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Back row: Mr Bissell, Fred Wilson, Colin 'Nippy' Edmonds, Dick Hales, John Adie,
Brian Stephens, Barry Madden, Steve Todd (secretary).
Front row: Mickey Chambers, John Cook, Billy Hales, Don Diffey, Stan Lacy.
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While Upchurch Football
Club battle away in Division 1 of the Rochester & District League, players
and officials may not be aware that the club dates back more than a century in
the village and has produced some great teams and players over the years with
numerous championship and cup winning teams.
Although football became
popular during the second part of the 19th century leading to the setting up of
professional and amateur leagues countrywide, an official village football club
did not emerge in Upchurch until 1907. In the years leading up to this
information in the village magazine shows that matches were played on the
recreation ground but these were just occasional friendly games.
Local businessman George
Cremer and Holywell headmaster J. H. Maltravers created the idea of an official
village football club and held the first A.G.M in the Church Room on July 27th,
1907. After advertising for players 31 men and boys turned up to join as
members. In a lengthy debate a set of club rules was formulated and a
subscription of 2/6d was charged to each member, to be paid before September 1st.
The club was registered as Upchurch United F.C with club colours of light and
navy blue stripes. A committee was also formed. This comprised of Messrs
Anderson, Wyles, Cremer, Ellis and Lambkin. Arthur Lambkin became captain,
village butcher Bill Hales vice-captain, Mr. J. H. Maltravers, secretary and
George Cremer chairman. The Recreation Club in Horsham Lane served as the
headquarters.
Players were supposed to
reside in the village to qualify as members but if outsiders wished to join
then it was possible with committee approval. Farmer Frank Stevens gave permission
for the club to use Holywell Meadow as its home ground and Chairman George
Cremer purchased a hut to be placed there for changing purposes.
First team players
included striker Bill Hales who scored 29 goals in the first season, defenders
were Horace Holloway and William Philpott, midfielders Ernie Hart and Arthur
Lambkin while other names included Sifleet, Tadman, Morris and Trigg.
The First team joined
Division Two of the Sittingbourne & District League, a boy’s team was also
formed and it was hoped to run a reserve team. The reserve team did not
materialise but after training in August the First XI started the season in
September and finished fifth in a division of seven teams. The team obtained 12
points from 12 games. They won five, lost five and drew two.
In its second season,
1908/09 in an enlarged league, the club became much more successful and by the
end of March they were in top position with 17 points from 12 games. However,
the other challengers, H.M.S Actaeon, who went on to win the championship and
RGA had games in hand which they won, leaving Upchurch in third position. In
their final game of the season Upchurch defeated Murston Reserves 3-1.
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David Wood. |
Upchurch soon became an
established club in the area and continued to compete in the Sittingbourne
& District League. They later switched to the Free Church League which they
won in 1928/29 and again in 1934/35 when they also won the Chatham Memorial
Cup. After this they played in the New Brompton League and then in the
Rochester & District League in which they were undefeated for two seasons
during the early 1950s. They also won the Kent Junior Cup C section in 1948 and
were joint champions in the league and then the Quarter Century Cup in 1956. In
the past decade the First Team have won the Sittingbourne Charity Cup in 2001
and the Quarter Century Cup in 2005.
Goalscorers over the
years have included Billy Hales in the pre-World War One years, Cyril Wraight
in the 1930s, Billy Hales junior in the 1950s, Les Woolley and Wilf Busbridge
in the 1960s and Terry Morgan in the 1980s. Colin ‘Nippy’ Edmonds became the
longest serving player from 1947 to 1971 while Bob Barnes who played in goal
for the reserves as a 15 year old went on to become a professional with
Sheffield Wednesday.
Although the club’s
original colours were light and dark blue stripes they later wore blue shirts
and white shorts then green and white stripes, all white with green trimmings
and finally black and white stripes and black shorts.
The club played at
several grounds including Holywell Meadow, 'Piwit' in Poot Lane and the recreation
ground. Until recently they played at Beechings Green in Gillingham then to a
new ground at Holywell Meadow.
Upchurch Football Club flourished until the 1970s and usually fielded two teams every Saturday but disbanded for a while before re-joining the Rochester & District League in which they continue to participate.
Upchurch Football Club flourished until the 1970s and usually fielded two teams every Saturday but disbanded for a while before re-joining the Rochester & District League in which they continue to participate.
About David:
David Wood was born and raised in Upchurch and is able to write from personal experience about many people and aspects of the village and of changes that have taken place over the years making ‘Memories of Upchurch’ a very readable book and a detailed historical study of the village. David's book ‘Memories of Upchurch’ is available direct from David at: david3702001@yahoo.co.uk or from us here at Upchurch Matters.
price £12 + p+p £2.
David Wood.
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