Hanwell Town

Hanwell Town is a non-league football club based in Perivale, West London. The club were formed in 1920 by a group of natives of Newcastle upon Tyne who moved to the capital for work, hence the clubs black and white kit and their nickname of 'The Geordies'.

Town started off playing in the London League but moved to more local football after the Second World War. The club played their home games at the Ealing Central Sports Ground from the beginning on the 60s. 

In 1970 the club progressed to the Middlesex League and then the Spartan League by the early 80s as Town moved into their new Reynolds Field home. By 1989 they had installed floodlights. When the Spartan League amalgamated in 1998, the Geordies became founder members of the Spartan South Midlands League.

When non league football was re-organised in 2006, Town were placed in the new Southern League Division One South and West. Their spell lasted just one season before they returned back to the SSML.

Hanwell regrouped over a period of a few seasons and went on to be crowned as Spartan South Midlands League champions in 2013-14 under manager Ray Duffy to earn a return to the Southern League.

Duffy stood aside following a seventh place finish in Division One Central; which the highest place that the club had ever finished in the non-league pyramid. Phil Granville took over and led the side to an unprecedented FA Cup third qualifying round tie. Despite that achievement the league form was less than impressive. 

Granville was replaced by Duffy who stepped up for a third spell at the helm. He saved the side from relegation before leading them to a mid table finish in 2016-17. The 2018-18 campaign proved another tough one with Town again just surviving the drop.

A new joint manager partnership of Wayne Carter and Chris Moore arrived from Egham Town to take over team affairs in the summer of 2018, with Duffy being made an honorary life member of the club in recognition of his thirty year involvement.

Non-league football was restructured, with Hanwell being placed in the Isthmian League South Central Division where they finished eighth in 2018-19 before sitting in second place when the 2019-20 campaign was ended early owing to the Coronavirus pandemic.

The Geordies continued to make improvements to their excellent home stadium and reached the playoffs in 2021-22, defeating Bedfont Sports and then Chertsey Town to reach the Premier Division of the Southern League. The beaten finalists appointed Carter as their manager, leaving Moore in sole charge at Hanwell.

A midtable finish was followed by a fine late season run of form in 2023-24 to secure their step 3 status.

Hanwell Town FC will compete in the Southern League Premier Division South in the 2024-25 season.

My visits

Friday 20th October 2006

I had a day off from work so I decided to head to West London and visit some new grounds. I had been to AFC Hayes and took a bus and then tube to Perivale station. Within a few minutes I was outside the gates of Reynolds Field.

The ground was looking at its best for Southern League football, having had several recent upgrades. The entrance was by a corner flag. Behind the nearest goals was a long cover with a few steps. 

Opposite me was a fine looking clubhouse and changing room block on two stories. Alongside it was a seated stand. The rest of the ground consisted of open grass and hard standing. Practice pitches were between the far side stands and the nearby Western Avenue.

I wandered off and went to next destination, North Greenford United.

Hanwell Town 0 Haringey Borough 3 (Tuesday 30th August 2011) Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division (att: 52)

My brother Nick was down to stay for a couple of nights as he had work in London, so I thought it was about time he saw a game at this level. After looking through the fixtures and considering facilities and travelling times, a visit to Reynolds Field seemed to be the best option.

We had tea and then headed off. The first snag was a hold up on the tube. We eventually got to Wembley Park and before long we were on board the 297 bus. Unfortunately this hit heavy traffic around Wembley High Road and then Alperton, although it did offer siome potential future eating places. 

We jumped out at Perivale station and cut across the fields to the A40 only to see our bus go down the road by the side of the ground. At least it would make the homeward journey convenient.

My first impression was that someone was working hard at the the club selling advertising, as plenty of the high fencing enclosing the ground was offering various services. We walked around the ground to find the entrance at the far side of the car park by the clubhouse.  Admission was £6 which included a decent programme, which represented good value.

How looks can deceive. The clubhouse was functional but it didn't live up to its distant appearance. The stock behind the bar was limited owing to them missing their delivery because of the Bank Holiday. 

We settled for a can of Fosters each at a very reasonable price and sat to read the programme. There appeared to be several other groundhoppers about. The SSML used their common sense by placing all their games midweek instead of on Monday like most other leagues.

The match itself saw a good performance from the visitors. It was pretty even for first half hour until a visitors full back scored a stunning volley. I got into the action with a header after a ball was cleared near us. It bloody hurt! 

