Somerset Guardian and Radstock Observer - 17 August 1928

NORTH SOMERSET LEAGUE.

A Record of Early Days.

The North Somerset League, which appears to be wound up, is older than the County Handbook describes it. Its year of origin, according to that text-book is 1902, but a North Somerset League hand-book in the possession of old footballer (Mr. W. Mills , of Rackvernal Road, Midsomer Norton), proves this to be incorrect. On its cover the hand-book gives the season as 1897-98, the secretary as Mr. E Barton Ricketts and the treasurer as Mr. C. J. Lewin, the present Chairman of County Football Association. The cup that year was won by Midsomer Norton Silver Stars, and one of the matches was with their fellow-townsmen - Midsomer Norton Reserves — whom they beat by 25 goals to nil.

Following are the clubs who then formed the League, with particulars set out in the following respective order— (l) name of club; (2) name of secretary; (3) dressing room; (4) colours; (5) locality of ground: (6) date of formation:-

Coleford: Mr. Gilbert Ashman; Anchor clubroom; black and blue; near dressing room; 1894.

Farmborough: Mr. B. Ricketts; New Inn; scarlet; Hill Bottom; 1892.

Farmborough Rovers: Mr. E. F. Flower; Bell Inn; white; Mount Pleasant; 1891.

High Littleton: Mr. Gilbert Cleaves; Royal Oak; white; Kingwell; 1896.

Midsomer Norton Reserves: Mr. A. Ernest Maggs; Commercial Hotel; white shirts, blue nicks; Rackvernal; 1889.

Peasedown St. John: Mr. J. C. Matthews; Red Post Inn; light and dark blue; Peasedown; 1894.

Paulton Rovers (reserve team): Mr. F. Chivers; Red Lion Hotel; white; Recreation Field, Winterfield; 1890.

Paulton Casuals: Mr. Bert Williams; Winterfield Inn; dark green; 1895.

Radstock Reserve Team: Mr. C. J. Lewin; pavilion on ground; black and red halves; Round Hill; 1889.

Silver Stars (Midsomer Norton): Mr. M. H. Maggs; Fir Tree Inn; white with red stars; Midsomer Norton; 1895.

Timsbury: Mr. A. Adams; Seven Stars Inn; black and red halves; Globe Field: 1890.

Temple Cloud: Mr. Herbert Bourton; Temple Inn; white shirts; Tile Down; 1891.

The handbook, which was, of course, printed 31 years ago, gives the following list of local referees for the guidance of club secretaries:— Frank Heal, Radstock; Fred Lambert, Coleford; George Yeates, Coleford; Wm. Chivers, Midsomer Norton; Chas. Bridges, Farmborough; Luther Cleaves and Jacob James, both of High Littleton; Thomas Flower and H. Bourton, of Temple Cloud; Isaac Nelmes and Chas. Smith of Paulton; Chas. Viner and H. Sands, of Farmborough; George Knight and J. C. Matthews, of Peasedown; H. James, Paulton; A. Adams and Sam Ford, Timsbury; B. Ricketts, Farmborough; and H. Mears, Midsomer Norton.