Page 20 - Raynes Park Vale vs Beckenham Town 18-04-22

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BECKENHAM TOWN

CLUB HISTORY division, but after
BEGINNINGS AND OVERVIEW coming last again
Beckenham Town Football Club is one in 1932/33, they
of the older non-league clubs still in were relegated
existence having first been affiliated back to Division
to the Kent County Football Associa- One. After finising
tion as early as 1887. bottom of Division
Records show the club played in the One in 1934/35 the club left the
London League 1923-1935 and also league.
1951-1961 and the Aetolian League AFTER THE WAR Action from the previous match
between 1961 and 1964, befor mov- They competed in the Kent County
ing to the Greater London League Amateur League’s Western Section Premier Division until rejoining the In 1971 the club was reformed, emerg-
1964-1969. In addition to their pres- London League in 1951. During the ing out of the chrysalis of successful
ent day participation in the FA Cup 1950’s the team was a feeder club for local junior club, Stanhope Rovers.
and FA Vase, the club competed in the Crystal Palace. Placed in the Premier Rovers had sprung up in 1959 as the
FA Amateur Cup between 1926 and Division they competed there until brainchild of teenage footballers and
1967. joining the Aetolian League in 1961. friends, Howard Smith and Geoff Ward
BETWEEN THE WARS This merged with the London League in association with Pat Quinn (Head
In 1923 the club joined Division One in 1964 to form the Greater London Games Warden at Stanhope Grove)
of the London League. They were League, with Beckenham placed in and the club had enjoyed considera-
Division One Champions in 1927/28, Section B. ble success playing in the Beckenham
earning promotion to the Premier A fifth-place finish in the league’s League and the South East London
Division. However, after finishing sec- inaugural season saw them win a Amateur League.
ond-from-bottom in their first season, place in the Premier Division for the By 1971, it had become apparent
they finished the 1929/30 season in 1965/66 season. However, after finish- that they were the top team in the
last place, and were relegated back to ing second-frombottom of the divi- area. Secretary Barry Starmer applied
Division One. Runners-up the fol- sion that season, they were relegated successfully for both the name Beck-
lowing season they were promoted down to Division One. Unfortunately, enham Town FC and the red and white
back to the Premier Division. Despite the original club folded in 1969 merg- colours that had been so synonymous
finishing bottom of the Premier Divi- ing with neighbours Bromley FC. with the demised predecessor.
sion in 1931/32 they remained in the 1970’s REFORMATION Continued...