Hanwell Town Football Club, nicknamed “The Geordies,” is a non-league football club based in Greenford, Ealing.
Established in 1920, they currently compete in the Pitching In Southern Football League Premier South, which is part of the seventh tier of English football. The team calls Reynolds Field their home ground.
Hanwell Town’s history can be divided into three significant phases. Initially founded as Hanwell FC in 1884 by four young men, the club played at Church Fields with the Viaduct pub as its clubhouse. Despite early success, including winning the West Middlesex Cup in 1897 and joining the London League in 1898, financial struggles led to its dissolution in 1912. Attempts to stabilize by joining different leagues proved futile due to prohibitive travel costs and missed opportunities, contributing to its unstable existence.
In 1920, the club was reformed as Hanwell Town, reportedly by Geordies, including demobbed servicemen working on local construction projects. Adopting Newcastle United’s black and white stripes, the club continued to face financial difficulties and low attendances, leading to its second collapse in 1927. However, the club’s Geordie heritage persisted, notably through the Walker family, who migrated to London during the 1930s depression, setting the stage for the club’s revival by Ron Walker post-World War II.
The third phase began in 1947, with Ron Walker revitalizing Hanwell Town. Initially competing in the Dauntless League, the club progressed through various leagues, joining the Isthmian League in 2018 and reaching the Southern League Premier Division (South) in 2021, their highest level ever. The club has earned several honors, including Spartan League Champions and Middlesex Senior Cup Winners. Key figures in the club’s history include Bob Fisher, Phil Player, Ray Duffy, and Dave Iddiols, all contributing to its sustained community commitment and growth.