SSML Legends Where Are They Now?

[Rhodes]

London Colney lifted the SSML Premier Division Shield in 2001/02 with Letchworth finishing ten points behind after being promoted the season before however they sadly folded the following season due to some kind of dispute with the Hertfordshire FA. The lower Division's were restructured for the 2001/02 campaign whereby the old Senior Division became Division One and the old Division One became Division Two, this has remained the same ever since. London Colney also lifted the Challenge Trophy beating Beaconsfield SYCOB in a two legged Final and were also runners up in the Hertfordshire FA Senior Trophy losing a thrilling Final 3-2 to Boreham Wood, they only lost two league games, both at home, to Letchworth and Royston Town and were unbeaten away from Cotlandswick conceding just seventeen times. Gary Sippetts (pictured) was London Colney's star man and he bagged 45 league goals for joint supremo's Malcolm Doctor and Mick Wright, Sippetts started his career at St Albans City and had a knack for always being in the right place at the right time, particularly during that season at Cotlandswick, he also had spells at Berkhamsted Town, Chesham United, Hemel Hempstead Town, Barton Rovers, Slough Town, Colney Heath and Hatfield Town and I believe has a very promising young son, George, who is currently with St Albans City youth set up:

SSML Premier Division 2001/2002

Pos  Name  Pld    W    D    L   GF   GA  Pts
   1  London Colney                    38   28    8    2  119   32   92
   2  Letchworth                       38   25    7    6  105   45   82
   3  Hanwell Town                     38   25    6    7  114   64   81
   4  Milton Keynes City               38   22    9    7   76   39   75
   5  St Margaretsbury                 38   20    8   10   74   55   68
   6  Brook House                      38   19    7   12   89   63   64
   7  Dunstable Town                   38   18    8   12   74   54   62
   8  Royston Town                     38   15   13   10   82   58   58
   9  Biggleswade Town                 38   16    9   13   74   64   57
  10  Beaconsfield S Y C O B           38   15   10   13   84   52   55
  11  Somersett Ambury V & E           38   16    5   17   75   61   53
  12  Haringey Borough                 38   13    9   16   53   74   48
  13  Potters Bar Town                 38   14    5   19   71   77   47
  14  Hoddesdon Town                   38   12    8   18   50   56   44
  15  Holmer Green                     38   12    6   20   59   98   42
  16  Hillingdon Borough               38   11    6   21   63   76   39
  17  Ruislip Manor                    38    9    6   23   47   82   33
  18  Bedford United                   38    8    7   23   38  114   31
  19  Brache Sparta                    38    7    4   27   45  109   25
  20  New Bradwell St Peter            38    3    3   32   25  144   12

[Winslow Boy]

Why on Earth didn’t they take promotion? They must’ve spent a fortune, and if they weren’t going to why bother spending anything!? 45 goals is a brilliant return, where else has or had he played?

[Rhodes]

Winslow Boy - I think London Colney are a Club like Tring Athletic and Harefield United for example who are simply content to play their football at the same level season in season out, they can't be done with the grief and expense that a higher level would bring and Cotlandswick would need a fair amount of money spent on it to meet Step 4 requirements.

[Savagebee]

1 hour ago, Rhodes said:

Winslow Boy - I think London Colney are a Club like Tring Athletic and Harefield United for example who are simply content to play their football at the same level season in season out, they can't be done with the grief and expense that a higher level would bring and Cotlandswick would need a fair amount of money spent on it to meet Step 4 requirements.

That makes sense for a lot of clubs.

[Winslow Boy]

1 hour ago, Rhodes said:

Winslow Boy - I think London Colney are a Club like Tring Athletic and Harefield United for example who are simply content to play their football at the same level season in season out, they can't be done with the grief and expense that a higher level would bring and Cotlandswick would need a fair amount of money spent on it to meet Step 4 requirements.

But then why spend the amount of money to challenge for the title, could spend much less if you’re content to stay in the division and put that money aside. 

