Kidlington FC

Kidlington v Headington United in FA Cup in 1950 - click here for more details.

Kidlington Football Club gives it formation as 1909 but following them back through history Kidlington are found to be joining the newly formed Oxfordshire District League Division Two in 1908 and competing for the 1908-09 season in Section C.
They played away to Enslow in their first competive game on 10 October 1908 losing 5-1 in a "most one sided game".
On 17 October they got a 3-0 home win against Hannington II. However, Kidlington fielded an illegible player and got two points deducted.
The First Round of the County Junior Shield took place on 24 Oct with an away fixture to Woodstock scheduled. But Kidlington scrathed.
The next league game was on 21 November with a home 4-0 defeat against Wolvercote United.
5 December say the Second Round ogf the Jersey Cup with a home fixture against Deddington.The outcome appears not to have been published and Kidlington do not appear in the fixtures again.
Back to Woodstock on 19 December which resulted in a 10-0 loss.
16 Jan saw their first game on 1909 and it was away to Wolvercote. Another one-sided game ended in a 7-0 defeat.
A friendly was scheduled at Wolvercote United on 30 Janauary. The outcome was not reported.
Next up is Enslow at home on 13 February and a 3-3 drew saw Kidlington eventually getting a point on the league table.
20 February saw a visit to section leaders with a 100% record Oxford Institure was next and a defeat of 16-0 was recorded.
A home League fixture with Woodstock being the visitors was arranged for 6 March but does not seem to have been played.
A friendly against visting Wolvercote United was fixtured for 13 March. Again no outcome of the results was reported.
On 20 March the away fixture at Hannington II got scrathed by Kidlington and the game awarded to Hannington - another point is deducted putting them back on nil points.
A visit by Oxford Institute was next for an Easter Monday game (12 April). An impressive result for Kidlington saw them lose just 1-0.
No further results or tables were published and Kidlington finished bottom with nine games played. But even with one win and one draw then ended up with no points. For the record they scored seven goals and had 46 against.

It is likely that at the end of the 1908-09 season it was decided to put the club on a better footing due to issues both on and off the pitch - hence the 1909 formation.

The side also appears in the Oxford Times fixture lists as playing friendly matches back to September 1906. A fixture is recorded against a team from 'Elliston & Cavell' on 29th September 1906. No result for this match can be found but their match against 'St Thomas II' on 20th October 1906 ended in a 2-1 defeat for 'The Villagers'. More 'friendly' games were played uding 1907-08 season.

According to Jackson’s Oxford Journal edition dated 13 January 1894 - “Charlbury football team visited Kidlington on Thursday last and beat the home club by three goals to nil.”

In their early years the current club initials are seen what appears to be 'KUFC' in photographs - whether the 'U' referred to United is not currently clear, but perhaps a couple of local teams got together to start the village club? Early match reports have referred to Kidlington as 'The Villagers'. These initials are seen in club held photographs from 1909 and 1920.

Their first notable cup win was in 1929 when Kidlington won the Lord Jersey Cup - beating Fritwell 2-1 at Bicester Town. They had played in various village leagues including Mid-Oxon Junior League, Oxford City Junior League, Junior Shield and Woodstock Charity Cup. The entered the Hellenic League in 1954 (a year after it's inauguration). The club's headquarters had been located in the (old) Red Lion public house (3 Oxford Road). This is now the café next door to the current Red Lion. Promotion to the Southern League was achived for 2016-17.

In the 1930s, they played on a pitch which was entered via Yarnton Road (then known as Yarnton Lane) at the site now occupied by the entrance to Morton Avenue. This land was originally known as Starkes Field. There was also an entrance to the field via Yarnton Lane where Treeground Place is now located. There had been an entrance to next to number 86 Oxford Road, but the occupants purchased the land of this entrance from Jim Tompkins, who then lived at Lyne Farm (previously lived in Mill Street). He seems to have owned this land from 1923. The pitch itself (see D in map below) was located over an area now covered by Morton Close and part of Churchill Road and ran long ways towards the Oxford Road, but was separated from the Oxford Road by a row of houses. It is possible that the pitch was further back towards the current site as it doesn't seem to have backed on to Oxford Road until the late 30's / early 40's. The changing rooms were located at the Oxford Road end and had previously been located alongside the old junior school in School Road. The hut was relocated to Gosford Turn where it was used by the Home Guard and local scouts, before it was moved once again in 1946 to Gosford Hill when Abe Buckland wanted the land for his garage business. It was at Gosford Hill when it was destroyed in 1969 following an arson attack by two local boys.

Before their move to the (old) Yarnton Lane ground they had played next to the Kidlington Cricket ground at Wilsden's Field at the end of Lyne Road (around 1934/35 - E). This was located on the right hand side as you now approach the railway crossing. Matches had also been played on a pitch at Gosford Hill and also in Langford Lane - perhaps the site where rugby club Gosford All Blacks would later play?

