Club History

It is not surprising that the young men of Ilford in the 1880’s should have decided that they would use their new found recreation time on a Saturday to play football. It was probably the “in thing” at the time. Less than twenty years old as an organised game the FA Cup had been going for almost a decade and everywhere new teams were springing up. Ilford was but a village - although with some 7,500 inhabitants, it must have been a pretty big one.

That was the setting for a group of young men to be playing a game of football on a field where now the Town Hall stands. The impromptu kick-about led to these men forming their own club. It was to be known as Ilford Alliance there already being an “Ilford” in existence. The date was the 20th. October 1881. Their can be little doubt from the early records of the club that the driving force behind the club was the Porter family who had considerable business interests in what was to become a rapidly growing town over the next half a century. However they were not alone and the club was set up with the help of R. Gilderson, (who’s son Eric played in the mighty teams of the late 1920’s), W. M. Lusby, a well known music hall proprietor (who was the first President) as well as H. Watts and C. Stenning (a later Secretary).

A couple of years on, the original Ilford club had folded and in the 1883/84 season Ilford dropped the “Alliance” from their title. The first senior honour to come Ilford’s way was the Essex Senior Cup in 1888. In the Final at Chelmsford 3,500 spectators saw the club beat Upton Excelsior. It led to the Ilford Volunteer Band writing and performing a commemorative song.

Ilford played a major part in the formation of three competitions as well as playing in the first ever FA Amateur Cup competition of 1893/4. Firstly for the 1894/95 season they became founder members of the Southern League, finishing fourth. In the next season however, the competition took a determined step towards professionalism, which was not to the liking of the club, they finished bottom and immediately withdrew. They were then invited to become inaugural members of the London League, for 1896/7 two years later they switched to the South Essex League and then also played in the Metropolitan Amateur League. During these years the Club played at the Ilford Sports Ground, situated in Balfour Road, where many famous opponents visited Ilford - Millwall were once defeated in a semi-final of the London Senior Cup. During the period to 1901 the population of Ilford had risen to 42,000 and the village had given way to a booming town. Perhaps not surprising then that the Ilford Sports Ground fell into the hands of developers in what is now an area very close to the town centre, station and all other amenities. It is worth noting that the ground was used to stage the semi-final of the Amateur Cup in 1899/00 when Lowestoft Town beat Marlow 1-0, and also that Ilford even before the Isthmian League’s formation had twice been beaten semi-finalists in the FA Amateur Cup. Losing 4-6 to Old Malvernians at Tottenham in 1901/2 and Clapton 1-2, at the same venue three years later.

The demise of the Ilford Sports Ground led to Ilford’s move to their home for three quarters of a century, Lynn Road, Newbury Park. Old opponents Clapton were the first visitors, there was torrential rain, but Ilford won 2-1 and there was an evening celebration at the White Horse, by the Broadway. Many famous clubs visited, Nottingham Forest, Northampton Town, Manchester City, Brentford and Aston Villa all came to Newbury Park.

It was the formation of the Isthmian League in 1905 that turned Ilford into one of the most respected amateur clubs in the country for many decades. The twenties were arguably the best decade in the history of Ilford Football Club. They purchased Lynn Road, and in successive seasons, 1921 and 1922 were league champions. In 1927/28 Ilford notched 134 goals in all competitions and a year later won the F.A. Amateur Cup at Highbury, beating Leyton, the holders, 3-1. They repeated their Amateur Cup win the following year, beating Bournemouth Gasworks Athletic 5-1 at West Ham United. In 1935/6 they again reached the Amateur Cup Final and in a thrilling match at Selhurst Park they drew 1-1. The replay at West Ham a fortnight later was lost 0-2.

After the War in the fifties there were two major highlights. The memorable win in the London Senior Cup Final against Hounslow Town on 8th. May 1954 at Highbury, whilst four years later Ilfordians swelled the Wembley crowd for the 1958 Amateur Cup Final against Woking to 70,000. Ilford, surprise finalists, started brightly but succumbed 3-0.In the 60’s there was little of glory for Ilford, and it wasn’t until the last season of the Amateur Cup in 1974 for the club to taste glory of any kind again. Ilford were again surprise finalists losing 4-1 to Bishop’s Stortford in the old competition that was to be replaced by the FA Vase and Trophy.

