Napier Athletic Football Club
We know that the Company had a football team in 1904 however there is very little information until 1926. However we do know that the team were runner-up in the Chiswick & District League in the 1910 – 11 season.
From then on the team’s fortunes varied but you can see that N.A.F.C.’s fortunes have been honourable and generally fortunate.
Here are some names of old players and officials taken from The Golden Jubilee Dinner & Dance programme of 1956 held at the Napier Sports Pavilion on Gunnersbury Drive in Ealing which might bring back memories to some older Club members, supporters and readers:
Joe Harris, Jimmy Legg, Ginger Leslie, Fred Cherry, Lofty Caswell, Charlie Harris, The Windmill Brothers, Ted Fidler, Tom Bradbury, G. Taylor, Fatty Maguire, Joe Slater, Len Hunt, George Mason, “Tim” Hall, Bert Fullagar, Harry Abel, Bob Hutchinson, and many more.
Looking through the collection of photos below it appears that the Company had at least a first and second team and the colours were green and white in vertical stripes, alternating vertical rectangles, or simply plain green.
If you have any more information and photos of the Napier football team we would be grateful to see them. Please do contact us.
The following events are recorded.
1926
Joined the Great Western and Suburban League which they won the following year along with the West London Hospital Cup.
1928
Entered the London Intermediate Cup and reached the 4th round by beating Barking Town 6 – 1. They lost to the Coldstream Guards in the next round!.
1928 – 29
The Napier reserves won the Chiswick & District League Division 2. From then on success seems to have eluded the team until 1938.
1938
Won the Chiswick & District League Division 1 and the Acton Hospital Cup.
1939
Toured Belgium and brought back a Trophy. The Team joined the Middlesex Senior League.
1943
Reached the Semi-Finals of the London Senior Cup losing to Finchley after beating teams including Queen’s Park Rangers and Southall away.
1944
Entered the Brentford & District League.
1947
Rejoined the Chiswick & District Division 1 which they won the following year.
1949
Entered the Middlesex Senior League Division 2 reaching the Semi-Final.
1952 – 53
Entered the West End Amateur Football Association which Napier’s won.
From then on the team’s fortunes varied but you can see that N.A.F.C.’s fortunes have been honourable and generally fortunate. Here are some names of old players and officials which might bring back memories to some older Club members, supporters and readers:
Joe Harris, Jimmy Legg, Ginger Leslie, Fred Cherry, Lofty Caswell, Charlie Harris, The Windmill Brothers, Ted Fidler, Tom Bradbury, G. Taylor, Fatty Maguire, Joe SLater, Len Hunt, George Mason, “Tim” Hall, Bert Fullagar, Harry Abel, Bob Hutchinson, and many more.
This information was taken from The Golden Jubilee Dinner & Dance programme of 1956 held at the Napier Sports Pavilion on Gunnersbury Drive in Ealing. If you have any more information and photos of the Napier football team we would be grateful to see them. Please do CONTACT US.
