AFFILIATED TO THE BERKS & BUCKS FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION
MEMBERS OF:-
MINERVA SPARTAN SOUTH MIDLANDS FOOTBALL LEAGUE
WYCOMBE & DISTRICT FOOTBALL LEAGUE
SOUTH BUCKS YOUTH LEAGUE
WYCOMBE & SOUTH BUCKS MINOR FOOTBALL LEAGUE

THE EARLY YEARS
Holmer Green F.C. was founded in 1908 and initially played in the Chesham &
District League. Home matches were played at Camphells Meadow (now the
Rosetti Estate) at this time, before moving to The Common and headquarters
in the Bat and Ball. In 1934 the Club switched to the Wycombe Combination
League, as it was then, which was to he home for the next fifty years. The
Chesham Charity Cup was won in 1939, 1949 and again in 1953, and it was also
in this year that the Club won its first major trophy - the Berks & Bucks
Junior Cup. The 1960's saw success again in the Berks & Bucks Junior Cup
(1965) as well as three further victories in the Chesham Charity Cup.

WATCHET LANE
The early 1970's saw the start of a very successful period in the Club's
history, as under Norman King's managership the Wycombe League title was won
in 1972 and 1974. In 1975 progress continued off the field as the Club moved
its headquarters to the new H.G.S.A. complex at Watchet Lane. This move
coincided with victory in the Wycombe Senior Cup,and in 1977 with Roly
Clarke as manager the 1st Xl won the Berks & Bucks Intermediate Cup. This
victory gained the Club Senior status and in 1981, with Pete Eyres as
manager, the 1st Xl reached the quarter-finals of the Berks & Bucks Senior
Cup, defeating Chesham United and Flackwell Heath on the way before losing
2-1 to the holders, Milton Keynes. In the same year the Wycombe League and
League Cup were also won.

CHILTONIAN LEAGUE
1984 saw the formation of the Chiltonian League by ambitious clubs around
the Chiltern and Thames Valley area. Holmer Green were founder members of
the new league, and in fact the 1st X 1 and Reserves dominated their
respective divisions for the first three years. The 1st Xl, still managed by
Pete Eyres, won the Premier Division in 1984/85 and 1985/86, whilst the
Reserves, managed by Cohn Buckle, were League Champions in 1984/85, 1985/86
and 1986/87. However, the momentum fell away towards the end of the 1980's
and this period saw little success for the 1st team, not helped by several
management changes.

THE 1990's
The appointment of experienced manager Barry Hedley saw the fortunes of the
Club improve. In 1991 the 1st Xl finished third in the league and Andy
King's Reserve team swept the board in 1992/93 with the League, League Cup
and Wycombe Junior Cup treble. The Wycombe Senior Cup was also won and the
1st Xl also reached the semi-finals of the Berks & Bucks Intermediate Cup.
Prestigious pre-season friendlies away to Manchester United and Everton also
took place.

At the beginning of the 1993/94 season Barry Hedley returned north and Ian
Sheill took over as manager, and ably assisted by Jez Hodges enjoyed an
extremely successful season, with only two league defeats, which culminated
in the Premier Division title returning to Watchet Lane after a gap of eight
years. The Centenary Wycombe Senior Cup was also won for the second time in
three years. The 1994/95 season, which turned out to be the Club's last in
the Chiltonian League, saw even more trophies in the cabinet the 1st Xl
finished as runners-up in the league but finally managed to win the Bon
Accord Trophy for the first time. The Reserves won Reserve Division One, the
Wycombe Junior Cup, and were runners-up in the Reserve League Cup.

Off the field of play, the Club received recognition for the excellent
facilities at Watchet Lane when their local Football League club, Wycombe
Wanderers, decided to use Holmer Green as their training headquarters. In
addition, the England Youth Team, the England ladies Team and several
International Under 21 sides
have all used Holmer Green as their base when in the area.


SOUTH MIDLANDS LEAGUE
In order to continue the momentum built up throughout the first half of the
1990's Holmer Green set their sights on moving up the Pyramid ladder into
the South Midlands League. Although denied permission to move by the
Chiltonian League the Club spent the summer of 1995 in various FA tribunals
and appeals, eventually winning their case as late as mid August 1995, and
being accepted into the Senior Division of the South Midlands League. A
covered stand was built in September / October of that year and success off
the field was followed by success on the field. After a hectic finale to the
season the 1st Xl won the Senior Division title at the first attempt and
also reached the semi-finals of the Berks & Bucks Senior Trophy. The
Reserves, now managed by Ray Paton, finished runners-up in Reserve Division
Three and gained promotion to Division Two.

The second season saw progress maintained, and with Jez Hodges installed as
Player Manager the Senior Division Cup was won, beating Houghton Town 3-0 in
the final. Repeating the league success was always going to be difficult,
but a late run at the end of the season clinched the runners-up spot.
Another long-term objective was achieved with the very first FA Vase game,
away to Carterton Town. In the 1997/98 season success was confined to the
Senior Division Cup which was retained by beating Totternhoe 5-0 in a
replay, after a 3-3 draw in the first game. A respectable fourth place was
achieved in the league, and the Reserves, in Dave Yeabsley's first year as
manager, were runners-up and promoted to Reserve Division One.

SPARTAN SOUTH MIDLANDS LEAGUE
A merger of the Spartan and South Midlands Leagues took place in 1997/98.
After initially running side by side for a season the two leagues came
together last season and the newly expanded Senior Division consisted of
twenty two clubs. With planning perrnission obtained for floodlights the
next objective was promotion to the Premier Division. In order to achieve
this a top two finish was required - a tall order in view of the strength of
the new Senior Division, but after another manic finish to the season
(twelve league games in the last four weeks) the Senior Division was finally
won on goal difference from long time leaders Hanwell Town. Success also
came in the cups, reaching the final of the Berks & Bucks Senior Trophy for
the first time, losing 1-0 to Eton Wick, and also reaching the two-legged
final of the League Challenge Trophy before losing 3-0 on aggregate to
Waltham Abbey.

The Club's main ambition of promotion to the Premier Division was achieved,
the floodlights are up and operational, and the Club is again back in the FA
Vase, and for the last eight seasons has been in the FA Cup. The Club has
maintaineds its presence in the Premier Division despite adhering strictly
to an amateur ethos.None of this could have been achieved without the hard
work, dedication, commitment and support of the Committee and loyal
supporters. More work, particularly around the ground, and changing
facilities, needs to be done. But the Club has survived its first 100 years
and commemorated the beginning of the Centenary Year with a friendly at
Watchet Lane against a full strength Wycombe Wanderers in front of a record
crowd in excess of 800 people.