The Demise of Old Smithillians

The football club Old Smithillians, who became Smithills AFC, was originally formed in 1963 by Ray Howard, a geography teacher, for fifth-form grammar school leavers. Many of its players were former pupils of Smithills schools (specifically Smithills Grammar School and later Smithills High School/Smithills Moor Grammar).

They competed in the Lancashire Amateur League (LAL) and the Bolton Over 35 Veterans’ Football League, playing their home matches at Holy Harbour until the ground was built on. The club had some success, including winning the Lancashire Amateur League Division Two title in the 1988-1989 season.

Old Smithillians from July 1988

In October 2001, the Bolton Evening News published an article about the demise of the club:

FURTHER to my article last Saturday night, I received a letter from Gordon Fielding detailing the demise of LAL side Smithills writes John Bullen.

In it Gordon says: “Friday, September 21, 2001 saw the end of an era. It was the day players and officials said goodbye to Smithills AFC, formerly known as Old Smithillians.”

The reasons that happened are explained by committee man Ian Collings: “We had everything except enough players. We had good kit, equipment, decent facilities and money in the bank. But no players. We had trained for ten weeks and never had more than eight or nine players there and that included myself.

“Even though we had already made the decision that we were dropping from three teams to two this season it was obvious that we still couldn’t manage. We had to fold.

“For myself, who played in the first ever LAL game back in 1964, it was particularly sad. Why is it that a club seemingly with everything going for it cannot attract players? Normally it is a lack of resources that causes closure – but not here.

“It is ironic that the cause of the club folding is the reason I got involved in the first place – shortage of players – and over the years it was a problem which was to plague us frequently.

“In 1964 a vaguely familiar voice asked me ‘what are you doing next Tuesday night Gordy?’ I recognised some old pals I’d not seen since leaving school. They explained to me that they were getting a team together and needed some players. Pausing to watch them play for five minutes or so convinced me it was the right thing to do.

“We started off as 17 or 18 year old kids, some of the team were even still at school, and the LAL entered us into third team football. The following year we were to experience first team open age football and what an experience that was! We never looked back, spending our whole playing careers with the club.

“Now it has all gone and it’s so sad. All those players who enjoyed their football with Old Smithillians over the years have much to be grateful for and will have such great memories of the club.”