Saturday 30 November 2013

Waltham Forest FC

Saturday 30th November 2013 Kick Off 15:00hrs                         

Ryman North Division

Waltham Forest 1 v Witham Town FC 5
Match Day Centre
Wadham Lodge Sports Ground
Kitchener Road
Walthamstow
London
E17 4JP

FootballFans.eu

Admission : £8
Attendance : 47
Tea : £1
Club Badge : £3.50
Weather : Not bad
Game number : 77 Ground number : N/A


Club History



Pennant Football Club was formed as a junior side in 1964, initially joining the South West Essex League. The league's Premier Division title was won by Pennant in 1972–73. Two seasons later the club joined the Metropolitan League, winning the league at the first attempt.

Pennant joined the London Spartan League in 1983, becoming a senior club. They finished 4th in the Senior in their first season, which was sufficient to gain promotion to the Premier Division. In 1988 neighbours Walthamstow Avenue were swallowed up by Redbridge Forest, so Pennant changed their name to Walthamstow Pennant in order to keep the footballing name of Walthamstow alive. The 1988–89 season saw the renamed club win the Spartan League Cup and the installation of floodlights installed at Wadham Lodge.

1990–91 saw Walthamstow Pennant win the Spartan League title by a single point from Barkingside with a 4–0 defeat of Thamesmead Town in their final game. A double was achieved through the defeat of Haringey Borough in the League Cup. However, promotion to the Isthmian League was denied due to inadequate ground facilities and the league's rejection of a proposed groundshare at Leyton-Wingate.

In 1995–96 neighbours Leyton saw no future at their ground and moved to Wadham Lodge, incorporating Walthamstow Pennant. The club was renamed Leyton Pennant, and assumed Leyton's place in the Isthmian League. By 1999–2000 the club was struggling on and off the pitch, resulting in a very poor run of form and relegation to the Isthmian League Second Division. 2000–01 saw great inconsistency in results, accompanied by one of the poorest disciplinary records in the whole of English football.

It was eventually announced on 14 March 2008 that the club would leave their home of 12 years, Wadham Lodge, at the end of the season. However, an increase in the rent saw the club move out early, playing their final home game at the Lodge on 24 March 2008, a 1–0 home defeat to Ilford, which put the Stags back in the relegation mire, however the team eventually secured survival in the penultimate game, a 3–0 victory at Enfield Town.

For the start of the 2008–09 season, Waltham Forest F.C. moved in as tenants of Ilford, and played their home games at Cricklefield Stadium.

In July 2013, Waltham Forest F.C. announced that the club would be returning to the borough after a five-year exile in Ilford, Essex, securing a lease at their former ground at the Wadham Lodge Sports Ground on Kitchener Road, Walthamstow.

 



Tea Hut from an ex freight container - very ingenious those East Enderers 

 
Club house.


 
Usual rubbish. 

 
Another new feature for 2014 - training goals.



 
Great terracing at Forest. On my previous visit this area was so over grown it was not possible wander (safely) around this part of the ground. It is good too see the "jungle" cleared for Waltham Forest's tenure. 


 
Expect the sponsors are pleased with this one.




 
The lonely Forest Fan.


 
Main stand.


 
Meet Ray "The Rattler" Rankins.
 



 
A rare Forest goal.



 




 
The End.


 

No comments:

Post a Comment