Historic Programmes barking Town v Sutton United 1924

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HISTORIC PROGRAMMES NUMBER 5

 

 

 

23-2-1924 BARKING TOWN v SUTTON UNITED ATHENIAN LEAGUE WON 2-0

 

 

 

We originally joined the Athenian League in 1912-13 but withdrew after losing to Catford Southend and Barnet Alston , both by 6-0. The reason for our withdrawal was apparently that ,because of our South Essex League and London League commitments , we could not guarantee to play our strongest side in the Athenian League, which is evident from the results. We rejoined in 1923-24, with our reserves playing in the London League Division 1 , and finished 8^th out of 13 in this initial full season.

 

 

 

Other members were Kingstonian, Redhill, Southall, Barnet, Hampstead Town, who eventually became Hendon after a period as Golders Green,Summerstown,Bromley,Windsor & Eton,Sutton United, Cheshunt,Enfield and Luton Clarence .

 

 

 

In addition to reserve teams the London League Division 1 included the 1^st teams of STD Athletic, Van den Burgh, PLA Police,Perrycobow,Metropolitan Railway,Carshalton Athletic, Erith & Belvedere, Beckenham, Bush Hill Park and North Woolwich Invicta.

 

 

 

This programme was not my best purchase as all I have are 2, or rather 1.75 tattered sheets comprising 4 (3.5 ) pages but better than nothing.We were still Barking Town and still using the terms Premier Team for the Athenian League and 1^st team for the London League although the London League table showed us as Barking Reserves.The official programme cost 1d (2.4p) and admission prices were Premier Team (with first team in brackets) adults 8d (6d), ladies and boys 4d (3d) . No mention of girls.Enclosure 7d (4d) extra. Season tickets vice presidents £1/1/- (£1.05) members 12/-.

 

 

 

Many of the advertisements are the same as the 1922-3 programme featured last time,including the sinister “all meat killed on the premises” and the Bull Hotel ,headquarters of Barking Town Football Club. I do not know what this actually meant but it suggests that there were no facilities for meetings on the ground at that time. In earlier times teams changed in nearby public houses but I can’t imagine the players trekking from The Broadway to the Vicarage Field in their playing kit.

 

 

 

Perhaps a sign of the times was Tabersham’s “ if you want anything in the wearing line and have not the ready cash consult us”. We had more royal connections than previously for,in addition to the dried fruit king, we now had the doughnut king in Barking Market.Another new entrant was Tommy Robinson ,wholesale and retail tobacconist in East Ham – Barking’s old goalkeeper.There was also an advertisement for a freehold house at Laindon on sale for £450 including a shop plot and a gas stove. A cottage containing a bedroom,living room,scullery ,pantry and company’s water could be had for £250.

 

 

 

Unfortunately the pages listing the teams are missing.

 

Notable results included Tottenham Hotspur Reserves 3-2,Kingstonian 5-0,Luton Amateurs 5-0,Luton Clarence 6-2 and 4-4,Bromley 3-2,Enfield 2-0,Sutton United 2-0. We reached the F A Cup 4^th qualifying round by beating Great Eastern Rail Romford 4-2,Custom House 3-2 and Grays Athletic 2-1 before losing to Botwell Mission 5-3.We reached the London Challenge Cup semi final beating Ilford 2-0, Bush Hill Park 2-1,Clapton 4-1 and Wood Green 1-0 , lost 3-2 to Ilford in the Essex Senior Cup semi final after 2 draws and lost 2-1 to Custom House in the final of the West Ham Charity Cup.