Wisbech Town FC A Brief History The club was founded in June 1920, by amalgamation of 3 local sides which all played on Wisbech Park; the colour red was chosen because of the strong St. Augustine's influence. The amalgamation took place at a meeting held at the town hall on the 15th June 1920, the idea being to create a team with which the entire town could identify. Mr A.H.Harrison proposed, and Mr C.Carver seconded, a vote to form the club. The Mayor, Mr. Weston-Miller, was first club president, with Mr F.Cole elected Captain and W.Ess secretary. The club was originally nick named the 'Saints', again due to the large St. Augustine's influence. Another team, also known as Wisbech Town, did exist between 1890 and the early 1900s, and it is recognised that this was a fore-runner to the present club; the earliest photo in existence was taken in the 1890s. The club's first match was played on Wisbech park against Yaxley Rovers on the 14th September 1920. The game ended in a 1-1 draw, Cyril Wright being the Wisbech scorer. The club continued to play from the park for the first season, when, because of difficulties taking a 'gate', a move was made to the Rectory field; the club moved again, this time to Harecroft Road, for the start of the 1922-23 season, a rent for which was paid to a Mr. Overland. "The Poppies" as the team had now become known, were watched by 1000 supporters, as they beat Bourne Town 2-1 in their first match on the new ground, where they were to stay until 1947. Wisbech were Peterborough League champions five times between 1925 and 1933, scoring 218 goals and lifting four trophies between 1932 and 1933. The team entered the United Counties League and the East Midlands League on turning semi-professional in 1935, a tenure that was to last 15 years. A limited company was formed and shares issued to the public. The UCL cup was won at the first attempt, beating Biggleswade in the final. During the war, Wisbech had the benefit of professional players stationed in the area. In 1941 they lost the East Anglian cup to Ford United. After the war the club began one of the most successful periods of its history. Under player manager Bertshaw, they reached the first round proper of the FA cup in 1946, losing to Ipswich Town over two legs. The 1945-46 season was also to see the club's highest recorded victory of 18-1, against Rushden Town in the UCL, Jock Livingstone scoring 7 of the goals on his debut. In 1947, the club purchased Fenland Park, from where they still play, although floodlights were not installed until 1964. The first match played at Fenland Park was played against Leicester City 'A' in the UCL, a title which was won both in 1947 and in 1948 and regained in 1950, while the East Anglian cup final was again reached in 1949, and again they were runners up, this time to Chelmsford City. There was then a brief stay for two years (1950-52) in the Eastern Counties League before the 'Fenmen', as they had now become known, moved into a higher sphere of football - the Midland League. It was during this six year association that the record gate of 8044 was established against Peterborough United on 28th August 1957. In 1958, the team finished runners-up in the Midland League and reached the 2nd round proper of the FA cup having beaten Colchester Utd 1-0 at Fenland Park before loosing at Reading, 2-1. That side, managed by Oscar Hold, was reckoned to be Wisbech's best ever team. However, the Midland League folded at the end of the 1957/58 season and the 'Fenmen' joined the Southern League, (now known as the Doc Marten League). The stay lasted 12 years, during which time the club's fortunes fluctuated. Although they did manage to win division 1 in 1962, as well as appearances in the FA cup 1st round proper in 1959, 1960, 1965 and 1966. Financial constraints brought about a return to the Eastern Counties League in 1970 where there was immediate success, finishing as runner-up, as well as the winning of the League cup in that same season. The next year they did even better, completing the league and cup double. In 1974 they were to miss out on a second double, finishing runner-up in both competitions. Three years later, the ECL and Peterborough senior cups were claimed. In 1984 and 1987 Wisbech were runners-up in the league and the cup respectively. In the mid 1980's they reached the semi-final of the FA Vase competitions, losing to Halesowen in 1985 and Southall in 1986. Overdue success finally came in 1988 when Bishop's Stortford were defeated in the final of the East Anglian cup. The now Jewson sponsored Eastern Counties League was won in 1991, and looked set to be repeated two years later, but in the end, had to be content with second spot. Following a moderate start to the 1993/94 season, a new management team of Ian Jones and Keith Rudd was appointed in the October and the team went on to finish in 6th place. The next season sore an improvement, finishing 3rd and regaining the league cup. The 1995/96 season saw the town hit the national headlines for all the wrong reasons, when the Eastern Counties League fined and temporarily suspended the club after failing to explain why they had been unable to provide adequate refreshments for the oppositions players and officials at the end of their league match with Fakenham. However, the sandwich saga was soon forgotten, as the town made a good run in the FA cup, finally loosing at Kingstonians in the first round proper. The 1996/97 season saw the club finish runners-up in both the league and cup, and with an ambitious new board, the club was elected to the Southern League Midland Division. (Dr. Martens League), where, following the employment of Gary Childs as a full time manager and after a strong finish to the season, the club recorded a highly creditable 5th, as well as getting to the 2nd round proper of the FA cup, where they lost 2-0 at Fenland park to Bristol Rovers of the Endsleigh League Second Division. The club also finished Runners-up in the Cambs Invitation cup.
