Stones on Boxing

WEALDSTONE v SLOUGH & OXFORD CITY BY MARTIN READ WORLD OF BALL It’s quite something to consider our Christmas encounters against Hendon over So here it the years. On Boxing Day itself, in the years between 1928 to 1964, two full generations of Stones supporters saw us win six but lose on no fewer than 13 occasions, scoring 33 but is! Stones on conceding 59. It must have been quite the competitive occasion, with just one Boxing Day draw between the clubs in all that time. And when you’re talking Hendon at Boxing Day Christmas, you also have to factor in that we played on Christmas Day itself on 34 occasions - with Hendon, in all three forms oxing Day! A tremendous sport- as Hendon, Golders Green and Hampstead ing tradition. It’s one of those rare Town - the opposition for pretty much all of occasions, like all the big England those games. Only Hertford Town (1926) and Bgames, in which football becomes “THE Harrow Weald (1920) have ever provided us football” - as in, ‘you’ll be going to The with different opposition on Christmas Day Football this afternoon, then?’). Normally Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas itself - and we absolutely destroyed Hertford it’s simply “are you watching any football 16-2 on Christmas Day 1926. this weekend?” Bank holidays and interna- one and all… From 1928 through to 1970 we played tional tournaments, it seems, demand the the Dons in 32 Christmas Day encounters, definite article. And that extra 24 hours between merriment winning 10, drawing 10 and losing 12, while It is, of course, illegal for football support- 1921, when we won by 6 goals to 2. The four and match day has made the world of differ- scoring 84 and conceding 72 in the process. ers not to attend their club’s Boxing Day goal winning margin margin was matched in ence to Wealdstone in the past, with two our Just think about that: if it’s Christmas, it’s the clash if they’re playing at home. And because our game against Harrow Borough in 2007 best ever Christmas period performances Auld Green Enemy yet again. We think clubs the fixtures computer typically spits out local (5-1), in the 4-0 defeat of Crawley Town coming on just such a Christmas Bank Holi- like Borough and Barnet are our derby hates; derbies at this time of year, even away fans (1989) and again against Borough by four day Monday. Many here today will remember imagine just how integral a role in the life of a are pretty much obliged to attend. In theory, clear goals, 4-0 here in 2011. our simply brilliant 6-0 trouncing of Barnet Wealdstone supporter Hendon FC played at what this means is that Stones vs. Slough The most scoringest Boxing Day draw was way back in 1982 as we were acclimatising Christmas time. should be a cracker today. the 4-4 home match against Fisher Athletic to our newly returned status in the National In most seasons through But I digress. This spread is all about our during the first of our two seasons as (cough League Premier (then called the 1940s and 1950s club’s illustrious Boxing Day history, with a cough) co-owners of Vicarage Road back in Gola League). More recently, we played Hendon (they few other festive facts and figures thrown 1991. we beat Harrow Borough, “In most seasons changed their name from in. (Yeah, spoiling you. Happy numbering You may be surprised to read that today’s also by 6-0, on 27th Decem- Golders green in 1946) on Christmas.) game represents just the 60th time we’ve ber 2008. That game was Christmas Day and on either First up, this is the first time we’ve played a Boxing Day fixture, despite our played on a Saturday, and in through the 1940s Boxing Day or the 27th faced Slough Town on Boxing Day. 116 seasons of competitive football. total we’ve played 13 of our December. What’s surprising We can go into today’s game Our 26th December record, in total, 27 games on 27th Decem- and 1950s we is how rarely either club won against them with some confi- reads as follows: Played 59, Won ber on a Saturday. I know, both of these festive derbies. dence, on the basis that we are 21, Drawn 12, Lost 25. Goals scored I know. And yet here I am We only managed the feat of unbeaten in our last eleven Box- 101, Goals conceded 114. carrying on. played Hendon at beating them home and away ing Day clashes, a run that began But there’s a bit more to those at Christmas 1945 (in their with our memorable dismantling numbers than meets the eye. Specifi- Hendon and on Christmas: first season as Hendon FC); of Harrow Borough in the Isthmian cally, it