Kingsbury Town

Kingsbury Town FC was a non-league football club formed in 1919 in the northwest London suburb of the same name. It quickly adopted the name Davis Sports until taking on the title that lasted until 2006.

That was when a merger created Kingsbury London Tigers, who lasted until 2012, when Kingsbury was dropped from the name as London Tigers went along alone. More of this further down this potted history.

Kingsbury finished as Willesden & District League runners-up in their debut season, going on to win the Division Two title in 1934-35 to move up to the Senior Division. A move followed to the Middlesex League for the 1943-44 campaign as things slowly got back to normal towards the end of World War II.

In 1951-52, Kingsbury became a founder member of the Parthenon League, becoming champions in the second season. A move to the Spartan League followed in 1960-61. Sixth place in 1971-72, repeated twelve months later, being the team's best return in the competition, which became the London Spartan League in 1975-76.

In 1976-77, Kingsbury joined Division Two of the Athenian League, a competition in which the divisions merged the following season. The club decided to return to the London Spartan League in 1977-78, winning promotion to the Premier Division in their first season back.

1981-82 saw another change of competition, returning to the Athenian League, which folded at the end of the 1983-84 season, when Kingsbury joined the Isthmian League and were placed in the third tier Division Two North. A runners-up place in their debut campaign led to promotion to Division One. 

One of the club’s players, Mark Hart, went on to become Chairman of the club during its most successful period in the mid to late 1980’s and he would later return in 2005. During this period the club also, briefly, changed it’s name to Kingsbury 584 FC as part of a sponsorship deal with a local garage. 

1989-90 ended in relegation to Division Two North, later renamed Division Three, and then Division Two again after the reorganisation of non-league football for the 2002-03 season. Four comfortable seasons were spent, finishing twelfth in 2005-06.

My drawing of Silver Jubilee Park, team kits and the club crest.
Feel free to click on the image to enjoy an enlarged version.

At this point, the merger took place. London Tigers, a thriving community club required a home ground to play in senior non-league football, which Kingsbury, who were surviving on double digit attendance figures and an ageing committee, could provide, with Silver Jubilee Park, an ideal venue.

The marriage of convenience upset some traditionalists. The new team played in the Premier Division of the Spartan South Midlands League, as Division Two of the Isthmian League was disbanded. Fifth place in 2008-09 was the best finish achieved by Kingsbury London Tigers.

Brent Council announced that they would not be offering a lease to the club after the 2010-11 season, so the club moved to the Viking Ground at Greenford for the 2011-12 season. Once at Greenford, the Kingsbury part of the name was dropped, with London Tigers FC keeping their place in the league.

Silver Jubilee Park was left unused for several seasons before a new company took over the lease, made huge upgrades, becoming home to Edgware Town, later to become Edgware & Kingsbury FC, and Hendon.

My visits

I originally called in to have a look at the Silver Jubilee Park ground in May 1999 on a days groundhopping in the area. The ground was locked but it was easy to see inside from the massive grass banks and fields that surround the enclosure and are used by the public for recreation.

Kingsbury Town 3 Enfield 4 (Wednesday 23rd November 2004) Isthmian League Cup Second Round (att: 12)

My visit for a game was a last minute decision. I had been catching with an old colleague from Lord's, Martin Charters near his home in Winchmore Hill. We had plentiful drinks and he was going home for tea. I mulled over whether to make the effort or not to go to a Second Round Isthmian League Cup tie. 

I got as far as King's Cross with the beers flowing through my veins when I made the decision to go. I was pushing it as it was around 6.45 already. I got on a Thameslink train to Hendon, where my knowledge told me I could get a bus to the road at the top of the park near the ground. 

I waited ages for a bus and eventually arrived at the ground about ten minutes into the game. There were no programmes, but they had also given up collecting admission fees. I stood and chatted with the Enfield fans. Just what they thought of bumping into a merry Scarborough fan in such circumstances, I dread to think. 

We chatted about the good old days, but when I suggested they merge with Enfield Town FC and slowly become strong again as one club as they once had been, they wanted to change the subject. There was obviously no love lost between the two parties.

The game was a real thriller for those who'd been bothered to turn up. It ended in a 4-3 win for the away side. I remember distinctly the lack of catering as well as programmes as I was very hungry. All in all I had a very good random night out.

Thursday 12th October 2006

I made a second visit to take photos on a damp and miserable afternoon in 2006. Road access to Silver Jubilee Park was from Townsend Lane. Entry to the ground was from a corner of the ground. The near goal to the left had a few steps of terracing with a small cover in the centre. 

A path led around the rest of the ground along with flat grass standing. The far end goal had a couple of steps for spectators which left one side where all the facilities lie. The far half continued as the rest of the ground before a small stand with yellow and black tip up seats stood on the half way line. 

The clubhouse and changing rooms stand behind it and carried on up to the corner flag. Silver Jubilee Park was nothing spectacular as a ground but it had everything required for the standard the club played at, in a pleasant location.

I had no idea of what was to come and the many hours I would spend at the venue in later years.