CLUB HISTORY

CLUB HISTORY


HODDESDON TOWN FOOTBALL CLUB
A Potted History 1879-2023

1879 Club founded on 14th April as Hoddesdon F.C., possibly playing on Mansers Field 1882.
First record in October of games being played at “Low Field”.
1884 Played first FA Cup tie, losing 8-0 to Foresters 1885
Co-founders of the Herts F.A
1887 First winners of Herts Challenge Cup (Senior Cup).
1888 Winners of Herts Challenge Cup.
1889 Losing finalists in the Herts Challenge Cup.
1890 Winners of Herts Challenge Cup.
New colours confirmed as chocolate with blue sleeves. 1892
Losing finalists in the Herts Challenge Cup. Goal nets purchased and used for the first time.
1896 Amalgamated with Hoddesdon Wanderers FC and Broxbourne Club FC.
Founder members of the East Herts League. Had use of a ground in Broxbourne.
1903 Rye Park FC amalgamated with Hoddesdon.
1908 Joined Herts County League and played in both leagues until 1921/22 1910 Losing finalists in the Herts
Challenge Cup.
1919 'Town' was added to the Club's name
1923-36 Won local Perry Charity Cup seven times and were runners-up once 1924.
Finalists in Herts Senior Cup. Joined Spartan League
1925 Beaten 3-1 by Waltham Town in the Waltham Hospital Cup Final.
1927-28 Spartan Division Two, Section 'B' Champions.
Waltham Hospital Cup winners beating Gothic Works 4-2.
1934 Rejected an invitation from Bedford Town F.C. to join the United Counties League 1935-36.
Spartan League Division One Champions, Promoted to Premier Division
1937 Relegated back to Division One of the Spartan League
1945 Allocated to Central Division of a regionalised Spartan League
1946 Elected back to Premier Division of Spartan League, where remained for next thirty years. 1948.
Won Herts Charity Shield for first of five occasions.
1951-52 Finalists in the Herts Senior Cup.
Shared games between Lowfield and Essex Rd. Arena. 1952-54. Played at the Essex Road Arena while Lowfield was being levelled.
1953 Finalists in the Perry Charity Cup
1965 Runners-up in the Spartan League. Elmer Elliott appointed as Chairman 1966-67.
Reached 1st Round Proper of the FA Amateur Cup.
1967-68 Finalists in the Herts Charity Shield. 1968-69 Finalists in the Herts Charity Shield.
1969-70 Reached 3rd Round Qualifying of the FA Cup (2 wins, 1 draw and 1 replay defeat), and 1st Round Proper of the FA Amateur Cup.
1970-71 Club achieved the treble of Spartan League Champions & Challenge Cup winners and Herts Charity Shield Winners.
1971-72 Spartan League Challenge Cup and Herts Charity Shield retained.
1973 Runners-up in Spartan League.
Floodlights installed and opened with West Ham's visit on March 7th, watched by a record crowd, of 3,500.
1974 Runners-up in Spartan League
1975 First ever winners of the FA Vase, beating Epsom & Ewell 2-1 at Wembley in front of nearly 10,000 spectators.
1977 Elected to the Athenian League
1978-79 Won Herts Charity Shield for fourth time, beating Royston Town 4-1
1982 Terry Scales appointed as Manager.
1984 The Athenian League was disbanded, and Hoddesdon Town joined South Midlands League
1985-86 Beat Selby over two legs to win the SM Challenge Trophy and lost to Selby in the final of the Herts Senior Centenary Trophy.
1986-87 Won the Herts Senior Centenary Trophy and SM Challenge Trophy. Modern day record of 14 consecutive wins Jan-Mar.
1987-88 Losing finalists in the Herts Senior Centenary Trophy against Wingate
1988 Stuart Parker became 1st player to achieve 300 appearances.
1989-90 Winners of the South Midlands Floodlight Cup, beating Isthmian League side Vauxhall Motors.
Losing finalists in the Herts Senior Centenary Trophy against London Colney Reached the semi-final of the London Senior Cup, beating two Isthmian League sides, Barking and Dulwich Hamlet, on the way.
Glenn Swaby and Steve Gooding reached 300 appearances.
1990 Terry Scales resigned as Manager in September. Stuart Parker reached 400 appearances.
1991-92 SM Challenge Trophy won for 3rd time. Gary Cummins and David Wilson reached 300 appearances and Gary Cummins scored his 200th goal for the Club.
1992-93 1st Team played a Club record 76 competitive matches and reached the finals of the SM Floodlight Cup and the Premier Division Cup.
Reached the last 16 of the FA Vase. Stuart Parker made his 500th appearance.
Glenn Swaby reached 400 appearances and Martin Smith 300.
1993-94 Herts Charity Shield finalists. Gary Cummins and David Wilson both reached 400 appearances and Paul Robbins 300, while Stuart Parker reached 550, coming out of retirement.
1994 Elmer Elliott Stepped down as Chairman, and was replaced by Roger Merton 1994-95
Finalists in the Roy Bailey Memorial Trophy, losing 1-0 (aet) to Waltham Abbey.
1995-96 David Wilson reached 500 appearances, and Jeff Cross and John Walton 300
1996-97 A new 100-seater stand opened in November by Elmer Elliott.
1997-98 SM League amalgamated with Spartan League and Club plays in Premier Division North.
Finished in top ten, earning a right to play in the SSMFL Premier Division in 1998/99.
SSMFL Premier Division Plate won.
David Wilson achieved all-time appearances record of 559.
Jeff Cross reached ed 400 appearances.
1998-99 Finalists in Herts Charity Shield, losing 1-0 to London Colney. 13 consecutive wins Oct-Dec 1999-00
Jeff Cross reached 500 appearances, and Pablo Ardiles 300
2000-01 Finalists in the Roy Bailey Memorial Trophy, losing 3-4 on penalties to Somersett Ambury V&E.
Jeff Cross set a new Club record with 600 appearances in 12 seasons.
Ritchie Simmonds became the 11th player to reach 300 appearances.
Winners of the SM Floodlight Cup, beating Biggleswade Town 3-1
2002-03 Roy Bailey Memorial Trophy winners, beating Cheshunt 2-1 (aet). Paul Mann reached 300 appearances.
2003-04 125th Season and 20th consecutive season in SM League, Premier Division, being the only remaining side from when they joined in
1984-85. Won Herts Charity Shield, beating Welwyn Garden City 3-2.
Pablo Ardiles reached 400 appearances and Neil Conner 300
2004-05 Club relegated to Division One of the SSMFL after 21 seasons in the Premier Division.
2005-06 Geoff O'Vell appointed as Manager. Finalists in the Herts Senior Centenary Trophy, losing 2-0 to Codicote.
2007 Arsenal Ladies faced Cardiff in a League game at less than 17 hours’ notice, to become the first Ladies side ever to play at
Lowfield.
The FA Drugs Agency at Lowfield for the first time, following this game. Sky Sports visited Lowfield to film the Arsenal Ladies
match.
