Club History

The first club was founded as Yiewsley F.C. in 1872 after a meeting of eight local businessmen who met at the instigation of Freddie Clinch, a baker of Fairfield Road, Yiewsley who provided the majority of the financial backing for the venture.
In the late 1880s and 1890 Yiewsley was fielding two teams, Yiewsley Star and Yiewsley Unity. They were competing in local games and in the West Middlesex Challenge Cup. By the 1891–92 season Yiewsley Star was the only Yiewsley team playing matches. In the 1893–94 season Yiewsley Star were renamed Yiewsley F.C and continued competing in local games and in the West Middlesex Cup.
In the 1904–05 season Yiewsley were runners up in the Uxbridge and District Junior League. Yiewsley entered the FA Cup competition for the first time in the 1908–09 season. Having received a bye in the preliminary round after the withdrawal of Reading Amateurs, Yiewsley were defeated in the first qualifying round 2–1 at home by Aylesbury United on 3rd October 1909

At the start of the 1912–13 season the side was playing at Sutton Meadow, Edgar Road, Yiewsley.
By early November 1912 the ground had been renamed Star Meadow. At the end of the 1913–14 season Yiewsley were celebrating being 1912–13 and 1913–14 champions of the West Middlesex League and the Hounslow and District League. This successful period of junior football ended with the coming of the First World War at the end of July, 1914.
The 1920s proved to be a period of significant financial instability for Yiewsley. In February 1922, the Great Western Suburban League granted Yiewsley a loan of £20 to help with their debts, in particular their ground rent - about £800 in today’s money.
Despite their financial difficulties, Yiewsley were able to finish runners-up in the Great Western Suburban League in the 1924–25 season. However, the side ended the 1925–26 season with total receipts of only £325. In the 1926–27 season Yiewsley were admitted into the Spartan League Division II but, by November, were in financial difficulties and withdrew from the league.

In the 1930–31 season, Yiewsley changed their name to Yiewsley and West Drayton F.C. in honour of the recently created Yiewsley and West Drayton Urban District, finishing as runners-up in the Uxbridge and District League Division I. In the next season, 1931–32, they won the Uxbridge and District Premier League and Premier Cup.
Yiewsley (and West Drayton) returned to Star Meadow, Trout Lane, at the start of the 1933–34 season after a six-season absence playing home games on local recreational fields.
In the 1934–35 season, the club’s name reverted to Yiewsley F.C. Having gained promotion in the previous season, they played in the Premier Division of the South-West Middlesex League. The 1935–36 season saw Yiewsley’s last game at Star Meadow which took place on 18 April 1936 with a 10–1 win against F.G. Minter’s.
For the 1936–37 season, Yiewsley’s new ground was on the Evelyn’s estate, Falling Lane, where they were granted a 21-year lease. To mark the change, Yiewsley reverted to their old colours of dark and light blue instead of black and white.
Ten to twelve thousand people attended the Evelyn’s Stadium opening ceremony and fete which took place on 22 August 1936.

In 1945–46 Yiewsley were, at last, successful in completing a season in the Spartan League. They competed in Diversion 1 Western Section, opening the season at Aylesbury on 15 September 1945 with a 5–3 defeat. Having finished runners-up in the 1948–49 season, in the 1949–50 season Yiewsley finished winners of the league, gaining promotion to the Spartan League Premier Division.
In the following 1950–51 season, they won the Spartan Premier Division at the first attempt, clinching the title with a 2–1 win at Aylesbury.
In March 1951, Yiewsley were one of the 14 clubs who founded the Delphian League which was to commence from the following 1951–52 season. Yiewsley’s first game in the new league took place on 18 August against Wembley at Vale Farm ending in a 1–0 defeat.
In the 1954–55 season, Yiewsley joined the Corinthian League, opening the season with a 1–0 win against Edgware Town on 21 August at their new ground, Leas Stadium in front of 2,600 spectators. Yiewsley had wanted a new ground for several years due to the limited facilities at the leased Evelyn’s Stadium.

In 1945–46 Yiewsley were, at last, successful in completing a season in the Spartan League. They competed in Diversion 1 Western Section, opening the season at Aylesbury on 15 September 1945 with a 5–3 defeat. Having finished runners-up in the 1948–49 season, in the 1949–50 season Yiewsley finished winners of the league, gaining promotion to the Spartan League Premier Division.
In the following 1950–51 season, they won the Spartan Premier Division at the first attempt, clinching the title with a 2–1 win at Aylesbury.
In March 1951, Yiewsley were one of the 14 clubs who founded the Delphian League which was to commence from the following 1951–52 season. Yiewsley’s first game in the new league took place on 18 August against Wembley at Vale Farm ending in a 1–0 defeat.
In the 1954–55 season, Yiewsley joined the Corinthian League, opening the season with a 1–0 win against Edgware Town on 21 August at their new ground, Leas Stadium in front of 2,600 spectators. Yiewsley had wanted a new ground for several years due to the limited facilities at the leased Evelyn’s Stadium.

