Burley District Football - a history upto 1940
The interest in researching Burley in Wharfedale's football history was sparked by a sentence on the local team Burley Trojans FC web page, about the history of their club.
Wanted to know the year when Burley won the cup (& a little about the other two clubs they mentioned - Burley Grove United & Burley National School Old Boys). From the initial research, what became apparent was that much of the Burley Trojans version of the history wasn't correct.
It would have been a lot easier & whole lot less time consuming to just pick apart & amend what Burley Trojans had put & leave it at that, as its only a web page that can be changed. But wanted to know more .................. the clubs, the grounds, the people - players, administrators, referees & anyone else connected to the game. Any images - individuals, team photos etc. Any artefacts or memorabilia that might be still around.
To understand the outline research results, it helps to know something about the history of football in England & the research problems that have arisen. Hence the two panels at the bottom of this page - "England Football History" & "Research Issues".
History of Football in Burley District & Wharfedale
As with all the web pages under Burley Archive, this research project (& this webpage itself) is on-going, if you can help with any aspect of it, then please get in touch via the contact form.
Particularly interested in images, photos of local players, administrators etc., and family connections with any of the clubs and sports that have existed in Burley in Wharfedale & district, pre-1940.
(If you have anything sport related across all years that would be of interest too).
Particularly interested in images, photos of local players, administrators etc., and family connections with any of the clubs and sports that have existed in Burley in Wharfedale & district, pre-1940.
(If you have anything sport related across all years that would be of interest too).
Summary of the research as of November 2019 Pre-1900/1 season Clubs: Burley Football Club, Burley Young Men's Friendly Society, Burley in Wharfedale Football Club, Burley Old Football Club. Pitches: Oak Avenue, St. Mary's Parish Church field, Clarence Field, Walton Park (Greystone). 1901/2 season - 1913/14 season Clubs: Burley Victoria Association Football Club (AFC), Burley in Wharfedale AFC , Burley in Wharfedale AFC Reserves, Burley Rangers AFC, Burley United AFC, Burley United AFC Reserves, Church Lads AFC. Pitches: the Recreation Ground, West Terrace, Hodson Park - Langford Lane enclosure, Walton Park. 1914 - 1918 - World War 1 1918/19 season - 1939/40 season Clubs: Burley in Wharfedale AFC, Burley in Wharfedale AFC Reserves, Burley Church, Burley White Star, Burley Social Union, Burley Social Club, Burley S. M., Burley Grove United, Burley National Schools Old Boys, Burley Trojans. Pitches: Hodson's Park - Langford Lane enclosure, the Recreation Ground, Peasborough field, West Terrace. |
Notes on Research Sources: Primarily the British Newspaper Archive - both the genesreunited's & the British Library's versions. Others include football club websites; wikipedia plus books, local libraries & the Burley Archive in Burley in Wharfedale Community Library. Seasons: As stated in the "Research Issues" panel - the football season generally runs from August of one year to May of the next. The research follows the seasons. Snippets: Rather than bore people with all the snippets that have been collected from the British Newspaper Archive (BNA)(see "Research Issues" panel), what you see here will be extracts of the relevant ones. Other sports clubs in the same time period:
Burley District Cricket: Burley & Greenholme Cricket Club (c1852), Burley Clarence Cricket Club (changed name to Burley in Wharfedale Cricket Club), Burley Victoria Cricket Club, Burley Wesley Cricket Club, Burley in Wharfedale Women's Cricket Team "Greenholme Girls". Burley in Wharfedale Athletic Club - Athletics including pedestrianism (walking races) & cycling. Greenholme Club - Hockey & Tennis. Burley Rugby Union Football Club. |
Pre-1900/01 season
Struggling to come up with a narrative for the early years of association football in Burley in Wharfedale.
The men & women of Greenholme Mills and the surrounding district, were involved in all manner of sporting & recreational activities - athletics, cricket, pedestrianism (walking races), cycling & rugby etc. So its very likely that football in the form of the association code was played by them. It didn't require much to play the game in those early years - a field, a ball, two sticks to show the goals and a line to mark the extent of the pitch. But so far drawn a blank on actual association football teams.
The men & women of Greenholme Mills and the surrounding district, were involved in all manner of sporting & recreational activities - athletics, cricket, pedestrianism (walking races), cycling & rugby etc. So its very likely that football in the form of the association code was played by them. It didn't require much to play the game in those early years - a field, a ball, two sticks to show the goals and a line to mark the extent of the pitch. But so far drawn a blank on actual association football teams.
The rugby football union code certainly existed in the shape of:
Burley Football Club (c1881)
From a newspaper cutting in Burley Archive, a rugby union match played in October 1881 against Otley at Burley, gives the names of the players of the two teams.
Otley: J. Mason, R. Barrett, P. Clapham, C. Cooper, H. Fieldhouse, H. Holmes, G. D. Summerscales, C. Holmes, J. Summerscales, T. Vickers, J. Chew, S. Armstrong, J. Kelly, J. Wood, and H. D. Payne.
Burley Football Club: J. W. Clarke, W. E. Marriott, H. Lees, S. Laycock, T. Hughes, H. Lund, J. Haxby, A. Lund, J. W. A. Black, T. Town, Myers, T. Preston, H. B. Summerscales, G. W. Marriott and E. Thompson.
Otley won by one goal, one try and five touch-downs to two touch downs.
Otley: J. Mason, R. Barrett, P. Clapham, C. Cooper, H. Fieldhouse, H. Holmes, G. D. Summerscales, C. Holmes, J. Summerscales, T. Vickers, J. Chew, S. Armstrong, J. Kelly, J. Wood, and H. D. Payne.
Burley Football Club: J. W. Clarke, W. E. Marriott, H. Lees, S. Laycock, T. Hughes, H. Lund, J. Haxby, A. Lund, J. W. A. Black, T. Town, Myers, T. Preston, H. B. Summerscales, G. W. Marriott and E. Thompson.
Otley won by one goal, one try and five touch-downs to two touch downs.
Burley Young Men's Friendly Society (c1887 - c1894),
Burley in Wharfedale Football Club (c1889),
Burley Old Football Club (c1894 - c1898) - junior side.
Home ground: Oak Avenue.
Don't know where the ground itself would be - possibly where the allotments are now. Alternatively the ground could have been in Peasborough field - the site now of Burley Woodhead Primary School - with access via Oak Avenue.
Players Burley Old Football: E. Taylor, J. Crossland, W. Pearson (capt), O. Marsden, J. Loughey, A. Miller, T. Steele.
Home ground: Oak Avenue.
Don't know where the ground itself would be - possibly where the allotments are now. Alternatively the ground could have been in Peasborough field - the site now of Burley Woodhead Primary School - with access via Oak Avenue.
Players Burley Old Football: E. Taylor, J. Crossland, W. Pearson (capt), O. Marsden, J. Loughey, A. Miller, T. Steele.
Association Football
1901/02 - 1913/14 seasonsBurley Victoria Association Football Club
This is the first club to be found so far. They may be connected to, the now demolished, Victoria Hall in Peel Place. Have discovered an intriguing reference to "the old St. Mary's club" being the original name for Burley Victoria AFC. This reference is in a newspaper article about a Feast match between Burley Victoria and Burley United in 1910.
Status: Junior Club
Home Ground: possibly in the field to the north of West Terrace. (In the 1930s it was known to have a field hockey pitch, a rugby union pitch & a cricket pitch). Another possibility has arisen - Oak Avenue, where Burley Old Football Club (rugby) played.
