Club History
THE VERY BEGINNING
Extracts from the Centenary Brochure
Reported in the Mid Sussex Times on Tuesday, September 29th, 1896:
A meeting was held in the Reading Room on Thursday evening with the object of establishing a Village Football Club. Over 30 persons interested in Football were present, amongst them being Major Strachan, the Rev. G H Bode, Mr L Gunter and Mr A Gunter.
At the request of the Meeting the Chair was taken by the Rev. G H Bode, who said he always had a great interest in Football and would be pleased to help them as he had often thought of establishing a Club himself, but he had come to the conclusion that it would be much better if it came from amongst themselves. He advised them to pull well together and no doubt they would soon have a very successful Club. Discussions ensued and it was unanimously agreed that a Club should be formed and that it be termed "THE ARDINGLY FOOTBALL CLUB", under Association Rules.
Mr F C Bayliss was appointed Secretary and Treasurer and in accepting Office remarked, he was always pleased to do what he could to promote the enjoyment of others.
It was also resolved that the Annual Subscription for Playing Members should be one shilling per annum and that no member should be less than 14 years of age. Honorary Members Subscriptions are fixed at no less than half a crown per year.
Officers of the club were elected as follows.-
President: Major Strachan Vice Presidents: Rev. G H Bode and Mr W Turner Captain: Mr L Gunter Vice Captain Mr W Davis
Working Committee: Messrs C Holman, J Lewry, A Duffield, S Baker, L Holman and T Holman.
Major Strachan said it gave such pleasure to attend such an enthusiastic Meeting and he would always be pleased to do what he could in favour of the Club. He would present each Member with a copy of the Association Football Rules.
Mr L Gunter also kindly promised to present the Club with its first Football.
Mr W Davis proposed a vote of thanks to the Chairman and other Gentlemen present, which was heartedly accorded and he brought to a close a most successful Meeting. A Committee Meeting was held last night (Monday), when other necessary arrangements were made.
It was hoped that the Club will be able to play on Saturday afternoon next on the Recreation Ground.
THE EARLY YEARS
The Mid Sussex Football League was formed in 1900/1 and included the Burgess Hill, East Grinstead, Lewes, Crawley and Newhaven clubs, all competing in a single division. The County League was not formed until after the First World War, for season 1920/1, and apart from the aforementioned teams included Chichester, Eastbourne, Lewes, Shoreham, Southwick and Worthing. Haywards Heath, the most successful local club (in recent years) did not join the County League until 1926/7.
In 1903 Ardingly FC became a founder member Division 2 of the Mid Sussex Football League. In the first season they won the Division 2 Cup and thus Ardingly is the first name engraved on the trophy. They were promoted to Division 1 (Division 1 was renamed the Premier Division in 1973/4) to compete against clubs such as Crawley, Burgess Hill and East Grinstead. The Montgomery Cup was not introduced until 1909 and the Mowatt Cup in 1923.
In 1905/6 the club colours were changed from amber and black to royal blue and white stripes. Subscriptions were 2 shillings and 6 pence (12p) for Honorary members and 2 shillings (10p) for Playing members. The Captain, C Lewry, was sent off during one match for making improper and insulting remarks to the referee. He was suspended for 14 days by the Sussex County FA.
Also in the 1905/6 season Mr H A Hett resigned as Club captain due to an "unfortunate accident" and a Vice-President, Mr Mellor, requested that his name be removed from the Vice-Presidents list as a gang of youths had been throwing stones at his walnut tree!
In 1909 new goal nets were purchased at a cost of 2 guineas.
In 1913 the Division 2 Cup was won for the second time and, more importantly the Sussex County F.A. Junior Cup was won, beating the Royal Sussex Regiment in the final , played at Horsham, by 7 goals to 1. The winning team were : A.Nunn, S. Munnion, E.Lee, J.Stevens, W.Longhurst, C. Holman, R.Longhurst, F. Awcock, P.Prevett, J.Holman, C.Mead.
In 1914 Ardingly came second in the Championship, losing the final and deciding game of the season, at home to the winners Lewes, by one goal to nil; the first home defeat for 3 years.
No competitions were played from 1915 to 1919 due to World War 1.
1919 to 1939
The Club was reformed at a meeting on 2nd July 1919 following the end of the First World War. A 1st eleven was entered in the Mid Sussex League Division 1, the Sussex Junior Cup and the Montgomery Cup. Among other items of equipment purchased for the season were ropes - to keep the spectators of the pitch!