In 1945–46 Yiewsley were, at last, successful in completing a season in the Spartan League. They competed in Diversion 1 Western Section, opening the season at Aylesbury on 15 September 1945 with a 5–3 defeat. Having finished runners-up in the 1948–49 season, in the 1949–50 season Yiewsley finished winners of the league, gaining promotion to the Spartan League Premier Division.
In the following 1950–51 season, they won the Spartan Premier Division at the first attempt, clinching the title with a 2–1 win at Aylesbury.
In March 1951, Yiewsley were one of the 14 clubs who founded the Delphian League which was to commence from the following 1951–52 season. Yiewsley’s first game in the new league took place on 18 August against Wembley at Vale Farm ending in a 1–0 defeat.
In the 1954–55 season, Yiewsley joined the Corinthian League, opening the season with a 1–0 win against Edgware Town on 21 August at their new ground, Leas Stadium in front of 2,600 spectators. Yiewsley had wanted a new ground for several years due to the limited facilities at the leased Evelyn’s Stadium
In early 1946, a site was purchased. A Yiewsley F.C. ‘New Ground Fund’ was established to pay for the purchasing loan with many local individuals and businesses contributing. A ‘Sports and Fete day’ took place at Evelyn’s on 23 July 1946 raising £320 for the fund. This brought the total raised to £600 towards a target of £1000. However it wasn’t until the 1951–52 season that work began on the site of Leas Stadium. The Leas Stadium was situated west of Evelyn’s along Falling Lane and was named after a house there called ‘The Leas’. Construction of the 10,000 capacity stadium took three years to complete at a cost of £7000. Yiewsley FC in 1954-55 Yiewsley topped the Corinthian League in their third season, 1956–57. In the FA Cup that season Yiewsley drew 2–2 with Third Division Gillingham at the Leas Stadium in the first round. Gillingham went on to defeat Yiewsley 2–0 at Priestfield in the replay. In 1958 a decision was made to turn semi-professional, and the club joined the South-East zone of the Southern League. In November 1960,, Jackie Milburn formerly of Newcastle United and England signed for Yiewsley, soon becoming player-manager. He left in March 1963 when he was offered the manager’s job at First Division Ipswich Town.
On 1 May 1964, the F.A. Council granted permission for Yiewsley to change their name to Hillingdon Borough F.C. This was done to reflect the local government reorganisation in London that was to see the formation of the London Borough of Hillingdon on 1 April 1965. The change of name saw their fortunes change, as in their second season they were promoted to the Premier Division of the Southern League after finishing runners up. Their most successful period followed over the next five years. In 1968–69, they finished runners-up to Cambridge United.] In the following 1969–70 season, they reached the third round proper of the FA Cup beating Wimbledon and Luton Town before losing to Sutton United 4–1 in a replay at Gander Green Lane. In the 2–1 win against Luton in the second round, the Leas Stadium had its highest official attendance with 9,033 spectators. In the 1970–71 season, Hillingdon reached the FA Trophy final at Wembley playing Telford United in front of 29,500 spectators. Hillingdon led 2-0 at the interval but Telford staged a second half comeback scoring two goals in the last seven minutes to win 3–2. The club failed to build on the success of the late 1960s and early 1970s. The 1980s saw Hillingdon entering financial difficulties and subsequent financial collapse. Hillingdon Borough’s final game was at the Leas on 30 April 1983 against Dover ending with a 2–1 win.
The club was wound up and the Leas Stadium sold in the summer of 1983. In the 1983–84 and 1984–85 seasons the club was able to continue playing under the name of Hillingdon F.C. However the final game at Leas Stadium was held on 23 April 1985 against Chatham Town in front of 350 spectators ending in a 1–0 defeat. The name Hillingdon Borough was resurrected in 1990 when Bromley Park Rangers from the Chiltonian League took over the ground of Ruislip, with the help of four former directors from the old club, and changed their name. The newly-named club then joined the Premier Division of the Spartan League for the start of the 1990–91 campaign. The club would then go on to finish Runners-up twice before the league merged with the South Midlands League to form the Spartan South Midlands Football League. The club was placed in the Premier South Division. In 2006, Hillingdon Borough reached the FA Vase final at St. Andrews, Birmingham, after an 11-game qualification route starting in the competition as early as the 2nd qualifying round. In the final of the FA Vase the club lost 3–1 to Cheshire club Nantwich Town. Also in that year they finished 2nd in the Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division, losing on goal difference to Oxford City.
However they were promoted due to continued restructuring of non-league football, joining the Southern League Division One South & West, and won the Errea Cup (Southern League Cup) the following season. On 17 January 2017, the club released a statement via their Twitter account that the club would be pulling out of their division due to monetary troubles. However, former player Yannick Bolasie contacted the club, with the support of Everton, to help with the club’s financial situation. At the end of the 2020–21 season Hillingdon Borough FC was transferred to Division One of the Combined Counties League, and finished 15th in the 2022-23 season. The Hillmen were saved from relegation by Ali Abdulkadir and his Under 18s, two of whom Makael Scott and Kade Smith, provided the goals to ensure safety in Division One of the Combined Counties League for the 2023-24 season

Hillingdon Borough

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