West Hoathly Seagull
Honorary Ruffian
It got moved to Sydenham. My uncle's best friend, who lived in West Wickham, had a clear view of it burning down.
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Obscure places known only because of their football teams
- Thread starter philsussex
- Start date
It got moved to Sydenham. My uncle's best friend, who lived in West Wickham, had a clear view of it burning down.
Lord Bracknell
On fire
When I was a kid, the second team in Newport was Lovells Athletic, who were the works team for the local Lovell's sweet factory. A half-way decent team as well. They beat Bournemouth in the 1945/46 FA Cup 2nd round and went on to lose in the 3rd round to Wolves. They won the Welsh League six times and the Welsh Cup once. I remember going to see them lose a Welsh Cup final against Cardiff City, played at Newport County's barely neutral Somerton Park, only a mile away from Athletic's own ground.
Their most famous player ever was the legendary Bill Shankly, who signed for them when he discovered that they paid £5 a game, as opposed to the 30 shillings (£1.50) that Cardiff City had offered him. They packed up playing in 1969.
Their most famous player ever was the legendary Bill Shankly, who signed for them when he discovered that they paid £5 a game, as opposed to the 30 shillings (£1.50) that Cardiff City had offered him. They packed up playing in 1969.
West Hoathly Seagull
Honorary Ruffian
Was it not the case that Park Avenue was the more successful and better known club in Bradford? I understood City were fairly late on the scene. There was a feature on Park Avenue's old ground in one of Simon Inglis's Football Grounds books.
Lord Bracknell
On fire
Bradford City was the first of the two Bradford clubs to play in the First Division, but in the 1919/20 season, both Bradford City and Bradford Park Avenue were in the top flight. Park Avenue finished that season in 11th position, City in 15th.
The really interesting thing about Bradford Park Avenue is that they were originally a rugby league team. In 1907, the club members voted to abandon rugby league and play the round ball game. They applied to join the Football League, but were refused, so they went off to join (of all things) the Southern League. They finished in 13th position (the Albion were 17th). But this didn't stop them being elected to the Second Division of the Football League the following season. Tottenham Hotspur were the other side elected to the Football League in the same season, having finished 7th.
Why can't clubs buy promotion these days? I'm sure it would be cheaper than paying out good money on decent players.
Arsenal of course were named after Woolwich Arsenal and then moved from Woolwich to Highbury. Anyone who knows the two areas wouldn't question the sense in this move.
Straying slightly off the subject, but does anyone know why Tottenham and Arsenal hate each other so much? it isnt geographical closeness.
Jesus Gul
Well-known member
- Feb 23, 2004
- 5,513
The original Franchise FC
As Lord B points out, Bradford City were far more successful than Bradford PA (they even won the FA Cup in 1911). And Bradford City was founded in 1903, four years before Bradford PA.
When I was at Bradford Uni, the main place for student discos was Bradford cricket club, which was based at the old Bradford PA ground (like the old Northampton ground, it was used for league football and first-class cricket). It was bit weird looking out from the windows of a nightclub and see the floodlight pylons of a defunct football ground
Skintagain 1983
And Smith Did Score!
Austrian Gull
Well-known member
Hoffenheim was a good shout.
Auxerre is a relatively small town whose renown is pretty much due to its football team regularly playing in Europe over the last 30 years. Actually a really nice place in Burgundy.
Guingamp are famous for having a bigger stadium (18,000) than population (8,000) - it's a very small town in Brittany. Its finest side had Drogba and Malouda playing together in it.
Auxerre is a relatively small town whose renown is pretty much due to its football team regularly playing in Europe over the last 30 years. Actually a really nice place in Burgundy.
Guingamp are famous for having a bigger stadium (18,000) than population (8,000) - it's a very small town in Brittany. Its finest side had Drogba and Malouda playing together in it.
Mick Beard BHA
Hirsute
Good thread.
I'm going to suggest Montpelier in the south of france - briefly made famous (in my eyes anyway) because Carlos Valderamma played for them in the early 90's. They played Man U in the ECWC quarters i think, and wore some kind of weird white/blue shirt and orange shorts combo. Tasty.
It might be a bit of a touristy venue, but not as far as i know. Wouldn't have heard of it if it wasnt for footy.
I read an article once on the educational benefits of football a while back - sounds deathly dull but was actually very interesting. It made the point that, years back when they were league teams, without football people from eg. the South of england would never have heard of places like Workington or Barrow.
I'm going to suggest Montpelier in the south of france - briefly made famous (in my eyes anyway) because Carlos Valderamma played for them in the early 90's. They played Man U in the ECWC quarters i think, and wore some kind of weird white/blue shirt and orange shorts combo. Tasty.
It might be a bit of a touristy venue, but not as far as i know. Wouldn't have heard of it if it wasnt for footy.
I read an article once on the educational benefits of football a while back - sounds deathly dull but was actually very interesting. It made the point that, years back when they were league teams, without football people from eg. the South of england would never have heard of places like Workington or Barrow.
tonymgc
Banned
Resent. Tottenham resent Arsenal for moving from Woolwich to North London. Think there's a bit of envy based on the relative success of the two clubs too.
Funny thing is if Tottenham move to East London it wont be any different & they'll have to change their name to Stratford Hotspur. Franchising of epic proportions.
surrey jim
Not in Surrey
Macclesfield. What is there apart from the team??
- Jul 7, 2003
- 47,630
Silk. At least there used to be.
An interesting fact. Where do you get your stats from?
Quite surprised Gelsenkirchen hasn't had a mention yet. Unlike Wolfsburg or Eindhoven, this is a town only famous for it's football club, Schalke 04, one of the biggest in Germany.
Gelsenkirchen itself is f***ing miserable. Souless, concrete, non descript. It's been described as a German Croydon and that's probably about right.
Gelsenkirchen itself is f***ing miserable. Souless, concrete, non descript. It's been described as a German Croydon and that's probably about right.
Storer68
New member
Nope, name of the house that the club was formed in. As has been said they pay in Burslem.
Storer68
New member
err N5 and N17 are quite close
Home of brewing? SHAME ON YOU!!!
It ws famous in railway circles for having a steam locomotive shed called "Gelsenkirchen Bismarck"! That's quite a name.
Storer68
New member
Always thought Hearts was from Heart of Midlothian?
Sweaty Football is pretty dreadful on the whole - working offshore I can get to see lots of it if I want to....
Thankfully there are DVD Players in the cabins these days and I have lots of music downloaded on my laptop
But the ONLY football club to be named after a NOVEL.. Novel by Sir Walter Scott written in 1818. Football club formed in 1874.