Northwood F.C.

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Northwood
Full name Northwood Football Club
Nickname(s) The Woods
Founded 1926
Ground Northwood Park, Northwood
Ground Capacity 3,075 (308 seated
Chairman Ian Barry
Manager Mark Burgess
League Southern Football League Division One Central
2012–13 Southern Football League Division One Central, 13th
Home colours
Away colours

Northwood F.C. is an English football club based in Northwood in the London Borough of Hillingdon. The club is affiliated to the Middlesex County Football Association.[1] They play their home games at Northwood Park Stadium also known as Chestnut Avenue - the road on which the ground is located. The club will play in the Southern Football League Division One Central for the 2013–14 season having finished 13th the previous campaign.

Gary Meakin who took the job in March 2011, departed in November 2012 to take the manager's position at Isthmian League Premier Division side Wingate & Finchley, before being replaced by former Northwood player Mark Burgess just four days later.

History

Formation in 1926, to 2010

A club in the Northwood area was established in 1899, however Northwood as they are today were not believed to have been formed until 1926. Their early history is largely unknown and it is unclear what leagues they played in until 1931, when they joined the Harrow & Wembley League. They were champions of this league for six years in a row just prior to World War II and three more times after the war. This success did not last, however, and the 1950s and 1960s were mainly spent playing local junior-level football. In 1969 the Woods joined the Middlesex County Senior League. Northwood began life as Northwood Rovers and later United, but after The Second World War they dropped the suffix, to become what they are today – simply Northwood FC.

In 1978, Northwood won the Middlesex League championship and were able to step up to the Hellenic League Division One, which they won in their debut season. This led to promotion to the Premier Division, where they spent five, mostly mid-table, seasons.

The club moved across the pyramid in 1984 to the London Spartan League, which was renamed back to the Spartan League in 1992. In an eight-season spell, Northwood finished in the top three on four occasions, culminating with the Premier Division title in the 1992–93 season, leading to admission to the Isthmian League in 1993. In 1994, the club progressed to the final of the Middlesex Senior Charity Cup but were beaten by Staines Town.

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, the club enjoyed their best spell in their history with strikers Lawrence Yaku, Steve Hale and Scott Fitzgerald – who joined Watford in 2003 – regularly scoring in excess of twenty goals, making them a potent strike force. In fact, Yaku's tally of 53 goals in his first season (1999/2000) remains the most by any Woods player in a single season, and he sits second on the list of Northwood's all time top goalscorers with 137 goals. Club Legends Chris Gell – who made a club record 489 appearances for the club, Dave Nolan who made 450 appearances and Dave Sargent who too played more than 400 games for the club, where also mainstays throughout the period and played a key part in the success enjoyed on the field. Northwood gradually climbed through the divisions of the Isthmian League under Tony Choules winning the Isthmian Charity Shield in 2002, and then reaching the Premier Division in 2003 after winning the 2002/03 Isthmian Division One North. The side was then switched to the Southern League in 2005, where they remained until 2007, but after relegation from the Southern League Premier Division, they were moved "sideways" to the Isthmian League Division One North. Despite relegation, Northwood did lift the 2006/07 Middlesex Senior Cup as they beat Conference South outfit Hayes 4–2 on penalties, although it was the only real bright point in a disappointing season. In the past few years Northwood have seen a few managers come and go, Dave Anderson (now at Harrow Borough) was the most successful in that period, as he helped the club finish 6th and 10th in the 2008–09 and 2009–10 season's respectively before departing in March 2010.

Recent seasons: 2010–; Return to the Southern Football League and managerial changes

Northwood were then shuffled across from the Isthmian League Division One North in 2010 to the Southern League Division One Central where they remain now. When Anderson departed in March 2010, his assistant Mark Barnham took the reins at the club, but he resigned in November of the same year due to the poor league position and after a run of eleven games without a win stretching back to September. Then (in November 2010) it was the turn of former Woods favourite Steve Hale to have his crack as manager at Chestnut Avenue, and despite instigating a brief turnaround in fortunes in late 2010 and early 2011, the form faded quickly and after a series of heavy defeats, and a run of just one win in twelve matches, he was dismissed in March 2011 following a 6-2 mauling at the hands of Biggleswade Town. Northwood chairman Ian Barry acted quickly replacing Hale with 27-year-old Gary Meakin who arrived from Hillingdon Borough. Meakin took several players with him including defender Liam Fowler, striker Oliver Hawkins, goalkeeper Derek Lewis, midfielder Kevin Wynter and another forward in Aaron Lansiquot, as well as re-signing former fan favourite Rob Ursell on a short term deal. Meakin enjoyed three spells as a Northwood player making 47 appearances and helped guide the team to safety with three games remaining. His first Northwood win came on 2 April 2011 – in what was his first home game in charge – as Northwood came from behind to beat Soham Town Rangers 2–1. Following their 1–1 draw with Aylesbury at Chestnut Avenue a fortnight later, the club's safety was confirmed, as results elsewhere went their way. Northwood will compete in the same division in the 2011–12 campaign having just avoided relegation in 2010–11, finishing 20th – just one spot above the drop zone with 39 points from 42 games.

