It’s always nice to be in the company of another Boro’; Haringey Borough a side that we came across for a time during the 1980s. To date, our record against them is a flawless one too; four wins from four and just the single goal conceded. We can allow that defensive breach to stand because it came in a 4-1 win in November ’85. The club dropped out the Isthmian League in 1988, however, leaving us with no future meetings on the horizon. For them, the next step would be the Spartan League; latterly the Spartan South Midlands League.
Haringey Borough: The Facts
Coles Park Stadium
White Hart Lane, Tottenham, London, N17 7JP
Now, this is a path that can go back to many different points in time – depending on how you feel. If you go with Wikipedia, the start point is 1973; Edmonton and the former Haringey Borough pooling their resources. The former Boro’ came about in 1970 after Wood Green Town decided to change its name, for reference. In the early years, the club played under the name Edmonton & Haringey in the Athenian League Division One; taking up the current name in 1976.
The name change did little to improve their fortunes. If anything, things on the pitch got worse. In the three seasons between 1981-2 and 1983-4, they finished 19th each time: 19th out of 19, 19th out of 20, and 19th out of 21. In spite of these struggles, it didn’t stop this Boro’ joining the Isthmian League in 1984. To be fair, that was due to the Athenian League disbanding. In their first Division Two North campaign, they finished… 19th. Let’s just say they were consistent.
Their fortunes did start to improve over the next two seasons, but the 1987-8 season – their fourth at that level – ended in disappointment. In fact, the club wouldn’t even turn out for the 1988-9 campaign when an exodus of management and players left them with no-one to keep the flame burning. When things settled down, they returned in the Spartan League. The mid-1990s saw them try out a new name too; Tufnell Park on the roster for the 1995-6 season, before they reverted back to Haringey Borough.
Boro’ continued in the Spartan South Midlands League through into the 21st century. In 2013, they moved into the Essex Senior League for a couple of seasons; doing so with a swagger and following up a second-placed finish first time out with the championship one year later. It saw them rejoin the Isthmian League; a much more positive experience where promotion from Division One North took just three years. In 2018-9, the club even reached the playoffs in the Premier Division – but were ultimately unsuccessful.
How to get to Haringey Borough – Travel Information – Distance: 27 miles
By Road
Either head south on the A1(M) and take the clockwise M25, or use the A602 to join the southbound A10 at Ware; from Enfield, you’ll be requiring the A10 into north London.
Six miles after the M25 roundabout, turn right onto White Hart Lane (yes, yes…) and the ground is down here on the left.
There is a car park at the ground that should cater without an issue.
By Rail
Station: WHITE HART LANE
Services to: SEVEN SISTERS
The walk from White Hart Lane station isn’t the shortest, but it is fairly simple. Come out of the station and turn left onto White Hart Lane, which will become Creighton Road for a bit. Cross the A10 and keep on White Hart Lane until the ground appears on the left.
