Meg FC - Club History 1904 - 1960
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Club History: 1904 - 1960 | 1960 - 1970 | 1970 -1980 | 1980 - 1990 | 1990 - 2000 | 2000 - Present Day
Club History 1904 – 1960
(Compiled by Club Secretary, Pete Ford)
1895
There was mention of a Football Club in village called Metheringham
Wednesday in Lincolnshire Chronicle of the time.
1904-05
The Village Trophy was introduced by W. Mortimer of Ingelby near
Saxilby in this season. Being the team of the moment Metheringham was favourites
to win the final which was to be played on the Sincil Bank Enclosure, the
home of Lincoln City. Unfortunately the team went out in the semi finals,
losing to eventual winners Washingborough, 3-2.
1905-06
The next season Metheringham proved they were the best as they lifted the Village Trophy , beating Wellingore 2-0 at Sincil Bank enclosure. To get to the final they beat Waddington in semi final. That season also saw Metheringham finalists in the Horncastle Cup and semi finalist in the Lincolnshire Shield.
1908-09
The club were Amateur Cup winners and reached their second Village Trophy final,
this time losing to Washingborough at Sincil Bank (referee F. Grant). In the
semi final they beat Billinghay 2-1.
1909-10
Washingborough again put an end to Metheringham Village Trophy hopes
as they beat them 2-0 in the semi final.
1911-12
Again the club were Village Trophy semi finalists, this time losing to Bracebridge who went on to beat Caythorpe in the final 2-0.
1912-13
Getting to a third Village Trophy final Metheringham were winners for
a second time beating Bracebridge 3-2 with goals from F. Chapman (2), T. Farris.
The match was again at Sincil Bank with W. Proctor the match official. To get
to the final they beat Caythorpe in the semi final 3-2 after a second replay.
It was not all success as Metheringham were losing semi finalists in the Amateur
Cup going down 2-1 against Lincoln West End.
1913-14
The last Village Trophy final before the start of WW1 saw Metheringham
reach their fourth final in eight seasons and the seventh semi final in the ten
years of the competition including three in a row from 1911/12 to 1913/14. For
a second occasion they were losing finalist this time going down 2-1 to Waddington
with Vasey scored from the penalty spot.
The competition saw a “first” when Metheringham FC met their youth
team, Metheringham FC (Juniors) in the semi final, beating them 5-0
1920-21
Reaching a eighth Village Trophy semi final Metheringham lost to Waddington 4-0. Waddington then beat Saxilby in the final 1-0
1921-22
Blankney Hunt Cup winners
1922-23
Blankney Hunt Cup winners
1923-24
Blankney Hunt Cup winners – Blankney Hunt Medals winners
1925-26
In a fifth Village Trophy final since its introduction in 1905 Metheringham
again lost – going down 5-2 Waddington who had also beaten them in the
1913-14 final. In the semi final they beat Heighington 2-0.
1928-29
Semi finalists of the Village Trophy for a tenth occasion again saw
defeat – this time losing 5-0 to Billinghay.
1930-31
Metheringham picked up the Village Trophy for a third time and the first time
in 18 seasons when beating Washingborough by a record score of 7-0 (Archie
Atkin 3, Billy Morris 3, Tommy Scoley were the scorers). In semi final they
met Blankney Hunt League side Blankney Fen which created a unique situation
as two sets of brothers opposed each other. Metheringham won the game 6-0 in
front of 419 spectators with receipts taken amounting to £5 3s 6d
The Club had its best season on record (quoted in Chronicle of this season
it stated that they were the oldest club in the Lincoln League) – They
won Division Three and were losing David Cooper finalists to Corinthians 4-3.
During season Billy Morris hit 53 goals for the club (including 9 hat-tricks).
1931-32
For a second successive season Metheringham were league champions. This
time it was Division Two champions – beating GPO by two points. Going into
the last game they were due to play Lincoln Midland Athletic who had beaten them
earlier in the season. Had the opposition won this game the championship would
have had to be decided on a play off. However Lincoln Midlands were unable to
raise a team and Metheringham was awarded two points which gave them the title.
Need to check but the club formed a reserve side which did
very well seeing as it came up against several club’s 1st XI. A Mr A. Amies
acted as the team secretary.
1933-34
After only two seasons in the top flight Metheringham was relegated
from Division One after winning just one league game.
1934-35
Metheringham beat Navenby 3-2 at home in Rd 1 and Washingborough 3-1
away in rd 2; before losing in their twelfth Village Trophy semi final, this
time 1-0 to Wellingore.
1935-36
Metheringham’s seventh appearance in the Village Trophy final
(played at Sincil Bank) saw a fourth defeat this time going down 5-2 a.e.t. to
old rivals Billinghay who were featuring in their sixth final in seven seasons.
Frank Atkin and Harry. Burge were the scorers with the referee C.Q. Williams.