After Northwood managed to survive the drop the previous season, manager Gary Meakin assembled a strong squad, as he set about trying to improve the side's fortunes in the 2011/12 season. In the early part of the campaign, consistency was a problem as they slipped into mid-table in the league and crashed out of the FA Cup, FA Trophy and Middlesex Senior Cup at the first hurdle. However success was to follow in both the Southern League Cup and Middlesex Charity Cup's as the Woods made decent progress. The arrivals of Cockfosters duo Mitch Swain and John Christian - who both made over 100 appearances in previous spells with the side - and St Albans defender Reece Yorke added much needed depth to the squad and all three would play massive roles later on in the season. Top scorer and eventual Supporters Player of the Year Oliver Hawkins would prove the major catalyst in their assault up the table scoring several goals in a ten game period.

Victory over Bedworth United on New Year's Eve saw Northwood move into the play-off places for the first and only time in the season. The club were then knocked out of the League Cup by Chesham but did progress to the semi-finals of the Middlesex Charity Cup setting up a meeting with near neighbours Uxbridge. A dip in form around the February/March time saw Northwood seemingly slip out of play-off contention, yet hard fought wins over several top half teams saw the side close the gap. Spencer Bellotti who had joined the Woods' in February from Oxhey Jets scored a brace to send Gary Meakin's side into their fourth Middlesex Charity Cup final appearance, this time against Ashford Town (Middlesex), aiming to lift the trophy for the first time following defeats in 1994, 2003 and 2005. He followed up that superb showing to net a lasp gasp winner at home to Burnham in the penultimate game of the league season to take the race for the last play-off position down to the final game, although the Woods would let that slip away to Leighton Town on 28 April as they would concede four times in the opening half-hour to narrowly fall short of a top five finish, ending up in a respectable 7th position. Undeterred by their heavy final day defeat, Northwood raced into a 2-0 half time lead in the Middlesex Charity Cup final thanks to goals from Lee Grant and Oliver Hawkins. And when - two minutes after the interval - Hawkins scored his second it appeared the trophy was heading to Chestnut Avenue for the very first time. Yet, young Ashford striker Kofi Lockhart-Adams scored four times in twenty minutes to give his side an unlikely 4-3 lead with minutes to go. However, Romaine Walker scored a late leveller to take the game to penalties, and with Jack Hutchinson and Walker having their spot kicks denied, Ashford claimed the trophy in heartbreaking fashion.

Gary Meakin was able to keep much of his squad intact from the previous season which proved to be a success for the club and was even able to sign two players to contracts. Those who did not remain at Northwood were Liam Fowler who ended the season with Aylesbury, Jonathan Constant who signed with St Albans City, Warren Gladdy who left to pursue other opportunities and Wayne O'Sullivan who had a spell at Aylesbury before joining Meakin at Wingate & Finchley. After a solid start to the season, manager Gary Meakin departed the club to take the reigns at Isthmian League Premier Division side Wingate & Finchley in November 2012, Mark Burgess was appointed as his successor just four days later. Meakin then took Jack Hutchinson, John Christian and James McCluskey with him, but Burgess strengthened his own squad with the short term loan signings of Brentford duo Tyrell Miller-Rodney and Sam Beale. Burgess then signed Jerome Federico and George Nicholas on dual registration in early 2013. In February 2013, after Beale and Miller-Rodney's loan spells expired, Burgess acted quickly to sign another two Brentford youngster's on loan in the shape of central defender Stefan Tomasevic and midfielder Travonn St Leonce. Northwood then lost top scorer Spencer Bellotti, as he joined former Woods manager Gary Meakin at Isthmian Football League side Wingate & Finchley in February 2013. Northwood finished the 2012/13 campaign in a respectable position of 13th, six places and nine points worse off from their finish in 2012.

In manager Mark Burgess' first full season in charge, Northwood were looking to build on last season's 13th placed finish and found themselves in 7th place around the Christmas period. [2][3]

Stadium

The club plays their home games at Northwood Park, Chestnut Avenue, Northwood, Middlesex, HA6 1HR.

Northwood Park (also known as Chestnut Avenue) is also home to Northwood reserve side and was (up until the end of the 2011-12 season) home of Watford Ladies.[4] The stadium has a capacity of 3,075, of which there are 932 terraced places and approximately 308 seats. The stadium was officially opened in 1978, as prior to this Northwood had played on local playing fields in the surrounding area.

