Cockfosters F.C.

Cockfosters
Full name Cockfosters Football Club
Nickname(s) "Fosters"
Founded 1921 (as Cockfosters Athletic)
Ground Cockfosters Sport Ground, Cockfosters
Ground Capacity 1,000
Chairman Ron Syrett
Manager Dean Barker
League Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division
2015–16 Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division, 9th
The club's home ground
Cockfosters Football Club gate

Cockfosters Football Club is a football club based in Cockfosters in the London Borough of Enfield, England, which competes in the Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division.

History

The club was originally formed in 1921 by local residents and the ground allocated to the club by Lady Bevan, from her family estate. The first league entered by the club was the local Barnet League and moderate success was enjoyed as the club moved through the lower divisions.

The 1930s saw the original club joined by the successful Cockfosters Juniors and the “new” club joined the stronger Wood Green League. Promotion was again achieved through the lower divisions, culminating in season 1938–39 with the first of two “trebles” won in the club’s history, winning the Wood Green League’s Premier Division, the League Cup and the Barnet Cup.

After the war the club moved its two sides into the Northern Suburban Intermediate League, a very strong local league of that time. Season 1946–47 saw the club finish as runner-up in the League’s First Division and promoted to the Premier Division. The next season saw relegation, but in 1949–50 the First Division title came to Chalk Lane and in the very next season the runners-up spot in the Premier Division. The late 1940s also saw success in a number of local cup competitions, but for most of the 1950s the club struggled with no honours coming its way.

The start of the 1960s saw a re-awakening of the club and the Northern Suburban League’s First Division title again came to Chalk Lane, with the Premier Division Championship following in the very next campaign. The Barnet Cup and the Barnet Charity Cup finals were reached regularly with both trophies being won on a couple of occasions. The 1966–67 season saw the club gain entry to the Herts County League and the very first season saw the league's Division One title at Chalk Lane.

Twenty-five seasons were spent in the Herts Senior County League and all but the very first were spent in the league’s Premier Division. In that time the London F.A Intermediate Cup was won twice, the Herts F.A Intermediate Cup once, with three other appearances in the final. The Herts Senior County League Cup (The Aubrey Cup) was won twice, with two other losing finals played. In season 1978–79 the club won their second “treble”: the Herts County League's Premier Division title, the Aubrey Cup and the Herts F.A. Intermediate Cup under the managership of Roy Reeder,a former player and Captain.

The following nine seasons saw the Premier Division title won twice more, both under different managers, firstly in season 1980–81, when former Barnet player Jeff Voyce was in charge and then again in 1983–84 with Colin Bell at the helm. During this period the Aubrey Cup was again won and the club twice finished as runner-up in the Premier Division. During the twenty-five years in the Herts Senior County League the club's Reserve team also enjoyed a great deal of success with an appearance in the final of the Herts F.A. Junior Cup. The League’s Reserve Cup was won, with two other appearances in the final. The Division One title was won twice and the runners-up spot achieved on three other occasions.

Throughout most of the 1980s the First and Reserve teams were rarely out of the top four positions in their respective divisions when the final league tables were published.

In 1991 the club gained “Senior Status” from its parent F.A. (London) and an application was accepted by the London Spartan League for entry into their Premier Division. Following the amalgamation of the Spartan League with the South Midlands – to form the Spartan South Midlands League – in season 1997–98. The club failed to retain its Premier Division status and were placed in the SSM League’s Senior Division (now known as Division One).

In 1998–1999 the club switched their Reserves from the Middlesex County League, where they had played for the previous eight seasons and had won the Senior Reserve Division once and been runners-up twice, into the Spartan South Midland League and were placed into Division One of the Reserve Section.

In the 2005–06 season the club introduced a Youth team at under-18 level, competing in the Southern Counties Floodlit Youth League.

For the season 2006–07 former player David Craig was appointed as club and First Team Manager, assisted by two other former players, Mark Standen and Ray Farley. This resulted in an immediate upturn in the club's fortunes with the First Team being promoted into the Premier Division and the Reserve team being promoted back to Reserve Division One. With the elevation into the Premier Division of the Spartan South Midlands League the club was accepted into the FA Challenge Cup for the first time in their history. Following a poor run of results during the early months of season 2008–09 the resignation of the above management team was accepted and they were replaced by Neil Ewing assisted by Ron Syrett, who had for the previous three season been in charge of the very successful reserve team. Despite struggling in the league for most of this season the club did manage to avoid finishing in a relegation position. However, due to planning refusals by the London Borough of Enfield, the club was unable to upgrade their facilities to the level required by the Football Association for clubs competing in the SSM League’s Premier Division and were demoted back down to Division One for the 2009–10 season.

Following disappointing results during the early part of the 2010–11 season, the management team of Neil Ewing and Ron Syrett stood down and were replaced by Mark Adams assisted by Vince Purdue, who had previously had a successful period managing Northwood Reserves in the Suburban league.

