|
|
 |
|
|
FIRST TEAM HONOURS: |
Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division Champions:
1996-97, 2004-05
Spartan South Midlands Premier Division Cup Winners:
1996-97, 2004-05
Herts Senior County League Premier Division Champions:
1990-91
North London Combination Premier Division Winners:
1967-68
Herts Charity Cup Winners:
2006-07
Herts Charity Shield Winners:
2002-03, 2004-05, 2006-07
Potters Bar Charity Cup Winners:
1995-96, 2003-04, 2004-05, 2006-07
South Midlands Floodlight Cup Winners:
1997-98, 2005-06
Aubrey Cup Winners:
1990-91
|
|
History of The Scholars |
The foundations for the Mount Grace Old Scholars Football Association were laid in the Spring of 1960, when the school's First team were having a good season and at Easter many of the boys were due to leave and the side would break up. It was then that Ken Barrett, the P.E. Master of Mount Grace School, Potters Bar asked the boys and other old 'scholars' to support him in raising a team to play on Saturday's. Our application to join the Barnet & District League was accepted on the 29th June 1960. Ken Barrett enlisted the assistance of Bert Wright, the school's Caretaker, at the start of the season and soon after Bill Venneear joined as Secretary and Treasurer and the considerable support that they both gave the Club continued for many decades. A Reserve side was formed in 1961, a Third team in 1962 and a Fourth team in January 1963.
In May 1965, the Barnet & District and the Finchley & District League’s merged to form the North London Combination and by the end of the 1967/68 season we concluded our North London Combination ventures with the First team winning the Premier Division and the Reserves picking up the Division 1 title. The club took the opportunity to progress and in June 1968 the First team were admitted to Division 2 of the Herts County League.
At the 1976 AGM Bill Venneear stepped down as Secretary, as did Clive Cavalier, his assistant since 1970. Peter Waller, who had been Third team manager since 1970, was ‘persuaded’ to take over as Secretary.
In the summer of 1978 the future of the Club was in doubt and many people recommended its closure. The few remaining officers decided to carry on but, as expected, the season was the blackest in the club’s history, with all three teams relegated. However, out of despair grew optimism, a desire never to repeat the mistakes and plans for the future. Clive Cavalier rejoined and he and Peter Waller pressed ahead with plans for a clubhouse and changing rooms. They spent nearly four years planning the venture and in July 1982 work started on the building. After six months, with Frank Bentley as clerk of works, and invaluable help from Jeff Voyce and many dedicated members, the project was completed and the clubhouse opened on the 9th January 1983. Our efforts were further rewarded when we were granted "Senior" status at the end of the season.
In 1990/91, the 3rd round of the FA Vase was reached and in the League we came back from a 24 point deficit to win the Herts Senior County League Premier Division title and we also won the Aubrey Cup. This was the first time the ‘double’ had been achieved in the Herts Senior County League since its reorganisation 10 years before and with it came the opportunity to once again progress and take up a place in the South Midlands League. By coincidence, it had already been decided at the previous AGM to change the playing name to Potters Bar Town FC, to reflect the growing stature of the club, so the season’s achievements had been a fitting tribute to the name of Mount Grace Old Scholars. It was also the end of Don Newman’s 11-year reign as Chairman.
The move to the South Midlands League had brought with it a condition that we installed Floodlights, so in 1993 an eight-pylon system was installed around the pitch at a cost of £30,000, which included training lights. Another move for the 1993/94 season was to reform the youth section and FA Cup football came to the club in 1995/96 when we gained entry to the competition for the first time. The Youth team were also admitted to the FA Youth Cup and they put up a great show coming through four rounds before going out to Barnet FC at Underhill Stadium. At the end of the season, Peter Waller stepped down as Secretary, after twenty years, to become Chairman.
In 1996/97 we achieved the South Midlands Premier Division title by winning our final match and so having a superior goal difference over Brache Sparta, and also being notable for only letting in two goals at home in 14 games. An application to the Isthmian League was made but we knew there was too much to be done for promotion.
The following year, 1997/98 saw the club reach the quarter final of the FA Vase, coming through six rounds before finally going down 2-0 in the second period of extra time in the quarter final at Kidsgrove Athletic, near Stoke on Trent. On our way we overcame Potton United 3-0, Fakenham Town 2-1, Whitstable Town 4-2, Bridport 4-0, former winners Stamford 1-0 and Great Wakering Rovers 1-0. In the league the First team pushed Brache Sparta all the way and took the Runners-up spot. We gained revenge on the Beds side, beating them 4-2 over two legs in the Challenge Trophy Final and then won 1-0 against Potton United in the final of the South Midlands Floodlight Cup. The Reserves went one better than the First team in the league and collected the Reserve Division One Title.
Although the South Midlands League had amalgamated with the Spartan League in 1997, the two Premier Divisions only combined for season 1998/99, with a format of 44 league matches. It was the most competitive Premier Division for many years, but we lost out to Barkingside by two points when they were awarded 3 points for the non-fulfilment of a fixture by Waltham Abbey. Many were disappointed that a 44-match league programme was not decided on the field!