To get to the final they beat Aisthorpe (away) 1-0 in Rd 1, Saxilby 1-0 at home
in rd 2 and Washingborough 5-1 in the semi final.
1936-37
After losing to Billinghay in the Village Trophy the previous season it was
revenge as they turned the table beating their arch rivals 2-0 to pick up the
cup four a fourth occasion in eight finals. Once again Sincil Bank was the
venue for the final. Their progress to the final went calmly for a start, winning
at Caythorpe in rd 1 and then 5-2 at Nocton in rd 2. In the semi final Saxilby
were the opponents with the sides playing out a 2-2 draw. Saxilby then failed
to play the replay on the date set and Metheringham were given a walk-over
into the final.
Metheringham tied for top place in Division Two with Blue Star Rovers. The
League ruled that the two sides would have to play-off for the title the following
season (the outcome is not known yet as newspaper information is sketchy).
1937-38
Metheringham’s reputation must have frightened sides off in this
season Village Trophy as they again drew Caythorpe in Rd 1 and they scratched.
Then in Rd 2 they again drew Nocton who also scratched, giving Metheringham a
free passage into the semi finalist Here they won 7-0 at Navenby but the home
club protested that Metheringham player S. Hodson (who lived at Digby) was outside
the 4 mile radius of Metheringham’s HQ (The Star and Garter). Eventually
an independent Surveyor with O.S. Map was called to prove their case and Metheringham
was expelled from the competition. Navenby got their come-uppance in the final
losing 4-0 to Washingborough.
1938-39
The last Village Trophy before the start of WW2 saw Metheringham reach their
sixteenth semi final and fifth in successive seasons. This time they beat
Aisthorpe 3-0 at home to set up a third meeting between them and Washingborough
in the finals. This was played at Sincil Bank with Metheringham winning 3-0
(lifting the Trophy for the fifth time) through goals from Ken Gray, Donaghue
Chapman and Jock Gegg. Leading up to the final they beat Fiskerton 4-0 in
rd 1 and then won 3-2 at Mid Lincs Social in Rd 2.
Metheringham were to reach two Sincil Bank finals this year and completed
a cup double lifting the Lincoln Amateur Cup, beating Burton Road 2-1 a.e.t. – Morley
and Smedley the scorers.
1939-40
Metheringham did not enter Village Trophy of this season due to the
impending War. A meeting at the League HQ (Black Swan, High St, Lincoln suspended
the competition in September before first round had been played.
During the war years Metheringham centre forward George (Donaghue) Chapman played
games for Leicester City.
Phil Hawbrook also had trials with Chesterfield during the same period.
1946-47
In the first Village Trophy after the war Metheringham reached yet another final, their tenth, but once again they were to lose (this time for a fifth occasion), going down 2-1 a.e.t. to Navenby at Sincil Bank. Leading up to the final they had a bye in rd 1, then won 4-2 at Digby in rd 2 and beat Saxilby 4-3 in rd 3. In the semi final they met neighbours Martin, who were making their first of four appearances in a semi final, and beat them 2-1.
1947-48
This season saw Metheringham make an early exit from the Village Trophy going
out in Rd 1 at Bracebridge Heath 3-2.
There was some compensation as they lifted the David Cooper Cup, beating Navenby
2-1 at Sincil Bank.
During the season Metheringham’s 18 year old starlet Don Dykes signed
for Lincoln City - champions of Div 3 (N) – he was also offered terms
by Division Two side Leicester City.
1948-49
This season saw a record 29 villages enter the Village Trophy with Metheringham
only getting as far as Rd 3 before losing at home to Heighington 1-0. In the
earlier rounds they won 4-2 at Welton then 2-1 at Tan Vats in round 2. Heighington
would go on to lose in the semi final to eventual winners Bardney.
Despite going out of the Village Trophy the club completed a cup double lifting
both the Amateur Cup and David Cooper Cup.
Wragby were beaten 2-1 at Sincil Bank in David Cooper Cup win Don Dykes scoring
after 8 minutes and Donaghue Chapman getting the second on 37 minutes.
In the Amateur Cup they beat Old Lincolnians 3-1 at Sincil Bank – this
time Donaghue Chapman netted two with the third coming from Bill Hicks
It was a reasonably successful season as they finished Lincoln League Division
Two runners-up behind Bassingham. Their playing record saw them lose only one
game all season (P14 W9 D4 L1 F42 A12 Pts 22) – Bassingham was P14 W10
D3 L1 pts 23. Had Metheringham not suffered their first defeat in their last
game at Wragby (2-1) they would have won the league.
1949-50
Cup competitions came thick and fast in this season as they lifted the David
Cooper Cup for a second successive season, beating local rivals British Crop
Driers 2-1.
