A History of the North Circular Chess League

Part 1 1957 to 1973

The League is in the fortunate position of having an almost complete minutes book that has made the researching of this history easier but I would like to thank the following people for their help in putting this history together - John Clarke, Brian Zietman, Alan Calder, John Capes and last but by no means least the late Jeff Baum. But it is not finished if you have anything to add please contact me.

The North Circular Chess League owes its existence to the perseverance of one man, Ted Kirby. He was the Secretary of the North London Individual chess club (they were formerly known as the Enfield Highway Individual Chess Club). When the club’s membership had grown they organised a match against Enfield, not realising that they were the strongest local club. They lost ½-5½. As a result of this match they were refused membership of the Barnet League. In a novel solution to this problem Ted Kirby and Jeff Baum decided to organise their own League and they approached Wood Green, Enfield, Edmonton and Standard Telephone. Even though the other clubs were only mildly interested Ted Kirby kept the idea going with meetings at his house.

The North Circular Chess League officially came into being on the 14^th October 1957 when ten men met at the George Hotel in Enfield. Present were Ted Kirby, Henry Callaghan, Hector Lawrance, Roy Salisbury, L.Kingston, Harry Baker, A.Cooper, A.Whilloch, F.Brien and John Cotterell. Callaghan was elected Chairman, a post he would hold until 1976, and Kirby, Secretary. The League got its name from the rule that stated "Clubs admitted to the League must have their venues with easy access to the North Circular Road (A406)".

The meeting decided to adopt the rules of the Barnet League with a minor amendment around starting times. All agreed to the clubs should pay 5/- annual fee and 5/- entrance fee.

The first match was played fourteen days later when Standard Telephone inflicted a 5½-½ defeat of Edmonton. The first season apparently rang very smoothly. It ended with Enfield (known as Enfield "B", since this was their second team, the first playing in the Barnet League) comfortably winning the League. Click here for a detailed look at the 1957-58 season.

At the second Annual General meeting it was reported that the first Champions v The Rest had been postponed due to a bus strike (it was eventually played on 8^th October 1958 and Enfield "B" won 8-4). One curious decision was that where any club had more than one team (i.e. Enfield) then they should nominate their six strongest players and these would be ineligible to play in the NCCL -curious since the first team played in a different League! For the 1958-59 season the League expanded to seven clubs with the additions of Southgate "C" and East Barnet Grammar School. The meeting heard that after deducting the cost of the minutes book, recording book and postage the fledgling League was left with 2 shillings balance.

Enfield "B" were pushed harder this season but managed to finish a half point ahead of Wood Green the retain the Championship. At the third AGM they were presented with the Callaghan Board "received with loud applause". The League’s financial situation improved to a balance of 13/6. This season North Chingford and Finchley "B" joined the League and N.L.I changed their name to Palmers Green. East Barnet Grammar School were also allowed to play "double-point" matches due to heavy commitments. The second Champions v The Rest match ended in a 6-6 tie.

During the 1959-60 season 140 players took part, this compares with 109 the previous season and 74 in 1957. The League was slowly growing. The finances rose to 15/6 by the time of the fourth AGM. In the League Finchley "B" broke the hold of Enfield. They finished level with both Wood Green and Standard Telephone but had a superior game point score. Enfield however managed to win the inaugural Lawrance Trophy (Hector Lawrance had donated a large silver cup for this competition) knock-out competition beating North Chingford 6-2 in the final. This match also saw the inaugural appearance in the league of a young Bill Hartston, winning on board 8 for Enfield!

During this season the NCCL played a match against the Barnet League which ended 10-10. The Champions v The Rest match ended in a 7-9 defeat of Finchley.

In 1960 the League grew to twelve clubs with the admission of E.R.D.E (Explosives Research Development Establishment), Tottenham Grammar School and Enfield Grammar School. There was discussion at the AGM into breaking the League into two divisions but in the end it was decided that each team would only play the others once. This season also saw the creation of the League Committee. The annual fee was increased to 10/-, the extra monies going to purchase a chess clock for the Champions.

Finchley "B" successfully defended the Championship but again finished tied with Wood Green (who had been runners up four seasons on the trot), Finchley were declared winners by having a better for and against record over Wood Green. Wood Green did however at last get their hands on some silverware by defeating Enfield in the final of the Lawrance Cup, this was the first final to go to a replay after the first match finished 5-5.

1960 also saw the introduction of the Capes Trophy won, like the league, by Finchley.

The AGM of 1961 saw the first change in officers with Ted Kirby not standing for re-election. He was succeeded by Eric Symonds. Three new clubs entered for the 1961-62 season - Clarnico Confectionery, Thorn Electrical and Islington & North London. This brought the number of member clubs to fourteen as East Barnet Grammar School would not be competing in the forthcoming season. The AGM also formalised the post of Treasurer, Robert (Bob) Jones taking over. The League’s finances had grown to £3 1/-. Also it was agreed that the qualifying letters after Enfield’s, Southgate’s and Finchley’s names would be discontinued.