	From the Wisbech Advertiser Reporter Ian Davidson 1965 LATE ON PARADE - BUT OH! HOW THEY PLAYED PYE AND LANGTON BRILLIANT IN EIGHT - GOAL SPREE   To pick out just a handful of the memorable matches played by Wisbech Town during the Jesse Pye - Booby Langton - Johnny Crosland era is like looking for the proverbial needle in a haystack.   During the two seasons or so that this great Wisbech team was together, almost every match had that something special to make it remembered when others are long forgotten. With eleven such talented players in the Wisbech side this was scarcely surprising.   For a comparatively small town Wisbech has had some fine football teams over the years. There was the side that won the United Counties League twice in succession in the late 1940's for example....   But even the older generation of Wisbech Supporters, who usually and often understandably, refer to the years of their youth with the well worn phrase "ah, those were the days" - even those people admit that the Fenmen will never have a finer team than Messrs. Harvey, Deans, Robson, Adamson, Crosland, Moss, Leverton, Marshall, Pye, Downie, Langton.   They are off course right. There will never be another Wisbech team like the one that Oscar built - at least if there is it will be a flippin' miracle.   Who can forget the ball - juggling genius of Jesse Pye and Bobby Langton, the inspired flashes of Johnny Downie, the cultured artistry of Henry Adamson and Amos Moss, the determined tiger - like tackling of Ray Robson ... I could go on and on.   I make no apologies for turning to the Pye - Langton era again for this weeks "Looking Back" article. We have already looked at the F.A. Cup games with Colchester and Newport County - and I dare say in the not to distant future the memorable game with Reading will also come under focus.   But this week I am going to review a straight - forward Midland League game between the Fenmen and Rotherham Reserves.   Straight - forward that is, except it was stamped with the genius of great players.   The date was Saturday, January 4th 1958. Apart from the fact that it was extremely cold, even for January, there was nothing significant about the day itself.   HIGHEST - EVER   It was, however, the day the Fenmen equaled their highest- ever score in the Midland League - eight goals - and this despite playing with only nine men for the first twenty minutes.   Wisbech were sixth in the league table at the time, whereas Rotherham were, strangely for them, placed near the foot of the chart. But league placings really counted for little especially in the case of League Club's reserve sides, for they usually contained a sprinkling of experienced players and could always be relied upon to provide a hard fight.   Wisbech were at full strength, as usual - but there was a shock for supporters when the Fenmen took the field. There were only nine of them - and missing were the familiar figures of Messrs. Pye and Langton.   What had happened to them? speculation was rife inside the ground, and when the game began with Wisbech still two players short, all sorts of rumours began to fly about.   Reserve player Winston Bernard - remember "Bernie"? and young Alan RockcIiffe stood by to play. And meanwhile. where were Pye and Langton --?   THREE BREAKDOWNS   The "Wisbech Advertiser," explained the full story a few days later. The two players, with Pye driving, had no fewer than three breakdowns on their way to the ground.   The first was at Melton Mowbray, but that was soon put right. They reached Stamford - and then came the second "technical hitch." This was repaired with just enough time for the players to reach the ground by the appointed time of two o'clock.   They reached Thorney and then came the third breakdown. Now time was getting short. A friend rang Fenland Park to get a message through, but meanwhile the trouble was righted and off sped Pye and Langton.   At last, fifteen minutes after kick-off time, Pye's Consul sped into Fenland Park and a large cheer went up. An even bigger one went forth five minutes' later when the two players finally took the field.   Meanwhile, the nine remaining Fenmen had proved their worth by holding Rotherham at bay, without, in fact, having any real trouble in doing so.   And as the two players trotted on to the field, Bryan Harvey threw a clearance to Langton, but Bobby quickly lost the ball to Rotherham's deep-lying inside-man Haynes, whose long-range lob beat Harvey and hit both posts before entering the net to put Rotherham a goal ahead. The irony of it!   This of course, prompted several remarks to the effect that Wisbech had been doing better playing with only nine men. But they were quickly on level terms; Downie was the scorer, and the man who provided the pass was Pye taking the first steps towards one of his greatest games in Wisbech colours.   Twidle restored the Rotherham lead - Wisbech still had not settled properly - but a Pye penalty special made it 2-2, and then Jesse jinked his way through before crossing for Marshall to head home.   Downie added a fourth goal before the interval, with Simpson getting Rotherham's third, following a boob by Harvey in the closing seconds of the half. 4-3 at half-time . . . the stage was set for a cracking second-half. It was a cracking one, all right, but only for Wisbech, who gave a terrific exhibition of soccer against a Rotherham side who were no mugs, but just couldn't stand up to the onslaught.   Ten minutes after the break Pye was at it again. He took the ball right through to the goalpost before passing it back for "Tot" Leverton to get his name on the score-sheet .   HEROICS   Rotherham had one or two chances... but it was nearly all Wisbech and goalkeeper Jackson performed heroics in the visitors goal.   In the 68th minute, however, he stood no chance as Pye danced through and slammed home a ground shot. Eight minutes later Pye, for once had no part in a goal, Leverton scoring number seven from a Langton pass.   But fittingly. the final nail in Rotherham's coffin was hammered in by Pye in the shape of a drive from Tommy Deans' pass which completed his hat-trick with two minutes left.   NO OSCAR   Eight-three . . . what an afternoon's entertainment! Luckily, manager Oscar Hold was watching his reserve side at Skegness. If he had been at Fenland Park, he might well have told Bernard and Rockliffe to take the field in the places of Pye and Langton. And then we should have missed all the fun.   Final comment from Rotherham centre-half Reeves. His thoughts on Pye: "How can you stop a chap like that? What on earth's he doing out of League football?"   Need I say any more?