Washington Colliery
Encyclopedia
Washington Colliery F.C. is a football club originally formed by the local miners at the local "F-Pit" Colliery in Washington, Tyne & Wear.
, who went on to Captain Sheffield Wednesday
to the FA Cup and won two caps for England
.
The club won the Division 2 title in the 1927/28 season and were promoted to division one but didn't enjoy much success. This period however did produce their most famous son, a gentleman known by the name of Jimmy Hagan
, who went on to represent England (winning one full international cap against Denmark in Copenhagen in 1948). He later managed the famous Benfica team that won three successive Portuguese championships between 1971 and 1973. He was also briefly manager of Sporting Lisbon during the 1976/77 season.
After the war the club were reformed as Washington Colliery Mechanics and joined the Washington and District football league (known as the Durham Alliance league from 1996), with the club managing a great amount of success in the 50's including winning the league title 5 years in a row and the coveted Durham Trophy. The Colliery stayed in the league until 1964 when the moved to the Northern Alliance League. Their tenure in that league lasted only one year where then club secretary Billy Benson was successful in applying to become a member of the Wearside league under the name Washington F.C.
whose greatest moment was in reaching F.A Cup 4th qualifying round where they were defeated 3-1 by professional league team Bradford Park Avenue
. Currently Washington F.C play in the Northern league and are semi professional with paid players.
In 2007, Secretaries Michael Walker and Mark Wallis of local pub team Washington New Tavern, following a player vote (several players with family mining links) decided to change their name to Washington Colliery F.C. to carry on the tradition. The club were awarded F.A charter standard in 2007 and were promoted from division 4 to division 3 in the 2006/07 season. Washington Colliery play in the Durham Sunday League for the 2007/2008 season and be accessed via http://www.web-teams.co.uk/washington
Sources: Football Club History database, Audrey Fletcher (photo)
History
Little is known of the club prior 1926/27 when the club became a founder member in division 2 of the North Eastern League. Prior to this it was known the club did exist but mainly in playing friendlies against other local pits such as Usworth Colliery. A notable player from the early era was Ronnie StarlingRonnie Starling
Ronald William "Ronnie" Starling was an English footballer whose career lasted from 1926 to 1946. Starling was an inside forward who made 413 appearances in all competitions, never a high scoring inside forward he was a player who created chances for other players, notching a modest 65 goals...
, who went on to Captain Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday F.C.
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the...
to the FA Cup and won two caps for England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
.
The club won the Division 2 title in the 1927/28 season and were promoted to division one but didn't enjoy much success. This period however did produce their most famous son, a gentleman known by the name of Jimmy Hagan
Jimmy Hagan
James Hagan was an English football player and manager born in Washington, County Durham, England. He played between 1938 and 1958 for Sheffield United and once for England. As manager he had his greatest successes with S.L...
, who went on to represent England (winning one full international cap against Denmark in Copenhagen in 1948). He later managed the famous Benfica team that won three successive Portuguese championships between 1971 and 1973. He was also briefly manager of Sporting Lisbon during the 1976/77 season.
After the war the club were reformed as Washington Colliery Mechanics and joined the Washington and District football league (known as the Durham Alliance league from 1996), with the club managing a great amount of success in the 50's including winning the league title 5 years in a row and the coveted Durham Trophy. The Colliery stayed in the league until 1964 when the moved to the Northern Alliance League. Their tenure in that league lasted only one year where then club secretary Billy Benson was successful in applying to become a member of the Wearside league under the name Washington F.C.
Washington F.C.
Washington F.C. is a football club based in Washington, Tyne and Wear, England. They were established in 1947 and joined the Wearside League in 1968...
whose greatest moment was in reaching F.A Cup 4th qualifying round where they were defeated 3-1 by professional league team Bradford Park Avenue
Bradford Park Avenue A.F.C.
Bradford Association Football Club, previously also known as Bradford and since its reformation in the 1970s now referred to as Bradford Park Avenue, is a football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England...
. Currently Washington F.C play in the Northern league and are semi professional with paid players.
In 2007, Secretaries Michael Walker and Mark Wallis of local pub team Washington New Tavern, following a player vote (several players with family mining links) decided to change their name to Washington Colliery F.C. to carry on the tradition. The club were awarded F.A charter standard in 2007 and were promoted from division 4 to division 3 in the 2006/07 season. Washington Colliery play in the Durham Sunday League for the 2007/2008 season and be accessed via http://www.web-teams.co.uk/washington
Achievements
- 1927/28: North Eastern League Division 2 Champions
- 1955/56: Washington & District Football League, Champions, League Challenge Cup Winners
- 56/67: League Champions
- 57/58: League Champions
- 58/59: League Champions, League Challenge Cup Winners
- 59/60: League Champions
- 60/61: League Runners Up, League Challenge Cup Winners, Aged Peoples Trophy Winners
- 61/62: League Champions, Aged Peoples Trophy Winners
- 62/63: League Champions, Aged Peoples Trophy Winners
- 64/65: League Challenge Cup winners, Aged Peoples Trophy Winners
- 65/66: Aged People Trophy Winners
Sources: Football Club History database, Audrey Fletcher (photo)