A 'Kidlington Minors' team had playing during the second world war and was run by Jim Hunt - he would later be a notable name with both Kidlington FC as well as Oxford United FC (previously Headington United FC).

In 1945 Kidlington FC was reformed and an AGM was held in the (old) Foresters Hall in High Street. One of the main tasks for the club was to find a ground. One piece of land that was of interest was in Yarnton Road (now their current home) but at this time the owners, a Mrs Partridge from Begbroke, changed her mind about selling. Jim Tompkins then offered them a field located at the end of the original Lyne Road at the start of Begbroke Lane (C) - now accessed via Partridge Place as Lyne Road is now rerouted). This land, located between Rowel Brook and the Oxford Canal, was known as Round Ham. The pitch was located through a gate found after crossing both the railway line and the canal. This site can still easily be found and hasn't really changed at all - even the footpath that ran alongside the pitch is still clearly visible today. The pitch also bordered the Oxford Canal, which was often the resting place for wayward shots. An old type nissen hut was used as changing rooms. The club had some success in the Oxford City Junior League and Mid-Oxon League. On 5th September 1952, the parish boundary between Begbroke and Kidlington was moved and so the former home of Kidlington FC became a part of Begbroke.

In 1950-51 in what appears to be their first entry into the FA Cup, Kidlington drew Headington United. Kidlington gave up home advantage - click here for more details. They seem to avoid the FA Cup again until 2007-08. Kidlington FC played in the Oxfordshire Senior League (winners in 1953) and then joined the Hellenic League in 1954.

After discussions with the local Parish Council, a new 'permanent' home was offered at Exeter Close in 1952 (B). This is located quite central for the village, the pitch was set long ways between Crown Road and the main Oxford Road. Since at least the 1930's Exeter Close was the home of many village activities such as fetes and both Jubilee and Coronation celebrations. This site had been donated to the village by two unmarried sisters - Elizabeth and Alice Kitson. They had moved from Thornbury House to Court Place in Crown Road, and donated the ground in memory of those who had served in the Forces. A condition of its provision was that the ground would not be built on and would be used for recreational sports and leisure. It had a large changing room (which is still used for storage by the cricket ground located at the next field along) and the nissen hut was relocated from Begbroke Lane soon after the move and became the shower room.

But in the late 1960's the would be asked to leave by the Parish Council. Despite the Kitson sisters' original request, the appointed trustees gave up the land to the control of of the parish council. A meeting was held where plans to build a hall in the middle of the pitch were rejected. A local referendum was held by the local council among (some of) the local residents to see whether or not the ground should be built upon. Local thought is that the vote was against the council's plans but the official result was in favour of the council and the football team had to go - even though the bowls club, a cricket club and football pitch would still be found on or adjacent to the later many years later. Work of the new buildings at Exeter Close soon started and around half of the old field has now been lost to these buildings but the rest is still a recreation area for children and also houses a bowling green. This site still exists as a recreation area, although much of the pitch area has been lost to the building of the Forum Youth Centre, Exeter Hall and the Medical Centre - the first of which opened in November 1971. Located next to the old changing rooms (which are now used for storage) is a modern sports facility which sees cricket and football played by youth team Exeter Rangers FC - in the field next to Exeter Close.

While looking for a new home the club investigation several options: share a field with Gosford All Blacks RFC, purchase land from the builders Pye, write to local farmers looking for an available field, find an available field at Oxford Airport, use a field at Gosford Hill where the youth team were playing.

Eventually land was obtained from the builder's J A Pye who were building the Dogwood Green estate nearby. It was a return to Yarnton Road in 1969 (A) although further down towards the Oxford Canal. The estate is now separated from the football ground by allotments which were provided at the same time as a part of the overall building agreement by Pye - replacing other allotments lost due to new buildings. The original long green clubhouse was actually relocated from Oxford Airport and rebuilt by club officials and players. A modern complex and entertainment venue is now on the site (built in 1979). This new expansion saw the removal of the pillbox which had been located in the car park. The ground is now floodlit and has a small stand too.

Kidlington FC had their own Supporters Club who held their first meeting on 15th June 1949 and held regular dances in the village as well as organising buses to away matches and purchasing items for the football club itself. By October 1951 it had 147 members and the minutes show that most of the money used for the football club itself was coming from the supporters club. But in the early sixties it folded due to lack of interest.

An excellent booklet was produced by Mr Gordon Norridge - 'The Story of Kidlington Football Club - from 1937 to 1997' detailing the club's history during Mr Norridge's 60 years with them. Mr Norridge aided and confirmed much of the information above.

Acknowledgements to: Kidlington Football Club, Kidlington & District Historical Society and the late Mr Gordon Norridge.