of the
Devon Wednesday League Football
With the Devon Wednesday Football League reaching the great milestone of 100 years existence it is quite humbling to realise that all of us who play our part in the ongoing life of mid-week football, are not only following in a great tradition, but, owing a big debt to our predecessors are but a small cog in the bigger wheel which is football, arguably the most beloved of sports in this country.
Through the hard work and commitment by League and club officials, who have readily give their time and skills since the League was formed in 1904/05, others have been able to enjoy a healthier lifestyle contributing to a greater fitness and a sense of personal well-being, achievement, fulfilment, relaxation and an outlet from the pressures that surround working lives.
Clearly those were the aims of that pioneering committee that set this very proud League into action 100 years ago and it is true of today’s set-up that fiercely guard the fine reputation that the League has earned for its sportsmanship and friendliness.
Trying to piece together a history of the League in celebration of its Centenary has proved to be really difficult due to there being no available records of those early days, but, a league table compiled by a Mr. F.W. Goss from that first season and published in the local press has come to hand showing the 2nd Devon and Cornwall Light Infantry topping the table with an impressive record of P 10 W 8 D 1 L 1 F 50 A 16 Pts 17. The Infantry went on to become the winners with the 2nd Devon Regiment the runners up. The Devon Regiment then captured the title for the following two seasons with St James the Great winning the newly formed second division in 1905.
The League went from strength to strength with Okehampton becoming the first name on the new cup competition that had commenced in the 1907/08 season. During the next six seasons of this competition, Coop United were successful on four occasions whilst Bedford Wednesday, Coop United, Devonia, RGA Reserves, 30th Coy RE and the Sherwood Foresters shared the League honours until the outbreak of the First World War brought a temporary halt to proceedings.
After the war the League recommenced fixtures with Plymouth Trams dominating the Division One honours list by winning four championships including three on the trot whilst Plymouth Wednesday gained success in three successive Division One Cup Finals and also put their name on the trophy a fourth time.
By the end of the 1920’s the League held meetings at the YMCA in Old Town Street, Plymouth under the Presidency of Viscount Astor and with Mr. A. W. G. Mullin as Chairman and Mr. E Clemens as Secretary it embraced teams as far apart as Liskeard and Okehampton.
Venues such as Central Park, The Beacon, Lux Park, Higher Home Park, Brickfield, Hooe, Beacon Down, Victoria Park, Wills Field, Trevol, Shapters Field and Dean Meadow (Plymstock) featured prominently amongst the fixtures but sadly many of those grounds are now but a distant past although it is good to see several have survived to be still in use today.
With the costs of running teams enormously high in these modern times it is interesting to see an advertisement in the League Handbook for 1926 offering shirts at 26/-(£1.30) per dozen, shorts at 24/- (£1.20) per dozen, footballs at 21/- and boots ranging from 16/- (£0.80) to 21/-.
Coop United dominated the early 1930’s with the Royal Marines taking over as the dominant force during the latter part of the decade, doing the League and Cup double on three successive seasons.
Once again League business was disrupted by the outbreak of the Second World War although competitions were held in seasons 1940/41 and 43/44 with Coast ATC and 934 Squadron RAF the respective champions.
1946 saw the League back up and running under secretary Mr F.W Reeve with meetings being held at Marlborough House, Plymouth. Coop Welfare were now playing at Unity Park, Plymouth Argyle A at Home Park, City Police and GPO using Beacon Down and RAF Mount Batten playing their home games at Longbridge (Laira).
Other well-known pitches in use at that time were Longroom, Bowden Park, Royal Naval Barracks, Millbay Park, RNE College (Manadon) and RN Hospital (Stonehouse). Sadly some of these fine arenas were swallowed up for housing development over the years.
No League can run smoothly without the contribution of the referees and here the League has been fortunate to see greats such as Ed Jury, Percy Lethbridge, Alf Cutler, later to become the League Secretary and Bill Fenn, who put great energy into publicising the League for over twenty years, doing their bit in the middle.
The 1950’s saw the League really blossom with crowds three or four deep quite common at Wednesday afternoon matches where Argyle A, Coop Welfare and RAF Hope Cove figuring prominently amongst the honours.
During the early part of the 1953/54 season, a League representative XI had defeated Plymouth City to win a Shield donated by the R.A.F. Association to commemorate Battle of Britain week and over the next decade the League played many more representative games against the Plymouth and District League, The Plymouth Combination League, the Royal Air Force, Plymouth Argyle and the Royal Marines. These were enjoyable games witnessed by huge crowds.
As in modern times the weather created havoc on many occasions whereby fixture congestion resulted at the end of several seasons but here again the League’s fine sporting traditions overcame these problems.
Fund raising to boost League funds was, as of today, a thorny subject with only a minority of clubs actually pulling their weight but good housekeeping by the League Treasurers kept the accounts above water-echoes of present times indeed.
After fifty years service to the League, Mr. W.R.Scoble vacated the League Chairman’s post in 1954 to be succeeded by Mr.A.V.Ackland.
Plans to celebrate the League’s Jubilee were set in action with a dinner the favourite suggestion.
Alf Cutler was still the League Secretary with meetings now being presided over by League President Archie Cload at the Coop Recreation Centre in North Road, Plymouth.
A representative match against the Torbay League was played in 1957 with the following picked to represent the Devon Wednesday League-Horrell (Co-op), Sammells (GPO), Kenward (Co-op), Porter (RAF Collaton)(Capt), Malloy (RAF Collaton), Crawford (Co-op), Powell (Transport), Hillson (Co-op), Brown (Transport), Underwood (GPO), Charlton (RAF Collaton). Reserves-Stirling (Reserve Fleet), Solomons (GPO).
