Yeading FC are mere upstarts in footballing terms, celebrating their 44th birthday this year. Scott Wilson looks back at the history of a club with very humble beginnings.

YEADING began life in 1960 but, at that stage, the club were nothing more than the local Youth Club team.

Brothers Ray and Carl Gritt set up the team so that local youngsters had somewhere to play but, after running the side for five years, the duo were left with something of a conundrum.

All of their players had reached the age of 18 so, rather than leaving them in the lurch, Yeading's two founding fathers converted the club into a fully-fledged senior team.

Yeading Football Club came into being in 1965 and the club's early years were spent in the now extinct Hayes & District Youth League.

Their first promotion came in 1967 as Uxbridge League Premier champions and, by 1972, Yeading were claiming top spot in the Middlesex League, scoring a record 122 goals into the bargain.

Twelve years later, Yeading continued their upward surge by winning promotion to the Spartan League, but it was to be the 1989-90 season that saw them finally make their mark at a national level.

Manager Gordon Bartlett guided the club to Wembley in the FA Vase final and, after a nail-biting 0-0 draw with Bridlington Town, 'The Ding' became the first Middlesex club to lift the trophy when they won the replay 1-0 at Elland Road.

Further national recognition came in 1993 when, after winning promotion to the Diadora League Premier Division, Yeading made it to the first round of the FA Cup for the first time.

Division three side Gillingham were held to a 0-0 draw at Hayes FC, but Yeading were beaten 3-1 at the Priestfield Stadium.

The following season saw Yeading back in the first round proper - after a qualifying win over Conference side Telford - and George Burley's Colchester could only manage a 2-2 draw, before cruising to a 7-1 win in the replay.

Former Yeading favourite Johnson Hippolyte returned to The Warren as manager in 2001 and, two seasons ago, he lifted the Bryco Cup after a shock win over hot favourites Canvey Island.

Last season was even more successful, with Yeading winning the Ryman League Division One title by seven clear points. That success put the club through to a play-off for a place in the newly-formed Conference South but, while Yeading lost to Lewes 1-0, things have gone from strength to strength this year.

Yeading currently lead the Ryman Premier Division by nine points and now play Newcastle in the biggest game of their history.