Two years later the ground was sold to Fairview Homes and the club sought a site in the north of the borough on the old Fairlop aerodrome. In the end there was not enough left of the original £325,000 sale money left to re-develop the site and members voted to merge with Leytonstone for the 1979/80 season.

In 1987 Ilford Football Club was reborn as a junior club by a group of dedicated former supporters in a desire to see a team with the town name again playing in the environs of Ilford. However Senior Status and a place in the Essex Senior League was only achieved when Redbridge Council permitted the use of the Cricklefield Stadium for the 1996/97 season. The club finished in a respectable mid-table position. They also won their group of the Essex Floodlight Competition and progressed to three semi-finals in different competitions.

By season 1999/2000 the Club had achieved its best position so far in the Essex Senior League finishing in fourth position. Season 2000/01 saw the club finish sixth, whilst for 2001/02 season after a disastrous first half to the season they climbed to a respectable mid table ninth.

The 2001/02 season’s main achievement was the run in the London Senior Cup which saw the team eventually losing in the fifth round after defeating Ryman League sides, Romford (at the time) and Ford United.

The 2002/03 season proved to be a most successful season with an overall finish of third spot in the Essex Senior League being he club’s best effort since once again gaining senior status. For much of the middle part of the season Ilford held pole position only to drop away a little in April, finally finishing third. However the season did have its reward when the Essex Senior League Cup was lifted on May Day Monday after a 1-0 win over Sawbridgeworth Town on Barkingside’s ground.

Runners-up spot in the Essex Senior League in the 2003/04 season led to the club being offered a place in Ryman League Division Two for season 2004/05. With a sense of history and a desire to return to their spiritual home, the once founders of the Isthmian League were absolutely delighted to be back in the competition as it celebrated its 100th. season last year. The club saw the move as yet another stepping stone as it attempts to steadily re-build towards its former very respected position in non-league football.

The season turned into a whirlwind with a steady progress up the Division culminating in a 5-0 win at Wembley which brought the Division two title to Ilford and the season was capped on the May day Bank Holiday with a fine hard fought 2-1 victory after extra time over Flackwell Heath to lift the associate Members Trophy

Much of the effort that has been put in at the club has been in improving the facility at the Cricklefield Stadium. The Club have been successful in obtaining an £850,000 National Lottery grant in order to build a clubhouse facility that will be used by all interest groups that use the multi-purpose stadium. The three years of effort and dedication in this area came to fruition when the new Clubhouse opened its doors for the first time on December 14th. 2002.

Planning for the future did not stop at this point however, and in 2004 work started on the provision of facilities that would assist the Club in obtaining a grading for step with turnstiles installed at both entrances to the ground as well as a separated area for home and visiting Club Officials and for representatives of the press. Concrete covered accommodation on the far side of the ground was ordered and erected in what will surely be a record nine days and the Match officials Dressing Room was re-located within the complex to comply with the grading requirements.

The on field and off field partnership between Officials, Management, Players and Staff was rewarded with confirmation that the next step of the Pyramid had been reached and with it a position in Division One East of the Southern League for 2005-06 season - It was our first return to the league we played in during its opening two seasons in 1894/5 and 1895/6. However it was not a successful adventure and after losing one manager and sacking another, the Club Vice-Chairman, Mel Attwell took the managerial reins, "steadied the ship" and bought a sense of order to what was otherwise a chaotic time. Unfortunately he could not stop us finishing in 21st. position, but a re-organisation of step four of the National League system kept Ilford along with many others due for the drop to step five at the level we had fought so hard to achieve just a twelve month earlier.

The change though was from the Southern League Division One East to Ryman League Division One North where the first season back saw us again finish in 21st. place after several changes in management during the season and financial cut-backs led to the dispercement of a team that may very likely had it stayed together achieved a position in the top ten places - who knows !