Welwyn
Garden City FC, originally formed in 1921, is a non-league football club from
the new town located twenty miles north of London of the same name, initially playing
in friendly matches.
The club
joined the Mid-Hertfordshire League in the summer of 1922, playing matches at
Parkway before moving to the Bedfordshire & District League for the 1926-27
season and then the Spartan League.
The club
amalgamated with Shredded Wheat FC in July 1934, which suited both parties. Welwyn
were struggling financially, while the Spartan League were not admitting any
further works teams.
The Shredded
Wheat name was continued as the side played in the South Midlands League, while
Welwyn became the first team in the Spartan League while using Wheat’s ground.
In 1934-35 the team finished third in the Spartan League Division 2 East.
However,
they were forced to resign from the league at the AGM as the Wheat committee
withdrew the use of the ground and Parkway wasn’t up to the required standard.
The club was wound up in July 1935 consequently.
In May 1937
the Shredded Wheat company invited a re-formed City back to their ground in Broadwater
Road with the new club gaining admission back into the Spartan League. After a
debut season the club moved to share with Murphy Radio FC at Handside Playing
Fields.
The local
council found the club a new home in Springfield for the 1939-40 season, which
was truncated owing to World War Two. After the conflict, ‘The Citizens’
competed in the Mid-Hertfordshire League before returning to the Spartan League.
The club
joined the London League in 1950-51 for three seasons before another return to the
Spartan League under the management of former England goalkeeper Harry Hibbs. Welwyn
dropped down to the Hertfordshire County League after a poor 1958-59 campaign.
A move to a
new ground at Herns Way was made during the county league period of the 1960’s,
before the Welwyn returned to the London League in 1970 and then becoming
founder members of the Metropolitan London League.
In 1973 the
club merged with Welwyn Garden United FC to form Welwyn Garden FC, taking over
United’s place in the South Midlands League for the 1973-74 season, going on to
win the Premier Division at the first attempt.
Welwyn
Garden United reformed as a new club in the summer of 1975 to play in the Hertfordshire
County League while Welwyn Garden were relegated to Division One of their
competition in 1976-77.
Welwyn
Garden added City back to their title in 1981 with the change bringing luck,
with the team lifting the Division One title and regaining their Premier
Division slot. John Sneddon had a spell as manager before finishing as league
runners-up in 1985-86 under Ray Sullivan.
Local and
league cups were lifted around this period before Sullivan departed. Managers Dave
Lawrence, Jock Bruce, Pat Maslen and Ian Priest all at spells at the helm
throughout the 1990’s without adding further success.
Malcolm
Doctor was appointed as manager for the 1997-98 campaign as the Spartan League
and the South Midlands League merged to form the Spartan South Midlands League
with City placed in the Premier North Division.
A successful
inaugural season saw the club qualify to play in a single Premier Division in
1998-99. Joint managers Dave Bullock and Bill Bannister arrived at the club
with a partnership being formed with neighbours Stevenage Borough.
City reached
the FA Cup Third Qualifying Round that season before bowing out away to Ford
United after a replay. Dave Steadman took over the team for the 1999-00 season
with City relegated to Division One in 2000-01.
Guillermo
Ganet was the next man in the managerial hot seat in 2002. He led his team to
promotion to the Premier Division in 2003-04, finishing third in the table on
their return to the top flight of the Spartan South Midlands League.
Ganet
departed with most of the team, with Howard Cowley coming in as his
replacement. Another third qualifying round appearance in the FA Cup was
achieved in 2005-06 before City bowed out in the away tie to Histon.
The FA Vase
campaign also led to some memorable matches, with City reaching the fourth round;
beating Newmarket Town at Herns Way after a replay but being expelled from the
competition for fielding an ineligible player.
After Cowley’s
departure a succession of managers were tried without success. In 2010-11,
three different bosses; Phil Read, Rob Pattwell and Simon Braine were used, with
Braine eventually leading the side to safety.
Scott
O'Donoghue took over for the 2012-13 season before former assistant manager
Adam Fisher was appointed in his place twelve months later. The goals of Jason
Caswell led to a successful fourth place finish.
Joel Norris
banged in the goals in 2014-15 as City romped to the Division One title and
promotion as well as lifting the divisional League Cup. The league Challenge
Trophy was won in 2015-16 before ground improvements were completed as the team
consolidated in 2016-17.
In November
2017 Osvaldo Ardiles unveiled the ground upgrades, which included two
turnstiles obtained by donation from Tottenham Hotspur’s demolished White Hart
Lane. Meanwhile Fisher’s team did the business on the pitch.
The Spartan
South Midlands League Premier Division title was lifted along with two cup
final appearances as City reached Step 4 of non-league football for the first
time; joining Division One Central of the Southern League.
In January
2019 Fisher resigned following an acrimonious dispute with the club who claimed
that they had concerns as to the manager exceeding the playing budget. Many
players followed him out of the door, with Dean Barker being appointed as the
new team boss.
Barker led the team to a fourteenth place finish at the completion of the 2018-19 campaign before he departed for Welwyn Garden City. Former England semi-professional midfielder Nicky Ironton took over the position.
City were in fourth place when the 2019-20 season ended early owing to the outbreak of Coronavirus. The pandemic also brought an early halt to the 2020-21 campaign as the team sat in eleventh place.
Welwyn
Garden City FC will play in the Southern League Division One Central in the
2021-22 season.
My visits
Monday 10th August 2009
I arrived into Welwyn Garden City in search of the football club on the train from Hitchin. I had a pretty good idea of the general location of the ground from checking out a map before I left. However, I hadn't equated for the layout of the 'city'. It reminded me very much of Milton Keynes.