A note was put onto the Club's Notice board asking supporters to show "better feeling" to visiting teams in order that the Club�s good name for sportsmanship be maintained. On several occasions during season 1920/1 the Club offered a sum of money to opposing teams to defray their travel expenses.
In 1920 Ardingly were beaten by 3 goals to nil by Haywards Heath in the final of the Montgomery Cup played before 2,500 spectators at the Station Road ground, Burgess Hill. The Ardingly team was W. Holman, N Muggeridge, S.J.Munnion, W.Brooker, L.Holman, A.Prevett, C.Nunn, R.Longhurst, H.G Galloway, J.Stevens, F.Nunn.
The following season the cup was won, by 4 goals to 1, also against Haywards Heath and at the same ground. The Ardingly team was A.Dean, J.Robertson, S.J.Munnion, A.Prevett, W.Longhurst, W.Picknell, C.Nunn, J.Stevens, L.Holman, G.Kemp, G.Luxford.
For season 1921/2 there were 63 paid up members, the highest since 1896. This was also the first season that two teams were entered in the Mid Sussex Football League. At the Easter Monday match against Portslade Works, at the recreation ground, there were 650 paying spectators.
On Boxing Day 1921 a benefit game was arranged for a player, Ralph Longhurst, and �8/10/00 was collected.
At this time the football club was part of the Village Club and all proceeds and running costs were administered by the latter. At the AGM held on the 6th July 1922 it was agreed that the coming seasons subscription would be 5/- whether or not the player was a member of the Village Club and that all Football Club members be admitted free to the ground for all league and cup matches.
A Mid Sussex Junior Cup match against Haywards Heath on Boxing Day, 1922, produced gate receipts of '15.13s.4d ('15.66p). There were an estimated 800 spectators. 1922/3 was a successful season, the first team reaching the final of the Sussex Junior Cup and winning the Mid Sussex League Championship for the first time. The club were also honoured by the selection of the captain, G.L.Kemp, to represent Sussex against Surrey and at the end of the season on May 3rd against Brighton and Hove Albion at the Goldstone Ground. In both games he was the only representative from outside the County League. Earlier in the season he also played a midweek game for Brighton and Hove Albion reserves against the Arsenal reserves.
At the AGM held at Hapstead Hall on 12th July 1923 it was proposed that the Football Club members subscription for The Village Club be reduced from 5/- to 3/6. This was not agreed by the Village Club and another General Meeting of the Football Club was called. This took place on August 2nd when a letter from the Village Club was read stating that "it was not financially practicable" to reduce the subscription to 3/6. The Football Club was unable to accept this and therefore a joint meeting of the Football Club and the Village Club was held on August 10th. The whole evening was spent discussing how the situation could be resolved and a further General Meeting of the Football Club was called for August 13th.
At this subsequent meeting, with Rev. Brack in the Chair. a Mr Harold Turner explained the position of the Village Club. The members of the Football Club expressed a wish to manage their own affairs more completely. It was agreed that the Football Club would continue to play on the Recreation Ground with the Village Club maintaining the ground, that it would receive £10 per year from the Village Club, that two members of the Football Club would be elected on the Village Club Grounds Committee and the Football Club would appoint its own Treasurer and 'collector' for the gate. The Football Club would not appeal to the public for subscriptions. A further meeting on August 20th, 1923 resulted in the resignation of three members; H Baldwin, C Nunn and Edgar Holman.
On 12th April 1924 Ardingly beat Portslade Gasworks in the Final of the Montgomery Cup by 4 goals to 1. The match was played at Victoria Park Haywards Heath in front of about 600 spectators. The Cup was put on display on Mr Plane�s grocers/drapers store opposite the Post Office (now the Antiques shop). The Ardingly team was W.Holman, N.Muggeridge, W.Gibson, G.Holman, F.Nunn, W.Picknell, C.Nunn, G.C.Moller, D.Plane, G.L.Kemp and G.Luxford.
At the AGM held on 2nd June, 1924, playing members subscriptions were set at 2/6 per annum. The Village Club would charge 5/- per match for the use of the Ground and Pavilion and for marking the pitch etc. Mr W Luxford was elected to take charge of the footballs and Mr G Holman reported that he had a list of 118 members willing to join the club.