An article from the Leeds Mercury on 3rd Oct 1901 says that they're a football club "in Wharfedale". At a meeting of the Bradford & District Football Association they were admitted into the association along with Guiseley New Scarborough. Following this they posted an advert asking for fixtures with junior teams. 1901/02, 1902/03, 1903/04 & 1904/05 seasons League or Fixtures: unknown at present (Note: Burley Victoria Cricket Club pre-dates the football club. It too played junior team fixtures, in May 1902 it played the second team of Burley in Wharfedale Cricket Club. Other fixtures included: Addingham 'A', Otley Parish Church, Yeadon Wesley, Pudsey Trinity Free Church, Guiseley Primitives, Pool and Armley Baptist. Their home cricket pitch was at Oak Avenue). 1905/06 season League: Wharfedale Junior League 1905/6, along with Burley Rangers AFC. Fixtures: Menston St. John’s, Yeadon St. Andrew, Guiseley Corinthians, Guiseley St. Oswald's, Guiseley United, Otley Britannia, Swaine Hill Crescent. 1906/07 season: no info at present 1907/08 season: no info at present 1908/09 season: League: not known Fixtures: Guiseley Church Lads, Ilkley 2nd Team, 1909/10 season: League: not known Fixtures: Esholt Reserves, Addingham Celtic, Pool Reserves. 1910/11 season Fixtures: Pool Church Lads (Bridge Field, Pool), Otley Carlton Street. Burley Victoria Football Club appear to stop playing at end of the 1910/11 season. The reason for this is they had taken over Burley in Wharfedale AFC in 1909 when the latter club had financial difficulties. Burley in Wharfedale Association Football Club
Was founded in the spring of 1904.
They applied & were admitted to the Bradford & District League First Division & entered for the West Yorkshire Cup competition for the 1904/5 season. According to the Yorkshire Evening Post of 16th July 1904, they were in "negotiation for a ground & had already signed several very good players".
They also put together a Reserve team, which was entered into the Otley & District Junior League. Status: Senior Club with Reserve team Home ground: Hodson's Park / Langford Lane enclosure. 1904/05 season
League: Bradford & District First Division Cups: West Yorkshire Cup, Bradford & District League Cup. Fixtures: Bingley, Otley, Dalcross, Four Lane Ends, Menston, Guiseley Celtic, Manningham Reserves, Swaine Hill, Park View. Reserve team: Otley & District Junior League Fixtures: Guiseley Recreation, Otley White Star, Otley Queen's Hall, Yeadon Albion. Players: Summerscales, G. Hanson. 1905/06 season
Burley in Wharfedale AFC (seniors) switched leagues & entered into the West Yorkshire League 2nd Division. Fixtures: Thornhill Lees Albion, Swaine Hill United Senior Players: J. F. Robinson, J. Limham, Samms, Crowther, Whitehead Cups: Wharfedale & Airedale District Cup - reached the semi-finals lost to Menston. Other semi-final Guiseley Celtic v Bingley. Guiseley Celtic 1906 cup winners. In Oct 1905 they played Bradford City AFC in a friendly fixture as part of that year's Burley Feast attractions.
1906/07 season
League: West Yorkshire League 2nd Division
Fixtures: Swaine Hill United Cups: Wharfedale & Airedale District Cup. Again reached semi-finals, lost again. Guiseley Celtic 1907 Cup Winners.
1907/08 season
From a newspaper cutting in Burley Archive, it states the club used the Queens Head as HQ & the adjoining Constitutional Club rooms as dressing rooms.
League: West Yorkshire League 2nd Division
Burley in Wharfedale AFC West Yorkshire League 2nd Division Champions 1908. Fixtures: Otley Queen's Hall, West Riding Regimental (Halifax), Ravensthorpe, Settle, Keighley Celtic, Fairweather Green. Players: L. Atkinson (goal), A. Wilcock, C. Hall, O. Hinton, H. Brear (capt.), G. W. Samms, Ledger, F. Knowles (goal), F. Hazier, J. Suddards, G. Hinton, G. Keenan, H. Scaife, William Preston, S. Wallace, G. Hanson, E. Bartle, T. Mee, G. Wilby, E. Newby, A. Billington. Cups: West Yorkshire Cup - Fixtures: Mirfield United Airedale & Wharfedale District Cup.
1908/09 season
Formation of Wharfedale & District Football Association.
Creation of two leagues: Senior League with 10 clubs & Junior League with 8 clubs.
Burley in Wharfedale AFC in Senior League (Or called 1st Division or 1st League).
Fixtures: Horsforth, Calverley, Guiseley Celtic, Addingham, Otley, Otley Church Institute, Menston, Rawdon Villa, Esholt. Players: "Burley turned out with six of last season's players, and the following new men were included :— E. Wilkinson. B. Whittaker" - W&A Observer Sept 1908. Wharfedale Cup Final – Horsforth v Barnoldswick United (3-1) Burley in Wharfedale AFC AGM July 1910 article in Wharfedale & Airedale Observer. Summarises the takeover of the club by St. Mary's / Burley Victoria in August of 1909 & the paying off of outstanding balances from the 1908/09 season. 1909/10 season
Burley in Wharfedale AFC – dispenses with the paid services of Bradford based players & to play an all local team.
Wharfedale League 1st Division & Wharfedale Cup competition. League Fixtures: not known at present. Cup: Burley in Wharfedale AFC v Burley United – 1st Round Wharfedale Cup, result 4-1. Burley in Wharfedale AFC Player William Preston broke his arm in an accidental collision. 1910/11 season Fixtures: Addingham Trinity, Shipley St. Paul's, Otley Athletic. |
Victoria Hall was built in 1888 to commemorate the jubilee of Queen Victoria. It had many uses: originally a drill hall for the Burley detachment of the Duke of Wellington's West Riding Regiment 3rd Battalion Rifle Corps volunteers; a cinema; a dance hall, a meeting room etc.
Junior & Senior Teams or Clubs
Junior teams or clubs could be the reserve teams of the Senior clubs and/or teams deliberately set up as amateur clubs i.e. they didn't pay players to play for them - such as church teams. Senior clubs were either semi-professional or a mix of paid professionals (recruited from all over the district) and amateurs from the locality. County & District Associations The governing bodies of the game & the clubs themselves, were in a constant state of flux. Primarily because of money. Gate receipts from paying spectators was the main source of income for senior & junior clubs. Each county & district association wanted their cut. If clubs reached the semi-finals & finals of cup competitions, all the gate receipts went to the associations. Crowds of 2000 & more were common. In 1905 the senior clubs in Wharfedale decided to form their own association with the idea of setting up their own league & cup competitions. Out of this came the Wharfedale Junior League. In Oct 1907 the West Riding County Football Association agreed to share cup semi-final & final receipts with the 4 competing clubs. In Aug 1908 came the formation of the Wharfedale & District Football Association, affiliated to the West Riding County Football Association. 1908/09 season - Wharfedale (& District) Association creates two leagues one Senior (10 clubs) & one Junior (8 clubs). Hodson Park / Langford Lane enclosure
Burley in Wharfedale AFC home ground from 1904. At the present time its not known where precisely in Hodson Park the football enclosure was situated. It's probable that Hodson Park was a lot bigger then, as per the image from the OS Map of 1909, than it is now. What is known is the enclosure would have consisted of a 6ft to 7ft high wall or fence, enclosing a football pitch of dimensions (roughly) 114yds x 74yds (105m x 68m) with an area for paying spectators all the way round it. In various snippets & articles its referred to as the Langford Lane enclosure. So from this its presumed that the site and/or its entrance was somewhere along the Langford Lane side of Hodson Park. Match reports tell of the players kicking up the slope. From the 1920s onwards, Hodson Park became the home of Burley in Wharfedale Cricket Club. What is not clear at present is did Burley in Wharfedale Cricket Club share Hodson Park with the football enclosure? The football ground pre-dates the cricket pitch. But in c1924/25 the cricket club bought Hodson Park. (Perhaps they only bought part of it i.e. an area large enough for a cricket ground). A possible arrangement of a cricket ground next to a football enclosure that still exists, would be Nethermoor Park, Otley Road, Guiseley - the home of Guiseley Cricket Club & Guiseley AFC. Recreation Grounds
The recreation grounds as we know them today, aren't the same as times past. For one thing the by-pass slices through the recreation grounds of old. The Recreation Ground marked on the map was opened in 1899 as "Fison Park". This was added to so that the recreation grounds of old stretched from the current one to Iron Row, then all across the back of Spring Gardens, taking in the whole of Long Meadows housing estate up to Leatherbank. On the map below where it says Victoria Hall there was a cricket pitch called Peel Park. To the west & east of Iron Row, another football & rugby pitch & recreation area. Between Victoria Hall & Leatherbank - rugby pitch, field hockey pitch & cricket pitch. Burley Rangers AFC Very little is known about them at present. They were a junior club playing in the Wharfedale Junior League in the 1905/6 to 1907/08 seasons. Fixtures: Menston St. John’s, Yeadon St. Andrew, Guiseley Corinthians, Guiseley St. Oswald's, Guiseley United, Otley Britannia, Swaine Hill Crescent. Burley Church Lads AFC Another club with little info at present. They first appear in the fixtures of the 1907/08 season in the Wharfedale Junior League playing Rawdon Albion (Nov 07) & Otley St. Vincents (Jan 08) Players: A. Robinson (goal), O. Howe, H. Brine, E. Hanes. They then reappeared in the same league in 1908/09 season playing Otley Recs (Oct 08), Rawdon Albion & Otley Church Institute Reserves (Nov 08). Burley United Association Football Club
Believe to have been set up in 1906, as they held their first AGM in 1907, and as a Junior club.
