Uxbridge F.C.

History

Uxbridge Football Club came to life on 3 February 1871, during a meeting that included the Rev. T. S. Shepherd and a group of local men such as Hubert Heron, Frank Heron, P. Aldworth, F. J. Smith, R. T. Smith, W. M. Gardiner, W. Fassnidge, E. White, and P. White. William Mansfield Gardiner was chosen as president, and a four-man committee was picked to run things. Members paid 2s. 6d. each year, and the team’s outfit was set: a white jersey with a light blue Maltese cross, plus a light blue velvet scull cap topped with a silver tassel.

The club kicked off with friendly return matches. No one recorded the very first game, but it probably happened against Marlow on Uxbridge Common, since the return fixture at Marlow took place on 8 April 1871. Other early return games in 1871 and early 1872 involved Windsor Home Park, Maidenhead, and Southall. Reginald T. Smith served as the first captain until 2 September 1873, when the annual general meeting handed the role to Hubert Heron, who also became honorary secretary.

By then Heron had already earned an England cap as a forward in the second international against Scotland on 8 March 1873, and he picked up another cap on 7 March 1874 while leading Uxbridge. From the club’s early days, some players also turned out for nearby sides Windsor Home Park and the Swifts of Slough, both founded in the 1870–71 season. In the 1872–73 FA Cup, Uxbridge men Hubert Heron, Frank Heron, G. Turner, and club president William Mansfield Gardiner played for Windsor Home Park across three ties, with Reginald T. Smith joining them for two of those matches.

Ground

Uxbridge play at Honeycroft on Horton Road in Yiewsley, a ground with a capacity of 3,770 including 353 seats. It was originally the sports and social club of the Drayton Controls company (Drayreg) and was named after the club's former home in Cowley. Honeycroft is designated a 'C' Grade stadium and underwent extensive redevelopment in 2023, including installation of a 3G pitch. From 1871–72 to 1873–74 home games were played on Uxbridge Common.

The only home game of the 1874–75 season, before the club was dissolved on 18 November 1874, was at Uxbridge Cricket Club ground against Harrow Chequers on 10 October 1874. Uxbridge Crescents then played on Uxbridge Common from 1874–75 to 1878–79, and both the Crescents and the reformed Uxbridge club used the Common from 1879–80 to 1883–84. From 1884–85 to 1885–86 Uxbridge played at Mr S. W. Light's Field, thought to be near the present Rockingham Recreation Ground, while the Crescents continued on the Common.

In 1886–87 the amalgamated team was called Uxbridge Crescents, playing at Light's Field and later at Mr Johnson's field. The club rented Johnson's field from 1887–88 to 1888–89, with the rental doubling from £5 to £10. A return to Light's Field occurred in 1889–90. From 1890–91 to 1899–1900 the ground was Colne Farm on Uxbridge Moor, known for heavy soil.

The club dissolved due to debt from 1900–01 to 1901–02, then returned to Colne Farm from 1902–03 to 1903–04. From 1904–05 to 1914–15 the ground was Hillingdon House Park, and no games were played from 1915–16 to 1917–18 due to the First World War.

Records

The best league finish is 9th in the Southern League Premier South in 2025–26. In the FA Cup the club reached the second round in 1873–74. The best FA Amateur Cup performance was reaching the final in 1897–98. In the FA Trophy the best run was the third round in 2021–22, and in the FA Vase the fourth round in 1983–84. Roger Nicholls holds the record for most appearances with 1,054, and Phil Duff is the top scorer with 153 goals.