A LOOK INTO HISTORY 200

A LOOK INTO HISTORY TWO HUNDRED

HARLOW TOWN AT GREEN MAN FIELD

Harlow Town first occupied their original ground at Green Man Field in
1879 and their first match was v Saffron Walden. Friendlies ensued until
joining the East Herts League in 1896. They would call it home right up
to 1960 when they moved to the Sportscentre which is now Sainsbury’s.
Their headquarters was the Green Man Hotel which gives you a good
idea of its location. Quite simply it appeared to be acceptable for their
membership of the Spartan League that they joined in 1932. In 1937 the
club were awarded Senior Status which unlike nowadays bore no
reflection to the ground facilities which were pretty basic.
In 1953-54 the club moved to the London League and then the Delphian
League and their new facility gave them the chance to move up in class
to the Athenian League. Their final game at the Green Man Field was v
East Ham United on 30 th April 1960 which they won 2-1.
Our Match Programme was small at 2d but at least had a league table,
teams and club notes plus the usual adverts that included H Muffett,
Purveyor of Fish, Poultry and Game. The game was an Essex Senior Cup
3 rd Qualifying Round tie which gave the opportunity to meet opposition
from another League and on November 25 th 1950 kick off 2pm it was
London League, Eton Manor FC. The club notes were overwhelming in
welcome and greetings for the Manor on their very first visit to Harlow
and their was much praise for what they were doing for Youth in
Hackney Wick. The club were sorry that their AFA Cup game due to take
place the week before was scratched so they would now go through to
meet National Provincial Bank at Beckenham. The League table showed
virtually every club that are still known to us , Histon Institute were top
of the Spartan League Div One (Eastern) and finished as Champions with
Stevenage Town second. Hoddesdon Town were third followed by
Bishops Stortford, Upminster, Hatfield Town, Ware, Ford Sports, Harlow
Town, Welwyn Garden City, Saffron Walden Town, Epping Town, Stansted
and Sawbridgeworth Town. Harlow Town played in White Shirts and Blue
Shorts with Eton Manor in light blue.
Eton Manor finished 6 th of 15 in the London League Premier Division. I am
not aware of the result of this game but it was probably a win for the
opposition.