The Athenian League Part 1 (1927-28 to 1938-39)
Following 6 years in south of England’s amateur football’s unofficial 3rd division, the Spartan League, in 1928 Wealdstone successfully applied to move up a tier to join the Athenian League. The club would remain in the Athenian League until 1939 and the outbreak of war at which point competitive football was suspended for the duration.
During the 11 seasons of competition in the league, the team played 286 matches, winning 115, drawing 50 and losing 121. They scored 665 and conceded 667 goals. Arguably the most entertaining season for the spectators was the club’s first in 1928/29 when 81 goals were scored and 63 conceded.
In a league consisting of 14 teams, its least successful period was the 3 seasons between 1933 and 1936 when they finished up 13th, 14th and 13th.
The team failed to lift the championship and enjoyed its best period in the 3 seasons leading up to the war when they finished 3rd in 1936/37, 4th in 1937/38 and 3rd again in 1938/39. It was at this point when the club started to establish itself as a genuine force in amateur football as it started to sign players of proven genuine quality. Full backs Arthur Loveday and Bob Ellis had gained England amateur international caps while inside forwards Jackie Wilson, Ken Baldwin and Syd Bidewell were genuine quality players. Syd Bidewell was to sign as a professional for Chelsea.
It was, however, centre forward Charlie Bunce who ensured that the team was able to challenge for the title in this period. Signed from St Albans City in 1936, where he had already established himself as a regular goal scorer, the talented Bunce notched 174 goals for Wealdstone during his 4 year stay including a pre-war record 43 in season 1936/37.
| Most goals scored: |
10 – 29.12.1928 home v Windsor & Eton, won 10-1 [Match Report] 10 – 02.05.1931 home v Barking, won 10-0 [Match Report] |
| Most goals conceded: | 8 – 19.01.1929 away v Southall, lost 4-8 [Match Report] |
| Most goals: | 174 – Charlie Bunce 1936-1940* |
| Most goals in a season: | 43 – Charlie Bunce 1936-1937 |
* Charlie Bunce’s record includes 54 goals he scored in the 1939/40 season that was made up entirely of “friendlies” and does not form a part of the club’s membership of the Athenian League.
Author: Mick Fishman
[21/06/2022]
Results and Match Reports (season by season) can be viewed by clicking on the link (s) below:-
| 1928/29 | 1929/30 | 1930/31 |
| 1931/32 | 1932/33 | 1933/34 |
| 1934/35 | 1935/36 | 1936/37 |
| 1937/38 | 1938/39 |