By 1998, after three years of hard work from Peter Waller and Eddie Harvey, and the support of the people of Potters Bar and local councillors, we finally persuaded our Landlord, Hertfordshire County Council, to offer us a new 21-year renewable lease on the ground, which secured the future of the club. The site at ‘Parkfield’ finally changed by the summer of 1998. The old school buildings were demolished, a new Ladbrooke School and Home were built, and the new road and car park were constructed to meet everyone’s needs.
The Club’s 40th Anniversary was celebrated in May 2000 with an Anniversary Dinner supported by many former players, and our three 'founder’ members, Bert Wright, Ken Barrett and Bill Venneear, who we sadly lost in November 2000, a victim of cancer.
After a poor start to season 2001/2002, Steve Smart was appointed Manager and Paul Surridge joined him as his Assistant. The sole aim was to build for the future.
Plans to develop the ground continued and in May 2000 planning permission was obtained to extend the clubhouse, fence in the ground and carry out spectator improvements. With Grants from the Football Foundation and The FA a 150-Seater Stand was completed in May 2001. During the summer of 2002, the club undertook more ground improvements, with the pitch barrier infill, a new match officials room, players shower room improvements, pay booth and completion of the P.A. system.
For 2002/2003, Steve Smart attracted a lot of players to the club and third place was achieved in the SSML Premier Division. The highlight of the season was the lifting of the Herts Charity Shield, once again, overcoming Sawbridgeworth Town on penalties in the Final despite playing over an hour with just ten men.
A very hot and dry summer meant that the Parkfield playing surface in 2003/2004 was at its worst for many years and, indeed, poor home form saw the first team slip to a final league position of 4th. The habit of picking up silverware did arrive in the shape of the Potters Bar Charity Cup.
Season 2004/2005, was the most successful for the club to date. The First team lifted no less than four trophies in the shape of the Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division Championship, the Premier Division Cup, the Herts Charity Shield and the Potters Bar Charity Cup. In the League, top spot was only achieved in mid-March yet the club went on to take the title by sixteen points. Though we lost four of our first nineteen League games, we were unbeaten in the remaining nineteen, including sixteen victories. The SSML Premier Division Cup was won with a 2-1 extra time victory over Harefield United and the Herts FA Charity Shield came our way for the third time in five years; Royston Town the victims by 4-2. The Potters Bar Charity Cup was retained for the first time in our history following a 6-2 extra time win against Colney Heath. Richard Howard took his goals total to 49 in all competitions; just two short of the club record. In 16-year old Danny Charge, the youth set-up produced one of the first team’s youngest ever players (and goal scorers).
In March 2005, with the SSML title probable, the club's members and players undertook a major race against time to improve the ground facilities. In the space of just six weeks, a new perimeter fence was erected, the main stand was modified and changing rooms, a turnstile block and spectator toilets were added to the facilities. We passed the Football Association’s ground grading visit on the 1st May 2005 and earned the club promotion to the Southern League Division 1 East for season 2005/06; the highest level the club had ever competed at. The first team also entered the FA Trophy and the Herts Charity Cup for the first time.
Steve Smart departed in July 2005, for personal reasons, and our new debut season turned into a near nightmare. Kevin Lucas was appointed but then had to be replaced by Andy Milne. Though we were bottom for six months, no-one gave up and we stayed in contention to survive. Andy offered to stand down in February 2006, if we could find a manager who could bring in experienced players. Andy Leese agreed to join us and our fortunes changed. We survived relegation and finished 16th for 2005/06.
The club were equally devasted that season by the death of Ken Woodward, who had spearheaded the ground improvements and without him we would not have been at step 4.
We were then moved across the pyramid to the Ryman League Division 1 North for season 2006/07. We expected a better start to the 2006/07 season and we enjoyed our most successful FA Cup run, losing away by 3-2 to full-time Woking, of the Conference National, in the 4th qualifying round, after wins against Waltham Abbey, Wealdstone, Maldon Town and Margate by 2-1 away. For three months we went on a good run in the league, and a play off spot was talked about by some, but then we finished with a disappointing run of results and finished in 14th place. But it was still progress for the Club and we won more silverware in the form of the Herts FA Charity Cup, for the first time, beating Premier Division Hemel Hempstead Town convincingly bt 3-0, and the Potters Bar Charity Cup. The Reserves came third in the Suburban League Northern division, as did the Youth team in the Southern Counties, whilst the Under 14's won the Herts FA County Cup and were Cheshunt League runners up.
Andy Leese and assistant Jon Meakes left at the end of the season, in May 2007, and the club were inundated with good calibre applicants. Steve Browne, formerly of Aveley, Borehamwood, Dover Athletic and Slough Town, has been appointed Manager and with his assistant Victor Renner, formerly at Waltham Forest, is building a new side to succeed over the next few seasons. After five years Secretary Kevin Wilmot also stepped down so its been a busy summer finding replacements.
More ground improvements have been completed this summer, with a spectators covered area behind one goal and another turnstile block. All four turnstiles have a unique history, as they all were all in use at the old Wembley Stadium, till it closed in 2000!
|
|
|
|
|