Home ground: a pitch behind West Terrace. 1906/07 season: League: not known Players: Barrett, Fixtures: Otley Britannia, Guiseley White Rose. 1907/08 season:
League: not known Fixtures: Arthington, Addingham, Otley Queen's Hall 2nd team, Ilkley Parish Church, Bradford St. Judas. Players: H. Sunderland (goal), T. Mann. 1908/09 season:
League: not known at present. Possibly Wharfedale Association Junior League. Think the fixtures & results of this league are now called "Ordinary" ones in the papers in which case: Fixtures: Pool, Horsforth Villa, Menston Reserves, Bradford Christ Church, Ilkley, Rawdon Albion, St. Margaret's. 1909/10 season:
League: not known at present.
Fixtures: Ilkley, Yeadon Celtic, Washburn Rovers, Addingham, Pool, Bertram (Bradford), Otley Church Institute. Wharfedale Cup: In the first round Burley United AFC played Burley in Wharfedale AFC - possibly the first ever meeting of the two Burley clubs. Burley in Wharfedale AFC won 4-1. 1910/11 season:
In Sept 1910, Burley United decide to join Wharfedale League. League: possibly Wharfedale Senior League - same one as Burley in Wharfedale AFC, or Wharfedale Junior League. Fixtures: Pool, Esholt, Guiseley, Apperley Bridge, Calverley, Bertram (Bradford), Menston, Horsforth West Park,
The undated image below of Burley United AFC was sent to us by Peter Small. His grandfather Joseph Small is second from the left on the front row.
Joseph Small was born in Burley in Wharfedale in 1891. Back Row L to R: 1 ??; 2 ??; 3 ? Mann; 4 H. Sunderland (GK); 5 J. Sutherland; 6 W. ?. Front Row L to R: 7 ??; 8 Joseph Small; 9 A. Sutherland; 10 ? Emmott; 11 R. Hardisty. |
Burley Juniors 1910
This image of a Burley In Wharfedale football team is listed in the Burley Archive as being "Burley Juniors of 1910". Its not clear at present if this means a reserve side of one of the senior sides such as Burley in Wharfedale AFC or another Burley side who may play in the Wharfedale Junior League.
Reserve sides usually played in the same strip as the main team, these lads' strip doesn't match with either of the senior sides in Burley of the time.
August 1911 - Amalgamation of Burley in Wharfedale AFC & Burley United AFC into Burley AFC
Sept 1911 - Practice Game - Blues v Stripes – possible reference to colour of strips of the 2 original teams. According to a newspaper cutting from the Wharfedale & Airedale Observer, the game was won by the Blues 3-2. Livingstone, Currie & Phillips scoring for the Blues & Vine and Pinder scoring for the Stripes. The first proper match of the new Burley AFC was at home against Calverley United. |
1911/12 season
Wharfedale League
Burley AFC Senior Team Players: O. Mann (goal), H. Brear (capt), G. Phillips, F. Brumfitt, G. White, J. Ledger, Vine, John Wood Preston (Woody). Fixtures Senior team: Calverley United, Menston, Horsforth, Guiseley, Yeadon Celtic. Oct 1911 - Burley AFC v Harehills Amateurs Burley Feast match). Burley AFC Second team (or Burley AFC Reserves or Burley AFC “A” team).
Fixtures: Guiseley St. Oswald's, Pool United, Idle Primitives. |
1912/13 season
Wharfedale League
Fixtures: Guiseley Celtic, Baildon Parish Church, Addingham, Menston Britannia, Guiseley St. Oswalds, Rawdon, Otley Old Boys. Wharfedale Cup final - Horsforth v Burley. Horsforth won. The image above of Burley AFC is dated 1913 in the Burley Archive. It could relate to either the 1912-1913 season or the 1913-1914 season.
In the Burley Archive Objects collection is a Wharfedale Football League medal awarded in 1913 to Harry Preston (1892-1961).
The back of the medal (see the Preston Family web page) has his name, the year & the "Wharfedale Cup". The winners in 1913 were Horsforth & the runners up Burley AFC, but maybe all participants were awarded medals.
1913/14 season
Wharfedale League
Fixtures: Baildon Parish Church, Guiseley St. Oswalds, Rawdon, Otley Old Boys, Addingham, Guiseley Celtic, Harrogate West Park, Harrogate YMCA, Ilkley, Horsforth Reserves, Yeadon Celtic. |
A mystery football photo from the Peter Mann Collection in Burley Archive.
We know its of a football team from Burley in Wharfedale, as all pictures in the Peter Mann Collection are taken there. But we don't know which team it is & can't decipher the precise date on the football. Its presumed the "BAFC" stands for Burley AFC & the date is sometime in the 1910s.
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First World War or the "Great War" - 1914/15 season to 1917/18 season
Most professional & amateur leagues & cup competitions nationwide were suspended in April 1915, after a public outcry. A few continued to the end of the 1914/15 season, mainly schools football.
Most of the Wharfedale clubs disbanded in November 1914, including Burley AFC who sent 30 members to various branches of the armed forces.
From 1915 to the 1917/18 season a fair number of friendly football matches were held across the country. Played under strictly amateur rules, with the League & Cup element eliminated.
In Jan 1918 - Burley United AFC reformed, to play a match against Tong Park at Tong.
Most professional & amateur leagues & cup competitions nationwide were suspended in April 1915, after a public outcry. A few continued to the end of the 1914/15 season, mainly schools football.
Most of the Wharfedale clubs disbanded in November 1914, including Burley AFC who sent 30 members to various branches of the armed forces.
From 1915 to the 1917/18 season a fair number of friendly football matches were held across the country. Played under strictly amateur rules, with the League & Cup element eliminated.
In Jan 1918 - Burley United AFC reformed, to play a match against Tong Park at Tong.
