Uxbridge

Uxbridge Football Club was founded on 3 February 1871 in an inaugural meeting attended by the Rev. T. S. Shepherd and local men, H. Heron, F. Heron, P. Aldworth, F. J. Smith, R. T. Smith, W. M. Gardiner, W. Fassnidge, E. White and P. White. At the meeting Mr. William Mansfield Gardiner was appointed president and a committee of four elected to manage the club. It was agreed that the established rules of the club be those of the 'Football Association of London', the subscriptions would be fixed at 2s. 6d. per annum and 'that the uniform of the club consist of a white jersey with light blue Maltese cross and a light blue velvet scull cap with silver tassel'.

The team started by playing friendly return games. Their first game was not recorded but was likely to have been played against Marlow on Uxbridge Common as the return game at Marlow took place on 8 April 1871. Other recorded return games in 1871 and early 1872 were played against Windsor Home Park, Maidenhead and Southall.

Uxbridge Football Club's first games:
February or March 1871 Marlow Home
8 April 1871 Marlow Away
18 October 1871 Windsor Home Park Home
21 October 1871 Southall Away
25 November 1871 Maidenhead Away
2 December 1871 Windsor Home Park Away
20 January 1872 Southall Home
10 February 1872 Maidenhead Home

Uxbridge made their debut in the FA Cup with a 3–0 first round win over Gitanos at Uxbridge Common on 28 October 1873. In the second round tie on 26 November 1873 they faced eventual finalists the Royal Engineers on Uxbridge Common which ended in a 2–1 defeat.

Uxbridge's first captain was R.T. Smith who served until 2 September 1873 when Hubert Heron was appointed captain at the club's annual general meeting (AGM). By this time Hubert Heron had gained a full international cap as a forward for England in the 2nd annual game against Scotland on 8 March 1873. As Uxbridge captain he would gain a further cap at the 3rd annual game on 7 March 1874.

At this time good players would often compete for more than one club. As well as Uxbridge, Hubert Heron had played games for Windsor Home Park and Swifts. However the F.A. Cup had registration rules which restricted a player to one team. At a club committee meeting on 19 October 1874 Hubert Heron advised he would be playing for Wanderers in the forthcoming 1874–75 FA Cup competition. The issue was compounded when Uxbridge players G. Turner and Hubert Heron's brothers Frank and Henry elected to play for Swifts in their FA Cup 1st-round game against Old Etonians on 5 November 1874. The consequence of the loss of players was Uxbridge having to scratch their FA Cup 1st-round game against Windsor Home Park which was to have taken place on 7 November 1874.

The withdrawal from the 1874-75 F.A. Cup with Uxbridge's best players wishing to play for other teams led to the club's temporary disbandment. At a general meeting of members on 18 November 1874 it was decided that the club should be dissolved, '...brought about, not from any want of funds, but owing to disagreements amongst members, occasioned chiefly by the club being unable to engage in the contest for the Association Challenge Cup, in consequence of a few of the members preferring to play for neighbouring clubs, rather than cast their lot with Uxbridge.' Hubert Heron would go on to receive an F.A. Cup winners medal three times with Wanderers in 1876, 1877 and 1878.

By 18 November 1874 the Uxbridge Crescents Football Club had been formed. In 1876 and 1877 they played games against Windsor Grosvenor, Maidenhead and Windsor Home Park. After this period only one game is recorded before 1883 which was a local derby on 12 November 1881 against Uxbridge Caxtonians on Uxbridge Common.

Uxbridge F.C. was reformed for the 1879–80 season with three matches being played in November 1879. The first game was played at Amersham F.C. on 12 November 1879 resulting in a 4–1 win for Uxbridge. This was followed by a game at Slough Rangers on 22 November 1879 ending in a 3–1 defeat. Another away game took place on 29 November 1879 against Watford United resulting in a 1–1 draw. The return game against Amersham took place at Uxbridge on 7 February 1880 ending in a 1–0 win for Uxbridge. On 18 February 1880 Uxbridge played Padcroft at the college grounds in Yiewsley culminating in a 2–1 win.

Uxbridge's opening game of the 1880–81 season took place on 27 October 1880 on Uxbridge Common against Slough Rangers resulting in a 2–1 defeat. At their AGM on 29 April 1881 it was stated that in the 1880–81 season the club had won 12 out of 22 matches with 5 drawn and 5 lost. It was decided that the club should join the Football Association.

