COLLEGIANS FC, BASED AT SALENDINE NOOK, IS ONE OF THE OLDEST AMATEUR FOOTBALL CLUBS AROUND AND WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1898. CHAIRMAN JOHN MCEWAN SHARES SOME OLD PICTURES AND MEMORIES.
OLLEGIANS FC, previously known as Old Collegians, is celebrating 120 years and is preparing to once again become a major force in Yorkshire amateur football.
Old Collegians, a Salendine Nook club, was formed in 1898 and was among a group of local teams who played ad-hoc matches among themselves without the formality of being members of a recognised league.
These informal arrangements were put onto an official basis in 1898 and fixtures were drawn up to commence on September 30 that year. At the same time, a successful application was made to the English Association to form the Huddersfield and District Association Football League. Old Collegians were admitted to this league and participated in the first 1899-1900 season.
Subsequently, Old Collegians joined the West Riding Old Boys League when it was formed in 1928. The name Old Boys was used because, initially, all clubs were formed from Old Boys Associations (players from high schools). This league changed its name to The Yorkshire Old Boys League and is now called the Yorkshire Amateur League.
Last year Collegians FC – they dropped the ‘Old’ a few years ago – received an award from the league for being one of only four founder members who remain to this day.
Old Collegians were the first champions of the Old Boys League and lifted the League Cup at Leeds Road in 1931. There were three more triumphs, in 1933, 1950 and 1957, and three further cup wins, in 1940, 1956 and 1957.
Meanwhile, in the1930s, the second team won the reserve championship six times in seven seasons.
The 1950s became a period of growth, as the number of sides in the club grew to four and a junior team was set up.
However, the fortunes of the club took a dip after the expansion of the league in 1959 and it wouldn’t be until the 1980s before the club won some significant silverware; collecting the White Trophy in 1982/83, the Barr Cup in 1985/86 and 1988/89, while also winning the League B Championship in 1981/82 and the Championship in 1988/89. The League B Championship winning side is pictured up at Huddersfield New College, as is an expanded squad of player from the 1983/84 season.
During this period the relationship with Huddersfield New College continued and, before the establishment of New College Football Academy, players often gravitated from the High School and New College to Old Collegians FC.
Melvyn Telfer, a New College teacher and coach of this team, played for Old Collegians for 25 years.
Collegians FC continued to maintain four open age teams and some junior teams for a number of years. The picture at the front of New College in the 1999/2000 season shows three of those teams with the late Martyn Wimpenny and his young sons, Sam and Joseph, at the front, and the other picture of Junior Collegians Under 7 team from 2001/02 season includes a number of players who currently play for or have played for Collegians FC. Both Sam and Joseph now play for the senior team and are members of the club committee who are looking to take the club forward.
Unfortunately, the number of open age teams declined after this and the juniors moved to Birchencliffe for a period. However, despite only having one senior team at the moment, this squad is strong and has brought success to the club.
The team was promoted to Division 1 of the Yorkshire Amateurs League and won the League Supplementary Cup in 2017. We have also won the Martyn Wimpenny Memorial Cup for the last three years and won a local pre-season Terry Rose Invitation Cup last year.
The club is looking to grow again and aspires to have at least two open age teams as soon as possible. Furthermore, we are in discussion with Huddersfield New College about how we can consolidate and develop our relationship into the future.
Also, our association with Lindley Junior Collegians FC should help to ensure both clubs have a strong community presence for years to come. The final picture is of some current membership of Collegians FC, some of our sponsors, and representatives of Lindley Junior Collegians.
Anyone interested in joining the club can follow our progress by accessing the Yorkshire Amateur League website (www.yaml.co) or contact Sam Wimpenny on 07949 670317 for more information.