Been south again and this time spent a few hours in Bedfordshire. Ampthill was the location where there is a very smart FC who now play in the Spartan South Midlands League, Division One. I am tempted to go into the Spartan League history (founded 1907 until it merged in 1977) having grazed the classics with the Isthmian, but might just chat about the Amps, as they are known. Actually you will benefit from knowing that the founder clubs were Dulwich Hamlet, Leytonstone, Nunhead, Shepherd's Bush and West Norwood. Like the Isthmian the league grew as teams came forth!
Founded in 1881, the Amps latest record show that they were members of the Spartan Midlands League Division One in 1951. What happened prior to that heavens knows? They went onto the United Counties League in the 1960s, back to the South Midlands League in the 1990s and this merged with the Spartan League in 1997. Their best performance in the FA Vase was an exciting effort by reaching the quarter-finals in 2013-14 and in that period they won the Beds Senior Trophy twice. Their best FA Cup run was the 1st qualifying round in the 1980s, so not very impressive but then we are looking at a "small club". Are we? They have 18 under 18 youth teams going down to U8s and 2 adult male sides, but not ladies?? Not so small eh?
This weekend the senior 1st XI meet local rivals Bedford in the league and after the New Year it's Southall in the League Cup.
Fred Jardine is the club's most famous player, who was born in Edinburgh and played for the nearest "serious" club Luton Town 243 between 1961-71, scoring a handful of goals and then he went to the Devon coast to Torquay United, for a season. He came to Ampthill and joined the Amps as his battery wore down.
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