1918/19 season
In Sept 1918, Burley United AFC placed an advert requesting:
"Home and away fixtures from September 28th 1918 to April 30th 1919, with any replies to go to Ernest Howe, 9, North Parade, Burley-in-Wharfedale". Don't think it was too successful, can't find any fixtures or results for them. The First World War ended in November 1918. In Dec 1918 the Wharfedale & District Football Association was revived. In Jan 1919 Burley in Wharfedale AFC reappeared & entered the Wharfedale Cup, where they lost to Yeadon Celtic in the semi-final in Apr 1919. |
1919/20 season
Wharfedale & District Football Association to run 2 divisions.
Burley in Wharfedale AFC
Home Ground: Hodson Park / Langford Lane enclosure.
Wharfedale League 1st Division:
Fixtures: Baildon, Tong Park, Otley Parish Church, Menston, Rawdon, Ilkley, Park View, Baildon Parish Church, Horsforth Reserves, Guiseley, Green Lane (Yeadon), Yeadon White Rose, Yeadon Celtic.
Burley in Wharfedale Reserves played Apperley Bridge in a qualifying round of the Wharfedale Cup.
Home Ground: Hodson Park / Langford Lane enclosure.
Wharfedale League 1st Division:
Fixtures: Baildon, Tong Park, Otley Parish Church, Menston, Rawdon, Ilkley, Park View, Baildon Parish Church, Horsforth Reserves, Guiseley, Green Lane (Yeadon), Yeadon White Rose, Yeadon Celtic.
Burley in Wharfedale Reserves played Apperley Bridge in a qualifying round of the Wharfedale Cup.
In Feb 1920 - Tong Park resigned from the Wharfedale League, unable to raise team & funds exhausted.
In Apr 1920 - Wharfedale Cup final – Apperley Bridge v Horsforth Reserves at Rawdon – Horsforth won in front of 4000 paying spectators.
1920/21 season
Burley in Wharfedale AFC
Wharfedale League 1st Division: Fixtures: Moorhead Amateurs (Shipley), Addingham, Horsforth Reserves, Yeadon Celtic, Green Lane (Yeadon), Horsforth St. Margaret's |
Burley Grove United AFC
A new Burley in Wharfedale football club.
Burley Grove United possibly derived from Burley United AFC.
Home ground: Known to have played on a pitch located between end of Prospect Road & Bradford Road. Later switching to some part of the "Recreation Ground". The label on the photo from Burley Archive says 1920, though "Burley Grove" only appears in the fixtures from the 1922/23 season onwards. Walter Flesher (1894-1994) is standing 2nd from left on the 2nd row.
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1921/22 season
Burley in Wharfedale AFC
Wharfedale League 1st Division (or Senior Division): Fixtures: Horsforth Reserves, Bingley Town, Otley Parish Church, Moorhead Amateurs (Shipley), Green Lane (Yeadon), Menston United, Grove United (Horsforth), Ilkley, Rawdon, Bingley Town, Guiseley Springhead, Horsforth Ex-Servicemen. West Riding Junior Cup: Burley in Wharfedale AFC v Menston. Burley players: Merrington, Arundel, Robson, Greenwood, Town, Phillips, Rosendale. Burley AFC Reserves. Wharfedale League 2nd Division (or Junior Division): Fixtures: Yeadon White Rose, Menston Reserves, Springhead United, Horsforth Featherbank, Otley Parish Church Reserves, Grove United Reserves, Pool, Horsforth Woodside, Ilkley Reserves, Moorhead Amateurs Reserves, Otley St. Joseph’s. |
Burley Church Social Union AFC
An image found in the newspaper cuttings of Burley Archive. The caption states they were Wharfedale Cup finalists in the 1921/22 season. The officials & team members are listed as: Back row - S. Bowman, B. Mountain, J. Barrett, G. Galling, A. Vine, J. Parker, W. Collins, G. Edwards, W. Greenroyd, T. Hogg & J. Currie. Front row - A. Galling, J. Thackray, C. Miller, J. Turner & H. Lawson.
The photo above of the Burley Church Social Union AFC from the 1921/22 season has caused a bit of a problem. Can't find any fixtures for them in that season & they might be one of two sides in the 1922/23 season - Burley Church AFC or Burley Social Union - see below.
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1922/23 season
There was a re-organisation of football in Wharfedale & the surrounding districts.
The Wharfedale League Senior division remained, but a new cup competition was created for them - the Wharfedale League Cup. The Wharfedale Cup (also called the Wharfedale Challenge Cup) remained - open to all clubs who were members of the Wharfedale Association.
Below the Wharfedale League, there's a new Wharfedale Junior Combination League made up of 30 junior clubs, split into 2 divisions - a senior league & a junior one. The Wharfedale Combination League secretary is Mr. W. H. Cockram of Elm Grove & the president Mr. Robert Peel, both of Burley in Wharfedale.
The combination league teams have their own cup too - The Wharfedale Junior Cup
County wise, saw the formation of the West Riding Amateur League.
The Wharfedale League Senior division remained, but a new cup competition was created for them - the Wharfedale League Cup. The Wharfedale Cup (also called the Wharfedale Challenge Cup) remained - open to all clubs who were members of the Wharfedale Association.
Below the Wharfedale League, there's a new Wharfedale Junior Combination League made up of 30 junior clubs, split into 2 divisions - a senior league & a junior one. The Wharfedale Combination League secretary is Mr. W. H. Cockram of Elm Grove & the president Mr. Robert Peel, both of Burley in Wharfedale.
The combination league teams have their own cup too - The Wharfedale Junior Cup
County wise, saw the formation of the West Riding Amateur League.
Wharfedale League Senior Division
Burley in Wharfedale AFC Home ground: Hodson Park/Langford Lane enclosure. Fixtures: Guiseley, Horsforth Featherbank, Esholt, Ilkley, Shipley Moorhead Amateurs, Horsforth Reserves, Otley Parish Church, Yeadon Green Lane, Menston, Bingley Old Boys, Addingham. Ilkley AFC 1922-1923 team. Info & image courtesy of Malcolm Wadsworth
Back Row L to R: E. Wiseman; J.E. Schultz; W.E. Richardson; W. Layburn; E.E. Scott (capt); L. Stapleton; G. Stapleton; R. Law (Hon Sec). Front Row L to R: G. Strickland; J. Wall; R. Bentley (Malcolm Wadsworth step-dad); F.S. Jackson (President); E.R. Heywood; N.P. Ambler. |
Wharfedale Junior Combination League & Wharfedale Junior Cup 4 new junior Burley in Wharfedale association football clubs make their appearance in the fixtures & results of the 1922/23 season. Have no other information about them at present. Burley Church AFC - possibly a revival of the "Burley Church Lads" from the 1907/08 to 1908/09 seasons. Burley White Star Burley Social Union - only appear in the Wharfedale Junior Cup. Burley S. M. - could translate to Burley St. Mary's church - only appear in qualifying round of Wharfedale Junior Cup. Burley Grove United AFC are still competing, based at the Recreation Ground. The newspapers & their snippets only occasionally separate out the fixtures & results for the two divisions of the Wharfedale Combination League. More often than not they're combined. So the following is just a list of the known teams in the two leagues of 1922/23 season: The first 10 are probably the senior or 1st division - Ilkley, Pool Bank, Lister Hill Baptist, Addingham Celtic, Menston St. John’s, Guiseley Athletic, Otley, Horsforth Old Boys, Guiseley Church, Burley Church AFC. The next batch probably junior or 2nd division - Otley North End, Otley Red Rose, St. John’s, Menston Corinthian, Otley White Rose, Rawdon Church Institute, Horsforth Batchelor Lane, Otley White Star, Ilkley, Horsforth L.H., Yeadon Moorfield, Horsforth St. Mary's, Yeadon Wesley, Otley Mills, Otley Athletic, Yeadon Primitive, Burley White Star, Burley Grove United AFC. |
1923/24 season
Wharfedale League (Senior) - appears to be in trouble with the defection of a number of senior clubs to other leagues - such as the Wharfedale Combination and to Bradford District & Leeds District. Although other clubs may have joined to make up the numbers. Yet to find many details on who's gone & who's come in.