At a committee meeting in September, 1924, it was agreed that the 'Collector' at matches would receive 10% of gate monies.
During the mid to late 1920's the team traveled to away matches in a charabanc operated by Messrs Hayward and Foster of the Greyhound Hotel (now the Ardingly Inn). They charged 2/6 per match.
In October 1925, F. Nunn was sent off during a match against Haywards Heath for using 'insulting remarks'. It is recorded that a spectator had 'words' with Mr. Nunn in the dressing room afterwards and that a disciplinary hearing was subsequently held in Brighton, a fair distance to travel in those days.
Ardingly enjoyed good home support and on the 28th February 1926 a Sussex Junior Cup game against Crawley attracted nearly 400 spectators paying a gate of '7/8/-. There were 130 Football Club members that season.
During the late 1920's support declined and the club went into debt. For the 1927/8 season subscriptions were 2/6 and players were asked to pay 6d for transport to away matches. This was increased to 1/- in 1930. The Entertainment committee organised dances, whist drives, Christmas Draws and fetes etc., and by 1932 finances were healthy again. Miss Annie Picknall, the club captain's sister, was instrumental in these fund raising events and during these years profits in excess of £40 p.a. were achieved. (The Picknalls were landlady/landlord of the Greyhound.)
For season 1931/2 the rent for the ground increased by 1/- to 6/- per match and the ground staff of Messrs R. Mead and S.West were paid 3/- (15p) per match to mark the pitch, erect the nets and rope the spectator enclosures. In 1933 ground admission for 1st eleven matches was - Adults 5d (2p) 14 -16 year olds and unemployed 2d.
During the early 1930s the annual Club Dinner was held at the Greyhound Hotel, typically costing 2/6 (12'p).
The Thirties to the War
The five years commencing with season 1932/3 were arguably the most successful. The Mid Sussex League Championship was won in four successive seasons from 1932/3 to 1935/6 and the double with the Montgomery Cup was achieved in two of those seasons, 1932/3 and 1934/5. In 1936/7 Ardingly were second in the Championship and losing finalists in the Cup. The Cup final teams for the double years were :
1933 : J.Browning, W.Picknall, A.K.Holman, C.Lovejoy, N.Dawes, C.F.Holman, C.Nunn, W. Lovejoy, G Dean, S.Holman, G.Luxford.
1935 : G.Stevens, A.K.Holman, G Luxford, J.Knight, N.Dawes, A.Mepham, A.Laker, W. Lovejoy, G Dean, S.Holman, W.J.Holman.
Details of the Championship winning years were:
Geoff Dean was top scorer in all four years with aggregate of 229 goals in all competitions, including the club record of 70 goals in 1933/4. Warwick Lovejoy ably assisted him by scoring more than 40 goals himself in seasons 1933/4 and 1935/6. Geoff Dean went on to play for Lewes and Warwick Lovejoy for Haywards Heath (both in the County League).
| P | W | D | L | F | A | |
| 1932/3 ALL GAMES | 31 | 30 | 1 | 0 | 197 | 40 |
| 1933/4 CHAMPIONSHIP | 20 | 18 | 1 | 1 | 111 | 31 |
| 1934/5 CHAMPIONSHIP | 22 | 19 | 2 | 1 | 118 | 37 |
| 1935/6 CHAMPIONSHIP | 22 | 18 | 1 | 3 | 97 | 36 |
JIM RIDLEY
(Jim sent this letter to the Club when he read of the Centenary in the local press. He is now eighty years of age)
"Having read in the Middy some time ago that the Centenary of Ardingly FC was this year, I started looking for some cuttings I had of the 50th birthday celebrations my wife and I organised. Having found them I lost them again during my recent move to Burgess Hill but I thought you might be interested in a few details about it."
At the top table we had Bert Prevett, Alan Dawes, F W Beard (secretary Mid Sussex League) Charlie Clark (Club Secretary), L Keir Hett (President), Rev J L Brack, Major Cree ( Ardingly College), M Farncombe (Brighton Old Grammarians), J Towner (Cuckfield FC), W Luxford and F Dawes. Many other clubs were represented but by whom slips my memory now. I was assistant secretary to Charlie Clark and I also represented Ardingly on the league committee.
Going back over my memories of the club in the late twenties, early thirties, there were posts from the eighteen yard line behind the bottom goal to the eighteen yard line on the road side of the ground through which a rope was passed to keep people away from the pitch. That was where most of the visiting and home supporters used to stand. Gate money was payable at the main entrance from the road and someone would stand at the allotment end (now houses) until kick off time.
