History of Southgate County Old Boys

The first Southgate County Old boys’ fixture took place on the 3rd December 1910 at Fox Lane when a team of former pupils played against the School with the final score in this historic match being 3-3. That year the pupils of Southgate County School for Boys which had occupied Broomfield House in Broomfield Park since 1907, joined the pupils of Avondale Hall Girls School in Hoppers Road and were combined in a brand new building in Fox Lane.
The early development of the club was interrupted by the 1st World War and it was not until 1920 that the club entered a team into the Senior Division of the Secondary Schools Old Boys League. Early homes included, Oakwood Park, Broomfield Park, Vera Avenue in Grange Park and West Pole Farm in Bramley Road. The years leading up to the 2nd World War though had mixed fortunes and results when, like the present day, attracting new players proved difficult, with the constant change of grounds, not helping matters. Eventually, in 1937, the club found a permanent home at Brackendale Sports Ground, off Broad Walk, which helped to attract new blood enabling us to enter four sides in the league. A, first for the Old Boys League. This also united the Hockey, Tennis and Football clubs.
During the 2nd World War the club managed to play various friendlies but it was the 1946-47 season that saw the club re-establish itself, playing in the Old Boys Football League but still the same old unavailability problem, anyone would have thought there had been a war or something. The main organisers were the then President the late Tony Wright, Den Payne (Ex-President) and A. Gudgeon (“Gudge”) our current President, where would we be without their contributions to the development of the club. The club then moved to its current location in Chalk Lane and formed an association with Southgate Compton Cricket Club. Creating, SOSA, Southgate Old Scholars Association.
Recently when our clubhouse was vandalised and destroyed by fire, during the year it took fully repair, we found out how important club life can be and thanks to both Cockfosters Cricket and Football Clubs who allowed us to share their amenities. In recent years we have developed a friendly relationship with near neighbours Potters Bar Town FC and are grateful for the use of their pitch for selected games, mainly the Vets team, the last being a 3-2 win over a Spurs Legends XI that marked the start of our centenary season celebrations.
From the and 2nd World War to the present the club has had it’s ups and downs literally and having moved form the Old Boys Football League to the Southern Olympian League in the late 1960, we now of course play in a amalgamation of the two, the Amateur Football Combination.
The clubs first honours was winning the 1st Division in the Old Boys Football League, which was no mean feat as the club had only re-established itself a couple of seasons earlier. Over the next few decades the club grew to form 3 sides but success was limited, with the club making the decision to move to the Southern Olympian League in 1968. The move proved fruitful, bringing immediate success with our reserves and 3rd team winning their respective leagues. The late 60s and early 70s were successful for the club with the 3s winning back to back promotions and the reserves being promoted twice.
The next 10 years or so proved quite a baron period for the club with only a couple of league titles for our 1st and 4th teams.
We were at our strongest during the 1980s and 1990s, wining a total of 9 honours. We regularly fielded six competitive teams and this was definitely our most successful period on the pitch particularly the 1985-86 season when our 1st, 2nd and 4th teams all won SOL league titles. We have also won the odd LOB cup including the Burntwood Trophy (5th XI in 1997-8), Intermediate (2nd XI in 1998-99) and the SOL Senior Cup (1st XI) in 2001-02 the final year of this competition.
The turning of a new century brought the club into a new league. The Amateur Football Combination, formed by the merger of the Old Boys League and the Southern Olympian League, but again success was hard to come, with only our 5th XI winning Division 7th North in 2003-2004. But the 2005 - 2006 season brought the club some of our best memories with the 1st XI being minutes away from securing the clubs first ever double winning team. Securing the Senior Division 1 title, they were narrowly beaten 3-2 by Old Meadonians (from the Premier Division) in the London Old Boys Senior Cup final, held at Wingate & Finchley FC.
Into the current decade.
Saw the club celebrate its centenary during the 2010-2011 season. Although no success was had during the playing season, our success would be measured when an Old Boys XI entertained a Spurs Legends side. Playing, at Potters Bar, in front of the clubs biggest ever crowd of 1000+, our Old Boys overcome all doubters to register a 3-2 victory. By far the game and day was a true tribute to all the officials, players and supporters of SCFC over the last 100 years. Over the next few seasons club player standards dipped. With player retention and recruitment struggling the 1st XI had to drop 6 divisions and the club lost 2 sides. But with renewed rigour the 1st XI had back to back promotions over 4 seasons, taking it too, Senior 3 North in season 16/17. This season proved a historic season with the 1st XI winning the clubs first ever AFA Cup, beating Old Actonians Association 4-2 on penalties (2-2 AET). The chances of an even, bigger historic treble disappeared after loosing in the Old Boys Cup Final, 4-2 to London Welsh and after topping the league for most of the season, being pipped to league runners-up, on the final game of the season. Very disappointed but this was some achievement and easily our best season by any side over our 105 years. In season 18/19 we expanded to 4 sides and created the Alumni with Southgate School. Our new 3rd team won 6 North. This was short lived as they disbanded after 2 seasons. Over the next 2 season COVID hit amateur football, with season suspensions and restarts, life changed for many months. Season 20/21 saw a double promotion success with our 1s being promoted to Senior 1 as runners up and our 2s doing the same, being promoted to 1 North.

Bringing us to 21/22. 4 sides again and a full, un-broken season ahead. What will happen?

Success has always been important in sport but as a club the social side has played a big part in running a prosperous football club. We are not alone in this and enjoy playing against the majority of the clubs in the AFC and AFA Cups who share this philosophy. In the words of our late past President T. Wright – “with the enthusiasm which has never failed us in the past we shall raise the Club to a new status and, above all, seek to maintain the tradition of true sportsmanship, which is our most treasured trophy”. Here’s to another 100 years.