Ascot v Southall 041221

CLUB HISTORY - SOUTHALL
A Club in Decline
Southall suffered a major body blow in 1992 when they were forced to vacate their Western Road ground and since
that time Southall FC has ground shared at a multitude of venues, sometimes many miles from the town.
At the end of the 1999-2000 season the Club was relegated to the Combined Counties League and spent five full
seasons in that competition with a fourth placed finish being the highest achieved. Financial problems resulted
eventually in expulsion from that league and a new life began in the Middlesex County Football League for the
season 2006-2007. The first season in that competition the Club finished in a mid-table position in the premier
division but problems off the field resulted in the Club being demoted yet again to Division One (Central & East).
At this time the club was really struggling financially and regular discussions were held as to the merits of keeping
the club going. However, Player Manager Ryan DeCosta was determined that the club should not die and somehow
managed to put a competitive team out with very little in the way of funds available.
New owners appeared on the scene for the 2010-11 season with club now ground sharing at Northolt Rugby Club. For
the 2011-12 season ‘home’ was now Hanwell Town FC and the club was dealt a further major blow with the
unexpected passing of Club Secretary Geoff Harrison, a true club stalwart and without whom the club would surely
have ceased to exist. Despite this setback a 3rd place finish finally meant stepping up to the Spartan South Midland
League Division 1.
Oddly, with the club now effectively a ‘park’ team’ for the first time over 100 years, the next season heralded a return
to Southall as the club rented a pitch at Dormers Wells Leisure Centre from Ealing Council. The Runners Up spot was
achieved, heralding promotion back to the Premier Division and another move, this time to Thames Valley
University’s ground in North Ealing.
At this time the club was really struggling financially and regular discussions were held as to the merits of keeping
the club going. However, Player Manager Ryan DeCosta was determined that the club should not die and somehow
managed to put a competitive team out with very little in the way of funds available.
New owners appeared on the scene for the 2010-11 season with club now ground sharing at Northolt
Rugby Club. For the 2011-12 season ‘home’ was now Hanwell Town FC and the club was dealt a further major blow
with the unexpected passing of Club Secretary Geoff Harrison, a true club stalwart and without whom the club
would surely have ceased to exist. Despite this setback a 3rd place finish finally meant
stepping up to the Spartan South Midland League Division 1.
A Change of Fortune
Regular managerial changes meant that Southall, while now showing occasional signs of promise,
stuttered somewhat until the appointment of Paul Palmer midway through the 2015-16 season. The following
season saw Southall achieve national recognition for the first time in many a year with a remarkable run to the FA
Vase quarter finals, including being drawn away from home to higher level opponents for 5
consecutive rounds and putting 18 goals past them in the process, before losing out to eventual runners up
Cleethorpes Town.
2017-18 started in typically chaotic fashion with the proposed ground share with Hayes and Yeading
United falling through after the season had actually started! Having been initially helped out by North Greenford
United and Hillingdon Borough, Southall finally landed up at Burnham FC for “home” games. Despite this nomadic
existence the players defied the odds and produced a remarkable season’s football by going unbeaten in the
league until 21st March. Despite the attentions of Baldock Town, Southall finally finished Division1 Champions – the
club’s first Championship since the 1926-27 season! continued...