Burley in Wharfedale AFC Fixtures: Guiseley Reserves, Yeadon Green Lane, Esholt and Ilkley. They don't appear to be running a reserve team. |
Wharfedale Combination 1st Division - restricted to 14 clubs, players are eligible up to 23 years of age.
Burley Social Club - either another new club or a change in name of the "Burley Social Union". At this stage don't know if it has any connection to the Burley Miniature Rifle & Social Club at Hill Top, Burley in Wharfedale (see panel below). Fixtures: Addingham Celtic, Ilkley Baptist, Otley Red Rose, Yeadon Moorfield, Guiseley White Rose, Guiseley Church, Rawdon Church Institute, Menston St. John’s, Yeadon Athletic Burley village website history of Burley Social Club: Originally opened in 1913, its premises included a miniature shooting range until well after the end of the second world war. It then became purely a social club, though it continues to be generally referred to as "The Rifle Club". A snippet from the Leeds Mercury casts doubt on the date of 1913 as the opening of "The Rifle Club". WHAT THE RIFLE SHOOTER LACKS. Mr. E. P. Arnold-Forster, Burley-in- Wharfedale, fired the first shot at a new miniature rifle range at Burley last night, and scored a good “inner.” Leeds Mercury 2nd Oct 1907. Now believe this article is referring to a miniature rifle range installed at Victoria Hall - the drill hall in Peel Place. |
Wharfedale Combination 2nd Division - restricted to 14 clubs and players are eligible up to 19 years of age. Burley Grove United AFC Fixtures: Yeadon Wesleyan, Horsforth Batchelor Lane, Rawdon Church Institute Reserves, Otley White Star, Yeadon Primitive. Similar to Burley AFC, they don't appear to be running a reserve side. |
1924/25 season
Burley in Wharfedale AFC defects from the Wharfedale League & moves to the Bradford Amateur League, Senior 2nd Division.
Fixtures: Clayton, Shipley United, Woodbottom, Springhead United, Bradford Rovers, Northcote Athletic, Tyersal, Calverley Reserves, Woodend Albion, Fleece United, Adwalton Zion, Ashley United, Morley Carr WMC, Drighlington. Players: Hudson, Schick, Booth , Walker, Firth, Whittaker, Pearson, Wilkinson, Miller, Rossendale and Burke. Cup competitions: Wharfedale Challenge Cup 1st Round – Burley in Wharfedale AFC v. Yeadon Moorfield Bradford Amateur League Senior Cup - Bolton United v Burley in Wharfedale AFC (4-1) |
Wharfedale Combination
At present can't find any fixtures or results for either the Senior or Junior Divisions of this league. Suspect it fell apart after the death of the driving force behind it, the secretary Mr. W. H. Cockram of Burley in Wharfedale, in Jan 1923. Apart from Burley Grove United, (see below), the other clubs themselves don't appear anywhere either. Bit of a puzzle at the moment. Burley Grove United AFC - currently believe they've joined the Wharfedale League. But as the snippets keep showing only "Burley" as the club, can't be certain.
In April 1925 a "Burley" side drew 2-2 with Ilkley. Shipley Times & Express Friday May 8th 1925:
The Wharfedale League was won by Otley AFC (formerly Otley Parish Church AFC). The other teams were: Baildon, Addingham, Green Lane, Burley, Ilkley, Menston, Bradford, Guiseley, Pool. Mr F. Fattorini of Menston - President of the Wharfedale League. Interesting article in the Leeds Mercury on Monday 4th May 1925 "VILLAGE SPORTS CLUB. A three day Japanese bazaar was opened at Burley in Wharfedale yesterday to raise funds for a sports club for the village. A central field has been purchased at a cost of £l,OOO, and a sum of about £5OO has been spent in preparing the ground and providing equipment. The opening ceremony yesterday was performed by Mr. Guy Fison, Ilkley." There's a distinct possibility that this is the purchase of Hodson Park by the Burley in Wharfedale Cricket & Sports Club. (In todays terms £1000 equates to £40,000). |
1925/26 season
More strange happenings in the world of Wharfedale Association football - the Wharfedale Senior League appears to have gone completely, but the Junior League appears to be continuing with Burley Grove United AFC.
Burley in Wharfedale AFC
Bradford Amateur League Senior 2nd Division.
Fixtures: Morley Carr WMC, A.E.U. (Engineers), Princeville United, Crag Road United, Bolton United, Acton Athletic, College Chapel, Cockersdale Rangers, Ashley United Old Boys, Sun Rovers, Thornbury Old Boys. |
Burley Grove United AFC
Wharfedale League Junior or 2nd Division
Fixtures: Tong Park, Yeadon Green Lane, Menston St. John’s, Otley, Ilkley, Guiseley, Cup: Wharfedale Cup Semi- Final – Tong Park v Burley Grove United. (2-1) |
1926/27 season
Burley in Wharfedale AFC
Have no data at present, possibility they've folded. But usually if that happens there tends to be a notice of resignation or withdrawal etc at an association meeting. Can't find one.
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Burley Grove United AFC
Wharfedale League Junior / 2nd Division
Fixtures: Guiseley Factory Workers, Tong Park, Otley, Yorks E.P.C, Bradford Banks, Addingham. Cup competition: Wharfedale Shield final, lost to Yeadon Green Lane. |
1927/28 season
Wharfedale Association football. Only 3 teams applied to join the Wharfedale Senior League for the 27/28 season - Burley Grove United AFC, Yeadon Green Lane & Menston St. John's. The junior section continues.
Oddly Burley Grove United are running a Reserve team in the Juniors, but can't find any league fixtures for the seniors.
Oddly Burley Grove United are running a Reserve team in the Juniors, but can't find any league fixtures for the seniors.
Burley in Wharfedale AFC
A snippet in the Shipley Times & Express of 21st April 1928 has a result from the Yeadon Hospital Cup of Burley v Farsley Celtic (1-3). |
Burley Grove United AFC
Home ground: Recreation Ground Senior Team Fixtures: no data available. Cup: Wharfedale Challenge Cup - Burley Grove United v Yeadon Wesleyans Burley Grove United Reserves/Juniors Fixtures: Brysilka Limited Sports Club, Horsforth St. Mary, Benton Park, Rawdon Church Reserves, Guiseley Primitives, Yeadon White Rose, Yeadon Wesleyan, Yeadon Park View, Menston St. John’s Junior. |
1928/29 season
Burley Grove United AFC
Senior Team Fixtures: no data available. Cup: Wharfedale Challenge Cup: Menston St. John's Seniors v Burley Grove United (6-3) Burley Grove United Reserves Fixtures: Otley Albion, Arthington Reserves. |
The lack of data from the 1926/27 to 28/29 seasons about the association football clubs in Wharfedale could be reflecting problems with the British Newspaper Archive, (see Research Issues) perhaps the publications of the time haven't been scanned. Rather than the status of the football clubs themselves being in doubt.
1929/30 season
No data available for Burley in Wharfedale AFC, now assuming its folded.