In the Village Trophy 27 teams entered with Reepham beaten (away) 5-1 in round
1. In round two the game against Heighington was abandoned after 25 minutes
because of failing light. They won the replay to then meet and beat Saxilby
5-2 in rd 3. This set up an eighteenth semi final appearance against the previous
seasons losing finalists Skellingthorpe. The first game saw a 3-3 draw at Metheringham
with Skellingthorpe winning the replay 1-0. Skellingthorpe went on to lift
the trophy for the first and only occasion when they avenged their previous
season’s 1-0 defeat against Bardney by beating them by a record score
of 8-2.
As mentioned the fixtures piled up due to cup ties and having played 14 cup
ties they should have played 34 league games but were unable to fulfil 7 league
games and closed with a league playing record of P27 W19 D4 L4 F96 A36 Pts
42 – still they finished fifth, behind Wragby, Harby, Skellingthorpe
and Nettleham. Champions’ Wragby record was P34 W23 D5 L7 F99 A60 Pts
49 just 7 points clear of Metheringham!!
1950-51
The 1950-51 saw the all time record entry in the Village Trophy with
31 villages entering (this record still stands and one has to believe it will
never be beaten). Bardney, who had become the team of the moment, reached their
fourth final in a row (equalling a record achieved by Billinghay between 1933-1937).
For a second season Bardney would be losing finalists as Metheringham lifted
the Trophy at Sincil Bank in front of a crowd of 2,772 (receipts of £105.6s.9d).
To get to the final Metheringham beat Bassingham 4-0 (rd 1), Coleby 8-2 (rd 2),
Martin (H) rd 3 before beating Hyeham (a) 1-0 in semi final.
Metheringham completed another cup double, lifting the Amateur Cup by beating
????? 4-2
1951-52
This season saw Metheringham retain the Village Trophy for the first occasion (and their seventh in total) as they beat Branston 3-0 in front of 1,667 at Sincil Bank. Metheringham’s goals came from Ray Parker Donaghue Chapman and teenager, Ted Oliver. Sides beaten en route to the final were Ashby de la Launde at home 5-1 in rd 1, Navenby away 3-2 in rd 2, Wragbt 3-1 (rd 3) and the Skellingthorpe 2-0 at home in the semi final.
1952-53
Metheringham reached a third successive final this season and were obvious
favourites to become the first side to lift the Trophy for a third time in a
row but it proved not to be as underdogs Bishop Norton (appearing in their first
final) beat them 2-1. The final was not played at Sincil Bank for the first time
in 21 seasons being played at Welton or Heighington (to
be confirmed). To get
to their thirteenth final Metheringham register a 10-1 win at Eagle in rd 1,
a 6-1 win at home to Digby in rd 2, followed by a 1-0 win over Nettleham in rd
3 and then a 2-0 win at Branston in the semi final. Branston put a protest into
the Competition, stating Donaghue Chapman was not eligible but this was over-ruled.
1953-54
The run of final appearances ended this season with the club going out
in rd 3, losing 3-0 at home to Welbourn. In the earlier round Caythorpe were
beaten 9-2 at home in rd 1 and Wellingore (H) 13-2 Rd 2.
1954-55
Metheringham only reached the second round of the Village Trophy this
season going out at eventual finalists Branston 1-0 in rd 2, Leadenham had been
beaten 11-1 at home in the first round. With the final still not being played
at Sincil Bank, Metheringham hosted the final with Navenby meeting Branston at
beating them 4-3 after extra time.
1955-56
1956 saw Metheringham reach their fourteenth final but suffer their
heaviest defeat in the finals, going down 5-1 to Aubourn (who won the trophy
for the first time in their first appearance in the final). To date the venue
of the final is not known. To get to the final Nettleham were beaten 7-0 at home
in rd 1, Bardney 5-2 (a) rd 2, Skellingthorpe (a) 5-4 rd 3 and then Caythorpe
2-1 at home in the semi final
1956-57
1957 saw progress to only Rd 2 of the Village Trophy as the club lost
2-1 at home to Aubourn. Aubourn would go on to lift the trophy for a second season
in a row, beating Skellingthorpe 4-2. In the first round Metheringham beat Caythorpe
4-2 (a)
1957-58
This season saw the club take an early exit from the Village Trophy with Martin knocking them out in Rd 1 at home 2-1.
1958-59
A fifteenth Village Trophy final appearance saw Metheringham suffer
their eighth defeat in this showpiece competition for village teams. It also
gave them a hat-trick of defeats in this cup as they were to lose to Saxilby
2-1 a.e.t. The finals was played at Wellingore for a second season. In the early
round they won 4-0 at Welbourn in rd 2, then in Rd 3 they beat Navenby (a) 8-1
before overcoming (holders) Billinghay at home in the semi final 1-0.
1959-60
Saxilby were to end Metheringham’s progress in the 59-60 Village
Trophy as they went on to lift the cup in back to back seasons. Having had a
bye in rd 1 Eagle were beaten 9-2 (a) before Saxilby saw them off 3-0 (a) in
Rd 3.