|
Hampstead Town (now Hendon) retained nearly all their players from the preceding season, but sadly said goodbye to leading scorer H.K. Pennifer, who signed up forms for Queens Park Rangers. A.W. Humphreys took over the centre-forward spot, and with 9 goals in his first 6 games showed that the club wouldn't miss the prolific marksman.
The Town got off to a terriffic start, winning every one of their opening 8 matches in league and cup. The F.A. Cup campaign began at Marlow's Crown ground, and 500 spectators saw Hampstead win 3-1, even though they were missing A. Tomkins, who was off playing for Aston Villa.
The new covered stand at the Avenue was opened in time for the Amateur Cup tie with Luton Trinity, and a bumper crowd of 1,500 were present a fortnight later for the F.A. Cup tie with a very strong Southall side who dented Hampstead's unbeaten start with a decisive 3-1 victory.
With cup games occupying nearly all of the Saturday fixtures up to the turn of the year, the Town were obliged to play several of their Middlesex League games on the same cup day, fielding their reserve side. Both of these games were won, and although their opponents were unable to fufil their league fixtures, the points and goals that the "A" team earned were allowed to be kept, and almost proved to be crucial.
Bronze Athletic provided the keenest of opposition in all four encounters with the Town, and on Christmas Day, Hampstead earned a hard won London League point at their Yeoman Street, Rotherhithe ground in South-east London, thanks to a Humphreys equalising goal. Having beaten Bronze 2-1 in the Middlesex League at the Avenue ground, Town were a bit miffed when stalwart centre-half Harry Ashman was spirited away during the week, and played for his new club, Bronze Athletic, in the return fixture a week later. the following account is from the Hendon & Finchley Times, 13th February, 1914.
"Bronze Athletic, who visited the Avenue Ground on Saturday, sustained their first defeat of the season in the Premier Division of the Middlesex League, while the Town retained their unbeaten record in the competition. Keen rivalry exists between the two clubs, as they are running neck and neck at the present time in both the Middlesex and London Leagues, but Bronze were unquestionably second best on this occasion.
"As showing the Town's predominance, Matthews had not a single shot to save in the second half. The Town's first goal was one of the best seen on the Avenue ground this season. Following a splendid effort by J. Fearn, admirably repelled by Mayne, the Bronze goal-keeper, J. Schebsman made a grand volley from 30 yards range, which completely beat the opposition.
"The visitors equalised soon afterwards, when Smith, their centre-forward, netted with a capital shot. The brilliance of Mayne alone saved Bronze from a heavy defeat, and the Town forwards only managed on one other occasion, as A.W. Humphreys, with a brave effort, cleverly headed a goal from Garlick's centre."
The third meeting between Hampstead Town and Bronze Athletic that season was watched by 800 spectators and they saw Athletic gain revenge for their previous 2-1 defeat with a 3-2 win. The loss of those two points would ultimately prove costly to the Town.
In the last month of the season, Hampstead undertook a total of 11 matches, in order to complete their fixtures in both leagues.
The most important win proved to be the London League success over Bronze Athletic at the Avenue Ground on 11th April 1914. A super crowd of 1500 spectators saw Garlick put Town in front at the interval, and midway through the second half Humphreys clinched a 2-0 win, which virtually wrapped up the London League title.
Hampstead still had a chance of adding the Middlesex League championship too, but on the last day of the season, Page Green Old Boys put up a fine performance at the Avenue (in what was in fact their home fixture), and Grant's 75th minute goal was a deserved winner on the day. This result meant that Hampstead Town had to be satisfied with the runners-up spot in the Middlesex league.
A.W. Humphreys finished the season as the club's leading scorer with a fine tally of 31 goals in all competitions, while excellent support came from A. Tomkins with 18 goals, and 8 apiece from O. James and G. Marchant.
| London League - Amateur Section |
| As at end of season |
| Pos |
Team |
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
Pts |
Town's results |
|
| 1 |
Hampstead Town |
12 |
8 |
3 |
1 |
25 |
12 |
19 |
- |
- |
C |
|
| 2 |
Walthamstow Grange |
12 |
8 |
2 |
2 |
31 |
13 |
18 |
3-2 |
0-2 |
|
| 3 |
Bronze Athletic |
12 |
5 |
3 |
4 |
24 |
14 |
13 |
2-0 |
1-1 |
|
| 4 |
Custom House |
12 |
5 |
2 |
5 |
17 |
12 |
12 |
2-2 |
1-0 |
|
| 5 |
Barking |
12 |
3 |
5 |
4 |
18 |
22 |
11 |
1-1 |
3-0 |
|
| 6 |
Wollwich |
12 |
3 |
2 |
7 |
15 |
34 |
8 |
4-1 |
2-1 |
|
| 7 |
2nd Batt. Gren. Guards |
12 |
0 |
3 |
9 |
11 |
40 |
3 |
3-1 |
3-1 |
|
| Middlesex League - Premier Division |
| As at end of season |
| Pos |
Team |
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
Pts |
|
| 1 |
Bronze Athletic |
14 |
11 |
2 |
1 |
43 |
9 |
24 |
C |
|
| 2 |
Hampstead Town |
14 |
11 |
1 |
2 |
38 |
15 |
23 |
|
| 3 |
Wealdstone |
14 |
6 |
2 |
6 |
20 |
12 |
14 |
|
| 4 |
Liberty FC |
14 |
5 |
4 |
5 |
34 |
29 |
14 |
|
| 5 |
Page Green Old Boys |
13 |
6 |
1 |
6 |
28 |
19 |
13 |
|
| 6 |
2nd Batt. Scots Guards |
12 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
21 |
22 |
10 |
|
| 7 |
East Ham Town |
10 |
0 |
0 |
10 |
7 |
54 |
0 |
|
| 8 |
Pinner |
4 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
2 |
21 |
0 |
|
| 9 |
Old Islingtonians |
4 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
3 |
20 |
0 |
|
| 10 |
Portland Athletic |
|
|
|
|
|
|
0 |
|
|