Burley Grove United AFC
Burley Grove United (1st Team)
Wharfedale League 1st Division Fixtures: Otley, Rawdon Old Boys, Bingley Old Boys, Menston St. John, Old Salts, Shipley Young Workers, Rawdon Old Boys, Bingley Old Boys, Yeadon Green Lane, Middleton Inst., York Road, Horsforth Prov., Addingham. Cups: Wharfedale F.A. Charity Cup, Wharfedale League Cup. |
Burley Grove United (Reserves)
Wharfedale League 2nd Division - consists of 9 clubs. Fixtures: Guiseley Albion, Yeadon Parish Church, Horsforth St. Margaret, Yeadon Moorfield, Otley Albion, Otley Primrose League, Yeadon Temperance Hall, Guiseley Primitive Cups: |
1930/31 season
Burley Grove United AFC
Burley Grove United (1st Team)
Wharfedale League 1st Division Fixtures: Menston St John, Addingham, Otley, Otley Albion, Guiseley Albion, Woodhouse Amateurs, Esholt United Players: W. Woodhead, B. Mann, H. Clough, Harry Driver (Back row, 1st left), D. Hardisty, W. Grange, J. Lupton, N. Wilkinson, R. Cliffe, Frank Miller, C. Shepherd, J. Barrett. (Harry Driver, Frank Miller & D. Hardisty are also Burley in Wharfedale Cricket Club players). Cups: Wharfedale Challenge Cup, Wharfedale Association Supplementary Cup, Wharfedale Cup. Winners of the Robert Peel Shield Trophy. |
Burley Grove United (Reserves) "A" Team Players: C. Rayner,
A. Browne, E. Browne, A. Fairburn, A. Galling, J. Webster, F. Peace, Arthur Sunley, E. Lomas, T. Clough, William (Bill) Whitaker. Fixtures: Bradford Technical College In the 1930-31 image of Burley Grove United Reserves, Bill Whitaker is top row, 2nd from right.
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1931/32 season
Burley Grove United AFC
Burley Grove United have defected from the Wharfedale League & joined the Bradford & District F.A. League.
Other clubs have also abandoned the Wharfedale League.
Other clubs have also abandoned the Wharfedale League.
Burley Grove United (1st Team)
Bradford & District F.A. League Fixtures: Salem Athletic, 6th West Yorkshire Regiment, Wibsey, Bradford Rovers, St. Bede’s Old Boys, Bradford Cleansing Dept, Marshfield Athletic, Park Lane Athletic, Idle, P.S. Coates, Bolton Woods, Bradford Goods, Low Moor L.M.S., New Lane Mills. Cups: Bradford Senior Hospital Cup, Wharfedale Challenge Cup, Wharfedale Supplementary Cup |
Burley Grove United (Reserves)
No data available. Or they're not running a second team. |
1932/33 season
Burley Grove United AFC
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Burley National School Old Boys AFC
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Shipley Times and Express - 3 Sep 1932 - "Burley Lad for Bradford City - Frank Miller, one of the outstanding players of the Burley Grove A.F.C., has been signed on by Bradford City as an amateur. Miller, who is an inside left of considerable merit, is 20 years of age & stands 5ft. 9 in tall and weighs 10st. 6 lb. He has played with Burley Grove first team for three seasons, and is regarded as a player of fine promise, with a powerful shot and effective ball control. He attracted the attention of other first-class clubs last season, when he was the second highest scorer for Burley." League: Bradford & District F.A. League
Fixtures: St. Bede’s Old Boys, Idle, Harden United, Bradford Rovers, 6th West Yorkshire Regiment, Low Moor LMS, Alston Works, Bradford Cleansing Dept, Marshfield Athletic, Bradford L.M.S., Slackside. Cups: Wharfedale Challenge Cup, Bradford League Cup |
A new Burley in Wharfedale club, they first appear in the snippets attending a Wharfedale & District Football Association meeting in February 1933.
They played a preliminary round tie of the "Fattorini Shield" competition against Rawdon Old Boys Reserves in the same month. Result unknown. Yorkshire Evening Post - 5 Jan 1933 - "SIR FREDERICK WALL, secretary of the Football Association, was greatly impressed by an exhibition of floodlight football which was played at the White City Stadium last night." He was equally impressed by an experiment in numbered shirts in Mar 1933 as reported in the same newspaper. |
1933/34 season
Burley Grove United AFC
Home Ground: Recreation Ground
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Burley National School Old Boys AFC
Home Ground: Recreation Ground (Alternating home & away fixtures with Burley Grove United).
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Burley Grove United & Burley National School Old Boys have both entered the Wharfedale Football League.
Known teams in the League: Esholt United, Rawdon Corinthians, Otley A.F.C., Horsforth Woodside, Ilkley British Legion, Guiseley Providence, Yeadon Albion.
The first meeting in Oct 1933 of the two Burley in Wharfedale sides, results in a 5-3 win for Burley Grove United.
Cups: Wharfedale Challenge Cup, Wharfedale League Cup.
Burley Grove United AFC, winners of both the Wharfedale League Cup & the Wharfedale Football League in 1934.
Known teams in the League: Esholt United, Rawdon Corinthians, Otley A.F.C., Horsforth Woodside, Ilkley British Legion, Guiseley Providence, Yeadon Albion.
The first meeting in Oct 1933 of the two Burley in Wharfedale sides, results in a 5-3 win for Burley Grove United.
Cups: Wharfedale Challenge Cup, Wharfedale League Cup.
Burley Grove United AFC, winners of both the Wharfedale League Cup & the Wharfedale Football League in 1934.
1934/35 season
Burley Grove United AFC
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Burley National School Old Boys AFC
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Burley Grove United & Burley National School Old Boys are both entered in the Wharfedale Football League.
The other teams in the League: Esholt United, Rawdon Corinthians, Otley AFC, Charlestown, Tong Park, Yeadon Albion, Horsforth United Unemployed, Ilkley British Legion, Otley 280th Battery, Otley North Parade Old Boys, Horsforth St. Margaret's, Yeadon White Rose.
Cups: Wharfedale Challenge Cup, Wharfedale League Cup.
The other teams in the League: Esholt United, Rawdon Corinthians, Otley AFC, Charlestown, Tong Park, Yeadon Albion, Horsforth United Unemployed, Ilkley British Legion, Otley 280th Battery, Otley North Parade Old Boys, Horsforth St. Margaret's, Yeadon White Rose.
Cups: Wharfedale Challenge Cup, Wharfedale League Cup.
Burley Grove United players: J. Brogan, A. Robinson, F. Peace, Frank Miller, I. Wilkinson, D. Hardisty, L. Carter, J. Lupton.
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Burley National School Old Boys players: Stirk, Barrett, Clapham, Clarkson.
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1935/36 season
The Wharfedale League expands to two divisions. A senior or first division and a junior or second division.
Burley National School Old Boys are no longer involved. No specific information as to why, but suspect that Burley Trojans took it over from the inside, hence their unusual name.
Burley National School Old Boys are no longer involved. No specific information as to why, but suspect that Burley Trojans took it over from the inside, hence their unusual name.
Burley Grove United AFC
Home ground: Recreation ground.
League: Wharfedale League Division 1 Fixtures: Addingham, Baildon Athletic, Charlestown, Esholt United, Horsforth Hotspurs, Ilkley British Legion, Otley AFC, Otley North Parade School Old Boys, Rawdon Corinthians, Tong Park & Yeadon White Rose. Players: F. Peace, Shepherd. |
Burley Trojans FC
A new Burley in Wharfedale football club. Home ground: Recreation ground. As with Burley National School Old Boys they alternate home & away fixtures with Burley Grove United. League: Wharfedale League Division 2 Fixtures: Addingham Reserves, Esholt United Reserves, Ilkley British Legion Reserves, Otley North Parade School Old Boys Reserves, Otley Parish Church, Rawdon Benton, Rawdon Canadian Rovers, Rawdon Corinthians Reserves, Yeadon Amateurs, Guiseley Corinthians. Players: J. Sykes, Dennis Howe, A. Wilkinson, Roy Herrin, Billy Horsman, Gordon Clarkson. The image above of Burley Trojans FC comes from the 1935-1936 season. The Cup displayed could be the championship trophy of the Wharfedale League Division 2.
