow and District League Division 2 on Saturday 8th September 1928, and United collected their first two points with a 2-0 victory, Dick Allen scoring both goals. The first ever team to represent Northwood United in a league game was: T. Waring, F. Smith, W. Pearce; C. Ford, H. Empson, Joe Gill; J. Smith, F. Young, Dick Allen, F. Gutteridge, H. Gutteridge.

United enjoyed a good start to life, winning their first five league games; the highest defeat was 1-7 at Courtfield Athletic, the eventual divisional champions, in December. 12-0 was the club’s biggest win of the campaign, away to bottom club Harrow Wesleyan, and United finished their first-ever season in fifth place in the table with 16 wins from the 26 outings.

The 1929-30 season saw Northwood United get off to a flyer, winning their opening four games, including 10-3 away to Wembley Corinthians (hat-tricks for Dick Allen and Billy Bunce) and 11-2 at Wealdstone YMCA, where Bunce scored five goals. United then lost three games out of four – however, after that, they won ten games and drew one, to end as runners-up to Harrow Liberal and gain promotion in their second term.

Promotion was clinched with three games to play by defeating Shaftesbury Athletic 8-1 at Dane End. Billy Bunce 3, Joe Gill 3 and Fred Taylor 2 scored, and United’s team was: Alan Friend, Mott, Rackshaw, Dick Waring, Tom Bell, B. Prince, J. Smith, Joe Gill, Billy Bunce, Fred Taylor, H. Gutteridge. United also had a good run in the League Junior Cup before losing 1-3 to Pinner St Johns in the semi-final played at Harrow Weald United’s ground.

Next up, we will look at Northwood United at the start of the 1930s....

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 First World 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-named Northwood FC, leaving Emmanuel Northwood and Holy Trinity Northwood in the Harrow & District League as the only teams to represent the town.

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!

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