A DAY IN THE HAMPTONS

 

Hampton and Richmond Borough FC, Surrey, from the National League South (Sixth Tier) is where Alan Devonshire had as a spell as manager at the "Beveree", a stadium named after a local road, Beaver Close, the site where a well known "neighbouring ansion" was sited. The club is therefore nicknamed The Beavers. 

So what, well this leads me on to the match today where Southampton FC is playing Woverhampton Wanderers FC, a "hampton derby". There are several Wolverhamptons, including the W.Casuals FC and W.Sporting FC, both playing in the West Midlands Premier.  Big Wolves, of course, have had a prestigious history. I became aware of "football" in my "single figures", when Wolves were winning First Divisions (top one in those days-late 1950s), playing in Europe and winning the FA Cup (1960). I'm into the Hamptons!

Going slightly south east of the Midlands, there is Northampton Town, the Cobblers, from League One, nicknamed following the town's association with the boot and shoes industry. The Independent Schools' FA have used the Sixfields stadium for their Cup Finals, the stadium being central to the country. Founded in 1897, by local school teachers, the legendry Herbert Chapman, was associated with the club in the pre First World War years (1903-4), he began his player-management here, and you will remember that he went on to massive success with Huddersfield Town and Arsenal in the late 1920s and 1930s. He died from pneumonia, following getting the 'flu, watching a match at Aldershot FC, in Hampshire, on a scouting mission.

Northamptonshire supports the Old Northampton Chenecks (f.1946) from the United Counties League Premier and Sileby Rangers (f.1968) UCL Division One. The Chenecks was formed to commemorate 94 old boys, staff and friends of the school who had died in the World Wars. Chenecks gets its name from bits of the four "houses" in the school, using two letters form each house.

Further south is, you guessed it, Southampton, of course a Premier League side, hosting Wolves today. 

Drifting back to the Non-League, I have played at Littlehampton Town FC leaving the field very early in a game when I was kicked in the mouth by an "overhead kick" and had to have stitches. It was only the final trial for the ESFA U18! What tough luck! The Marigolds play in the Southern Combination League.  Littlehampton, you will know, is a lovely beached resort on the Sussex coast, the mouth of the very famous and beautiful River Arun.

Here is the Marigolds' club badge and so far no explanation for the nickname. But they clearly want ot make progess. It has an active sea/fresh water port and on the seafront has the longest "bench" in the World.

Oh yes, these settlements all have -ham of Saxon origin meaning village or meadow and  -ton from Old English, enclosure or estate, as part of their placenames.