doesn’t include the many games Because here’s a thing: Hen- typically we’d win or draw at League Premier Division back in 2005 we’ve played on 27th December, when don have provided our Boxing Day opposition home and then lose at theirs the next day; and has since included another three games Boxing Day either fell on a Sunday (and thus on no fewer than fifteen occasions, a figure indeed it’s striking that on Christmas Day against Borough, again trouncing them 5-1 meant no football on religious grounds) or which includes our games against them when we were at home to Hendon for all but three in 2007, slapping them 4-0 here in 2011 and when the 26th December was a soccer no- they were still called Golders Green FC, and occasions; Wealdstone vs. Hendon - specifi- drawing rather forgettably (0-0) at their place go for other reasons. even earlier when they were Hampstead cally that fixture - was played on Christmas a year later. Where Boxing Day has fallen on a Sunday, Town FC. Indeed, our 2-9 (!) defeat at their Day in every consecutive season between Our best ever Boxing Day performance? the match that would have been played on place in 1942, and 0-6, again at theirs in 1942 and 1959. As reliable a component of That depends on your preferred metrics: in that day has instead been played on a spe- 1934, represent our worst ever Boxing Day Christmas Day as the turkey, tinsel and plum terms of widest margin, it’s our game away to cial ‘Bank Holiday Monday’, 27th December. performances, both coming against the club duff. Anyway, that’s enough stats - have a His Majesty’s Stationery Office Press FC in in their ‘Golders Green’ form. great festive break! OXFORD CITY WEALDSTONE v OXFORD CITY stadium, a superb joint effort by Committee, supporters, sponsors and the landlords, CITY FACTS Oxford City Council. City’s first match on the GROUND - Court Place Farm new pitch was a 3-1 win over neighbours CAPACITY - 2,000 Oxford United in front of 1,800 spectators. The 1994/95 season was doubly MANAGER - Mark Jones 2017/18 - National League South 16th The 1994/95 season was doubly successful, with the club making history by successful, with the club making history by reaching the final of the FA Vase at Wembley reaching the final of the FA Vase at Wembley Stadium. They lost 2-1, but were consoled by had an excellent FA Cup run through to the Stadium. They lost 2-1, but were consoled by promotion into Division 1 of the Isthmian 1st Round Proper for the first time in twenty promotion into Division 1 of the Isthmian League. The 1995/96 season saw a gripping years. The memorable cup run was ended at League. The 1995/96 season saw a gripping finale as they pipped Heybridge Swifts to the League club Burton Albion by a cruel last minute winner by the home team after City had www.wfcmegastore.co.uk finale as they pipped Heybridge Swifts to the Championship, and so City had regained a Championship, and so City had regained a place in the top flight of the league after 16 performed so well and taken an early lead place in the top flight of the league after 16 years. against the full time professionals. Major years. This success lasted two years before success returned in season 2011/12 in the This was the start of a golden era, with relegation to Division 1 in 1998. There they form of another good FA Cup run and Amateur Cup Final appearances in 1903, stayed until the Pyramid restructuring in 2004 promotion to the club’s highest ever level. After 1906 and 1913, the first and last ending in took them into the Southern League Division excellent away victories City finally went out of defeat after replays. 1906 was the pinnacle of 1. Finding adjustment difficult, City were the FA Cup at home to Redbridge having success, City beating Bishop Auckland 3-0 in relegated into the South Midlands League, but earned a replay in the 1st Round proper. In the a snowstorm. In the following season City showed determination in bouncing back at the league City claimed runners up position and again reached the 1st Round of the FA Cup, first attempt, into Division 1 South and West of home advantage in the play-offs confirming losing 3-0 at home to 1st Division side Bury. the Southern League. promotion with a 4-2 victory in the final over City joined the Isthmian League in 1907, Cup success has been limited in recent AFC Totton in front of a home crowd of nearly finishing runners-up in 1934/35 and again in years other than when City again reached the 1300.

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