Uxbridge F.C.

Uxbridge Football Club was founded in 1871 and the team started playing friendly games, until they made their debut in the FA Cup in 1873.[2] The club folded in 1874, due to financial difficulty and was reformed five years later in 1879.[2] The next 10 years of the club were successful, with the Heron brothers gaining full international caps for England, while playing for the club. In 1886 Uxbridge FC amalgamated with Uxbridge Crescents, and played under this name in the 1886-87 season, but changing back to Uxbridge the following season. The amalgamation also saw the club wear red shirts for the first time, which are still the colours worn today, and the nickname "The Reds" first used.[2]

The club became founder members of the Southern League in 1894, finishing in mid-table in Division Two and reached the final of the FA Amateur Cup in the 1897–98 season, losing to Middlesbrough at Crystal Palace.[3] The club stayed in the Southern league for five seasons, before dropping out for financial reasons to join the Middlesex league.[2] However, they only survived a single season in the Middlesex league before folding again with a debt of £130.[2] After two seasons the club was reformed and they joined the West Middlesex league, two seasons later they joined the Great Western Combination League and remained there until The Great War.[2]

After the First world War they joined the Athenian League. At the end of the 1919–20 season Uxbridge finished second from bottom and were relegated to the Great Western Combination League.[2][4] The club returned to the Athenian League four seasons later and stayed in the league until the 1936–37 season when they failed to be re-elected after finishing bottom of the league twice.[2] The club then moved to the Spartan League, and finished top of the league. However, they were denied the championship, as it was discovered the club had played an ineligible player, so they finished third when six points were deducted. The club then joined the London League the season afterwards and then rejoined the Great Western Combination League during World War II.[2] Uxbridge had played home games at the RAF Uxbridge stadium from 1923 to 1939 but had to play away from home from the 1939-40 season while RAF Uxbridge conducted its historic role in the defence of the United Kingdom.

After the war the club rejoined the London League in the 1945–46 season. Uxbridge returned to the R.A.F. Uxbridge stadium after six years on 11 May 1946 with a 3-0 win in a friendly game against Twickenham.[5] In the 1946-47 season the club joined the Corinthian League, opening with a 2-1 defeat at home against Eastbourne on 31 August 1946.[3][6] However issues with the home ground had not been resolved. At the club's annual meeting on 23 July 1947, President of the club Mr W.S.Try reported that owing to preparations for the 1948 Olympic Games, the R.A.F. stadium would not be always available in the future and next season they would have to pay an increased price for each match there.[7] A new home for Uxbridge was needed and on 17 September 1947 a large house called "Honeycroft" with 4.5 acres of land in Cleveland Road, Cowley (today part of Brunel University) was bought at auction on behalf of the club for £5,800 by Mr Try.[8] The new ground was named after the house, which became the club's main facility.[2] The first home game at Honeycroft was against Yiewsley in the F.A Cup on 4 September 1948 which resulted in a 1-1 draw after extra time.[9]

The 1959–60 season was a particularly successful season with the club being champions of the Corinthian League.[10] The club remained in the Corinthian league, until the end of the 1962–63 season, when as a result of a restructuring of Non-league football the league was disbanded, and were placed in Division one of the Athenian League.

At the end of the 1966–67 season the club was relegated to Division Two, which led to the club facing financial difficulties again and the ground was mortgaged, but they still continued and gained national prominence in 1976 when they met a full-strength England side at Wembley Stadium as part of World Cup preparations. The score: England 8 Uxbridge 0.[11] In 1978 the club bought its current ground in Yiewsley and also called the ground "Honeycroft". The club spent over £170,000 on ground improvements and a 1–1 draw with Arsenal in 1981 saw the official opening of the new floodlights.[2] The 1981–82 season saw the club finish third in the Athenian League and achieve election into the Isthmian League.[12] The club finished second in Division Two South in 1984–85 and gained promotion to Division One, where they remained for twenty years.[3] The first season in Division One was good with the team finishing in 7th place and also reaching the 1st Round proper of the FA Trophy and the Final of the AC Delco Cup in its inaugural year, losing 1–3 to Sutton United.[13] Throughout this period of the late 1960s to late 1980s the club was managed by Ron Clack.[13]

The early 1990s saw George Talbot take to the helm as manager, and over the 15 years under his control the club had varying degrees of success, especially in cup competitions. The first major success during this period was winning the London Challenge Cup in 1994, when, after despatching Southall, Leyton Orient (at Brisbane Road) and Football Conference sides Dagenham & Redbridge and Welling United, the club collected their first major trophy for 12 years.[13] Three years later the London Challenge Cup was lifted again following victories over Collier Row & Romford, St. Albans City, Barking and Leyton Pennant by 1–0 in a final replay after a 3–3 draw at Fulham's Craven Cottage ground.[13] A year later in 1998 the club reached the London Challenge Cup Final again and also the final of the Middlesex Senior Cup, losing to Boreham Wood and Enfield respectively.[13]

1999 saw another appearance in the final of the London Challenge Cup, this time the club losing to Dulwich Hamlet after extra time at Charlton Athletic's ground, and a year later the club made their fourth consecutive appearance in the London Challenge Cup Final, and this time the "Reds" gained their revenge over Dulwich Hamlet, with a 5–4 win on penalties following a 2–2 draw at Dagenham & Redbridge.[14] 2001 saw the club lose their stranglehold on the London Challenge Cup but they were victorious in the Middlesex Senior Cup for the first time in 50 years as they defeated Isthmian Premier neighbours Harrow Borough. The 2003–04 season saw another cup final reached, resulting in a defeat to holders Hendon in the Middlesex Senior Cup.[14]

The 2004–05 season, saw the club moved from the Isthmian league to the Southern league, in the Eastern Division.[3] Their debut in the new league saw them finish in fourth place and a play-off competition for the final promotion place, which Uxbridge lost in the final on penalties at Maldon Town. Before the 2005–06 season the club installed a brand new floodlighting system (up to Football Conference standard). However, poor performances on the pitch saw the departure of George Talbot.[14]

Former Uxbridge player and Northwood manager Tony Choules was appointed as George Talbot's successor.[15] Under his stewardship the club reached the Play-off final in the 2007–08 season where they lost to Oxford City 1–0 in the Play-off Final.[14] The club then switched to Division One Central in the Southern League at the start of the 2010–11 season and in the 2011–12 season they finished Fourth qualifying for the Play-offs, but lost 2–1 to Bedworth United in the semi-final.[16]The club did, however, win back to back Middlesex Charity Cup's in 2013 and 2014. After thirteen years in charge of the club, Choules stepped aside in May 2019. His replacement was former Chalfont St Peter boss Danny Edwards.[17]

Uxbridge play their games at Honeycroft, Horton Road, Yiewsley, West Drayton UB7 8HX.

The ground used to be a former works Sports & Social Club, and was named "Honeycroft" after their former ground.[2] It has been designated as a 'C' Grade stadium.[14]

As of May 2019 [19]

[20]

• Best league performance: 4th in Southern League Eastern Division, 2004–05 & Southern League Division One Central, 2011–12[3]
• Best FA Cup performance': Second round, 1873–74[3]
• Best FA Amateur Cup performance: Final, 1897–98[3]
• Best FA Trophy performance: Second round, 1998–99, 1999–2000, 2000–01, 2008–09[3]
• Best FA Vase performance: Fourth round, 1983–84[3]

General

• Uxbridge at the Football Club History Database

Specific

• Official website