Rayners Lane F.C.

Rayners Lane F.C. are a football club based in Rayners Lane in the London Borough of Harrow, England. They joined the Hellenic Football League in 1978 and reached the 2nd round of the FA Vase in 1974. Currently they are members of the Hellenic Football League Division One East.

History

The club was formed in the 1933/34 season and played in the Harrow, Wembley and District League. The Tithe Farm Social Club was formed and the football club absorbed into it, where it's remained ever since. The "lane" enjoyed early success, winning three league titles and three league cups in the late 30's and early 40's and lifted the Middlesex Junior Cup in 1942/43. Season 1945/46 saw election into the Middlesex Senior League and more success, with three league cup wins and a league title during the next decade. They were the last Champions of the Middlesex Senior League which became the Parthenon League, taking in clubs outside Middlesex, in 1951

Spartan League football followed from 1957/58 but the step up was one too far and a failure to gain re-election in 1970/71 forced a drop to the Middlesex League. Fortunes changed with a league cup win in the second season, runners up a year later and a return to the Spartan League, but league amalgamation forced a withdrawal and return to the Middlesex League.

Looking for a new challenge the "lane" joined the Hellenic League in season 1978/79. Two years later the club were Division 1 Cup winners and a year later, won promotion to the Premier Division, followed by a win in the Middlesex Premier Cup. Over a decade of enjoyable football in the Hellenic League followed but without any honours. Imposition of standards demanded by the Pyramid forced demotion to Div 1 of the league for season 1994/95. After a further two seasons, the lane resigned from the Hellenic League, to rejoin the Middlesex County League and re-group. This return to the club's roots was a real benefit, with the side becoming Premier Division Champions, reaching the semi final of the Alec Smith Cup and winning the Charity Shield in the first season and in 1997/98 runners up positions in both League and Cup were achieved.

Attempts to transfer to the Chiltonian League were made at the end of these two seasons, finally successful at the end of the season 1997/98. Fourth, third and sixth place were achieved in the league in the first three seasons, plus the major success of winning the Middlesex Premier Cup in season 2000/01, last achieved 17 years previously. Efforts by the Chiltonian League to achieve a merger with another league eventually came to fruition with the Hellenic League to form an Eastern Division 1. Fluctuating fortunes in the league have been combined with some success in the County Intermediate Cup, being losing finalist in 2005 and winners in season 2006/2007, combined with 5th place in the league.

First team squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

Current coaching staff

External links

• Club website