Uxbridge on the Up

Uxbridge 2

Ada Okorogheye (45+2')

George Moore (74')

Hanworth Villa 1

Guy Ansah-Palmer (17')

Saturday 19th September 1992, not a date that sticks in the mind for many, however for me it marked my first trip to Honeycroft, to see Uxbridge FC take on Bognor Regis Town in the FA Trophy 1st Qualifying Round. Bognor from the league above, were duly seen off 3-2 with goals from Raoul Sam, Sylvester Williams & Nicky Ryder, names that would become increasingly familiar as The Reds became my team, who I would start to follow home and away. Any thoughts this would become some kind of glory hunt would be quickly snuffed out though, as a home defeat to Dulwich in the next round and a 15th placed league finish (didn’t we always seem to finish 15th?) would set the tone for the next 33 years. Aside from the very welcome cup victories every few seasons - the London Challenge Cup years being particular highlights - Uxbridge would rarely trouble the top sides in their division. In fact with a few re-organisational league changes aside, Uxbridge had remained at the same level since they won promotion from the old Isthmian League Division Two South in 1984-85. They had suffered Play off final heartbreak in 2004/05 on penalties to Maldon Town, and again in 2007/08 1-0 away at Oxford City, but ultimately had fallen short. All that changed on Sunday 4 May 2025, as the Reds would edge out Hanworth Villa, to move up to Step 3 of the non league pyramid for the first time ever in their 154 year history

Uxbridge went into the match at full strength, despite having been taken to extra time by Kingstonian on Wednesday evening, whilst Hanworth Villa had beaten Ascot Utd in 90 minutes - would that prove decisive with Villa being the fresher? It was certainly the visitors who would enjoy the better of the possession early on, a low shot into the side netting all they could muster though. Josh Addae was proving to be the Reds best outlet, and on 7 minutes, he gave notice of his intent when he did superbly to get down the right and put in a inch perfect cross into the box, sadly with no Uxbridge player able to get on the end of it. For Vlla, Lucas Defise,was proving to be real headache for the home side, and on 13 minutes he went on a mazy run through the Uxbridge midfield and laid the ball off to Sam Mead, whose shot had no pace and was easily gathered by George Legg. However three minutes later, it was the visitors who took the lead, Josh Casey whipped in a corner, which Legg couldn’t hang onto and Guy Ansah-Palmer was there to tap in the loose ball, cue huge celebrations from the Hanworth part of he record breaking 1535 crowd inside Honeycroft. The goal sparked Uxbridge into a response, and James Taylor went close as he nodded a corner wide on 20 minutes, and then George Moore would go even closer with a fine shot on the run a minute later, which whistled past the bar with Smith in the Hanworth goal stranded. Just after the half hour, another great Addae cross evaded everyone in the box, as The Reds struggled to string any sustained pressure together, Villa looked composed and able to hold off any Uxbridge attacks with relative ease. As always though Ada Okorogheye, was providing a good outlet up front and did superbly, holding off a number of challenges on 40 minutes delivering a fine cross, but Dan Fosu couldn’t get enough power on his header to really trouble Smith. A minute later and the same combination tried again, but this time Fosu’s shot was narrowly wide of the post. The home side were finishing the half strongly, and in added time they levelled, it was no surprise to see another good cross from Addae, this time Okorogheye was in the right place to put his head where it hurts and stoop low to level the scores, and setup a fine second half

HT 1-1

The second began with neither side over committing, nerves starting to take effect maybe, but the first chance didn't come until 59 minutes, it fell the way of the visitors when George Wells did well to keep the ball in play and to float the ball into Sam Merson who flicked it on and Ben Geraghty's shot was well parried away by Legg, saving down low at the near post. On 65 minutes an Uxbridge corner was again met well by Taylor, but he couldn't keep the header down. At the other end another Mead effort was blocked by Reds captain CJ Fearn. The pivotal moment in the half came on 75 minutes, when George Moore took the game by the scruff of the neck, he picked up a loose ball wide on the right he advanced on the box and cut inside, before unleashing a fine shot low to Smiths right, leaving the Villa keeper no chance - it was another huge moment from Moore who has made a habit of being the difference just when Uxbridge needed one this season. It was at this point I have to confess that 33 years of waiting for a promotion my nerves got the better of me, and the note taking became more sporadic - there were definitely another couple of chance from Moore, who also proved his worth at the other end when he cleared a goalbound shot off the line with his head,then as the game entered stoppage time a heart stopping moment as Villa substitute Abdullah Javaid raced down the right touchline but put his effort just wide of the far post. However we needn’t have worried as when we beat Hanworth Villa 2-1 on 17th September in the league, Moore and Okorogheye both scored. On the previous 6 occasions they have both scored in the same game this season we have won! (thanks to David Mallam for the stat) - and so it proved on this occasion as the final whistle went soon after and there were fantastic scenes on and off the pitch - even bringing one Uxbridge fan of over 40 years to tears, and who can blame him.

FT 2-1

Att: 1535

A fantastic day and an amazing effort by Danny Edwards, all the players & coaching staff, and everyone involved with the club - also a mention must go out to some absent friends as in recent times the club have mourned the passing of several club stalwarts. President Alan Odell, who had been associated with The Reds for eighty years, in 2016. Chairman Alan Holloway in 2021 and the club’s long-standing Treasurer, David Tucker, passed away in 2022. “Mr Uxbridge” had been associated with the club for over 50 years. But finally a huge thank you must go to chairman Mark Bantock who has been instrumental in changing the fortunes of the club, on and off the pitch and we can look forward to the future in Step 3 next season with a newfound optimism. Let's hope that next promotion is not another 33 years!

Enjoy Your Summer

Come on You Reds

Captain CJ Fearn and all the team about to lift the Play Off Trophy in front of the Red Army

We are going up, say we are going up

Man of the Match George Moore, with winners medal and suitable refreshment. Sponsored by EandA Designs