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1936/37 season
Wharfedale League still in 2 divisions.
Burley Grove United have withdrawn from the Wharfedale League Division 1. No information at present as to why.
Burley Trojans FC remain in Division 2.
Burley Grove United have withdrawn from the Wharfedale League Division 1. No information at present as to why.
Burley Trojans FC remain in Division 2.
Burley Trojans FC
Another line-up of Burley Trojans FC from the 1930s.
Back Row: 1. ?? 2. Roy Herrin 3. Dennis Howe, 4. ?? 5. Billy Horsman, 6. ?? Front Row: Gordon Clarkson 1st left. |
Home Ground: Recreation Ground
League: Wharfedale League Division 2 Fixtures: Rawdon Canadian Rovers, Ilkley British Legion Reserves, Otley North Parade School Old Boys Reserves, Yeadon Amateurs, Guiseley Corinthians, Benton Park, Otley Parish Church, Dawson Payne & Elliott Sports Cups: Wharfedale Challenge Cup. |
1937/38 season
An example of the machinations of association football in Wharfedale.
Shipley Times and Express - Sat 28th Aug 1937
"WHARFEDALE LEAGUE The Two Divisions Problem. At the moment the size and constitution of the two divisions of the Wharfedale League for the coming season are problematical. .... Mr. C. H. Nunwick (secretary) reported that 7 clubs only had made application to join the first division of the League, while there were 15 applications for the second division.
The first division applications came from Addingham, Ilkley British Legion, Horsforth Hotspurs, Yeadon Celtic, Charlestown, Tong Park, and Baildon Athletic. The second division applications were from Auxiliary Air Force, Baildon Green Methodist, Menston St. John, Burley Trojans FC, Ilkley British Legion, Rawdon Park Rangers, Guiseley Corinthians, Rawdon Canadian Rovers, Dawson Payne & Elliott Sports (D.P.E) (Otley), Otley North Parade, Yeadon White Rose, Rawdon Corinthians, Otley Parish Church, Yeadon Park, and Yeadon Amateurs.
Otley A.F.C. had become defunct, it was stated by the secretary, while three of last season’s first division clubs had applied for permission to join the second division. The representatives of Horsforth Hotspurs and Yeadon Celtic intimated that they would withdraw from the League if the competition consisted of no more than seven clubs.
In response to a request for volunteers from second division sides to join the senior division, only Auxiliary Air Force volunteered. An alternative suggestion was for the formation of two divisions of 11 clubs each from the applications received, a special committee to be appointed to decide the constitution of the competitions."
The matter was resolved by creating two leagues of 11 clubs each, moving 4 clubs from the 2nd Division to the first. The clubs that moved were - Burley Trojans FC, Dawson Payne & Elliott Sports (D.P.E), Yeadon Auxiliary Air Force & Yeadon Amateurs.
(Note: Pre-war there's no promotion or relegation between amateur or semi-pro leagues & divisions - clubs applied to join any particular league or division, even where there might be two divisions in the same league. Their application could be accepted or rejected. Promotion & relegation only applies to clubs in the professional football leagues).
Shipley Times and Express - Sat 28th Aug 1937
"WHARFEDALE LEAGUE The Two Divisions Problem. At the moment the size and constitution of the two divisions of the Wharfedale League for the coming season are problematical. .... Mr. C. H. Nunwick (secretary) reported that 7 clubs only had made application to join the first division of the League, while there were 15 applications for the second division.
The first division applications came from Addingham, Ilkley British Legion, Horsforth Hotspurs, Yeadon Celtic, Charlestown, Tong Park, and Baildon Athletic. The second division applications were from Auxiliary Air Force, Baildon Green Methodist, Menston St. John, Burley Trojans FC, Ilkley British Legion, Rawdon Park Rangers, Guiseley Corinthians, Rawdon Canadian Rovers, Dawson Payne & Elliott Sports (D.P.E) (Otley), Otley North Parade, Yeadon White Rose, Rawdon Corinthians, Otley Parish Church, Yeadon Park, and Yeadon Amateurs.
Otley A.F.C. had become defunct, it was stated by the secretary, while three of last season’s first division clubs had applied for permission to join the second division. The representatives of Horsforth Hotspurs and Yeadon Celtic intimated that they would withdraw from the League if the competition consisted of no more than seven clubs.
In response to a request for volunteers from second division sides to join the senior division, only Auxiliary Air Force volunteered. An alternative suggestion was for the formation of two divisions of 11 clubs each from the applications received, a special committee to be appointed to decide the constitution of the competitions."
The matter was resolved by creating two leagues of 11 clubs each, moving 4 clubs from the 2nd Division to the first. The clubs that moved were - Burley Trojans FC, Dawson Payne & Elliott Sports (D.P.E), Yeadon Auxiliary Air Force & Yeadon Amateurs.
(Note: Pre-war there's no promotion or relegation between amateur or semi-pro leagues & divisions - clubs applied to join any particular league or division, even where there might be two divisions in the same league. Their application could be accepted or rejected. Promotion & relegation only applies to clubs in the professional football leagues).
Burley Trojans FC
Burley Trojans FC 1st Team
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Burley Trojans FC Reserves
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League: Wharfedale League 1st Division
Fixtures: Ilkley British Legion, Addingham, Charlestown, Yeadon Rovers, Yeadon Celtic, Tong Park, Horsforth Hotspurs, Yeadon Park, Baildon Athletic, Dawson Payne & Elliott Sports. Cups: Wharfedale League Cup, Wharfedale Challenge Cup |
League: Wharfedale League 2nd Division
Fixtures: Baildon Green Methodist, Menston St. John, Ilkley British Legion Reserves, Rawdon Park Rangers, Guiseley Corinthians, Rawdon Canadian Rovers, Otley North Parade, Yeadon White Rose, Rawdon Corinthians, Otley Parish Church, Yeadon Park. |
1938/39 season
Burley Trojans FC
Burley Trojans FC 1st Team
Wharfedale League Division 1 Fixtures: Charlestown, Dawson Payne & Elliott Sports, Otley Parish Church, Silver Cross (Guiseley), Otley North Parade, Baildon Green, Ives Sports, Guiseley YEP, Tong Park, Guiseley Corinthians, Esholt United, Rawdon Park Rangers, Menston St. John, Yeadon Celtic Cups: Wharfedale League Cup, Wharfedale Challenge Cup Players: Les Horsman, Roy Herrin, L. Carter, Gordon Clarkson, R. Stradling, C. Newby, P. Arundel, M. Browne |
Burley Trojans FC Reserves
Wharfedale League Division 2 Fixtures: Players: T. Stevens, J. Balance |
1939/40 season
More problems for the Wharfedale League, in July 1939, too few clubs had re-applied to join it, just 12 clubs out of the 2 divisions. Resolved by running a reduced version of two groups of 6 clubs to cover the half-season period October to December 1939.
At the outbreak of World War 2, professional football was suspended (see panel).
