Walthamstow Avenue Football Club was an English football club based in Walthamstow in London. Based at Green Pond Road, they played in dark and light blue hooped shirts, and light blue shorts. The club was established in 1900, and was one of the most successful amateur clubs in the country during the 1950s. The club ceased to exist in 1988 when it merged with Leytonstone/Ilford, who later became Redbridge Forest and merged with Dagenham to form Dagenham and Redbridge. They have since been revived as an amateur football club, currently playing in the Sunday Essex Corinthian League.

History

Founded in 1900, the club joined Division Two of the London League in 1901, but left at the end of the season. In 1929 they joined the Athenian League and won the league in their first season. In 1930–31 they reached the first round of the FA Cup for the first time, losing 5–1 at home to Watford. The club won back-to-back titles in 1932–33 and 1933–34, and in 1936-37 defeated Football League opposition in the FA Cup for the first time, beating Northampton Town 6–1 in the first round, before losing 3–2 to Exeter City in the second round. The following season they won the Athenian League title for a fourth time, before retaining it the following season.

After World War II the club switched to the Isthmian League, and were its first post-war champions in the 1945–46 season. In 1951–52 they won the FA Amateur Cup, defeating Leyton 2–1 in the final. Drawn away to Old Trafford, they held Manchester United to a 1–1 draw, before losing the replay, which was moved to Highbury, 5–2. Since the previous revival, Walthamstow Avenue has been revived as an Amateur Sunday League side based in Leyton.

Colours

The club's colours were light and dark blue hoops.

Honours

Athenian League

  • Winners (5): 1929–30, 1932–33, 1933–34, 1937–38, 1938–39

Isthmian League

  • Winners (3): 1945–46, 1952–53, 1954–55

London Senior Cup

  • Winners (9): 1935–36, 1936–37, 1939–40, 1941–42, 1943–44, 1952-53 (shared), 1954–55, 1977–78, 1985–86

Essex Senior Cup

  • Winners (12): 1932–33, 1935–36, 1938–39, 1955–56, 1957–58, 1958–59, 1959–60, 1968–69, 1971–72, 1973–74, 1976–77, 1984–85

FA Amateur Cup

  • Winners (2): 1951–52, 1960–61

London Charity Cup

  • Winners (1): 1933–34

Former players

1. Players that have played/managed in the Football League or any foreign equivalent to this level (i.e. fully professional league).<br />

2. Players with full international caps.<br />

3. Players that hold a club record.

  • David Silman
  • Stephen Wilkins
  • Robin Friday
  • Arthur Hitchins
  • Jimmy Bloomfield
  • David Crown
  • Derek Saunders
  • Sonny Walters
  • Don Rossiter
  • Gary McGuire
  • Vic Groves
  • Jim Lewis

References

  • The History of Walthamstow Avenue F.C. 1900–1988