Suffolk Stowupland Falcons FC
CLUB HISTORY
CELEBRATING OVER 50 YEARS OF YOUTH FOOTBALL IN STOWUPLAND
Stowupland Falcons FC can trace its roots back to the late 1800’s. Today the Club operates as a single youth and adult community football club, providing football for all those who wish to take part, only limited by our facilities and those in the surrounding area.
The adult section of Stowupland Falcons Football Club can trace its origin back to being formed in 1901 (although membership of a league – the Ipswich & District League – was not taken up until 1908 by the then named Stowupland Swifts). The game was played in the village by teams under the names of Stowupland Swifts, Stowupland United, Stowupland Athletic and Stowupland Wanderers for various lengths of time until 1932 when the Club became just plain ‘Stowupland’.
Under yet another new name of Stowupland Corinthians, the club was one of just ten to form the new Ipswich & District League Division One when the league restarted in 1945/46 following the War years – with home matches being played on “Carter’s Meadow”.
The club has now been a continuous member of the Ipswich & District League (now the Suffolk & Ipswich League) since 1964, and in the season 1964/65 finished second in Division Four (Section B). Steadily climbing through the lower divisions before reaching the ‘giddy heights’ of Division One for the first time in season 1972/73, but sadly this momentum could not be sustained as many of our near neighbours, some with much shorter histories, overtook the club on their way to the then ‘Premier Division’.
In those early days the good old ‘Green’ was the main playing surface and that was after the local farmer’s dairy cattle had been directed homewards. Local knowledge as to the consistency of the ‘pats’ played a part in determining whether to go into a sliding tackle or not. Villagers crossing the pitch on their bicycles could also be an interruption that many referees had not seen before, as were long delays for recovering the ball when the wind was blowing in the wrong direction. There were some consolations, not the least being changing in the ‘Retreat’ public house which whilst not having the most modern of changing facilities, offered somewhat unique pre and post-match refreshment opportunities.
The change of main venue to the Sports & Social Club in 1990 was very welcome and the club was able to start an ‘A’ side in addition to the First and Reserve teams.
Postcard posted 1906
We are always looking for more information, stories and memorabilia, if you have anything to contribute we’d love to here from you, please get in touch.