Imperial War Museum: On 8 September 1939, the Football Association (FA) declared that all football except that organised by the armed forces was suspended 'until official notice to the contrary'. This was in contrast to 1914, when professional football had continued during the first year of war. In 1939, the threat of air attack and the introduction of conscription made it impossible for football to continue as before. However, on 21 September, the Home Office agreed to allow a revised programme of football as long as it didn't interfere with national service and industry. In Oct 1939 the age of conscription was raised from 22 to 28. Many clubs lost the bulk of their players when this happened & dissolved such as Menston St John. Amateur football continued but in a much reduced form. Friendly fixtures were organised & played. Believe that Burley Trojans FC disbanded in January 1940. Burley Trojans FC
Burley Trojans 1st Team
Wharfedale League 1st Group (Oct to Dec 1939) Fixtures: Menston St. John, Otley Parish Church, Dawson Payne & Elliott's Sports Club Cups: West Riding Cup, Wharfedale Challenge Cup Players: C. Newby, J. Smith, W. Carter, G. Clarkson Burley Trojans Reserves
Wharfedale League 2nd Group |
Dawson Payne & Elliott's Sports Club of Otley
Wharfedale League Championship & Wharfedale Challenge Cup Winners Season 1939-40 Back Row: E. Wrighton, D. Ellwood, A. McSoley, R. Calvert, J. Winterburn, E. Yates, Charlie Stradling
Harry Whitaker - Trainer - stood left side with flat cap, W. Sutcliffe - Secretary - stood right side in suit. Seated: Phil Arundel, S. Scaife, R. Patchett (capt), G. Calvert, K. Howe, W. Hanson Joy Bray who provided the photo says that a number of Burley men worked at DPE Otley & played for the football team: Phil Arundel, Charlie Stradling & her grandfather Harry Whitaker (Trainer).
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England Football History Courtesy of footballhistory.org, wikipedia & The Football Association (FA). Football in its current form arose in England in the middle of the 19th Century. The First Football Clubs: Football clubs had existed since the 15th century, but were unorganised and without official status. There's a debate on which was the first football club. Some historians suggest that it was the "Foot-Ball Club" formed 1824 in Edinburgh. Earlier clubs were often formed by former school students and the first of this kind was formed in Sheffield in 1855. The oldest among professional football clubs is the English club Notts County that was formed in 1862 and still exists today. In the beginning, football was dominated by public school teams, but with industrialisation & railways, teams consisting of factory or mill workers, pubs & churches would come to make up the vast majority of clubs. Another change was progressively taking place when some clubs became willing to pay the best players to join their team. This would be the start of a long period of transition, not without friction, in which the amateur game would develop to a professional level. The motivation behind paying players was not only to win more matches, but in the 1880s the interest in the game had moved ahead to a level that spectators paid to see matches. In 1885 professional football was legalised and in 1888 the Football League was established. During the first season, 12 clubs joined the Football league, but soon more clubs became interested and the competition would expand into divisions covering the whole of England. Football Rules: To enable the various public schools to compete against each other using the same set of rules (each had their own, some dating back to the 15th & 16th centuries) various attempts were made. The first notable one was the Cambridge Rules created in 1848, next came the Sheffield F.C Rules of 1855. These were moulded into one set in 1863 when the Football Association (FA) was formed in London. Bryon Butler wrote in an FA Official History published in 1991: “The FA’s early influence on the game at large was not dramatic or even widespread. Its membership was small and its authority and laws were often challenged and sometimes ignored. But its motives and ambitions were so honourably based that, like growing ripples on a still pond, its standing grew perceptibly. It was a period of high ideals and ready compromise”. The move which probably did most to broaden the outlook of The FA and spread its influence over a wider field was the creation of a knockout tournament between its members - the FA Cup. It was first run in 1871. A consequence of the formation of the FA & the standardising of the rules was that the game became split into two codes, association football and rugby football union. FA county and district associations, were charged with fostering the game and organising clubs in their own areas. These associations sprang into life all over the country between 1875 and 1885. They ran their own league & cup competitions, inspired enthusiasm and provided the framework for hundreds of new teams. Professionals versus Amateurs: Some clubs in the north, enamoured with the FA Cup, saw nothing wrong in profit and success or in paying someone for doing their job. It led them away from the concept of amateurism, cherished by clubs in the south, and it forced the FA to formally legalise professionalism in 1885. A year earlier it had seemed that English football was on the brink of chaos, with a ‘British Football Association’ having been formed as a rival to the FA. Legalising professionalism by the FA was eventually to lead to the break away and formation of the Amateur Football Association in 1907. A similar split in rugby led to the separate sports of rugby union and rugby league. Three levels of association football subsequently developed - the fully professional teams primarily under the aegis of the Football League and the semi-professional & amateur levels under the FA. |
Research Issues
1. Use of the word "football" As stated in "England Football History", when the FA was formed in 1863, the game became divided into two codes - association football & rugby football union. In 1895, rugby football union itself split into the RFU & the Northern Rugby Football Union (which then renamed itself the Rugby Football League in 1922). For researchers, this causes real problems. In the early days all the codes use the term "football" to describe their activities: - Newspapers & periodicals, who report on the clubs, fixtures & results etc in the latter years of the 19th century & early years of the 20th century rarely make any distinction between them. Its only really in the 1910s & 1920s that the use of the word "football" comes to mean the association code & "rugby" can either mean rugby union or rugby league. - Clubs from the various codes use it in their names. - Some rugby clubs switched codes i.e. Manningham who became Bradford City Association Football Club. 2. Governing bodies a) The FA created county & district associations to run the game across the country. Unfortunately, from a researchers point of view, this structure and the leagues, cup competitions & their committees that were created, exactly mirrored the way cricket is organised at a local level. Hence you have: - the associations, the football leagues & the cups, using the same or similar names to those used in cricket. - clubs taking part in leagues & cups that were outside their immediate area. - cricket clubs, particularly in the north of England, who have more strings to their bow than just cricket. Some shared their grounds with other sports, such as tennis, athletics & football. The result of this was the name of the club could be used across all the sports & across the whole area. Burley in Wharfedale is an example of this. b) The records & archives of the various district, league & cup committees which we're interested in are sadly lacking. The only alternative source of the information are newspapers & periodicals of the period. Hence the use of the British Newspaper Archive (see below). 3. Places called Burley Over the period up to 1940, in this & neighbouring districts, there have been literally hundreds of places & all manner of organisations with "Burley" in their names. A particular problem is Burley, a district in Leeds, many of their football clubs & organisations use the same names as those of Burley in Wharfedale. 4. Sports seasons Another issue is the length of each sports season. The football & rugby seasons, generally speaking, run from August of one year to May of the next. Whilst the cricket season is usually from April to September of the same year. The overlap between winter & summer sports can cause problems i.e. names of clubs, leagues, cups etc. 5. British Newspaper Archive (BNA) The aim of using the BNA was to be able to search & review a large number of publications - each issue, plus the articles within them, to then come up with a list of particular ones to then access & read in detail. Have to say the BNA is not user friendly. For the reasons given above the research is complicated enough without being added to by how the search results from the BNA are structured & displayed. For any particular search term or phrase, there can be thousands of results. What you see is a headline & then a 3 or 4 line snippet of the article. The headline, quite often, has nothing to do with the content of the snippet. Many, when displayed, can be unreadable. The technology used to scan the publication pages doesn't recognise or misinterprets what it "sees". How's this for an extreme example: A typical result would look like the one below.
Both results are taken from the search phrase - Burley Grove United. (Click on the images for larger versions). In the snippet above from March 1935: Esholt United v Burley N. 5.0.8. - translates to Esholt United v Burley National School Old Boys. If anyone knows of an online alternative to the BNA - please let us know! |
Burley Community Library & Burley Archive, Grange Road, Burley in Wharfedale, West Yorkshire England LS29 7HD
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Burley Archive & Local History Group: Drop-In Sessions Friday 2.30pm to 4.30pm. For other times please contact us
Burley Archive & Local History Group: Drop-In Sessions Friday 2.30pm to 4.30pm. For other times please contact us