Kettering Nomads FC

One of this column’s recurring themes is the debt football owes to its small fry. My fellow Crank recently highlighted the example of Bedworth United, of the Southern League, Midland Division. Today the spotlight falls on a club much closer to home and occupying an even humbler position on football’s pyramid.

I suppose it was fitting that, after a career in which I had more clubs than Jack Nicklaus, I should end my playing days at an age when most sensible people have retired to the armchair, with Kettering Nomads. Coincidentally, that season, 1983-84, was the year in which the club celebrated its silver anniversary, and I’m indebted to the detailed and informative account of that first twenty five years, compiled by fellow panellist Dave Thurland and published to commemorate the event, which provides much of the material for this article.

2009 sees the Nomads celebrate their golden year and, in an era that has seen the demise of so many amateur teams from this area, their contribution to local football deserves special recognition.

In the spring of 1959 two keen footballers, Leslie Goodman and Michael Starmer, disappointed by their inability to command regular places in the Barton Seagrave side, decided to found their own team. After contacting a number of similarly frustrated players they held an inaugural meeting on the premises of Radio Mains, (now Richard Norfolk, Solicitor’s), in the Horsemarket. Wanderers all, desperately seeking a club, they settled upon the name that most aptly summed up their situation, and Kettering Nomads FC was formed.

A successful application during the summer saw the club admitted to Division 3 of the Kettering and District Amateur League. With a second-hand playing strip and goal nets, a new football donated by secretary Les Goodman, and a home venue, pitch number four at Glebe Farm, the team prepared for its initial season. The first competitive game, its result recorded for posterity on the cover of the Saturday ‘Pink ‘Un’, took place on September 5^th 1959 at Finedon Recreation Ground against Finedon Independent Wesleyan Reserves and ended in a 5-0 defeat.

As the final league table reveals, the result was but a foretaste of things to come as Nomads finished the season just one spot off the bottom.

Looking down the list of teams, however, it’s a tribute to the determined   commitment of those founder members that the club avoided the fate of most of its competitors who, like so many Amateur League sides of the period, were destined for extinction. In those early years, while individuals  might have aspired to better things, enjoyment in playing mattered much more than elevation up the leagues, and the Nomads remained firmly fixed in Division 3 throughout the sixties.

However, two additions to the playing staff during this period were to prove of much greater value for their contributions behind the scenes than their efforts on the field. Ken Blount began an active association that has lasted forty five years while Pete Eady’s name has become synonymous with the club. Their services were soon in demand. In 1970, with the Nomads facing expulsion from the league due to its poor record of administration, Pete took over the responsibilities of secretary, a post he holds to this day, and with support from Ken, set about restoring both the club’s reputation and its financial viability.  

The seventies saw the club progress from KAL Division 3 to its Premier Division. 1975-76 was a particularly successful season when, under player- manager, David ‘Pop’ Westley, the club headed Division 1, winning 19 of its 22 fixtures, drawing 2 and losing just 1, and reaching the final of the Munton Cup.

‘Pop’s ‘enthusiastic’ approach brought occasional confrontations with officials but there was no denying his ability to motivate team-mates to good effect. His powers of persuasion extended beyond the playing-field and in 1977, following the FA’s decision to allow shirt advertising, he clinched a deal with TV suppliers, Supervision, enabling the Nomads to become the first amateur side in the area with sponsored playing strip.

Season 1981-2 proved crucial in the club’s history. Isham Playing Field Association Committee granted the Nomads use of their facilities for a probationary period of one year. Conditions were met satisfactorily and the ground has been their home ever since.

Under Pop Westley’s leadership the club became established among the leading local sides and in 1984-85 won the East Midlands Alliance title and the Munton Cup. That trophy was retained the following season, when Nomads also reached the final of the NFA Junior Cup, losing narrowly to Towcester Town. He, and close associate Reginald ‘Tex’ Foster, had attracted good quality players to the club most notably former Poppies and Wrexham goalkeeper, Gordon Livsey.

 A second purple patch was enjoyed in 1996-97 when the first team were champions of the EMA Premier Division under management duo Ferenc Hauser and Eddie Lynch, and the reserves won both Division One and the Doug Fairey Cup. 

Former player, Rick Conway, took over as reserve team manager in 1991 and has guided the second string to an impressive number of successes in his 18 years in charge. It is indicative of his high level of commitment that for the past    seasons he has continued to ‘commute’ from his home in London on matchdays to oversee proceedings.

Success has proved elusive in more recent times but spirit within the club remains strong. The term, ‘family club’, was never more appropriate as  over the past fifty years no fewer than 16 father and son combinations have worn the Nomads colours. Of these the Eady dynasty is the most significant, with father Pete still a driving force and son Nathan restored to the role of first team manager.

A celebratory 50^th anniversary dinner is planned for Saturday May 23^rd and all former players are invited to contact Pete Eady (tel 01536 483495) for further information. It promises to be another night to remember.