Today the Clarets play host to
Hayes and Yeading United FC, a club born from the merger of local rivals Hayes
FC and Yeading FC just six years ago. Histories were linked when respective
chairmen, Derek Goodall and Phillip Spurden agreed that the only way that
either side could continue to compete at the current level was to join forces.
Hayes FC originated back in 1909,
when local youngsters formed a football team in which they could play for. They
were initially known as Botwell mission, taking the name from a mission church
that was built in honour of the founder’s grandfather. The name change came in
1929, where Hayes FC joined the Athenian league, and in their first season they
reached the final of the FA amateur cup. The fact that the club played all of
their games away from home right from the first qualifying round made this an
even bigger achievement. The season had been a success in the league, as Hayes
won the title on goal difference. However, they could not complete a double
when they turned out at St James’ Park in Newcastle, in front of 32,000 fans
for the cup final.
The match was lost to Wycombe
Wanderers, and Hayes were forced to wait until 1957 for another chance on final
day. Unfortunately for them the outcome could not be changed, and this time it
was Bishops Auckland that laid claim to the silverware that proved to be just
out of reach for the Middlesex club.
Meanwhile not too far from home, a
similar story was beginning to unfold, as brothers Ray and Carl Gritt founded
Yeading Youth club in 1960. The side started extremely well, and soon moved
into the West Middlesex Combination Premier division, immediately finding
success. Collecting league and cup honours along the way, Yeading FC escalated
the non-league pyramid, whilst near neighbours Hayes shared some success,
winning promotion to the Isthmian league in 1971/72.
As Hayes maintained their Isthmian
league status throughout the 1980’s, Yeading moved into the Spartan league,
going unbeaten through 1986/87. This won them promotion to the Isthmian League
Division Two South and the clubs grew even closer. Yeading then became the
first Middlesex side to win the FA Vase in a replay at Elland Road, Leeds,
after drawing the Wembley final.
A rivalry between the two clubs
emerged in 1992/93 when Yeading finally reached the heights of their neighbours
in the Isthmian league. Fixtures were played between the two sides until 1996,
when Hayes won promotion from the division on the final day by just one goal; a
battle which included four sides right until the final whistle. Hayes
maintained their place in the league until 2002, when they were finally
relegated, but the two sides were kept apart as Yeading had since dropped out
of the Isthmian league.
Hayes became one of the founder
members of the Conference South, where they were joined by Yeading for just a
few seasons until the merger was announced in 2007. Following their initial
season as one club, Hayes and Yeading fought a tough battle in the playoffs in
2008/09 to reach the height of the non-league pyramid, seeing off Hampton and
Richmond Borough in the final. The team were relegated back to the Conference
South in 2012, and are now into their second consecutive season at this level.
The visitors arrive today
occupying the final promotion playoff place after a solid start to the
campaign. Impressing greatly on their travels so far, six of their nine wins
have come on the road, giving Hayes and Yeading the best away record in the
division this term.
The side faced mixed fortunes in
the league last month, with a solo win against Whitehawk the only result that
went their way. Two losses came against
Weston-Super-Mare and Ebbsfleet, leaving the promotion hopefuls looking over
their shoulder as they dropped out of the top six. The side did manage to beat
Bogner Regis Town in the FA trophy, before exiting the competition later in the
month with a 1-0 loss against Barnet. All of these games were in front of their
home crowd, a series of fixtures that balanced up a widespread October, where
five out of six of their games were played away.
The current month did not start
well for the visitors, their first game coming in the Middlesex Senior cup, in
which they faced Harefield United. A near full strength side was fielded
against the Spartan South Midlands Premier outfit, but Hayes and Yeading failed
to display the dominance that their superior playing level would suggest. A 3-0
score line may have flattered the hosts, but a win was certainly deserved to
send the underdogs through.
Today’s guests did manage to turn
things around when they returned to the league, securing a convincing win over
Tonbridge Angles last weekend. Club top scorer Jake Reid opened the scoring
from the spot, keeping his cool and sending the Angels keeper the wrong way to
give Hayes and Yeading the lead. A wonder goal came just before half time for
Jack Mills, who rifled the ball into the back of the net from 30 yards
following some lacklustre defending. The second half saw Mitchell add a third
to secure a 3-0 win for his side, moving them back up to sixth place.
The game ahead looks like it could
be a thriller, with the sides free scoring in previous meets. Last season,
Hayes and Yeading won convincingly on home turf, knocking three past Chelmsford
without reply. However, the Clarets were to have the upper hand in a goal fest
back at the Melbourne Stadium, where the game finished 6-2.
City looked destined for a long
afternoon when goalkeeper Stuart Searle was stretchered off after just six
minutes. Without a replacement on the bench, Chelmsford were forced to rely on
midfielder Anthony Cook to keep the score down as he took the number one jersey
to see out his afternoon between the sticks. He did not let the side down as
Chelmsford took the game to their opponents, who at 2-1 faced their own issue
when they had a man sent off. Kyle Vassell ensured the win for his side in the
second half, hitting home two, with Jamie Slabber adding a third to complete
his hat-trick. Omer Riza completed the scoring on the day for Chelmsford,
sealing the victory in a game of non-stop action.
We hope for more of
the same today, and would like to take the opportunity to thank the travelling
fans for their attendance in our ‘Pay what you want’ game. We wish you a safe
journey home following the game this afternoon
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