In the October of the 2011–12 campaign Mark Adams resigned due to family commitments. Vince Purdue and then Don Bennett had periods in charge of the First Team, but by mid-March 2013 both left due to personal commitments. The club promoted Reserve Team Manager Mick Roche to First Team Manager from mid-March 2013. The 2012–13 season saw Mick Roche continuing at the helm, assisted by Dave Clark and Fabio Valenti. A successful season culminated in taking the Division One Runners-Up spot on goal difference & thereby gaining promotion to the Premier Division. The side also had some good cup runs, reaching the 2nd Round Proper of the FA Vase, losing at SSML Premier Division title contenders Oxhey Jets, the semi finals of both the SSML Challenge Trophy and Division One Cup and were finalists in the South Midlands Floodlight Cup,losing at Oxhey Jets. Steve Rolfe joined the club from Cheshunt FC to take charge of the Reserves in the SSM League's Reserve Division One. The side finished in 5th place & also reached the London FA Intermediate Cup semi-finals. The Under 18 youth team, managed by Paul Boxer assisted by Steve Foot, competed in the Olympian Division of the Southern Counties Floodlit Youth League.

2013/14 saw the First Team back in the SSML Premier Division after a gap of four seasons with Mick Roche continuing as First Team Manager, again assisted by Dave Clark and Fabio Valenti. The season proved to be a successful one, the side finished in 8th place and won the SSM League's Challenge Trophy and the South Midlands Floodlight (Senior) Cup. Steve Rolfe continued as Reserve Team Manager, this time assisted by Chris Agapiou.The side finished 3rd in the SSML's Reserve Division One & were finalists in the South Midlands Floodlight (Reserve) Cup.

The under-18 youth team, managed by Paul Boxer and assisted by Steve Foot, were winners of the Southern Counties Floodlit Youth League's Nemean Division and were runners-up in the League's Divisional Winners Play-Off Final. The season saw the youth team enhanced with a get-together with Whetstone Wanderers. Following a meeting back in the summer of 2013 between the two clubs' committees an agreement was reached for the Wanderers' Under 15 and Under 16 teams to play under the Cockfosters FC name in the Eastern Junior Alliance League. It is hoped this new 'affiliation” will be of great benefit to both clubs & should provide a continuity of players moving up into the Under 18's, Reserves and First Team.

Season 2014–15 started with Mick Roche continuing as First Team Manager assisted by Fabio Valenti and Peter Grant. Dave Clark having to step down due to his work commitments. There was a new Reserve Team Manager - Mark Mezen - who had been involved in local football, both as a player and as a coach, for several seasons.

For the Senior sides season 2014-15 proved to be an extremely difficult one. Around mid-season the entire management team together with virtually the whole of the First Team squad moved to Edgware Town. This resulted in several changes to both management and players for both First and Reserve teams for the remainder of the season. The First Team managed to retain their Premier Division status within the SSML.

The one bright spot for the season was the performances of the Youth Section, The U18 side won the Olympian Division of the Southern Counties Floodlit Youth League and then went on to beat Luton Town in the League Divisional Play-off Final. The U15 side finished runners-up in the Herts Division of the Eastern Junior Alliance League, whilst the U13 side finished in 3rd place in the Essex Division of the EJA and won the Herts FA Sunday Youth (U13) County Cup.

Season 2015–16 will see a ‘new beginning’ for the club, former player Dean Barker, who holds the club record for most goals (48) in a season, having been appointed manager whilst the management of the Youth teams (U18s, U16s and U14s) remains unchanged.

Ground

Cockfosters play their home games at Chalk Lane, Cockfosters, Hertfordshire, EN4 9JG.

Reserves

Cockfosters have a competitive reserve team who currently compete in the Reserve Division South & East.[1]

Personnel

Current technical staff

Position Staff
Manager Dean Barker[2]

Club honours

Season Team Trophy 1924-25 First R/Up Wood Green Auxiliary Lue - 4th Div. 1925-26 First R/Up Barnet & District Lge - 2nd Div. 1931-32 First Winners Wood Green Auxiliary Lge - 2nd Div. 1933-34 First Winners Wood Green Auxiliary Lge - 1st Div. 1938-39 First Winners Wood Green Auxiliary Lge - Pre Dv. 

                 First    Winners Wood Green Auxiliary League Cup
                 First    Winners Barnet Cup

1946-47 First R/Up Northern Suburban Inter Lge - 1st Div. 1948-49 First R/Up Northern Suburban Inter Lge - 1st Div.

                 First    Winners Barnet Cup

1949-50 First Winners Northern Suburban Inter Lge - 1st Div

                 First    Winners Barnet Cup

1950-51 First R/Up Northern Suburban Inter Lge - Pre Div. 1960-61 First Winners Nth Suburban Inter League - 1st Div. 1961-62 First Winners Northern Suburban Inter Lge - Pre Div. 1962-63 First Winners Barnet Cup 1964-65 Reserves R/U Nth Suburban Inter Lge - Reserve Dv 1965-66 First R/U Nth Suburban Inter Lge - Pre Div.