[Rhodes]

Winslow Boy - Where does it say London Colney spent lots of money that season or do you know it for a fact as you were playing in the SSML at that time weren't you. I thought that it was the opposite and joint Manager's Mick Wright and Malcolm Doctor worked miracles on a shoe string budget, they had a Brian Clough and Peter Taylor type relationship and in their first season at Cotlandswick in 1999/00 reached both the Challenge Trophy and Premier Division Cup Finals and the last sixteen of the FA Vase, in 2000/01 they were runners up in the League before winning it the season after with Gary Sippetts who was a local lad and I don't expect he was getting paid much, if anything.

[Winslow Boy]

You don’t get 45 goals a season strikers for a mars bar and a packet of pork scratchings (add a pint of lime soda and you have my fee ?)

[Rhodes]

Beaconsfield SYCOB could afford to lose at home to Hillingdon Borough, Holmer Green and Potters Bar Town and still win the 2000/01 Premier Division Championship by seven points from London Colney, they lost only once away from Holloways Park in the League at Brache Sparta, there was however an old fashioned Cup shock in the Challenge Trophy when losing 2-0 to Division One Biggleswade United at Holloways Park in a Second Round tie. Beaconsfield SYCOB were Managed by the excellent Simon Delahunty however were refused promotion at the end of the season due to some issues concerning the ground lease and it wasn't until 2003/04 that the Club left the SSML for the Southern League Division One East when winning the Premier Division again. I believe Roy Gumbs (pictured) was instrumental for them that season, Roy was a former Anguillan international and was at Holloways Park for many years before moving to Slough Town and Flackwell Heath, retiring in 2010 at the age of 41 to move into Coaching. Gumbs last game for Slough Town was against Tring Athletic at Cow Lane on 29 August 2009 in a FA Cup Preliminary Round tie which Slough won 4-0:

SSML Premier Division 2000/2001
   Pos  Name                           Pld    W    D    L   GF   GA  Pts
     1  Beaconsfield S Y C O B           36   28    4    4   80   36   88
   2  London Colney                    36   25    6    5   91   36   81
   3  Potters Bar Town                 36   25    6    5   82   39   78 *
   4  Brook House                      36   22    6    8   64   36   72
   5  Somersett Ambury V & E           36   17    9   10   67   47   60
   6  Holmer Green                     36   18    2   16   58   58   56
   7  Hanwell Town                     36   16    6   14   67   52   54
   8  Hillingdon Borough               36   14   12   10   63   61   54
   9  Brache Sparta                    36   14    7   15   70   78   49
  10  New Bradwell St Peter            36   11   12   13   49   52   45
  11  Hoddesdon Town                   36   13    5   18   54   60   44
  12  Bedford United                   36   11   10   15   49   50   43
  13  St Margaretsbury                 36    9    8   19   45   68   38 *
  14  Biggleswade Town                 36    9    9   18   40   55   36
  15  Ruislip Manor                    36   10    6   20   44   60   36
  16  Milton Keynes City               36    9    7   20   50   79   34
  17  Royston Town                     36    8    9   19   31   60   33
  18  Haringey Borough                 36    6   11   19   33   78   29
  19  Welwyn Garden City               36    6    7   23   25   57   25
      Waltham Abbey                    RECORD EXPUNGED
  * Potters Bar Town -3pts and St Margaretsbury +3pts due to irregularities

[Savagebee]

23 hours ago, Rhodes said:

Beaconsfield SYCOB could afford to lose at home to Hillingdon Borough, Holmer Green and Potters Bar Town and still win the 2000/01 Premier Division Championship by seven points from London Colney, they lost only once away from Holloways Park in the League at Brache Sparta, there was however an old fashioned Cup shock in the Challenge Trophy when losing 2-0 to Division One Biggleswade United at Holloways Park in a Second Round tie. Beaconsfield SYCOB were Managed by the excellent Simon Delahunty however were refused promotion at the end of the season due to some issues concerning the ground lease and it wasn't until 2003/04 that the Club left the SSML for the Southern League Division One East when winning the Premier Division again. I believe Roy Gumbs (pictured) was instrumental for them that season, Roy was a former Anguillan international and was at Holloways Park for many years before moving to Slough Town and Flackwell Heath, retiring in 2010 at the age of 41 to move into Coaching. Gumbs last game for Slough Town was against Tring Athletic at Cow Lane on 29 August 2009 in a FA Cup Preliminary Round tie which Slough won 4-0:

SSML Premier Division 2000/2001
   Pos  Name                           Pld    W    D    L   GF   GA  Pts
     1  Beaconsfield S Y C O B           36   28    4    4   80   36   88
   2  London Colney                    36   25    6    5   91   36   81
   3  Potters Bar Town                 36   25    6    5   82   39   78 *
   4  Brook House                      36   22    6    8   64   36   72
   5  Somersett Ambury V & E           36   17    9   10   67   47   60
   6  Holmer Green                     36   18    2   16   58   58   56
   7  Hanwell Town                     36   16    6   14   67   52   54
   8  Hillingdon Borough               36   14   12   10   63   61   54
   9  Brache Sparta                    36   14    7   15   70   78   49
  10  New Bradwell St Peter            36   11   12   13   49   52   45
  11  Hoddesdon Town                   36   13    5   18   54   60   44
  12  Bedford United                   36   11   10   15   49   50   43
  13  St Margaretsbury                 36    9    8   19   45   68   38 *
  14  Biggleswade Town                 36    9    9   18   40   55   36
  15  Ruislip Manor                    36   10    6   20   44   60   36
  16  Milton Keynes City               36    9    7   20   50   79   34
  17  Royston Town                     36    8    9   19   31   60   33
  18  Haringey Borough                 36    6   11   19   33   78   29
  19  Welwyn Garden City               36    6    7   23   25   57   25
      Waltham Abbey                    RECORD EXPUNGED
  * Potters Bar Town -3pts and St Margaretsbury +3pts due to irregularities

What went wrong at Waltham Abbey FC that season?

[Rhodes]

The 1999/2000 SSML Premier Division campaign was an interesting one that saw Arlesey Town win the Championship by four points from Brook House and were promoted to the then Division Three of the Isthmian League which they duly won the following season scoring a record 138 goals in the process, the SSML Championship win also coincided with the Club's move to Hitchin Road from their previous ground nearby. Dunstable Town won Division One that season, the equivalent of Division Two today, and were unbeaten having only joined the SSML for the first time in 1998/1999 after being re-established, having folded at the end of the 1993/1994 campaign. Potters Bar Town were the top goalscorers that season netting 105 League goals and I gather Leon Archer (pictured) started them off on the right road before moving to Boreham Wood in November, Archer had been a trainee at Tottenham and arrived at Parkfield from Leyton Orient but was soon snapped up by the Meadow Park Club, later joining the likes of Cheshunt, St Albans City, Braintree Town, Chesham United and Burnham in a career where the striker always found the net:

SSML Premier Division 1999/2000

Pos  Name                           Pld    W    D    L   GF   GA  Pts
   1  Arlesey Town                     40   30    3    7   98   45   93
   2  Brook House                      40   27    6    7  102   33   89 *
   3  Beaconsfield S Y C O B           40   26    4   10   87   42   81 #
   4  Potters Bar Town                 40   26    2   12  105   66   80
   5  London Colney                    40   22   12    6   87   38   78
   6  Waltham Abbey                    40   23    4   13   78   64   73
   7  Brache Sparta                    40   19   13    8   85   48   70
   8  Hoddesdon Town                   40   21    7   12   85   55   70
   9  Milton Keynes City               40   21    5   14   80   53   68
  10  Hanwell Town                     40   20    6   14   73   52   66
  11  Royston Town                     40   15    8   17   53   54   53
  12  Ruislip Manor                    40   16    4   20   61   81   52
  13  New Bradwell St Peter            40   12   13   15   65   75   49
  14  Hillingdon Borough               40   14    6   20   56   63   48
  15  Holmer Green                     40   12   10   18   56   92   46
  16  St Margaretsbury                 40   10    9   21   67   93   39
  17  Biggleswade Town                 40    9    7   24   49   73   34
  18  Haringey Borough                 40   10    2   28   56   99   32
  19  Welwyn Garden City               40    6   11   23   49   98   29
  20  Somersett Ambury V & E           40    7    5   28   48  102   26
  21  Harpenden Town                   40    4    3   33   41  155   15
* - Brook House 2 points awarded
# - Beaconsfield SYCOB 1 point deducted

[Rhodes]