The highest attendance at the ground is recorded as 1,642 for a friendly match versus a Chelsea XI in 1997.

Club records

  • Best league performance: 17th in Isthmian League Premier Division, 2004–05
  • Best FA Cup performance: 4th qualifying round, 2000–01
  • Best FA Trophy performance: 3rd qualifying round, 2000–01
  • Best FA Vase performance: Quarter-finals, 1996–97
  • Biggest attendance: 1,642 versus a Chelsea XI in 1997
  • All time top goalscorer: Martin Ellis[5] – 156 goals, 1976–85
  • Club record appearance holder: Chris Gell[6] – 489 appearances, 1994–06
  • Most goals in a single season: Lawrence Yaku – 53, 1999–00

Honours

  • Harrow, Wembley & District League
    • Premier Division Champions 1933, 1934, 1935, 1936, 1937, 1948, 1949
    • Senior Challenge Cup winners 1933, 1936, 1937, 1948, 1949, 1970
  • Hellenic League
    • Division One Champions 1978–79
    • Hellenic League Cup winners 1979
  • Spartan League
    • Premier Division Champions 1991–92
    • London Spartan League Cup winners 1992
  • Vandanel Associate Members Trophy
    • Winners 2000
  • Isthmian League
    • Division One North Champions 2002–03
    • Charity Shield winners 2001–02
  • Middlesex League
    • Premier Division Champions 1977-78
    • League Cup Winners 1975, 1977 and 1978
  • Middlesex Intermediate Cup
    • Winners 1979
  • Middlesex Senior Cup
    • Winners 2007
  • Middlesex Charity Cup
    • Runners Up 1994, 2003, 2005, 2012

Notable former players

List of managers

Please note that the club never had a manager officially between its formation in 1926 and 1971 during its period in Junior football.

  • Pat Byrne 1971–73
  • John Myers 1973–74
  • Paul Byrne 1974–75
  • Pat Madigan 1975–76
  • Tony Saunders April–June 1976
  • Pat Coburn 1976–85
  • Pete Moran 1985–86
  • John Powell 1986–87
  • Steve Revell 1987–88
  • Alan Merison 1988–94
  • John Walsh 1994–95
  • Alan Merison 1995–96
  • Steve Emmanuel 1996–97 & assistant manager under Gary Meakin, 2011
  • Alan Merison 1997 (Caretaker)
  • Tony Choules 1997–04 (Northwood's most successful manager, now at Uxbridge)
  • Mick Harvey 2004–05
  • Colin Payne 2005–08
  • Dave Anderson 2008–10
  • Mark Barnham March–November 2010
  • Mark Burgess 2010 (Caretaker)
  • Steve Hale 2010–11
  • Gary Meakin 2011–12
  • Mark Burgess 2012–

Management team

as of December 2013[9]

  • Mark Burgess (Manager)
  • Dean Lenihan (First Team Coach)
  • Simon Huggett (Coach)

Current squad

as of December 2013[10]

Goalkeepers
  • Jake Knight
  • Tomer Sherman
  • Danny McNicholas
Defenders
  • Steve Brown
  • Ramil Sheriff
  • Alex Nolan
  • Tommy Walsh
  • Giles Townsend
Midfielders
Forwards
  • Niko Muir (dual-registered with Hendon)
  • Dave Lawrence
  • Garry Senior
  • Michael Murray
  • Karl Oliyide

Sources

References

  1. ↑ "Charter Standard Clubs". Webcache.googleusercontent.com. Retrieved 2013-01-29. 
  2. ↑ "2006–2007 Season Middlesex County Football Association Senior Challenge Cup Knockout History". Football Mitoo. Retrieved 2007-09-29. 
  3. ↑ "Fixtures & Results – County Cups – MCFA Senior Challenge Cup – 2006–2007". Middlesex County FA. Retrieved 2007-10-01. 
  4. ↑ http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/sport/localsport/9755956.New_Berkhamsted_base_for_Ladies/
  5. ↑ http://www.northwoodfc.com/woods-50club.html
  6. ↑ http://www.northwoodfc.com/woods-100club.html
  7. ↑ http://www.northwoodfc.com/AZ/F/Fitzgerald%20Scott.htm
  8. ↑ http://www.northwoodfc.com/AZ/D/DeMerit%20Jay.htm
  9. ↑ http://www.northwoodfc.com/profiles/profile-burgessmark.html
  10. ↑ http://www.northwoodfc.com/squad.html

External links

Premier Division
Division One
Central
Division One
South & West
Seasons
League teams
(tiers 1-4)
Non-League teams
(tiers 5-8)
Rivalries
Cup competitions
See also

Coordinates: 51°36′03″N 0°24′57″W / 51.6008°N 0.4157°W / 51.6008; -0.4157

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