Releases

The Story of the Bishop's Stortford, Stansted and District Football League - Volume one 1922 - 1989

The first book, The Story of the Bishops Stortford, Stansted and District Football League Volume One 1922-1989, has been a labour of love for the last 8 years. Having played in the League for a number of years for a number of teams it was a pleasure to research the subject.

For over 90 years the Bishop’s Stortford, Stansted and District Football League provided thousands of people with their physical and social activity for the week, for many after a long working week.

This excellent book highlights the dedication of hundreds of volunteers who have given their time to organise football activity in the North/West Essex and East Herts border areas and the thousands of players who have enjoyed participating in the League.

Pat’s “labour of love” has produced over 400 pages of local football history. This is a testament to the passion he holds for the League and due to his dedication the 90 years of the League’s highs and lows are recorded for ever.

It is impossible to calculate the hours that have gone into producing this excellent tribute to everyone who has played a part in the BSS&DFL and I’m sure I speak for everyone when saying thank you Pat for your outstanding book.

Phil Sammons

Essex County Football Association Archivis

Volume 1 is now completely sold out. Thank you to everyone who purchased.

The Story of the Bishop's Stortford, Stansted and District Football League - Volume Two 1990 - 2016.

The second and final volume of The Story of the Bishop's Stortford, Stansted and District Football League covering the period 1990 to 2016.

Although the book covers the period 1990 to 2016, there are other sections including:

Coverage of the League’s representative matches and honours, all the League Tables 1922/2016, short histories of 16 of the long-established clubs and those clubs that left for higher League football.

There are also sections covering players that progressed to play for Bishop’s Stortford FC and the League’s referees and those that progressed to the Football League and the Premier League and a lot more.

Following publication of the first volume, local journalist Andy Lines, who wrote the foreword commented : ‘Amazing research, and work, brilliant journalism. Stortford is very proud of Pat.’

Melvyn Seymour, a former player and League Chairman, supplied the foreword this time and he commented : ‘Pat deserves the highest praise and gratitude of all ex-players, club officials, match officials and all those associated with the League.’

Additional help came from David Brown, Hatfield Heath, who supplied a number of interesting stories about the Hatfield Heath club.

The book was launched at Bishop's Stortford Football Club and is now available to purchase. Please send me an email, or contact me via social media if you wish to purchase a copy