At the club's AGM on 23 August 1883 it was announce by Captain and Hon. Secretary Mr. W. A. Hancock, that Uxbridge had played 18 games in the 1882–83 season, 14 of which they had won with one of the others resulting in a tie. It was stated that the club had over 50 members, the majority of whom played and that the club would be entering the Association Challenge Cup for the forthcoming season. In the 1883–84 FA Cup first round Uxbridge played Rochester at home on 3 November 1883 but lost 2–1. At the club's AGM on 21 August 1884 Mr. Hancock reported that in the 1883–84 season the club had played 26 games of which they had won 14, six were drawn and six lost.

In the 1884–85 FA Cup first round on 8 November 1884 Uxbridge were drawn at home against Hotspur F.C. and were watched by 500-600 spectators. However they were defeated 3–1. In the 1885–86 FA Cup they again lost in the first round, this time 5–0 to Old Wykehamists F.C. at Windsor Home Park on 31 October 1885.

On 22 August 1885 the West Middlesex Football Association was established with both Uxbridge F.C. and Uxbridge Crescents becoming members. Uxbridge F.C. committee's decision to join the association was approved at the club's AGM on 8 September 1885. A West Middlesex Association challenge cup competition was inaugurated for the 1885–86 season.

One of the West Middlesex Cup semi-final ties was played between Uxbridge F.C. and Uxbridge Crescents on 13 February 1886. The game took place at Mr. S. W. Light's field in the presence of between four and five hundred spectators. The Crescents went ahead just before half-time with Uxbridge's goalkeeper, S. W. Light, being beaten by a shot into the top corner of the goal by Crescent's H. Blunden. After changing ends Uxbridge equalized with a goal by C. Heron. A determined second half followed with each team striving to gain the upper hand. Nearing the end of the game Crescent's centre, W. Drinkwater hit a long shot which looked like it was going over but struck the underside of the bar, winning the contest for Crescents 2–1. In the final tie on 20 March 1886 Uxbridge Crescents won the Challenge cup by defeating Acton 4–1 at Southall's ground.

Since the 1883–84 season the Uxbridge Crescents club had been growing significantly with games being played against senior teams in the area such as Southall, Hanwell, Burnham, Hounslow as well as Uxbridge F.C. themselves. On 14 August 1886 a letter to the editor of the Buckinghamshire Advertiser written on behalf of members of Uxbridge F.C. set out the reasons for a possible amalgamation with Uxbridge Crescents and proposed a committee of three members from each club to discuss the matter. Negotiations were carried out by committees of the two clubs. After membership approval, a joint General Meeting was held at Uxbridge Town Hall on 26 August 1886 to give notice of the amalgamation and to elect officers for the forthcoming season. A formal resolution was passed deciding that the name of the Uxbridge Crescents should be retained as an alteration of name would necessitate them relinquishing their claim to the 1885-86 West Middlesex Cup.

The amalgamation saw the club adopt red shirts which are still the colours worn today, and the nickname "The Reds" first used. The first game of the combined club took place on Mr. S. W. Light's Field against Maidenhead on 9 October 1886 ending in a 3–2 defeat. On 12 March 1887 the club reached the final of the 1886–87 season West Middlesex Cup competition facing Southall at their home ground, but were defeated 1–0. At the club's AGM on 25 August 1887 it was unanimously decided for the club's name to be changed to the "Uxbridge Football Club".

The first trophy won by the amalgamated team was the Henesey Challenge Cup on 16 March 1889 when they defeated Colnbrook 6–0 at Mr. Johnson's Field in front of 800-1000 spectators. (The Henesey Challenge Cup competition took place from the 1888–89 to the 1892–93 season. It was organized by Uxbridge F.C. and was open to clubs located within 10 miles of Uxbridge Market House.) The following Saturday, 23 March 1889, they defeated Colnbrook again; this time 1–0 in the final of the West Middlesex Cup at the Dolphin ground, Slough. Uxbridge would go on to win three consecutive West Middlesex Cup titles in the 1890s. On 11 April 1891 they defeated Hounslow 3–2 at Southall. On 26 March 1892 they defeated Harrow Athletic 3–2 also at Southall and on 15 April 1893 they defeated Southall 3–0 at Yiewsley. On 19 April 1893 Uxbridge won the Henesey Challenge Cup for the second time, defeating the 2nd Scots Guards 2–1 at Colne Farm watched by over 1500 spectators.