Hanwell weren't bad but they were missing a cutting edge and indeed a sitter later in the half. The defence concentrated a bit much on moaning at the linesman instead of playing to the whistle. The second came when a player came through and finished to the bottom corner despite complaints he was offside.

We had a bottle of Bud at halftime (I said that the stock was limited!) and it was nice to see MP Stephen Pound there supporting his local club and mixing with the fans. There looked to be a decent tea/snack bar inside the clubhouse.

Hanwell tried to get back into it in the second half but Haringey always looked more threatening on the break. There was some good  football from both sides and it was so nice to see most of it on the deck. 

The home side got a lifeline when the referee gradually lost control and started to give decisions to whoever shouted loudest gave a penalty, but the keeper pulled off a brilliant save. The third goal came from a powerful solo run and a great finish. That somed up Boro's performance. They were more incisive and generally quicker going forward.


We left a few minutes before full time, and not to beat the crowds as Nick joked. The bus stop allowed a view of the far end of the pitch and we saw the ref signal the end of the game just as our bus arrived. 

We were inside Wetherspoons at Kingsbury having a nightcap by 10.20. Nick enjoyed the evening, which I took as a reasonable gauge, as I know I have a high level of tolerance of the standard of football I sometimes see.

As a footnote, the SSML committee deserved some credit. There were some excellent crowds around the league on the evening.

Southall 2 Codicote 0 – Abandoned at half time (Wednesday 18^th December 2013) Spartan South Midlands League Division One (att: approx 30)

Hanwell were landlords to Southall for several stations. To read and see pictures from this rather damp evening out, click here.

London Tigers 5 Edgware Town 0 (Wednesday 22^nd March 2017) Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division (att: 30)

To read about this match played as a Tigers 'home' game and to view images, click here.

Hanwell Town 1 Lowestoft Town 0 (Saturday 22^nd September 2018) FA Cup Second Qualifying Round (att: 155)

This visit to Reynold’s Field was not on the cards the evening before the game, as I was preparing to be manning the car park for the FA Cup clash between Hendon and Phoenix Sports. I was at work at 9.30pm when I got a call from Dons secretary Daz Bloor.

The game was postponed as it was alleged that Phoenix had fielded an ineligible player in their victory over Lancing in the previous round. We had to wait for the outcome from the FA. I met Steve Barnes after work for beers to discuss our options.

Hanwell won our vote, mainly as I had to head off straight to work at full time, and it was the easiest for me to get from. It also offered the change of a minor giant killing between clubs a division apart who were in different leagues.

It was a wet early afternoon as we met and took the tube to Wembley Park. Crowds were already building for the Joshua v Povetkin fight at the stadium that evening. I had to laugh when I saw a punter wearing a half and half scarf for the bout. Is that what we’d got to!

The 297 bus took us all the way to the ground. Admission was £8, with a decent programme costing a quid. We also both had a go on the 50/50 draw for a further pound before heading to the vibrant clubhouse.

It was just a cup of tea for me as we studied the surroundings. The pitch was in brilliant nick and even had a newly installed sprinkler system. There was a new electric scoreboard on the far side and the ground had been tidied up; no doubt with the help of the sponsors as the venue was now officially called The Powerday Stadium.

The rain was still falling quite steadily, so we took up a place under the cover behind the goal near to an eccentric home fan and an official taking the photos. We were treated to a fine fast paced cup tie with no quarter given from either side.

Aaron Bufton kept out an early effort in the Hanwell goal from Kieron Higgs, before the hosts pressed forward. My early thoughts were that the stronger looking Trawlermen would come out on top, but one goal would probably settle things.

Louis Bircham burst through for Hanwell on fifteen minutes but was denied by Elvijs Putnins, from which the rebound fell to Harvey Killeen who saw his shot hit the opposite post. The Geordies continued to pour forward with Bircham and Olly Duffy going close to breaking the deadlock.

The visitors in all blue then had a good period with Conor McKendry forcing Bufton into a fine stop after a mazy run. The keeper did well to tip over a shot from the same player before Harry Tamplin blocked an effort from Lowestoft’s Josh Curry.

The half ended as Bufton was again called into action to keep out Calum Duffy. The 50/50 draw saw Steve just one number out after he’d won £30 on it at Harrow Borough a few days earlier! Unfortunately, I’d bought the ticket before rather than after him!