How about James Armstrong (pictured) who plied his trade with Aylesbury United, Leverstock Green, Berkhamsted, Kings Langley and Sun Postal Sports/Sun Sports, always netting for fun. He was responsible for Sun Postal Sports winning the Division One Championship in 2013/14 scoring 34 League goals in 29 appearances, the Club's biggest honour since forming in 1901 and they were promoted along with his former Club Kings Langley finishing fifth in the Premier Division the following season with Armstrong again instrumental. Armstrong was very popular at Pancake Lane where I gather he was content to remain for five seasons before moving to Broadwater where he helped the Comrades to the Division Two Championship in 2009/10, scoring 31 times in 17 League games, and the Division One Championship the following season, hitting the net 36 times in 25 League outings before moving to Kings Langley where, despite scoring 71 League goals for them in two seasons the Club weren't promoted until after he had left Gaywood Park for Bellmountwood Avenue. Armstrong did however have a Division One Cup winners medal to show for his time with Kings Langley after they beat Stony Stratford Town 3-1 in the 2012/13 Final at Cow Lane where, surprise surprise, he netted:

[Savagebee]

51 minutes ago, Rhodes said:

 

Forgot about him. A top striker.

[Savagebee]

https://mobile.twitter.com/EdgwareTownFC/status/1261985869717819392/photo/1

[Rhodes]

Do we know where the great Robert Pattwell is these days, here is a photo of him that I took myself when he was plying his trade for Tokyngton Manor not long before being appointed player manager at Welwyn Garden City during the 2010/11 season where he worked tirelessly to stabilise the playing side in Division One of the SSML following relegation from the Premier Division in 2009/10 when the Herns Lane Club were in a state of turmoil both on and off the pitch at that time: 

https://www.walthamstowfc.com/2013/10/14/pattwell-brought-in-as-assistant/

 

[Rhodes]

On ‎30‎/‎03‎/‎2020 at 09:43, Savagebee said:

Lewis Putman the ex Oxhey Jets FC striker smashed in 81 goals for Oxhey Jets FC during the 2012/13 season which attracted the attention of league clubs such as Luton Town FC.

Lewis Putman's last known address was Kings Langley FC where he played 11 games and scored 0 goals

A bit of a journey man now.

I see there was a thread on Lewis Putnam with some YouTube footage of him scoring a hat trick for Slough Town against Histon in August 2015, he is still only 29 years old but, as you say, he has surprisingly been struggling to find the net of late:

 

[Savagebee]

2 hours ago, Rhodes said:

I see there was a thread on Lewis Putnam with some YouTube footage of him scoring a hat trick for Slough Town against Histon in August 2015, he is still only 29 years old but, as you say, he has surprisingly been struggling to find the net of late:

 

I think he was also used as a winger in his time at Slough Town FC.

I've always rated the guy but he has just never settled any where.

He was superb for Hanwell Town FC in his short time at the club 

I keep waiting for him to return home to Oxhey Jets FC ?

[Savagebee]

On 21/03/2020 at 16:58, Savagebee said:

Just a bit of fun ? 

A SSML Legend can be what ever you class to be a SSML Legend?

Ex Holmer Green FC Striker Dean Allen is now playing for Uhlsport Hellenic League Division One East club Penn & Tylers Green FC.

Dean Allen scored 23 goals in 28 games this season.

He's still got it  

[Rhodes]

Here we go folks, only a year after the Spartan League and South Midlands League were merged together in 1997/1998, the format was changed after just one season and the regional sections of both the Premier Division and Division One were merged providing a reduction to just three divisions in 1998/1999, as opposed to the original five. The lower Division's were later restructured for the 2001/02 campaign whereby the old Senior Division became Division One and the old Division One became Division Two and this popular format has remained the same ever since. Barkingside won a very exciting 1998/1999 Premier Division Championship race by just two points from Potters Bar Town with London Colney a further two points adrift, the Oakside (at that time) Club had won the very last Spartan League Championship in 1996/1997, prior to the merger, however on winning the SSML Premier Division title two seasons later they were harshly denied promotion to the Isthmian League and because their requested sideways move to the Essex Senior League was also denied the Club withdrew from senior football for one season and were then able to join the Essex Senior League in 2001/2002. Islington St Mary's, previously Walthamstow St Mary's, also resigned from the SSML at the end of the 1998/1999 campaign, and folded, having only competed in the FA Vase for the first time that season and did well to reach the First Round proper, losing 3-2 at Buckingham Athletic. Legendary Potters Bar Town supremo Ray Kierstenson and his right hand man Micky Darling both stood down and left Parkfield at the end of the campaign, possibly in disappointment of losing such a close run Championship on the last day, Micky Darling (pictured) is sadly no longer with us having passed away in December 2016:

SSML Premier Division 1998/1999

Pos  Name                           Pld    W    D    L   GF   GA  Pts
   1  Barkingside                      44   30    6    8   97   44   96
   2  Potters Bar Town                 44   29    7    8  109   30   94
   3  London Colney                    44   29    5   10   98   28   92
   4  Beaconsfield S Y C O B           44   25    9   10   85   40   84
   5  Brook House                      44   24   11    9   74   42   83
   6  Hoddesdon Town                   44   24    7   13   80   60   79
   7  Toddington Rovers                44   22   12   10   72   48   78
   8  Ruislip Manor                    44   22   10   12   89   60   76
   9  Royston Town                     44   19   11   14   73   62   68
  10  Hillingdon Borough               44   20    9   15   72   61   65 *
  11  Waltham Abbey                    44   16   13   15   79   64   61
  12  Brache Sparta                    44   17    6   21   80   74   57
  13  Arlesey Town                     44   16    8   20   61   70   56
  14  New Bradwell St Peter            44   15   11   18   56   70   56
  15  Buckingham Athletic              44   15    9   20   65  101   54
  16  Milton Keynes City               44   13   10   21   68   88   49
  17  Islington St Mary's              44   11   14   19   55   85   47
  18  Somersett Ambury V & E           44   13    6   25   50  103   45
  19  St Margaretsbury                 44   12   10   22   75   98   43 #
  20  Haringey Borough                 44    9   11   24   49   87   38
  21  Welwyn Garden City               44   10    6   28   63   95   36
  22  Harpenden Town                   44    9    9   26   47   86   36
  23  Brimsdown Rovers                 44    3    6   35   35  136   15
* - Hillingdon Borough 3 points deducted
# - St Margaretsbury 4 points deducted

Edited June 6, 2020 by Rhodes

[Savagebee]

26 minutes ago, Rhodes said:

SSML Premier Division 1998/1999

Pos  Name                           Pld    W    D    L   GF   GA  Pts
   1  Barkingside                      44   30    6    8   97   44   96
   2  Potters Bar Town                 44   29    7    8  109   30   94
   3  London Colney                    44   29    5   10   98   28   92
   4  Beaconsfield S Y C O B           44   25    9   10   85   40   84
   5  Brook House                      44   24   11    9   74   42   83
   6  Hoddesdon Town                   44   24    7   13   80   60   79
   7  Toddington Rovers                44   22   12   10   72   48   78
   8  Ruislip Manor                    44   22   10   12   89   60   76
   9  Royston Town                     44   19   11   14   73   62   68
  10  Hillingdon Borough               44   20    9   15   72   61   65 *
  11  Waltham Abbey                    44   16   13   15   79   64   61
  12  Brache Sparta                    44   17    6   21   80   74   57
  13  Arlesey Town                     44   16    8   20   61   70   56
  14  New Bradwell St Peter            44   15   11   18   56   70   56
  15  Buckingham Athletic              44   15    9   20   65  101   54
  16  Milton Keynes City               44   13   10   21   68   88   49
  17  Islington St Mary's              44   11   14   19   55   85   47
  18  Somersett Ambury V & E           44   13    6   25   50  103   45
  19  St Margaretsbury                 44   12   10   22   75   98   43 #
  20  Haringey Borough                 44    9   11   24   49   87   38
  21  Welwyn Garden City               44   10    6   28   63   95   36
  22  Harpenden Town                   44    9    9   26   47   86   36
  23  Brimsdown Rovers                 44    3    6   35   35  136   15
* - Hillingdon Borough 3 points deducted
# - St Margaretsbury 4 points deducted

Islington St Mary's what became of them?

[Winslow Boy]

I expect Rhodes will know about them. I don’t recall them at all.