Down by the Royal River

By Ian Townsend

Windsor & Eton FC were members of the Isthmian League for twenty five years, and a new book charts their history


Those of us watching the Isthmian League between 1981 and 2006 will have fond memories of Windsor & Eton FC, and a new book has been released which charts the history of the Red and Greens.

Written by Michael Gegg, 'Wearing the Red and Green' recounts one hundred and nineteen years of club history, which sadly ended in February 2011. These days a new club, Windsor FC, formed by the fans of the former club, plays in the Combined Counties League.

There were many highlights (and low points) of their Isthmian tenure- let's see if any of these bring back memories:

1981/82 first season in the Isthmian League under the management of Geoff Chapple (who went on to huge success at Woking and Kingstonian)
1982/83 Promotion from Division 2 / Played Brentford in FA Cup 1st Round Proper (lost 7-0)
1983/84 Champions of Division 1, reached 2nd Round Proper of FA Cup lost to Harry Redknapp’s AFC Bournemouth 2-0 in a replay - winners were to play Manchester United. Our patron was Prince Philip who uninvited joined the squad to celebrate winning the championship in a hotel in Windsor opposite the Castle with two of his bodyguards
1984/85 Finished 5th in Premier Division, lost 2/0 to Gillingham in 1st Round FA Cup
1985/86 Lost to Torquay in FA Cup 1st Round Proper replay (3-0)
1987/88 Top of the Premier Division for 10 weeks, eventually finished 7th. Won Berks & Bucks Senior Cup
1988/89 Reached last 16 of FA Trophy including knocking holders Enfield out at Stag Meadow 1-0 with a last minute winner. Won Berks & Bucks Senior Cup
1991/92 Reached 1st Round Proper FA Cup losing to Woking 4-2
1992/93 Relegated from Isthmian Premier
1993/94 Relegated from Division 1
1994/95 Relegated from Division 2
1995/96 Promoted from Division 3 scoring 117 league goals in 38 games, a then record o believe
2000/01 Promotion to Division 1 having won 13 and drawing 2 of last 15 games of season, all played in April due to fixture congestion and we stole last promotion spot in final week of season
2003/04 promotion to Isthmian Premier Division
2005/06 relegation - moved over to Southern League

Read all about these events, and many more, by purchasing Michael's fine book, which is available here.

Follow the Pitching In Isthmian League on Instagram. Head here or search for theisthmianleague on your app. We're also on Facebook and Twitter.

Where next?

Pitching In Isthmian Supporters Predictions 22-23: Felixstowe & Walton United We're off North again, although in truth we're heading East, stopping just before we fall in the sea! Stuart Daynes is our guide to Felixstowe & Walton United
Pitching In Isthmian Supporters Predictions 22-23: Hastings United We're off to the Sussex seaside, and you can almost smell the Hastings Old Town fish and chips. George Gasson is our guide.

The Pitching In Isthmian Football League newsletter

Keep up-to-date with our exclusive email newsletters.

Subscribe