Having been finalists in 1891 and 1893, Uxbridge won the Middlesex Senior Cup for the first time on 7 April 1894, defeating the 3rd Grenadier Guards 2–0 in the final in front of 4000 spectators at Southall. In the 1894–95 season the club became founder members of Division Two of the Southern League and finished fourth in their first four seasons. They would win the Middlesex Senior Cup for the second time on 25 April 1896, when they defeated Southall 3–2 after a reply at Hanwell watched by close to 5,000 spectators. In the 1897–98 season they reached the final of the FA Amateur Cup, losing to Middlesbrough 2–0 at Crystal Palace.

However, in the 1898–99 season Uxbridge finish next to bottom of the league. At the end of the season the club was in debt by £128. The club committee made the decision to withdraw from the Second Division of the Southern League and enter the new Middlesex Amateur League. A special general meeting of club members took place on 5 June 1899. The chairman stated that there had been a significant increase in the number of strong clubs in the South of England and professionalism had come in which had robbed small country clubs of good players. At a vote the actions of the committee in withdrawing the club from the Southern League was unanimously endorsed. In the 1899–00 season Uxbridge finished bottom of the Middlesex league and folded in August 1900 with a debt of £75 19s 10d.

After two years, and with the debt repaid, the club was restarted for the 1902–3 season. They joined the West Middlesex league for two seasons and in the 1904–5 season joined the new Great Western Suburban League and remained there until The Great War. Their best league finish was as runners-up to Brentford Reserves in the 1910–11 season. During this time Uxbridge won the Middlesex Charity Cup twice. On 18 April 1908 they won the trophy for the first time by defeating Shepherd's Bush 2–0 in a replay at Southall watched by 600-700 spectators. Having been finalists in the 1908–09 and 1910–11 seasons they would win the competition again in the 1912–13 season defeating Hampstead Town 2–1 at Staines on 12 April 1913.

After the First World War they joined the Athenian League in the 1919–20 season as Uxbridge Town. They finished second from bottom and were relegated to the Great Western Suburban League. The club returned to the Athenian League in the 1924–25 season. In the 1934–35 season Uxbridge won the Middlesex Charity Cup for the third time by defeating Finchley 4–3 at Wealdstone on 11 May 1935. In the 1936–37 season they failed to be re-elected to the Athenian League after finishing bottom of the league twice. The club then moved to the Spartan League as Uxbridge F.C. and finished top of the league. However, they were denied the championship, as it was discovered the club had played an ineligible player, so they finished third when six points were deducted. The club then joined the London League in the 1938–39 season.

With the outbreak of the Second World War Uxbridge joined the newly established Great Western Combination League in October 1939. By 1939 the club had played at nine home grounds since its establishment in 1871 and had been playing at the RAF Uxbridge stadium since 1923. With the coming of the war the team had to play at other grounds from the 1939–40 season while RAF Uxbridge conducted its historic role in the defence of the United Kingdom. The club won the Great Western Combination Subsidiary Cup in the 1941–42 season, defeating league champions Oxford City over two legs. Having beaten City 1–0 at Oxford, Uxbridge won the 'home' tie 2–1 at Wycombe Wanderers ground on 30 May 1942. In the 1942–43 season the club finished league runners-up to the Grenadier Guards.

After the Second World War the club joined the London League Western Division in the 1945–46 season, finishing runners-up to Edgware Town. Uxbridge returned to the R.A.F. Uxbridge stadium after six years on 11 May 1946 with a 3–0 win in a friendly game against Twickenham. In the 1946–47 season the club joined the Corinthian League, opening with a 2–1 defeat at home against Eastbourne on 31 August 1946. However issues with the lease of their home ground had arisen. At the club's annual meeting on 23 July 1947, President of the club Mr W.S.Try reported that owing to preparations for the 1948 Olympic Games, the R.A.F. stadium would not be always available in the future and next season they would have to pay an increased price for each match there. A new home for Uxbridge was needed and on 17 September 1947 a large house called "Honeycroft" with 4.5 acres of land in Cleveland Road, Cowley (today part of Brunel University) was bought at auction on behalf of the club for £5,800 by Mr Try. The new ground was named after the house, which became the club's main facility. The first home game at Honeycroft was against Yiewsley in the F.A Cup on 4 September 1948 which resulted in a 1–1 draw after extra time. Uxbridge would end their first season at Honeycroft as Corinthian League 1948–49 runners-up to Walton & Hersham.