Bufton continued to earn his keep immediately after the restart, saving from Adam Smith. The game was end to end and thoroughly entertaining. Ben Fowkes fired wide for the visitors when well placed.

Hanwell’s management team showed their intent with two attacking substitutions. Half chances continued to be created at both ends on the immaculate playing surface, but the game looked destined for a replay.

However, the winner was to come five minutes from full time. A deep cross from Jack Waldren saw keeper Putnins go up with forward Gareth Chendlik. The ball fell to the ever dangerous Harvey Killeen who slotted into the unguarded net from close range.

The crowd was split around 50/50, with a few groundhoppers in situ including some Norwich City fans close to us who were taking in the game before cheering on the Canaries at QPR. Those cheering on the hosts were ecstatic with the goal.

Lowestoft did their utmost to salvage a draw, but Hanwell’s defence held firm, though they had a scare in stoppage time as a Matt Brown shot went just wide of the post. There were delirious scenes shortly after, not least at the £9,000 prizemoney.

We caught the 297 in the nick of time and I jumped off at Alperton to head to work before meeting up again for beers later to round off an unexpected but excellent day.

Hendon 1 Brentford B 0 - after extra time (Monday 14^th September 2020) 2019-20 London Senior Cup Final (att: 400)

Excitement was in the air. Many of the regulations from the first COVID-19 pandemic had been lifted and we were eventually going to see the final of the previous season’s London Senior Cup.

The London FA had chosen an excellent venue for both clubs, so with the £10 tickets purchased online for several mates I met up with Steve Barnes at Kingsbury station on a lovely early evening knowing I had the following day off work.

We headed to The Moon on the Hill at Harrow where the ales were cheap and in fantastic nick before heading round the corner where our pal Lee Cousins gave us a lift with another couple of chaps down to the ground.

We were in good time, so we headed to the clubhouse, who were doing a roaring trade with not too much social distancing in hindsight if truth be told. People were just happy to be reconnected with friends and if it was all OK under government rules, then people would naturally have fun.

Outside fans genuinely tried to spread out around the pitch, which looked immaculate. Reynolds Field seemed to improve slightly every time I went. It was a pleasure to be in attendance.

It was obvious from the off that Hendon were in for a tough examination against the youngsters of Brentford who had won the Middlesex Senior Cup in fine style the previous season. The were quick and well drilled by coach Neil MacFarlane.

The Bees dominated early possession with Aaron Pressley seeing a header from a corner blocked on the line while the Dons had occasional counter attacks mainly led by the dangerous Shaun Lucien.

Tommy Brewer and Eddie Oshodi were outstanding at the back for the Greens as they limited their professional opponents to half chances and shots from range from which Jonathan North was equal to an effort from Paris Maghoma.

Maghoma fired a free kick over after the restart while Joe Adams was proving a constant threat but saw his shooting opportunity go wide. Up the other end Dwade James was putting in a selfless display trying to relieve the pressure as he was well marshalled by Bees defenders.

Brentford fielded several triallists in their ranks, one of whom turned well on the edge of the box before seeing his shot go agonisingly wide from a deflection from a teammate with North well beaten.

Just before the end of normal time Lucien broke away but saw his shot go across keeper Ellery Balcombe and wide of the post. The match went to extra time, which was not high on Hendon’s wish list. Their squad was already threadbare with an opening league match at Salisbury just five days away.

The hot conditions added to the intensity. North made a good double save soon into the extra period to deny Pressley and then Adams before skipper Brewer put in a superb tackle to stop Pressley who looked set to fire on goal.

It looked for all money that the cup would go all the way to penalties until the decisive moment arrived with eight minutes left on the clock. James cleverly cut inside Kane O’Connor who brought him down.

The referee, who had been more than fair towards Brentford throughout, pointed to the spot. Lucien stepped up to slide the ball past Balcombe to put the Dons ahead. We had a bit of extra, extra time when the far side linesman pulled a muscle and had to be replaced by the fourth official.

Hendon showed plenty of professionalism of their own as they hung on. In the last action a corner into their box saw keeper Balcombe, Pressley and Tristan Crama all go for a loose ball which ended narrowly wide of the post.

Moments later, the man in the middle blew his whistle to signal ecstatic celebrations on and off the pitch as Brewer lifted the huge trophy. Sharpness and pretty play had been overcome by determination and nous.

We were soon in the car and heading back to Harrow to enjoy a few beers to round off a wonderful night.