At this time there was no County League. The main ones were the Mid Sussex and the Brighton leagues. Some of the many well known teams who played in these leagues were Crawley Town, Haywards Heath, ~Brighton Old Grammarians, East Grinstead, Seaford, Hassocks, Portslade Gas Works, 8th Field Brigade RA (later 18th Brigade, Preston Barracks), Burgess Hill, Worlds End (Burgess Hill) and our arch rivals Cuckfield.
We used to travel to away matches in Cecile Foster's coach If we played a team in the Brighton area we would follow the match with a trip to the Hippodrome and supper at Divalls or the SPO Restaurant, both long gone.
Perhaps I had better explain who I am. I had the pleasure of following on behind two very good goalkeepers in the thirties, Jim Browning and George Stevens. I played until the War and for a while after, but then moved away which made travelling difficult and the old spark seemed to have gone! The team I started with were great having been at the top of their form for several years, winning the championship and Montgomery Cup several times. They were one of the top teams in Mid Sussex. I played with W Picknell, G Luxford, A Mepham, N Dawes (Captain), C Lovejoy, C Nunn, W Lovejoy, G Dean, S Holman and W Holman - really great guys.
At about this time a new team arrived on the scene called the Ardingly College Guild, all players being members of staff at the College. This was also a great team several of the players going on to play for "higher" teams. Tommy Alderton is a name that sticks in my mind - a brilliant player. The trophies won by both Ardingly Village and The College Guild were displayed in the window of Ayers & Sons. The Championship Shield and Montgomery Cup for the village team and the Second Division Cup and Mowatt Cup for the College Guild. I think these were the only trophies around in those days so everyone was keen to stay in the competition as long as possible.
I remember coming home several times so muddy and cold I was unable to untie my boot laces and had to get into the bath boots and all! Let me hasten to add that it was not a nice enamel one like today but a galvanised one in the scullery filled with hot water from the copper in the corner. My stepfather could never understand why I played, even less when my stepbrother started to play as well. I would love to be able to kick a ball three yards now but at eighty years of age......!
One last thing, I would like to pay tribute to the keeper of the footballs at that time, Will (Snob) Luxford. We never had a bad ball. We were often the envy of other clubs as our practice balls were as good as their match balls. Don't forget that they were leather in those days and needed a lot of care and attention in more ways than one.
1944-1997
During the Second World War no organised competitive local football was played until after the Club was reformed on the 6th October, 1944. An inaugural meeting was held in the 'Wardens' room at Hapstead Hall and it was agreed that the annual subscription would be 2/6, that players would cycle to away matches or, if the distance was significant , they would travel by bus with fares subsidised by supporters donations, that changing for home matches would be in the kitchen of Hapstead Hall, and that the Club would be called Ardingly Reserves.
The Woman's Institute held dances and raised over £30 for club funds.
The first game was against Ardingly College and it was recorded that it was of 'low order' and that public school football seems to have its own rules. In the event, 29 friendly matches were played that season, sixteen were won, with 147 goals for and 64 against.
No records can be found for 1946-1949
In season 1949/50 top scorers were Fred Graysmark for the 1st eleven and John Newman for the 2nd eleven, with 31 and 25 goals respectively. In the following season Clive Guy was leading scorer for both teams with 13 goals for the first eleven and 22 goals for the second eleven.
In season 1951/52, F Prevett won the Mid Sussex Linesman�s Award, presented by the Mid-Sussex Branch of the Sussex County Society of Referees Association.
From 1949 onwards, coaches were contracted to take players to away matches, the charge being �2/13/- per match in season 1952/53. During the early 1950�s the Parish Council was paid �5 p.a. for the use of the pitch and pavilion. The latter was a summer house moved from L Keir Hett's garden at Culpeppers and given to the Parish Council as a gift in 1950 to be used as a changing room in the recreation ground. The Games Room in Hapstead Hall was hired for 5/- per week for changing.
In the early 1950�s a small group of ladies, Edie Holman, Peggy Izard (Secretary), Eva Newman, Barbara Simmonds and Margaret Washer instituted a Supporters Club with the object of raising money for the Football Club. They had a weekly �highest score� ticket (for the Football League teams) and a �Pontoon� competition which together with Jumble Sales and Raffles raised a few hundred pounds for the Club until they disbanded in 1974 having raised over �1,300 for the club over the years.
