In 1990 the
club changed their title to Lowestoft Town FC, joining Norfolk & Suffolk
League as founder members in 1897. Town went on to become champions of that
competition in 1897-98 and 1898-99.
In 1899-00
the team reached the final of the FA Amateur Cup before losing the final 5-1
against Bishop Auckland at Leicester. Further Norfolk & Suffolk League
titles followed in 1900-01, 1901-02, 1902-03 and 1903-04 as well as reaching
the Amateur Cup semi-final in 1903.
Lowestoft
reached the first round of the FA Cup in 1926-26; where they went down 10-1 at
Vicarage Road to Watford. Two more championships arrived at Crown Meadow in
1928-29 and 1930-31 before the club switched to the Eastern Counties League
after merging with another incarnation of Kirkley FC.
The Eastern
Counties League title was shared with Harwich & Parkeston in their debut
season before winning it outright in 1937-38. The following season saw a second
appearance in the first round of the FA Cup; where they were defeated 6-0 away
to Swindon Town.
A golden
period arrived at the club following the decision to turn semi-professional in
1962, as the Eastern Counties League was won in 1964-65, 1965-66 and 1966-67
with Town also reaching the FA Cup first round before bowing out 2-1 at
Brisbane Road to Orient.
The team
reached the same stage the following season to play Watford; who left Crown
Meadow with a 1-0 victory. Consolation came with a fourth consecutive league
title. Lowestoft went on to also win the league in 1969-70 and 1970-71.
A couple of
runners-up berths followed before ‘The Trawler Boys’ collected the league and
League Cup double in 1977-78; which coincided with another FA Cup first round
appearance, which finished in a 2-0 home defeat to Cambridge United.
In 1980 a nineteen
year old local lad signed for the club, who was to figure prominently in the
affairs of the club for the next thirty plus years. Micky Chapman soon became a
favourite with his all action style and eye for the goal, before becoming
player-manager in 1994.
Lowestoft
continued to finish in the top half of the Eastern Counties League before
winning their eleventh title in 2005-05. The 2007-08 season would see the team
go on a magnificent FA Vase run all the way to Wembley under joint-managers Chapman
and Ady Gallagher.
Victories
against Desborough Town, Rye United, Blackstones, Dunston Federation, Concord
Rangers and Whitley Bay led to Town taking on Kirkham & Wesham; the club
that would later become AFC Fylde who won the match 2-1.
The
following season saw Lowestoft reach the Vase semi-final, where they were
knocked out by Whitley Bay. The season ended with the side winning the Eastern
Counties League and being promoted to Division One North of the Isthmian
League.
The 2009-10
debut season in new surroundings also saw another FA Cup first round appearance;
with Town losing out 1-0 away to Wrexham, before being promoted to the Premier
Division after winning the Division One North title.
Lowestoft’s
momentum continued as they reached the play-offs in 2010-11; defeating Bury
Town before losing 4-3 away to Tonbridge Angels in the final. Town competed
again in the 2011-12 play-offs; this time beating Wealdstone before losing the
final away to AFC Hornchurch.
The 2012-13
campaign saw Lowestoft finish as Premier Division runners-up; from where they defeated
East Thurrock United before going down 2-1 at the Crown Meadow to Concord
Rangers in the final of the play-offs.
The club and
team were not to be denied. In 2013-14 they took part in the play offs once
more; coming away victorious from Bognor Regis Town before defeating AFC
Hornchurch 3-0 at home to seal promotion to Conference North.
Despite
having to put up with prohibitive travel distances, the team finished their
debut season in sixteenth position at which point the club said farewell to
retiring club legend Micky Chapman.
After 32
years, 480 first team appearances, 193 goals, 1640 games and 147,600 plus
minutes as a player, player/manager and then manager during that time, it was
the end of an era for a figure who will forever be etched in the history of
Lowestoft Town FC.
The league
was retitled the National League North
for the following season, with. Lowestoft being relegated in 2015-16 to return
to the Isthmian League Premier Division. A mid table finish was completed in
the 2016-17 campaign.
Lowestoft
Town will play in the Isthmian League Premier Division in the 2017-18 season.
My visit
My visit
Lowestoft
Town 0 Harlow Town 1 (Saturday 16th September 2017) FA Cup Second
Qualifying Round (att: 395)
As soon as
the replays were concluded in the following round I set about choosing my
location for the next stage of the world’s greatest football knock out
competition. A trip to Scarborough was far too expensive.
Hendon were
knocked out in their replay away to Wingate & Finchley, so I decided to
look for a venue that was affordable and ideally, one I’d never previously
visited. Some calculations on the Trainline App threw up Lowestoft. While it
was quite a long journey, the day return ticket was only £20.
It was my
day off after working late shift, so I didn’t get a fantastically long sleep. I
headed to Liverpool Street for a bite to eat before settling into the
comfortable East Anglia Trains service to Norwich; where I changed for the
thirty minute ride to the coast.
The weather
was behaving as we passed some attractive little villages on the Norfolk Broads
before reaching the destination. It was only 11.30am so I decided a walk over
the bridge to visit the home of Kirkley & Pakefield FC was in order. It can
be viewed here.
Arriving
back in town, wet but well exercised, I double checked my App to confirm my pre
match destination. The town was a bit of a mixture. South of the river and
harbour was touristy and old fashioned. The north was more industrial and
residential with the main shopping area being located around London Road North.
I walked up
the main street and got the impression that the town was not very prosperous.
Like many other ports in the UK, Lowestoft had suffered from the decline in the
fishing industry and other associated trades around the harbour.
The road
gradually went uphill and changed to High Street around the old market area. I found
the Triangle Tavern and immediately felt at home in the excellent old school
pub; which was the tap for the Green Jack Brewery.
