Lowestoft Town

Lowestoft Town FC is a non-league football club that was formed in 1887 following the merger of Kirkley FC and East Suffolk FC. The club is based in the port and seaside resort of Lowestoft, which is located 110 miles north east from London.

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

Lowestoft Town 0 Harlow Town 1 (Saturday 16^th 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!