Alan Washer joined the club for the 1952/53 season and scored 4 goals on his debut in a 7-2 victory over Three Bridges. In the 1952/53 season he scored 52 league and cup goals for the 1st team. In the final of the Mid Sussex Charity Cup on 23rd April, 1953, Crowborough were beaten by 3 goals to 2, the scorers being Alan Washer, F Graysmark and L Simmons. During the season the Entertainment Committee raised �112 and the Annual Dinner in the Greyhound Inn cost 6/- per person.
Throughout the 1950�s, Simmonds Coaches were employed to transport the teams to away matches.
In 1954 the 1st team reached the semi final of the Montgomery Cup and in both 1954 and 1955 the 2nd team reached the semi-final of the Mowatt Cup. In 1956 the 1st team again reached the semi-final of the Montgomery Cup, and they also won the Mid Sussex Senior Charity Cup , beating Crawley in the final by 6 goals to 1. In the following season Crawley gained their revenge by beating Ardingly in the semi -final and there was a further loss when Burgess Hill were victors in the final of the Montgomery Cup, by 2 goals to 0. In 1957 Ardingly again lost in the final of the Montgomery Cup, this time to Crawley by a single goal to nil. In all four seasons from 1954/55 to 1957/58 W. Tomlinson was top scorer with 34, 41, 42 and 18 goals respectively.
In 1959 the 1st team lost in the final of the Montgomery Cup, by 5 goals to 3, against Crawley Down. In season 1959/60 the 1st team won the Mid Sussex Sportsmanship Cup and in the following season were relegated from Division 1 for the first time in 50 years. In all four seasons, 1958/9 to 1961/2, Clive Guy was leading scorer for the 2nd team scoring 21, 22, 17 and 21 goals respectively and from 1959/60 to 1961/2 Ken Weller was top scorer for the 1st team with 9, 14 and 32 goals respectively.
For season 1961/2 the new brick built pavilion was in use, replacing the previous wooden structure.
In seasons 1962/3 the league was abandoned due to bad weather. A substitute programme was introduced and both teams won their leagues, Divisions 2 and 4 respectively. However, no medals were issued and no promotions allowed.
The 1963/64 season saw the start of members using their own transport to away matches rather than a coach. The 1st team lost in the final of the Mowatt Cup, by 3 goals to 1 to Danehill, Ken Weller being the scorer. The 1966/67 season saw the 1st team lose to Fairwarp in the semi-final of the Montgomery Cup, 1 goal to 8, and the 2nd team lose 1 - 0 to Ditchling in the final of the Edgar German cup. In the following season the end's lost 3 - 2 to West Hoathly in the semi-final of the Edgar German cup and the 1st's lost 5 - 0 to Fairwarp in the final of the Montgomery Cup.
In 1968/69 Stan Stride, who had been secretary for 16 seasons and treasurer for 11, resigned. He did not cut his ties altogether as he became chairman in 1968/70 and served for four years in that capacity. Billy Swaffield played for the first time on 21st September 1968 and is still playing 29 years later! Yet again the 1st eleven reached the semi-final of the Montgomery cup only to lose to Newick, 1 - 0. The following season, after 29 years as President, L Keir Hett resigned. He had first become an officer of the club in 1912 when he was elected Secretary, a post he held until 1919/20. Frank Dawes was presented with a Ronson lighter by L Keir Hett for 50 years service to the club in 1972.
In season 1973/74 the 1st team was relegated to Division 2 where they remained until 1982/83 when they were promoted back into the Premier Division. The 100 Club started at the beginning of the !974/75 season and made �507 in its first year, paying out �370 in prizes, donating �100 to the Club and carrying forward a profit of �33.
At a Special AGM called in June 1976 concern was expressed at the fact that the same faces appeared year after year doing all the necessary jobs. A new committee, grounds men and 100 Club collectors were needed. As a result of the strong statements made five new members were elected to the committee. Nothing much has changed in the intervening years though as two of them (Rob Lawson and David Port) are still on the committee twenty years later. The elected officers remained the same.
During the 1976/77 season Alan Smith scored 50 goals for Ardingly and was selected for the Mid Sussex Junior side. Fred Funnell let in only 45 goals. The club organised a penalty competition to be held at the Village Jubilee Fete. The 1st team won the Mowatt Cup.
