By Russell Plummer

Peterborough United Football Club officially came into being on 17th May 1934 when a crowded meeting at the city's now long demolished Angel Hotel decided to go ahead with the formation of a professional club to fill a void left by the collapse of Peterborough and Fletton United some two years earlier. Local councillor Jack Swain, appointed acting chairman, told the gathering: 'I think that with the revival of old enthusiasm in the city, Peterborough will ultimately find a place in the Football League.' It took almost 40 years for that dream to come to fruition in 1960, a milestone which, in itself, was the start of a fresh roller coaster ride through every soccer experience from delight to despair.

One thing which seemed to follow on from the days Peterborough and Fletton was the present club's now world famous 'Posh' nickname. Its origins are obscure but are most widely believed to have stemmed from player manager Pat Tirrel who said in close season of 1921 that he was looking for 'Posh players for a Posh team.' Peterborough and Fletton, also known as the 'Brickies,' folded in 1932 leaving behind debts of £248.1s.11p, a not inconsiderable sum in those days and the new club had first to obtain confirmation from the Football Association and Northamptonshire Football Association that there were no liabilities.

Picture: An original green Posh shirt belonging to Jack Smith who played for Posh in the 1930's.

Clearance was quickly obtained but the fledgling club almost scored an own goal before it got off the ground. The delight of representatives at the annual meeting of the Midland League, where a membership application was welcomed with open arms, turned to sheer panic when it was realised they didn't have the cash between them to pay a £20 security deposit, a 10 guinea entry fee and 5 guinea subscription. Thankfully, Grantham Town loaned the cash and back home the Posh officials set about raising funds through the sale of five shilling shares, around 150 turning up for a first shareholders' meeting on 31st July 1934 when a ten strong board of directors, headed by Jack Swain, were elected. Incredibly, when Posh resigned from the Midland League in 1960 after their election to the Football League, the original £20 deposit was refunded!

The London Road ground was hired from Peterborough City Council and former Peterborough and Fletton player Fred Taylor was appointed trainer and groundsman with another Fletton stalwart Jock Porter as what was originally described as 'honorary manager.' First of 11 full time professionals to be signed was former Sheffield United goalkeepeer John Kendall and the line-up also included ex-Fletton favourite Harry 'Bowie' Willis, who had been in the side that achieved the club's greatest FA Cup moment against First Division Birmingham City in 1928.

The weekly Posh wage bill was £38 and admission charges were set at one shilling for men (5p), six pence (2.5p) for women and the unemployed and, one shilling for transfer to the stand. As the big kick-off approached City Council workmen descended to build new dressing rooms at the rear of the stand and local businesses were eager to help, Midgate outfitters E.B.Jackson donating shirts, Hoyles of Westgate gave towels and George Stokes of Church Street presented a new football.

A crowd of 4,033 turned out on 1st September 1934 to see the Midland League campaign begin in some style with a 4-0 beating handed out to Gainsborough Trinity, the distinction of scoring the first Posh goal going to Len Hargreaves who had been signed from Luton Town. Posh began in green shirts with a while 'V' on the front, white shorts and black socks with a green top carrying two white hoops and as early as November 1934, when a statutory meeting took place, it was suggested the club should think seriously of seeking a league place.

First Peterborough United side 1934.
Back left to right
J.E. Swain, H Gollings, Staniland, Doyle, Harris, Kendall,
Fred Taylor, Goodacre, Hargreaves, Bert Poulters.
Front left to right
Rigby, Cowen, Thompson, Camidge and Robson.

Despite Posh starting 1935 with a seven match unbeaten run, the first season looked like fizzling out on a quiet note with crowds dwindling to below 2,000 and the team set to finish in mid-table. Then came an April home meeting with Lincoln City Reserves and the crowd of 1,777 took great exception when Billy Rigby became the first Posh player to be sent-off. The popular right winger was so upset he left the field in tears and after the referee faced great hostility from the fans as he left the field at half time, police reinforcements were called to the ground.

The mood of the fans hardly improved during the second half and after the game, the unfortunate referee had to be smuggled away from the ground in the back of manager Porter's car and with a plain clothes policeman on the running board. Supporters' voices were raised in anger after fixtures were completed and a first annual meeting reported a loss of £510.12s. 6d. The meeting lasted three hours and directors were bombarded with questions about the deficit and there were calls for a player manager to be appointed.

As it was, Jock Porter continued and with some new faces in the side, the 1935-36 season opened with a win over Scarborough. An exit from the FA Cup in the first qualifying round at the hands of Rushden Town marked the beginning of a decline that became so severe chairman Swain was forced to publicly December rumours that the club was facing closure. Pressure was eased when Alf Jefferson, one of the pre-season newcomers, was sold to Queen's Park Rangers for £50, but then Porter resigned complaining he had never been given a free hand in selection matters and Posh finished 16th out of 21 in the Midland League.

There were calls for the replacement of the entire board prior to the 1936 annual meeting and although this motion was withdrawn before the annual meeting even the affable Jack Swain had had enough and declined to offer himself for re-election. Fred Taylor stepped up as trainer manager for the 1936-37 campaign and the most significant development came off the field with another meeting at the Angel Hotel resulting in the formation of a first official Supporters' Club.

Tommy Peake, in post war years a director and at different times both vice chairman and chairman of the parent club, became first Supporters' Club chairman and from the outset the new body began to provide invaluable financial backing. Posh responded by stringing together a run of five successive wins but at the end of the season, after the side were Again 16th, it was decided to dispense with the services of Fred Taylor and Billy Rigby also left the club to play in Ireland.

Bert Poulter, who became secretary-manager, achieved his moment of fame the previous year when, with Posh Reserves a man short, he turned out in goal wearing grey flannel trousers and a sweater. After letting a tame shot trickle into the net he was promptly moved to the right wing by skipper 'Bowie' Willis. Despite abandoning the green and white shirts for new blue and white kid bought by the Supporters' Club, Poulter was less successful in charge of the side than his predecessor and Posh only just missed having to apply for re-election, finally finishing fourth from bottom.

Posh did come out of the season in the black for the first time with a surplus of £242.4s.10d and much interest was whipped up following the appointment of former Notts County and Arsenal star Sam Haden as the first Posh player manager. However, fans were soon being asked to dig deep and contribute to a 'Player Manager fund' to help pay Haden's wages during the close season.