A LOOK INTO HISTORY 192

A LOOK INTO HISTORY ONE HUNDRED AND NINETY TWO

ALMA SWANLEY FC

Alma Swanley FC were founded in the 1960’s and first played in the Dartford
and District League with the name Alma but had to add Swanley for senior
status in the days when the authorities insisted a club had to be associated
with a town unlike today when that insistence was dropped, ie White Ensign,
Concord Rangers etc. In 1970-71 they joined the Reserve Section of the Greater
London League as a first team and were third behind champions East Thurrock
United and Green & Silley Weir. Haringey Borough were seventh. In 1971-72
they were 4 th to East Thurrock United and ahead of Welwyn Garden, East Ham
Utd Reserves and Eton Manor Reserves with Haringey Borough second bottom.
How times change ! In 1973-74 Alma joined the Metropolitan League who had
merged with the London League in 1971 and were runners up in 1974-75
whereupon they became founding members of the London Spartan League in
1975 with home games at Swanley Recreation Ground in St Marys Road,
Swanley, Kent.
Their first season was relatively successful with a third place in Division One
which was won by Farnborough Town on goal difference from Bracknell Town.
They ground shared with Swanley Town who were fourth. East Ham United
were fifth, Hoddesdon Town eighth and Chertsey Town last. Division Two
included amongst its members, East Thurrock United and Barkingside.
In 1982, Alma Swanley joined the Kent League along with Beckenham Town
and finished in 11 th place with Crockenhill champions . Interestingly, top of
Division Two were Maidstone United with no mention that it was the Reserve
side of an Alliance Premier League club.
They were Champions in 1985-86.
Our match Programme dating to 22 nd January 1977 was for a London Senior Cup
3 rd Round tie against mighty Enfield. Results up to that date showed a 1-0
league win over Hoddesdon Town, and a F A Vase 2 -1 success over
Brightlingsea United.
Alma finished their final season 1993-94 in 5 th place and as winners of the Kent
Senior Trophy, defeating Folkestone Invicta 3 1 in the final. One of the scorers
was Peter Smith who went on to a League career with Brighton & Hove Albion
and latterly became part of the very successful Canvey Island club.
Another Programme in my collection and visited by Keith Roe, was for a Kent
League game with Herne Bay FC played at Crockenhill’s ground, Greencourt
Road in March 1990 with the opposition winning 4-2.