2007-08 Winners of Herts Senior Centenary Trophy, beating Hertford Heath 3-1 in the Final. Finished 3rd in Division I narrowly missing out on promotion.
2008-09 Retained the Herts Senior Centenary Trophy, beating Hatfield Town on penalties. 25th consecutive season in the (Spartan) South Midlands League.
2009-10 Beaten finalists in SSMFL Division One Cup. Reached last 64 of the FA Vase.
2010 Andy Crawford appointed Manager for the 2010-11 Season
2011 Inter FC join Hoddesdon Town to become the Club’s ‘A’ side playing in local Saturday football.
An Historic pre-season friendly played at Whitley Bay.
2011-12 First Team scored an all-time Club record 121 League goals, achieved an all-time Club record of 84 points, and played the 1000th SSMFL League game since 1984. Reserves won their first Trophy in 40 years, the South Midlands Floodlight Cup. 12 consecutive wins Oct-Dec
2012-13 First Team promoted back to the SSMFL Premier Division after achieving a Club record of 91 points, finishing third on goal difference. For the second successive season they scored over 100 League goals.
The first time the Reserves had ever retained a Trophy after winning the South Midlands Floodlight Cup, also beaten finalists in the SSMFL Reserves Challenge Trophy and recorded highest League finish for 50 years. Kevin Metivier became the 14th player to achieve 300 appearances for the Club.
2013-14 30th season in the SSMFL. First Team sixth in their first season back in the Premier Division, highest SSMFL place for 16 years. 78 points second best record in 22 seasons of the SSMFL Premier Division.
Reserves created history with third successive victory in the South Midlands Floodlight Trophy. Second in Reserves Division One for second successive season.
Adam Bolle set Club record scoring in ten successive games.
Neil Conner was appointed as Manager for the 2014/15 Season.
A new 100-standing covered stand was completed on Park View side in March 2014.
2014-15 A difficult season ended with a highly successful celebration of the 40th Anniversary of the FA Vase win with an international friendly against ASD Acquaviva at Lowfield on 19th April 2015. First Team avoided relegation despite many setbacks through the season, finishing nineteenth, and the Reserves ended up in tenth place having also suffered setbacks during the season.
2015-16 Unquestionably the Club’s most successful season since the Vase win in 1975. Third in the SSMFL, the best League campaign since 1970/71, top of the table for 8 weeks, a Club record-breaking run of four tie wins and seven games in the FA Cup in reaching the 3rd Qualifying Round for only the second time, (four wins, two draws and a replay defeat) and winners of the SSMFL Premier Division Cup. A Crowd of over 400 v Brentwood in the FA Cup the largest seen at Lowfield since 1975. Three times winners of the Team of the Month award. Reserves won the Club’s first ever Reserves League title, were beaten finalists in the Challenge Trophy and won the SSMFL Reserves section play-off. Infrastructure improvements, including an additional 50-seater stand and two turnstiles, earned the Club an ‘E' ground grading, suitable for Step 4 football.
2016-17 Paul Halsey was appointed as Manager in May 2016 after Gavin Kelsey and the bulk of the First team left the Club. A rebuilt side acquitted itself well with a final placing of seventh, a Club record of 93 goals in SSMFL Premier Division football, and retention of the SSMFL Premier Division Cup with a 1-0 win against Wembley at Oxhey Jets. Reserves made a fourth appearance in five seasons in the Challenge Trophy but were beaten 3-0 by a strong Hertford side. Tom Cowell equaled a modern-day Club League scoring record with five of the seven goals scored against St. Margaretsbury.
All the ground infrastructure work was finally completed during the season. Bill Moye, Manager of the Vase winning side passed away in March 2017.
2017-18 Manager Paul Halsey walked out in January 2017, and after a short spell of interim management, Simon Riddle took over and was appointed for 2018/19. A final place of twelfth in the table was a relief after much player turbulence over 2 or 3 months. After the season ended, the Club learned it had been moved laterally to the Essex Senior League, thus ending a 34-year association with the (Spartan) South Midlands League. A full appeal hearing at the FA failed to have the decision reversed. The Reserves ended the season 3rd in the Development Division table, but after much consideration, an application was made for the Reserves to join the Herts Senior County League for 2018/19. A very successful Under-18 squad formed the backbone of the First Team for the final few games of the season. Former Club Treasurer and stalwart supporter, Bob Parker, passed away at the age of 93 in May 2018.
2018-19 An historic season for the Club as the First Team took its place in the 20-club Essex Senior League, and the Reserves once again joined the Herts Senior County League, this time in an 18-club Division One. Ninth place for the First Team and fourth for the Reserves reflected what was considered a satisfactory season for both teams. Having reached the semi-finals of the Peter Butcher Memorial Trophy the First Team lost 2-1 to a very strong Barkingside Reserves side, but the Final was not played due to issues that occurred in the other semi-final. A Stalwart of the successful side of the 80s and early 90s with 300 appearances, John Walton, passed away at the age of 64.
2019-20 Thanks to Covid-19 the season was declared null and void in late March, with the Lilywhites in seventh place in the table, and the Reserves fifth at Step 7. One of the FA Vase Final stars, Les Picking, passed away in March 2020. The First Team also lost out on a chance to make the Challenge Trophy semi-finals when their thrice-postponed quarter final tie became a victim of the pandemic.
2020-21 Another season affected by Covid-19 with two lockdowns. Only thirteen League and eight cup games played, four of those in the Len Cordell Memorial Cup/Plate, the Lilywhites winning the latter 3-0 in the Final against Woodford Town. A new young Reserves side did well in what was a very short season for them. A new pitch rail was constructed around three sides of the pitch to upgrade the ground even further. Former Assistant Manager and general manager Jimmy Briggs passed away in early 2021.
2021-22 Roger Merton stepped down as Chairman after 26 years in the role, and he was replaced by Stuart Varney.

