History is bunk

So said Henry Ford.

And as many of you know I do have a bit of a blind spot when it comes to history. But football history is obviously different. I could get excited about all that reformation malarkey if it involved the schism created within Western Christianity as Martin Luther proposed that the Church move from a 4-4-2 to a 3-5-2 formation, in an attempt to beat the Italians. Richard III held the princes in the tower to avoid two of his youth team players being signed up by Chelsea? Now you have got my attention.
Sorry, a bit of football historical fantasy league there. My point is that if we (that’s me and by default you) are going to follow a new team we need to revisit the classroom again and get a grasp of some key dates. Here goes

Really old bit
Founded in 1908, the club were Spartan League Champions in 1911-1912 and in 1920 joined the Athenian League, where they were champions twice…followed by, I am pleased to say a spell in the bestest named ever, Isthmian League in 1923. During their 6 year Isthmian sojourn St Albans topped the league 3 times. After the wonders of the 1920s things sort of trundled along but pitch wise it is worth noting that in 1963, floodlights were installed at the ground.

More recent bit
I don’t know how I do it but yet again I find myself supporting a club that has had a few financial squeaky bum times. There was a nerve wracking time in 2001 when the club faced closure due to failure to maintain debt repayments and then in 2011 a fine from the FA and a 10 point deduction meant relegation from Conference South. A bit of stability seems to have ensued and with a good pre season and now the support of one of the (ahem) luckiest football supporters what could possibly go wrong? (Copyright Danny Baker)

If you want a rather more informed and focused bit of history then can I recommend
http://www.sacfc.co.uk/index.php/the-club/history/timeline.html

Here endeth your second lesson. And yes for the smarty pants amongst you, I do know I have taken a liberty with the quote, but why spoil a good title? He actually said:

“History is more or less bunk. It’s tradition. We don’t want tradition. We want to live in the present and the only history that is worth a tinker’s damn is the history that we make today.”

If anyone can tell me how much a “tinker’s damn” is in new money I’d love to know.

The Lost (historical) Fox