In the 1950–1951 season Uxbridge won two trophies in consecutive weekends. On 5 May 1951 they defeated Maidenhead 2–0 at Maidstone to win the Corinthian Memorial Shield. A week later on 12 May 1951 they won the Middlesex Senior Cup for the first time since 1896. Having been finalists previously in 1914, 1927 and 1935 they defeated Hayes 2–1 at Southall. The 1959–60 season was a particularly successful season with the club being champions of the Corinthian League. The club remained in the Corinthian league, until the end of the 1962–63 season, when as a result of a restructuring of Non-league football the league was disbanded, and were placed in Division one of the Athenian League. At the end of the 1966–67 season the club was relegated to Division Two, which led to the club facing financial difficulties again and the ground was mortgaged, but they still continued and gained national prominence in 1976 when they met a full-strength England side at Wembley Stadium as part of World Cup preparations. The score: England 8 Uxbridge 0.

In 1978 the club bought its current ground in Yiewsley and also called the ground "Honeycroft". The club spent over £170,000 on ground improvements and a 1–1 draw with Arsenal on 12 November 1981 saw the official opening of new floodlights. The 1981–82 season saw both league and cup success. The club finish third in the Athenian League and achieve election into the Isthmian League and also won the Middlesex Charity Cup with a 2–1 win against Hendon at Honeycroft on 11 May 1982. In the 1984–85 season the club finished second in the Isthmian League Division Two South and gained promotion to Division One, where they remained for twenty years. The first season in Division One was good with the team finishing in 7th place and also reaching the 1st Round proper of the FA Trophy and the Final of the AC Delco Cup in its inaugural year, losing 1–3 to Sutton United. Throughout this period of the late 1960s to late 1980s the club was managed by Ron Clack. He was followed by Peter Marshall for one season and Michael Harvey for three seasons.

June 1992 saw George Talbot take to the helm as manager. He had joined Uxbridge as coach in August 1991 after being manager at Harefield . His first success in his 14-year tenure was winning the London Challenge Cup in 1994, when, after despatching Southall, Leyton Orient (at Brisbane Road) and Football Conference sides Dagenham & Redbridge and Welling United, the club collected their first major trophy for 12 years. Three years later the London Challenge Cup was lifted again following victories over Collier Row & Romford, St. Albans City, Barking and Leyton Pennant by 1–0 in a final replay after a 3–3 draw at Fulham's Craven Cottage ground. A year later in 1998 the club reached the London Challenge Cup Final again and also the final of the Middlesex Senior Cup, losing to Boreham Wood and Enfield respectively.

1999 saw another appearance in the final of the London Challenge Cup, this time the club losing to Dulwich Hamlet after extra time at Charlton Athletic's ground, and a year later the club made their fourth consecutive appearance in the London Challenge Cup Final, and this time the "Reds" gained their revenge over Dulwich Hamlet, with a 5–4 win on penalties following a 2–2 draw at Dagenham & Redbridge. 2001 saw the club lose their stranglehold on the London Challenge Cup but they were victorious in the Middlesex Senior Cup for the first time in 50 years as they defeated Isthmian Premier neighbours Harrow Borough. The 2003–04 season saw another cup final reached, resulting in a defeat to holders Hendon in the Middlesex Senior Cup.

The 2004–05 season, saw the club moved from the Isthmian league to the Southern league, in the Eastern Division. Their debut in the new league saw them finish in fourth place and a play-off competition for the final promotion place, which Uxbridge lost in the final on penalties at Maldon Town. Before the 2005–06 season the club installed a new floodlighting system (up to Football Conference standard). However a lower than expected 14th position in the league that season resulted in the departure of George Talbot.

Former Uxbridge player and Northwood manager Tony Choules was appointed as George Talbot's successor for the 2006–07 season. Under his stewardship the club reached the Southern League Division One South & West Play-off final in the 2007–08 season where they lost to Oxford City 1–0. The club switched to Division One Central in the Southern League at the start of the 2010–11 season and in the 2011–12 season they finished Fourth qualifying for the Play-offs, but lost 2–1 to Bedworth United in the semi-final. There was success in cup competition with the club winning back to back Middlesex Charity Cup's in 2013 and 2014 and winning it again in 2019. In the 2018–2019 season the club joined the Isthmian League Division One South Central.

After thirteen years in charge of the club, Choules stepped aside in May 2019. His replacement was former Chalfont St Peter boss Danny Edwards. In the 2024–25 season, Uxbridge finished second in the Isthmian League South Central Division and were promoted via the playoffs to reach step 3 of the football pyramid for the first time in their history. They will start the 2025–26 season in the Southern League Premier South division.