History Page

More photos can be seen at the bottom of the page.

• In the Beginning

One of the Old Boys referees mentioned to Eddie Myers that he tended the garden for an Old Thorntonian and gave him his address. I then wrote to him asking for his memories that I could share with you. The following letter just blew me away. Without comment the content is below :

'Dear Mr Clarke,

I must say that your letter of 8th February set me back a bit - some 75 years ! Sorry not to have replied to it sooner. I don't think I can add much of interest to the information in the copies of The Bat and The Thorntonian which the O.T.F.C., or its parent O.T.A., no doubt have. But here goes.

I left school - Battersea County as it was then, soon to be metamorphosised into Henry Thornton, at the end of the summer term 1925,  joining the Old Boys Association straightaway and, over the next few years, serving on the Committee and then as Chairman. So I was in touch with the footballing developments,  the forming of the O.T.F.C. in 1928 and its admission to the London Old Boys League (affiliated to the Amateur Football Association) in 1930 and its rapid promotion to the Senior Division in 1932. During this time I was playing for L.S.E. 1925-30 and I was in South Africa 1931-32.

I played for Old Thorntonians over the six seasons 1933-4 to 1938-9. Despite this handicap, the club reached the heights, rising steadily in its first two seasons in Division 1 and then, in 1934-5, finishing Champions - I thought you might like to have the enclosed copy of our commemorative team photograph. We maintained good form over the ensuing four seasons up to the war.

An outstanding memory, however, is the dashing of our hopes when we played away against classy Hastings & St.Leonards in the 3rd round of the A.F.A. Senior Cup in 1934. Our centre forward, A.G.('Dick') Oliver got the first goal, but it flattered to deceive and we finished 9-1 down, somewhat to the derision of a partisan local crowd. The ball was very heavy (they often were in those days) and my own few corner kicks scarcely carried the nearside goal post. We'd brought champagne for our stimulation at half-time, but it went rather to our boots than, as intended, to our heads.

Our home matches were played on a very good pitch on the then King's College ground at Lavender Avenue, Mitcham, and after a good tea, we would repair to the Swan Inn for an hour or two. Beer was 4d. (1.6p!) a half pint. We used public transport.

In sum, our football over the first, the pre-war, decade of the O.Thorntonians F.C. was on an enjoyable upward curve.

After the war I played cricket for the O.T.C.C. from 1951 to 1969, but since then have been largely out of touch with things Thorntonian. From your letter I surmise that the O.T.F.C. is in good hands and thriving. I do not have my own access to the internet but courtesy of my granddaughter, I have made a brief inspection of your website (visitor 269!). Without anything to compare it with, I am nonetheless greatly impressed.

I am just a little curious to know who gave you my name.

Best wishes for future successes.

Alfred Charles'

We have put some old photo's in here and welcome additions.

	Old Thorntonian Group Photo 1973/74
Second XI - 1973/74 standing from left to right : Don Bruce, Eddie Myers, Neil Tutt, Peter Whitbread, Dave Sealey, Dave Wilgoss. sitting : Eddie Emmott, Les Williams, Colin Corby, Dave Bagshaw, Rick John.
	Second XI - 19xx/xx standing from left to right : Alan Thorpe, Dave Kelly, Mark Betteridge, XX, Terry Refausse, Trevor Dingley. sitting : Dave Sealey, Dickie Woods, John Billot, Tony Crouch, Pete Jablonski.
Third XI - 19xx/xx standing from left to right : Dave Street, Russell Whiter, Alan Thorpe, Paul Bagshaw, Eamon O'Flynn, Andy Ruffell, Kevin Bracegirdle, sitting : Bob Haydon, Dave O' Flynn, Dickie Woods, Eric Mitchell.
	Easter Tour to Amsterdam 1985 standing from left to right : Jeff Clarke, Russell Whiter, Phil Astell, Eamon O'Flynn, William Martin, Barry Reddick, Ray Killick. sitting : Andy Ruffell, Dave Sealey, Derek Sneyd, Dave O'Flynn, Frank Cronin and Tim Munden.
Easter Tour to Great Yarmouth 1986 standing from left to right : Phil Ruffel, Frank Cronin, Derek Sneyd, William Martin, Andy Ruffel Toby Gorman, Dave Sealey, XXX XXX, Jeff Clarke. sitting : Barry Reddick, Andy Snedden, Tim Munden, Graham Clayton XXXX XXXXX and Alan Wilkinson.
	Second XI - 1999/00 - Winners of Division 5 South standing from left to right : Mike Hoare, Michael Yates, Derek Whitty, XXX XXX, Tony Horrell, Bob Hussan, Trevor Messer, Jeff Clarke. sitting : John Davies, Phil XXXXX, Alan Grantham, John Marland, Bernie Murphy and Neil Ackrall.
Micky Surridge Presentation 19 November 2000 The familar faces of (left to right) Wilf Forsyth, Terry Refausse and Eddie Myers can also just be seen.
	First XI - 2000/01 - Runners Up of Division 1 South standing from left to right : Craig Wells, Richard Lundie, Jeff Clarke, Anthony Dolan, Danny Woods, Alan Humphries, Andy Charles, Andrew Macka Mccormack. sitting : Fraser Wells, Paul Walsh, John Marland, Paul Jablonski, Glenn Hines.
A Selection of Old T's - 1960 ?? standing from left to right : John Esmonde, Guest, Brian Cousins, Colin Simpson, Trevor Dingley, Neil Tutt, John Billot, Micky Harris, Guest, Colin Hudnott, Guest,  Steve Headey, Ian MacLeod, Mike Overton. sitting : Eddie Emmott, Kenny Bethell, Keith Nelson, Roger Chivers, Mike Surridge, Howard Dingley, Tony Crouch.
	First XI - 1996/97 - Winners of the Surrey A.F.A. Intermediate Cups standing from left to right : Pete Jablonski, Dave Charles, Bob Dell, XXXX, XXXX, Errol Johnson, Stuart Currall, XXX, Jerry's brother. sitting : Romak Cutereba, John Murphy, Jerry Yard, Bob Hussan, Mike Hoare and Arnie Smith.
Vets XI 1984/85 standing from left to right : Dicky Wood, Leon Ling ?, John Cammell, John Billot, Steve Jauncey, Trevor Hughes, Dave Wilgoss, Neil Tutt. sitting : Peter Jablonski, Kevin Bracegirdle, Mike Surridge, Eddie Myers, Dave Sealey.