Yeading

Yeading FC were a non-league football club from West London, whose roots could be traced back to 1960. They amalgamated with Hayes FC to become Hayes & Yeading United FC in 2007.

Yeading played many seasons in intermediate and junior football for many years before they were granted senior status in 1984 when they became members of the London Spartan League and moved into The Warren at the bottom of an industrial estate on Beaconsfield Road near Southall.

In 1987 'The Ding' were promoted to the Isthmian League. In 1990 they won a promotion as well as winning the FA Vase against Bridlington Town in a replay at Elland Road after a scoreless draw at Wembley, with future Football League star Andy Impey in their lineup. In 1991 they reached the Isthmian League Premier Division, where they lasted for seven years.

They were back in the top division by 2004 when Johnson 'Drax' Hippolyte took over the reigns as Yeading, with future Premier League star DJ Campbell in the team, drew Newcastle United in the FA Cup third round. 

The match was switched to Loftus Road, where a crowd of over 10,000 plus millions watching live on TV saw the Geordies end the dream. The Isthmian Premier League championship was secured as the club were promoted to Conference South.

In 2005-06 Yeading were soundly beaten 5-0 by Nottingham Forest in the first round of the FA Cup. Talks had been progressing regarding a merger with near neighbours Hayes for some time with the plan to use The Warren. The merger finally took place on 18th May 2007 as Hayes & Yeading United FC were formed.

The Warren was demolished, although the cover behind the goal remained in place for several years later in what became the car park of the newly constructed SkyEx Community Stadium.

Yeading 0 Aylesbury United 5 (Saturday 27th October 2001) FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round (att: 340)

I had passed The Warren at high speed on many occasions as it could be viewed from the main Great Western line out of Paddington station and thought it about time that I attended a match.

The ideal opportunity came in the FA Cup. The round was given increased coverage on the radio for a change, and I had quite a selection, but I really fancied the game at Yeading against their Buckinghamshire opponents who were a level above in the pyramid.

I caught a bus from Willesden to Acton, where I got on board a bus that travelled through the heavy traffic of Uxbridge Road through Ealing and Southall before I got off at the top of Beaconsfield Road. It was a good ten-minute walk down the desolate and windswept road to the stadium.

The Warren was a tidy enough venue, but nothing spectacular. There was a small cover behind the goal at the near end. The entrance side had a covered seating and standing area with the clubhouse on the second tier offering a splendid view. Unfortunately, the blinds were drawn at kick off to satisfy FA rules. The rest of the ground was open hard and grass standing with the dug outs on the far side.

I had a couple of pre match beers before going out to join the large away following, who brought flags and balloons to give the game a real atmosphere. Any chance of an upset was soon dispelled as The Ducks were simply far too good for their hosts. 

They ran out easy 5-0 winners, with veteran forward Dwight Marshall bagging a hat trick. Stuart Maynard and Dwain Clarke added further goals for the side managed by former playing hero Cliff Hercules.

I went back upstairs at full time and got chatting to some jubilant visitors who were waiting for the draw for the first round, which was to be screened live at the end of Grandstand, while the excitement built in the room.

I was somewhat less enthralled, as it transpired Scarborough had gone down 3-1 in their local derby at Whitby Town. Reports were bad and my dad later described it as the worst Boro display that he'd ever seen.

The Ducks fans weren't overjoyed at being drawn away to Port Vale, but I reasoned with them, it was better than not being in the Cup! I left and walked back and reversed my journey home. I needed a few beers to try and cheer myself up, but the result was still the same the next morning!

Friday 20th October 2006

I had a day off work, so I decided it was time to update my photo collection and get round to visiting some West London grounds. I took the tube to Uxbridge and then caught a bus before walking down Beaconsfield Road.

It was a pleasant enough day, and I was happy to find a gate open past the stands. Another pitch behind the ground which later was transformed into a 3G training pitch looked in decent condition as well as did the ground and clubhouse of another amateur club further up the road on the way back.