After a poor Covid-19 affected start to the season, the First Team picked up in the second half and finished in 15th place. Having reached the semi-finals of the Errington Challenge Trophy they were beaten 3-0 by a very good Enfield side.
A young Reserves squad also acquitted themselves well in the second half of the season and ended the campaign in 13th place. A sad season for the Lilywhites as former Club stalwart Richard Lorimer and former First Team Manager Tommy Barnett both passed away.
Following the season end the Club was informed it was being moved back to the Spartan South Midlands League for the 2022/23 campaign following two full and two truncated seasons in the Essex Senior League.
2022-23 Back in the Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division after a four-season gap, the Lilywhites struggled with injuries throughout the campaign and only managed six League wins all season, leading to them finishing second bottom in the table.
Their best cup run saw them reach the quarter finals of the Premier Division Cup in which they were forced to travel ninety miles to Ardley Utd. for a 7 30pm kick-off, and narrowly lost 3-2.
Yet another significant summer shuffle round of clubs in the non-League system by the FA led to the Lilywhites being relegated to Division One South of the Thurlow Nunn Eastern Counties League, in which they were destined to meet local Clubs such as St. Margaretsbury, Wormley Rovers, Brimsdown and Harlow Town.
Jason Hobbs stepped down as Manager of the Reserves in January 2023, and Chris Webb took over as player/Manager. Some excellent performances were not matched by results in the Herts Senior County League, and they too finished second bottom of the table with eight wins from their thirty games.
On a more positive note, for the Club, Spurs Women’s Academy used Lowfield as their home for several competitive games during the season, including the full Academy meeting Arsenal Academy on a Sunday afternoon. The Club’s facilities and hospitality were very warmly welcomed by the Academy players, their family members and Management.
2023-24 Due to financial issues, the Club decided not to run a reserve side for the 23-24 season, and offered a ground share to Broxbourne Badgers on Saturday afternoons. A Vets side, Inter Trak playing on Sundays, with Youth Team games also being played at Lowfield when pitches allow. Spurs Women’s Academy continue to use Lowfield on a Wednesday evening.

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