Alan Washer was elected Chairman of The Mid-Sussex Football League in the 1979/80 season. The following season saw the introduction of annual Man of the Match awards. The first recipients were Alan Smith and Bernard Pusey (1st and 2nd eleven respectively). Alan was to win this award many more times as was Bernard. Alan and Dave Clifton played for the Mid -Sussex League at Junior level.
The 1981/82 season saw the 2nd team awarded �10 by the Mid-Sussex League for playing a season with no players sent off or booked. The 1st team were awarded �10 the following season for the same achievement. In the same season (1982/83) the 1st team also won the Mowatt Cup and were Division 1 runners up, thus being promoted to the Premier League. This very successful season breathed new life into the club and the Club�s first Social Secretary, Derek Lockyer, was appointed for the start of the 1984/85 season. Although some doubt as to the success of social events was expressed, the first two events made a profit of �160 and a number of other events were planned in the following years.
Monthly committee meetings were initiated in the 1985/86 season and a Presentation Dance planned for early in the next season - tickets to be �4.50. It was thought that the appointment of Team Managers would be beneficial and as a result advertisements were placed in the local press. Unfortunately no applications for the jobs were received!
The 1985/86 season saw the introduction of the Alan Washer Clubman of the Year Award to be presented at the end of season presentation dinner. The first person to receive it was Martin Ellett. Pre season training was also re-introduced with a patchy response. Perhaps as a result, both teams were relegated at the end of the season! At the AGM in June 1986, John Lawson resigned as Chairman and David Port was elected in his place. John continued as Vice-President. Team managers were again discussed and the first, reluctant, team managers were appointed. They were Sean Gillett for the 1st team and Ross Harper for the 2nd. Responsibilities were registering players, appointing captains and vice captains, arranging pre-season training and team selection and discipline.
In 1986/87 Formal Club Rules were drawn up and adopted at AGM in June 1987, Derek Lockyer resigned as Social Secretary after organising a number of successful (and not so successful) events. Approaches were made to the Cricket Club then Parish Council to discuss the possibility of extension and improvements to the Pavilion. Initially it was to be a �self help� project with players contributing their skills,
The 1st eleven began to perform better in the 1987/88 season finishing 3rd in Division 2. The improvements to the Pavilion were still the subject of discussion. In season 1989/90 the 1st team won promotion as champions of Division 2. The 2nd's, after a good start, narrowly avoided relegation from Division 5.
In season 1990/91 both teams finished midway, in Divisions 1 and 6 respectively. The 2nd team lost in the semi final of the Malins cup, in the closing minutes. Pavilion improvements were started during the season for completion before start of the next season. There was intense discussion during the year on the new hiring charge and contract drawn up by Parish Council.
In 1991/92, in contrast to the previous season, the 1st team narrowly missed relegation but the 2nd's did better, narrowly missing promotion. 1992/93 saw no improvement for the 1st team and they were relegated to Division 2. Ross Harper resigned after eight mostly successful years in charge as manager, including one year learning the ropes with the 2nd team.
At the start of the 1994/95 season the club struggled to field two sides since all but two of the previous season�s 1st team had either retired or left the area. David Port took over managing the 1st eleven and Mark Evans took on the 2nd eleven. Although the 1st�s lost their first 14 league games, the introduction of a couple of older, (wiser?) heads into a very young team resulted in a significant improvement as the season progressed. Although relegation could not be avoided there was the magnificent achievement of reaching the final of the Mid Sussex Junior cup, only to be defeated by Wisdom Sports by 6 goals to 2.
The 1995/96 season saw an improvement all round with the 1st team finishing fourth in Division 2, thereby narrowly missing promotion, and 2nd�s promoted as champions of Division 8. A veterans side, over 35 years of age, was also formed, playing friendlies only.
The Centenary season has been relatively successful with both teams hovering around the tops of their divisions. The 1st team once again narrowly missed promotion, finishing 3rd in Division 2 and the 2nd eleven finishing 4th in Division 7. The veterans side entered the veterans league for the first time and managed to win one and draw one of the 6 games played. Credit goes to the player manager, Doug Glencross, who in his 60th year leads this new enterprise. To the sorrow of all those connected with the club, matters were overshadowed by the sudden death in September 1996, of Alan Washer, the club president, who had been involved with the club for 45 years.