Rayners Lane FC is a non-league football club based in North West London in the Borough of Harrow. The club were formed in 1933 and entered local league football. The Tithe Farm Social Club was formed with the football club being absorbed into it.
A new challenge was sought and Lane joined the Hellenic League in 1978. They were successful and remained there until the ground graders came in and enforced higher standards for Premier League clubs. The club were demoted a division and remained there for a couple of seasons before dropping back down to the Middlesex League to regroup.
After several aborted attempts Lane were given planning permission to erect floodlights in May 2011. Lane won the Division One East title in the 2012-13 season, but were denied promotion owing to ground grading issues at Tithe Farm.
Floodlights were erected at Tithe Farm in 2013, with a Watford side playing in the official match to commemorate the occasion. Lane continued plying their trade in Division One East of the Hellenic League until the FA moved them to the Spartan South Midlands League from the 2017-18 season.
Lane ended their debut season in new surroundings in thirteenth position, which was improved upon by one place in the 2018-19 campaign with Dave Fox as team manager. By then a new 3G pitch had been installed with a new clubhouse and facilities opening in June 2019.
Ben Hanley and Warren Gaddy were appointed as joint managers in October 2021 after the club had been transferred to Division One of the Combined Counties League. The side reached the playoffs in 2021-22 going down to Wallingford Town in the semifinals.
Scott Patmore came in as manager as the Lane started making signings that made other clubs sit up and notice. Playoff victories over London Samurai Rovers and then Langley resulted in promotion to Premier Division North of the competition before Patmore was replaced by Gary Meakin in July 2023.
Further signings were made as the team reached the playoffs for a third consecutive season. This time Holyport and then Bedfont Sports were seen off as Rayners Lane were promoted to the Isthmian League South Central Division.
The playing budget was cut back in 2024-25, leading to Meakin departing and being replaced by Mark Dacey just into the new year. Lane were moved laterally to the Central Division One of the Southern League for the 2025-26 campaign with a returning Patmore as manager.
My visits
I travelled on the tube to have a look at the Tithe Farm ground one day after working on the underground in 2006 and to take some snaps. I was impressed by the neatness of the arena with the tall trees surrounding the pitch on three of the sides, with the social club and facilities down the other touchline.
Rayners Lane 3 Thame United 3 (after extra time). Thame won 5-4 on penalties (Saturday 29th January 2011) Hellenic League Supplementary Cup Round Two (att: 34)
I was on night shift for the week at work so I looked for somewhere quite local where I hadn't previously watched a game. After I made enquiries as to the kick off time, I got the good news that the game would start at 1.45pm, to allow for the possibility of extra time and the lack of floodlights.
I reasoned that this would allow me to get to the second half of Harrow Borough v Margate, which was only a fifteen minutes walk away.
I took the train, and clumsily took the wrong Metropolitan line service heading to Watford rather than the Uxbridge one I needed. Not to worry as it turned out because when I alighted at Pinner I found out the H12 bus passed at the bottom of the road and stopped right outside Tithe Farm.
I was soon at the ground and found my way into the clubhouse which was normally for members only. A very welcoming barman told me that I'd get the programmes outside and I'd be hunted down as it also acted as the ground admission.
I watched some of the Everton v Chelsea FA Cup tie in the excellent room with a very reasonable pint of Reverend James as company.
I went outside before kick off and was liberated of £3 for admission and an excellent programme. The gentlemen were very hospitable and were delighted I'd chosen their game after initially having me down as a Thame supporter.
The last time I had seen Thame in action was in a pre season friendly against Brentford around the turn of the millennium at their impressive old ground, when Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher was serving behind the bar.
There weren't many there, but those who did attend really got behind their sides, even if the majority of the away support remained in their cars looking out towards the pitch and using their horns to salute something they enjoyed.
He was a smashing chap who patrolled the touch line yelling encouragement and acting as a ballboy. I really liked the way he welcomed and had a word for everyone, regardless of age. It's something officials of certain other clubs would do well to follow.
However, Thame equalised and sent the game to penalties. Just like the previous hundred and twenty minutes lead in the shoot out went from one team to the other. Lane had the fifth kick to go through but the visiting keeper remained to form as he pulled off a great save. He had a brilliant game all the way through. If it hadn't been for him I'd have definitely seen the second half down the road.
Lane's sixth penalty was missed but the visitor made no mistake winning the game in sudden death. It had been a superb exhibition from both sides and amazing value for money.
The hosts missed a glorious chance in the first goal mouth action; but the free header at the back post was squandered. They looked to play centre forward Bruno Tavares in whenever possible and he caused a bit of panic on occasions.
Broadfields Utd 0 Oxhey Jets 3 (Thursday 20th February 2020) Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division (att: 68)
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