Lower Mead ~ Record victories ~ Wembley ~ TV coverage ~ FA CUP 1st round  ~ Record crowd ~Athenian League champions

A new ground at Lower Mead was ready for the start of the 1922/23 season and the Club had hoped to compete in the Athenian League but their application was rejected. However, a further application to the Spartan League was accepted. Although Wealdstone never won the Spartan League they did record their biggest wins during the time they were members of that league. A 22-0 victory over The 12th London Regiment (The Rangers) in a FA. Amateur Cup tie in 1923 was followed three years later by a 16-2 Spartan League triumph over Hertford Town, both matches taking place at Lower Mead.

Programme away to Chesham from 1923/24

In 1928 Wealdstone were accepted into the Athenian League replacing Summerstown also acquiring their main stand. This was same stand (with a few alterations) that was present to the very last days of Lower Mead. During the 1929/30 season the Middlesex Senior Cup and Middlesex Charity Cup were both won for the first time.

Wealdstone programme from 1936 & the line up.

Wealdstone Middx Senior & Charity Cup winners

WEALDSTONE FC 1940~41

Since then Wealdstone have won the Senior Cup a further 10 times and the Charity Cup has been won another 8 times as well as being jointly held with Wembley FC on two other occasions. However, the Club has not added to these totals since 1985.

Wealdstone made their first of three Wembley appearances in June 1942 when winning the Middlesex Red Cross Cup, defeating an RAF Uxbridge team who included several professional payers in the final.

In December 1944 Wealdstone suffered their heaviest defeat to date, going down 14-0 to Edgware Town in a London Senior Cup tie.

During the II World War The Stones competed in the Middx & Herts League and the usual county cups.

Wartime Programmes away to Southall in above competitions.

In October 1946 Wealdstone were involved in the one of the first televised football matches, the BBC showing part of their Athenian League match at Barnet.

On 26th February 1949 Wealdstone played in the 4th round of the FA Amateur Cup v Leytonstone, the holders for the last 2 seasons. The Stones drew 1-1. In the replay on 5th March 1949 at Lower Mead a record attendance was achieved of 13,504, Stones losing 4-1.

Wealdstone also took part in the first two 'live' FA. Cup ties ever to be seen by viewers when the whole of their victories over Edgware Town and Colchester United were televised by the BBC in November 1949. Later that month Wealdstone met a Football League side in the FA Cup for the first time when they travelled north to meet Port Vale in the First Round Proper. A crowd of 15.300saw the amateurs go down 1-0 to a 25th minute goal against their professional hosts. Goalkeeper Danny Wiltshire was the hero for Wealdstone making a number of outstanding saves and receiving a standing ovation at the end of the match.

In 1951/52 Wealdstone won what can be considered their first major championship when winning the Athenian League.     

Extracts from a programme of the 51/52 season.

Images and programmes from the 50s

An historic moment for the club in 1962 when the club played it's first ever home game under floodlights. They were the first amateur club in Middlesex to do so and the first in the Athenian league, ahead of the likes of Hendon, Enfield and Barnet.

Programme from the first floodlit game v Wycombe Wanderers.

Throughout the 50s and 60s many Wealdstone legends played for the club. In the Athenian League championship side, the aforementioned Danny Wiltshire. The polish pair of Wegrzyk and Mikrut. Mikrut, a fine header of the ball, is said to have broken an opponents leg with a diving header. Later into the 50s Viv Evans made his first appearance for the club. Being one of the clubs most loyal servants playing through the 50s and 60s he was our record goal scorer until George Duck made history..