Tangerines on Tour: Southall

The next stop on our tour of the Isthmian League South Central division is to a very old club who have spent three decades groundsharing, including a spell here at Ashford. We’re going to Southall (well, Uxbridge).

Historic headlines

Southall are among the oldest clubs in Middlesex, having been formed in 1871. As a Southern League club in the 1890s, they defeated Brentford FC in the West Middlesex Cup Final. By the 1920s, the ‘All had been elected into the Athenian League and the twenty year period between the two World Wars was a ‘golden age’ for the club. Winning numerous County Cups, Southall were FA Amateur Cup finalists in 1924-25 and in 1935-36 went from the Extra Preliminary Round of the FA Cup all the way to the Third Round Proper. Their match against Watford attracted 19,094 spectators to Southall’s Western Road ground and the Hornets needed two late goals to get to the fourth round.

After five decades in the Athenian League, Southall were elected to the Isthmian League in 1973 and were promoted to the Isthmian League’s top division in their second season. In 1985-86, Southall reached the FA Vase Final at Wembley with Les Ferdinand leading the line, although they were beaten at the national stadium by Halesowen Town. In 1992, the club was forced to vacate the massive but dilapidated Western Road ground (pictured, above) when Ealing Council sold it for housing. The club has shared at a multitude of venues in the intervening years, including two spells at our ground, periods at Tring Town, Hanwell Town, Burnham and Hayes & Yeading United amongst others. On the pitch, Southall were relegated from the Isthmian League in 2000, then expelled from the Combined Counties League six years later.

Southall eventually reestablished themselves in the Middlesex County League and won promotion back to Step 6 in the form of the Spartan South Midlands League Division One in 2012. In 2016-17, the ‘All made it to the quarter-final of the FA Vase and then won their division in 2017-18, earning promotion back to the Combined Counties League Premier Division. In 2021-22, Southall reached another FA Vase quarter-final but more importantly finished second in the League, which earned them promotion back to the Isthmian League. Southall were fourth in their second season at Step 4 but were beaten in the play-offs and finished sixth last season.

About the ground

Southall will play their home matches at Uxbridge FC’s Honeycroft ground, which is eight and a half miles from the RPS by road. It’s an awkward ground to reach by public transport. The nearest station is West Drayton on the Elizabeth Line, but the 350, A10 and U5 buses pass close to the ground, although to catch one you would need to go to either Heathrow Central of Hayes.  

The ground was redeveloped entirely when a 3G pitch was laid and is an impressive venue, with plenty of seats and covered standing.

Have we played them before?

Of the 17 meetings between the clubs played by the end of the 2025-26 season, 10 were in Middlesex Cups. The results are below.