Eventually I found the ground and low and behold it appeared to be locked up! It was well protected from everywhere else by iron railings and thick bushes and trees. After walking around and seeing no photo opportunities I got worried until I realised that the padlock on the car park entrance was just there for show.
Entry through the gate from the car park was in a corner of the ground where the clubs' social club, changing facilities were positioned. Further down the touchline was a basic small stand with covering for a few temporary seats and standing.
The rest of the ground was surrounded by a small path and flat grass, with more space behind the goals than down the sides. It was very basic and a ground I was glad I didn't go out of my way to watch a match at.
I'm not sure what sort of crowds the Citizens attract, but I can't imagine them being very high owing to the location, lack of housing nearby and the sparse facilities on hand. It cannot be very easy for clubs to survive under such circumstances. I have every admiration for club officials who keep their beloved clubs going.
I left the ground carefully shutting the gates behind me.
Herns Lane had also played home to near neighbours Hatfield Town for a few seasons, so that they could compete in the Spartan South Midlands League until a suitable venue was found nearer home at Gosling Sports Park in the south of Welwyn.
Welwyn
Garden City 0 AFC Dunstable 1 (Tuesday 5th March 2019) Southern
League Division One Central (att: 93)
I hadn’t
caught up with my regular non-league companion Tony Foster for a couple of
weeks, so when he texted and offered me a choice of a couple of matches, Welwyn
was top of the list. He was happy, as it would also be a new tick for him.
A nap after
an early shift at work proceeded the short ride up to Stanmore for 6.45pm where
my willing pilot soon pulled up. It was good to have an overdue chat about all
the usual football stuff and my recent interesting social media activity.
It was the
first time in my recollection that fox hunting had been addressed in the car
between the pair of us, or a Twitter conversation between David ‘Bumble’ Lloyd
for that matter, but welcome to 2019!
The traffic
was thankfully light, and Tony had soon worked his way through the myriad of
roundabouts and wide avenues that new towns offer. I must confess that they
weren’t particularly my cup of team having been brought up somewhere very
different.
We parked up
on the verge opposite the ground on Herns Lane before paying our £8 admission
and another quid for a decent programme for the original match, which had been
postponed a few weeks earlier.
A cuppa cost
£1 for a good sized cup as we took up a position along the side near the seats.
A covered standing section had been added by the entrance since my previous
call to satisfy the ground graders. An enclosed artificial pitch had also been installed behind the near goal.
The pitch
looked lush, with wide areas between the touchline and perimeter railings. The
rain began to fall just before kick-off and would continue throughout the game,
getting progressively heavier.
The game got
off to a dramatic start on two minutes when City winger David Manu pushed the
ball past Dunstable defender Drew Roberts. The men collided with referee Mr
Donaldson pointing to the spot. It could be placed in the “soft” decision
category.
Elliot
Bailey saw his penalty well saved by former Welwyn keeper Dan Green. Home
midfielder Jesse Walklin went down on six minutes clutching his hamstring,
which had kept him out of the previous two matches.
He was in
obvious pain, but still tried to run it off on the sidelines after treatment
from the physio. There was no way he was going to recover and was probably
risking further damage despite his valiant efforts.
That was
pretty much the main highlights of the first half. Both sides tried playing
football, but play became scrappy. I mentioned to my mate that I fancied AFC
would come out on top. They just looked that little bit quicker and stronger.
Citizens
keeper Lewis Todd saved at the feet of Martel Powell before Jermaine Hall went
close for the visitors. Jon Sexton responded for the hosts with a run and shot
that found the frame of Green had collected safely.
I’d done my
lap of the ground as well as putting on a line on the fixed odds, which wasn’t
going particularly well. Our interest was roused by Ajax going 2-0 up in their
Champions League clash away to Real Madrid.
City sub
Taishan Griffith was warming up and came over for a chat with his Dad stood
near us. He’d been at Hendon earlier in the season, with both really pleasant
characters. Taishan came across and shook my hand, which was a nice touch.
Dunstable
took the lead ten minutes after the break. Their big centre forward did well on
the left of the box to use his physique to hold off Dan Carr before laying the
ball square for Christian Tavernier to smash the ball high into the net.
Todd saved
well from Christie shortly after before the custodian denied Powell. City
gathered themselves and then took over in attacking terms, forcing some
pressure on the AFC defence.
Carr put in
a good low cross which just evaded forwards Bailey and Eusebio Da Silva from
getting a vital touch. Matty Campbell-Mhlope went close on a couple of occasions
as City continued to press forward.
Referee Donaldson
caused uproar among the faithful behind the goal when he halted a Welwyn attack
and blew for a goal kick even though the ball looked a couple of yards from
crossing the line.
City looked
for an equaliser right until full time. In the last meaningful action, Da Silva
pulled the ball back for Bailey whose effort was blocked by the Dunstable
defence. The result was just about right. It hadn’t been a classic, but every
player had given his lot.
Tony’s
prudent parking proved profitable as we were soon away. Ajax went on to
complete a remarkable win while my fixed odds went down the drain once again.
There was still some football action in store for me.
Scarborough
Athletic were taking on York City in the semi-final of the North Riding Senior
Cup with the game ending 0-0 after ninety minutes. The Scarborough News page on
Twitter was broadcasting a live feed of the penalty shoot out.
The wonders
of modern technology allowed me to watch Boro complete a 3-0 win on spot kicks
in front of 1,600 fans. I went to bed happy with ticking off a new ground and
the derby win over two hundred miles away!
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