The start of the 60’s saw several Service teams withdraw from the League mainly due to their commitments to the United Services League but the League survived to enjoy a successful season including a 4-3 win over Plymouth Command in a representative match.
During those heady 60’s days City Transport and Railway Nomads brought further honour to the League by winning national trophies in competition with clubs from all over England and Wales.
Sadly the late 60’s saw the withdrawal of Plymouth Argyle and Coop Welfare, Coop’s association with the League dating back to 1910/11, whilst many of the Service teams were sent to Northern Ireland leaving the League a bit thin on the ground. But with a fine blend of administration and sportsmanship the League overcame this problem and was able to see RNE College become the first winners of the George Lang Memorial Trophy.
Maurice Williams started his long run as League Chairman during the early 1970’s, John Conway, Delta Car Sales, Terry Hobbs Cycles, Embassy 2 All Stars, Tamar United, Devon Fire Brigade, Speare and Edwards and The Mediterraneans took the limelight away from the hugely successful Services teams although 59 and 29 Commando Regiments also made their mark at this time.
The League celebrated its 75th Anniversary during the 1979/80 season by being the sole mid-week competition in Devon, Bert Jeffery took over from Alf Cutler as League Secretary and Bob Widdecombe was elected President.
Gerry Sullivan topped the Premier Division scorers for Speare and Edwards with Keith Bennett of Tamar United heading the Division One lists.
RAF St Mawgan, Marjons and Western National had by now joined the league but sadly Speare and Edwards and RAF Mount Batten were to fold.
1981/82 saw the return of Coop Welfare, under Tom Groves and George Taylor and Devon Fire Brigade completed a fine successive treble of victories in the Paul Blampey Memorial Cup. Welfare soon made their mark by winning the division one cup in 82/83 and capturing the division one title the following season.
Although changing work patterns were starting to take its toll on the League’s membership, now down to 16 teams, the League’s tentacles reached out to embrace Newton Abbot based Seale Hayne College.
An interesting fact from the 80’s is that of Mike Richards, the League’s highly regarded present Chairman, taking the referee’s award-heady days indeed Mike!
Pete Nichol was the League’s Treasurer, Dave Pooley the Press Secretary with meetings still being held at the Co-op Recreation Centre.
The 1990’s arrived with the League holding its own with 19 teams in membership but this number was increased with the addition of several new teams including Rolle College (Exmouth) and BRNC Dartmouth. Sadly the League regretted the loss of established sides RN Hospital, HMS Defiance and RAF Mount Batten.
A six-a-side competition was started in the early nineties with Royal Mail the initial winners.
1993/94 was the League’s 90th Anniversary with Mike Richards, now entrenched as Chairman, announcing plans to celebrate the Centenary season. How time flies Mike when you are having fun!
Work patterns were continuing to hit the League’s memberships as civilian clubs found it hard to get players with spare Wednesday afternoon’s but the League’s renowned and much envied reputation continued to shine through due to the efforts of its Officers, club, players and match officials.
David Libby accepted the post of League President, a position he proudly holds to this day, renewing a long-term friendship with Mike Richards that goes back to their playing and working days. By now LMC meetings were being held at Hyde Park Social Club, after a brief spell at the Plymouth Argyle Vice President’s Club, with all the League’s priceless trophies proudly displayed at the new base.
The late Jack Finch came on board as the Referee Appointments Secretary in 95/96 with Terry Norman taking over from Bert Jeffery as League Secretary. Star team during this period was undoubtedly West Park Office who in the 95/96 season completed a hat trick of cup final victories, including the Devon County Midweek Cup, and were beaten finalists in another and they have continued their success right up to this present time winning numerous trophies under their new name of Hoppy’s Sports.
As the Centenary rapidly approached Jack Finch took over the mantle of League Treasurer, Graham Gordon became League Secretary and Steve Lyndon accepted the post of League Vice Chairman.
On the field the League went International in season 1998/99 with a team from the Kuwait Navy joining Division One and to celebrate the New Millennium a Ladies Section was formed with Eggbuckland Community College, Police, College of Further Education, Seale Hayne College and University of Plymouth all contesting the Alfred Gard Trophy, a solid silver cup dating back to 1913 and valued at £1000.
League records show that Eggbuckland won that historic first game, beating Police 6-2.
In this our Centenary season it is pleasing to see other educational establishments such as Torquay Boys Grammar School, Ivybridge Community College and Hele School (Ladies Section) all entering teams into the League structure already enhanced by Marjons, the University of Plymouth and Rolle College (Exmouth).
Long may their interest continue to compliment the excellent support received from the Services who readily offer the use of their excellent facilities for the League Cup Finals and representative matches.
With the support of our member clubs and sponsors and with a fine administrative team on board this great League will continue to overcome any pitfalls and continue to thrive with its jealously guarded reputation glowing for all look up to.
It has been rewarding to look back over the League’s history with many household names, on and off the field, passing through the ranks and it would only be fair to all not to roll out the scroll of names but I am pleased to have been able to have played in the League and still play a part, however small, in carrying forward the great name of the Devon Wednesday League.
Thanks to all those long gone stalwarts and best wishes to those entrusted with maintaining the richly deserved proud traditions of a great League.
Charles Sowden (Press Officer)
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website created by Vereleen M Finch
updated 18/08/04