The pleasant
young lady behind the bar gave me small tasters of lots of the eight beers on
hand pump. All were in top condition and very reasonably priced. An old boy got
chatting and sat with me as I sampled a fine pint of session strength Canary
Pale Ale.
I really
enjoy meeting people and having a chat and have no objection to learning from
locals and older people; but this fella really did go on. I learned the history
of the brewery, relationship fall outs, all about the pubs of Norwich and the
history of beer in the area.
It made me
drink faster if nothing else; as new punters kept coming in and also feeling
the benefit of this gents’ knowledge. Meanwhile I enjoyed a beautiful pint of
Orange Wheat Beer and the Rising Sun Pale Ale before finishing off with the
belting Lurcher Stout.
The back
room in the pub had a pool table, a decent juke box and some real characters.
In hindsight that would have been a bit more fun, but on the other hand the old
fella had been most helpful and was no doubt glad of the chat.
The walk to
the ground took less than ten minutes before I arrived outside. I was taking a
couple of snaps when an eccentric local proclaimed “Ahh, you’ve come to see the
famous Crown Meadow.” He wasn’t on his own in terms of character.
Admission
was £11, with the programme a couple of quid extra. I needed a bite to eat; so
the proper sausage hot dog, tea and slice of sweet mincemeat tart was just the
ticket for £2.60. The timing was perfect, as the teams entered the pitch as I
tucked in.
The Amber
Dew Events Stadium; as Crown Meadow been retitled in a sponsorship deal, was a
proper non-league town centre ground. The far goal had a small cover behind it,
with open standing either side, and additional space behind it for further
works if ever required. The opposite end was a thin strip of open standing
hemmed in by housing.
The Main
Stand was a raised seating tier set back from the pitch, with a covered
standing area alongside. The clubhouse stood next to the turnstiles with a
cabin selling souvenirs in front of it. A brick changing room and office block
stood at the other side of the seats.
The final
side was an open strip of standing with the substitute benches and a tall thin
building, similar to those used for bird watching, which provided protection
for those filming and commentating on the match.
As usual I
wandered about so I could take in the match from different angles while I took
my photos. It immediately became apparent that the game was unlikely to be a
classic, but it was full of passion as both clubs searched for a win to
progress in the competition as well as collecting some valuable prize money.
The hosts
had the majority of the opening exchanges but failed to carve out any clear cut
chances before the visiting Hawks got into the game and had an effort from
Craig Pope saved by Trawler Boys keeper Ben Dudzinski.
Lowestoft
should really have gone into the lead after half an hour when Jake Reed found
Callum White with a fine cross, but the forward fired over from an acute angle.
A couple of minutes later the fractious encounter reached boiling point.
Harlow
winger Nigel Neita put in a late challenge on White; which referee Paul Burnham decided was worthy of a straight red card once the ensuing melee had calmed
down, as all players got involved in pushing and shoving by the benches.
Some middle
aged local fans of both sexes in
the side covered standing; who could definitely be labelled as ‘characters’,
classily came out with a chorus of “You Dirty Pikey Bastards” in the direction
of the Essex visitors, without the slightest hint of irony.
The ten men
of Harlow pushed forward, with Jared Small having a shot going wide and Alex
Read seeing his effort saved. It was abundantly clear that goals were going to
be at a premium as the half came to an end.
At the
interval I had a look inside the busy clubhouse, but I decided against another
pint. I’d struggled enough to keep my concentration and stay awake with my lack
of sleep and fine lunchtime drink. I opted for Bovril instead.
I decided to
take a seat at the front of the Main Stand for the second half as good news
that Scarborough had gone ahead in their tie came through. Lowestoft again
looked to take the lead with Reed firing wide.
The rain had
returned and the skiddy pitch didn’t help the quality on show. Travis Cole saw
a header tipped over the bar by Hawks custodian Ben McNamara before the
visitors took the lead as Tommie Fagg scored with a fine shot from twenty
yards.
Lowestoft
poured forward trying to make their one man advantage count. Harvey Hodd was
put through but he failed to beat McNamara. Rory McAuley then headed over the
bar, before McNamara kept out Ross Jarvis.
As the game
entered injury time Cole lost his composure and let his frustrations boil over
as he was sent off for a late challenge on McNamara. A minute or two later the
Harlow fans celebrated, firing off their air raid sirens in customary fashion.
It just
wasn’t to be for Lowestoft. They hadn’t played well enough, and Harlow had
defended with determination. Neither side wanted to give way in the physical
stakes, which led to the poor spectacle.
On leaving
the ground I followed the recommendation of the bloke in the Triangle Tavern and
wandered through the terraced streets to find the vibrant Stanford Arms. Some
of those in the previous pub had made their way round and looked like they’d
had a good sample!
My pint of
pale ale was fine, if a little on the watery side for my palate. The award
winning boozer was busy for a Saturday tea, and had twelve ales on offer. Sadly
I didn’t have time to hang around.
I continued
downhill towards the station. I couldn’t decide whether house walls were
especially thin in the town, or people shouted a lot? It was fair to say that
the area had not suffered from gentrification.
Once again
the tip from the Triangle fella turned out to be bang on, as the fish and chips at
the Dolphin take away were excellent; especially for a lover of crispy chips and
batter. I enjoyed my meal on the train towards Ipswich.
The journey
took ninety minutes; not that I knew much about it. I was in the land of nod
until we arrived and I had to change trains to the London service. I got home
in time to see the finale of the England v West Indies T20 cricket before bed.
It’s been a
good day out, even if the match had disappointed. I know it would have been
better than sitting in the cold at the cricket in the bitter cold of Chester le
Street at 10.15 at night!
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