                First  Winners Nth Suburban Lge RF Wells Sports’ship  Trophy
                Reserves   Winners Nth Suburban Inter Lge - Div. 2
                'A' Tm.       Winners Wood Green Lge - Junior Cup

1966-67 First Winners Herts County Lge - 1st Div. 1967-68 Reserves Winners Nth Suburban Inter Lge - 1st Div.

                'A' Tm.   Winners Nth Subrbn Interm Lge. -  Junior Cup

1968-69 'A' Tm. R/Up Northern Suburban Lge - Division 2

                'A'  Tm.  R/Up Nth Suburban Inter. Lge - Junior Cup

1970-71 First Winners London FA Intermediate Cup

                First   R/Up Herts County Lge.  -  Aubrey Cup
                Reserves   R/Up Herts County League - 3rd Div.

1971-72 First R/Up Herts FA Intermediate Cup

                Reserves  Winners Herts County Lge. - Reserve Cup

1972-73 Reserves R/Up Herts FA Junior Cup 1973-74 First R/Up Herts FA Intermediate Cup 1974-75 First R/Up Herts FA Intermediate Cup

                'A' Tm.  R/Up Northern Suburban Lge Benevolent Cup

1977-78 First R/Up Herts County Lge. - Aubrey Cup 1978-79 First Winners Herts County Lge. - Premier Div.

                First   Winners Herts County Lge.  - Aubrey Cup
                First   Winners Herts FA Intermediate Cup
               'A' Tm.  R/Up Northern Suburban Lge. - Division 1
               'A' Tm.  Winners Northern Suburban Lge Benevolent Cup

1979-80 Reserves R/Up Herts County Lge. - Reserve Cup 1980-81 First Winners Herts County Lge. - Premier Div. 1982-83 First R/Up Herts Senior County Lge. - Premier Div.

                Reserves  R/Up Herts Senior Cty Lge. -  Reserve Cup

1983-84 First Winners Herts Senior Cty Lge. - Premier Div.

               Reserves Winners Herts Senior Cty Lge - Reserve 1st Dv

1984-85 First R/U Herts Senior Cty Lg.e - Premier Div.

                First  Winners Herts Senior Cty Lge. - Aubrey Cup
                Reserves  R/Up Herts Senior Cty Lge. - Reserve 1st Div

1986-87 Reserves R/Up Herts Senior Cty Lge. - Reserve 1st Div 1987-88 Reserves R/Up Herts Senior Cty Lge. - Reserve 1st Div 1989-90 First Winners London FA Intermediate Cup 1990-91 Reserves Winners Herts Senior Cty Lge - Res. 1st Dv 1992-93 'A' Tm. Winners Mid-Herts Lge. - Premier Div.

                'A' Tm.  R/Up  Mid-Herts Lge. - Bingham Cox Cup

1995-96 Reserves R/Up Middx County Lge. - Senior Reserve Div

                'A' Tm.  Winners Middlesex FA Junior Cup
                'A' Tm.  Winners Mid-Herts Lge. -  Premier Shield

1996-97 Reserves Winners Middx. Cty Lge - Senior Reserve Dv 1997-98 Reserves R/Up Middx. Cty Lge. - Senior Reserve Dv

               'A' Tm.  R/Up  Mid-Herts Lge. -  Premier Div.
               'A' Tm.  Winners Mid-Herts Lge. - Bingham Cox Cup

2005-06 Reserves Winners Sth Midlands Floodlight Reserve Cup 2006-07 First R/Up Spartan Sth Midlands Lge. - Div. 1

               Reserves  R/Up Spartan Sth Midlands Lge Reserve Dv 2 
               Reserves  R/Up Sth Midlands Floodlight Reserve Cup
               'A' Tm.   Winners Middlesex County Lge. -  Reserve Cup

2007-08 First Winners South Midlands Floodlight Cup

               Reserves  R/Up  Spartan Sth Midlands Lge. -  Res. Div 1
               Reserves  Winners Spartan Sth Midlds Lge - Reserve Cup

2012-13 First R/Up Spartan Sth Midlands Lge. - Div. 1

               First  R/Up South Midlands Floodlight Cup

2013-14 First Winners Spartan Sth Midlnds Lge Challenge Trophy

               First  Winners South Midlands Floodlight Senior Cup
               Reserves  R/Up South Midlnads Floodlight Reserve Cup

2014-15 First R/Up Middlesex Senior Charity Cup 2015-16 First R/Up Middlesex Senior Charity Cup

The information on Cup and other honours has been updated to show the honours won since the club was founded.

References

  1. ↑ "Mitoo". mitoo.co. Retrieved 3 July 2016.
  2. ↑ "Cockfosters F.C new Manager | Former player Barker returns to take charge of Cockfosters (From Times Series)". Northlondon Today. 2013-05-02. Retrieved 2013-06-16.

External links

Coordinates: 51°39′11.621″N 0°9′6.772″W / 51.65322806°N 0.15188111°W / 51.65322806; -0.15188111

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