Brook House

 

Brook House FC is a non-league football club based in Hayes, west London which was formed in 1974,  around twelve miles from the centre of the city. The team was formed to represent the pub of the same name by Saturday clubs Charville and Hayes North.

House entered the Hayes and District Sunday League and then Middlesex Sunday League gathering several honours along the way. In 1982 Grange FC, another local side, moved in to the recently acquired Farm Park to become Brook House’s Saturday side joining the South-West Middlesex League.

In 1984-85 the club became founder members of the Middlesex County League, from where they progressed to the Spartan League for the 1988-89 campaign. Floodlights were installed at Farm Park in 1992 and opened with a game against Chelsea in which old boy Neil Shipperley scored a hat trick for the visitors.

In 1997 the league merged to become the Spartan South Midlands League, with ‘The Brook’ being placed in the Premier Division South, which they went on to win at the first attempt. This led to a place in a smaller Premier Division where they ended as runners-up in 1999-00 and again in 2003-04.

This led to progression to the Isthmian League for the 2004-05 following non league’s restructuring. After just missing out on a runners-up spot in 2005-06 House were transferred into the Southern League Division One South & West.

Following their change in title to AFC Hayes moved to the Division One Central for 2010-11 with tenth place in 2011-12 their best return. In 2013 the club introduced a full-time academy to allow local youths to enhance both their football and academic careers under the guidance of Dale Welch and his father Terry along with Junior Lewis.

Following a bottom of the division finish in 2014–15 AFC Hayes were relegated to the Premier Division of the Combined Counties League where the struggle continued with the side regularly finishing towards the bottom of the table leading to relegation in 2018-19.

The Brooks sat in eleventh place when the 2019-20 campaign ended early owing to the COVID-19 pandemic under manager Alan Galloway. In the summer of 2022, the club reverted to their title of Brook House, finishing just above the drop zone for the following two seasons. 

Lester Pyle and Martin McLaughlin took over as joint managers in December 2024 to replace Rob Russell

AFC Hayes will play in the Combined Counties League Division One in the 2024-25 season.

My visits

Friday 20^th October 2006

As was normal around the time that I had recently acquired my digital camera, I had gone in search of non league grounds to take photos for my collection.

After visiting the then separate homes of Yeading and Hayes, I took a bus that would take me onto Kingshill Avenue, the home of Brook House as the club was still called. The clubhouse stood by the car park, with a path down the side leading to Farm Park.

It was another ground that was sensibly locked, which was a sad reflection on society, but a necessary action all the same. However, I was not to be beaten as a side gate was open from the practice pitch down the far side.

While Farm Park was nothing spectacular, it had everything required for the level of football at which they competed. A modern seated stand of four rows stood on the far half way line. Further along to the corner near the entrance were green huts which included the changing facilities, with toilets next door. 

The far end goal had a lean to cover over the hard standing. The rest of the ground consisted of open flat hard standing and grass. It had a compact, homely feel about it. I went on my way by bus to Northolt station and then on to Hanwell Town via the Central line.

AFC Hayes Academy 1 Tottenham Hotspur Academy 2 (Monday 19^th August 2013) Friendly (att: up to 25)

Often pre planning a trip to a ground really does pay dividends, but seldom does it come up trumps as this visit did. While checking out fixtures at Farm Park I became aware of the clubs full time academy. 

Unusually they had a fixture against the might of Tottenham Hotspur listed at the unusual kick off time of midday on a working Monday afternoon. As luck would have it, I wasn’t due in at work until 4.15pm so off I headed!

A bus from Harrow eventually dropped me at Northolt, from where the number 90 deposited me by the entrance to the ground. A few others were heading in as I arrived. The gate was open and admission was free. There were no programmes or team sheets available.

I wandered around Farm Park to take a few photos as the teams came out. The only change to the arena since my previous visit was the erection of a small covered metal terrace on the opposite side to the main facilities, along from the dug outs. I settled in the seats to take in the action.

Kick off was delayed as the experienced referee spotted a AFCH player with a visible piercing. He announced to all the players that any such items were not allowed. It could not be removed. Tape was not allowed to cover it and coach Terry Welch suggested chopping his ear off. I think he was joking?

Mr Welch Snr had a busy old time as he retrieved errant balls that went over the perimeter fence into the trees and heavy overgrowth. The trees gave Farm Park a really nice enclosed feel. 

In the early stages the Spurs number eleven Juan stood out with his trickery, which saw him open the scoring after eight minutes following a defensive mix up. As I hadn't previously seen either team in action I expected the visitors to dominate from then on, but the hosts contributed plenty. 

Spurs number nine missed the first of a host of chances given to him when he fired over the shelter into the trees. The ref impressed me as he told the home keeper that he didn't want to hear him shouting to put off his opponent, as it constituted ungentlemanly conduct. In my view that kind of offence goes by far too often.

Michael in the AFCH side oozed class with the way he played the ball making room for himself before distributing intelligently. The Tottenham centre forward missed two more easy opportunities as well as forcing a good save. 

The visiting custodian made a good stop before the action returned to the battle at the other end. This time the Hayes stopper used his legs to deny the centre forward. Shortly after the interval Tottenham were awarded a penalty, but more drama ensued for several minutes before it could be taken. 

It transpired that the Hayes goalkeeper was wearing an earring and it couldn't be removed despite a queue of willing volunteers all taking a turn. His day was done. The penalty was slotted past the stand in keeper by Scott, the visiting number fourteen. A sub then came on to don the green jersey.

Hayes's right back suffered an agonising injury to his arm. The physio raised several smiles as he asked which one as the victim looked close to passing out. The small Spurs number ten was weaving much magic around the Hayes area, and it took a very good block from centre back Charlie Murray, who was having a fine game himself.

Meanwhile the Spurs number nine continued to be frustrated. He certainly had all the attributes required of a front man, apart from the fact that he couldn't finish. His skipper was a hulk of a lad as he spread long passes around the park, although his close control was sometimes not the best.

On sixty eight minutes AFCH were offered a lifeline, when a fine cross from the byline was nodded in at the back post by the number seven to make it 1-2. The goal gave the home side impetus against their illustrious opponents as they fired in a few shots to try and grab an equaliser.

They should have grabbed a guilt edged opportunity when a short goal kick was intercepted by their number eleven, but he somehow slotted the ball wide of the post. Spurs almost made them pay, but a shot rebounded off the Hayes upright. After a further attempt on the visiting net, which was dealt with by the continental keeper, the ref brought proceedings to a close.

It had been a fine game of football, in which full credit must have gone to Tottenham Hotspur for fulfilling such a fixture, and to the local lads of AFC Hayes who showed immense promise. It was just a shame more than a few interested onlookers and parents of the players weren't there to watch.

I headed back to Shepherd's Bush via the bus and tube before going on a five mile walk via a few places of interest to catch the train to work. It had been a real bonus of my down time.