The Champions of 1962 were Southgate who finished three points (and remained undefeated) clear of defending champions Finchley. Islington inflicted a 7-1 defeat of Palmers Green in the final of the Lawrance Cup. At the first meeting of the Committee (comprising Callaghan, Baum, Jones, Kirby and Symonds) the Treasurer reported that the league was faced with a deficit of £11. Eric Symonds said he would ask each club for a donation of £1 towards expenses. This appeal was successful and at the AGM the League were £4 17/8 in the black.

This season also saw the creation of the League’s only magazine. Called the "League" it was produced by Jeff Baum (who also produced a weekly(!) magazine called "Chess Chat" for Palmers Green). The "League" covered results, information from the clubs and a personality of the month (this ran to three people, Walter Winsch of Finchley, James Anstey of North Chingford and Ted Kirby of Palmers Green). It ran for six issues before a falling out between Baum and Symonds meant that Symonds withheld results and tables. Officially the reason was put down as lack of funds.

At the 1962 AGM the League again deferred creating a second division, the idea being originally mooted the previous year. One reason may have been the withdrawal of Tottenham Grammar School. For the next season games played in the League would be submitted to the Southern Counties Chess Union for grading.

Ted Kirby presented the League with a silver cup for the individual champion. The format would be a knockout tournament spread through the season. To enter a player would have had to have played at least 6 games in the previous season.

The 1963 season saw Enfield win their third championship with Finchley runners-up (Edmonton had withdrawn mid season due to a shortage of players, the first of the founding clubs to withdraw). Islington retained the Lawrance Cup. Ron Banwell became the first individual champion winning the Kirby Cup.

At the AGM three new clubs were admitted to the League, Tottenham Grammar School (coming back into the League after a season out), British Oxygen (Edmonton) and Frigidaire Recreation Club (who hold the unfortunate record of being the only club in the League never to have won a match, they only stayed in the League for one season and lost all their seven matches). This increase finally led to the creation of a "B" division. Also in addition to the Lawrance Cup their would be a knock-out tournament for the B Division teams, Hector Lawrance would present the League with a new cup for this (This trophy takes the form of a tankard). It is also noted that Mr Killingback would be organising a lightning swiss tournament with all receipts going to charity [I have no knowledge if this was held or details of who won].

Finchley regained the Championship in 1964. Palmers Green won the Lawrance Cup and Daniel Wright the Kirby Cup. Tottenham Grammar School won the new B Division and Palmers Green the B Division knock-out. At the AGM it was agreed that the knock-out tournament be discontinued and that the Lawrance Tankard be used in future for the B Division. For this season both the names of Tottenham Grammar School and Palmers Green were engraved.

This season the League had been approached by the Middlesex County Chess Association and the committee agreed that they could contact the clubs to see if they were interested in joining, though the League itself did not see any reason for affiliating. Henry Callaghan was elected the inaugural Match Captain.

Finchley finished the 1965 season level on points with E.R.D.E but were declared Champions because of their better proportion of won games. The B Division was won by Palmers Green and the Lawrance Cup to Islington. Daniel Wright retained the Kirby cup (at the AGM the qualifying number of games was lowed to four). The AGM was informed that Svetozar Gligoric would soon be visiting Wood Green CC.

Finchley continued their domination of the Championship. They became the first club to win the title three times in a row. They also became the first Champions to do the double by winning the Lawrance Cup as well. Palmers Green retained the B Division and Ron Banwell regained the Kirby Cup by beating Daniel Wright in the final. Jim Anstey took over as the Match Captain as Henry Callaghan was having difficulties arranging any matches.

In 1966 the League opened its first bank account, with the Post Office. Two inter-league matches were played against the Barnet League (no result known) and the Middlesex League, lost 12½-15½ as well as Finchley v The Rest match, the Rest won 12-5. The M.C.C.A had again made approaches to the League, though it seems it was appealing for donations. Again the Committee decided to take no action. Wood Green put in a proposal to replace Harry Golombek as adjudicator but this was negated.

This season Finchley made it four in a row though again they finished level, this time with Enfield Grammar School but won on tie break. Wood Green won the B Division, Enfield won the Lawrance Cup and Brian Zietman of Palmers Green the Kirby Cup. Finchley lost 5½-6½ against the Rest and the League won 8-7 against the Barnet League

Muswell Hill joined the League and Southgate and Islington left (Their match captain had been elected the chairman of the London Schools Chess Association and couldn’t find the time to do both). Wood Green could not be at the AGM because they were fully engaged with a match against the Soviet Embassy! They were also organising the forthcoming British 5-minute Championship with the B.C.F.

Finchley’s domination of the A Division continued into 1968 when they took their seventh title in nine years. E.R.D.E won their first piece of silverware by winning the Lawrance Cup and Enfield won the B Division for the first time. John Cook of E.R.D.E won the first of his record five Kirby Cup titles. Finchley won 8½-6½ against the Rest. Standard Telephone became the second founding club to leave when they withdrew from the League after having played one match due to lack of support.

Waltham Forest was welcomed into the League and Southgate decided not to rejoin. Ilford had also shown some signs of interest but decided not to follow it up. From a high in 1966 when the League had £11 14/8 its finances had now slumped to £2 10/3. In view of this the subscriptions for the A Division were raised to £1 and the entry fee for the Kirby Cup went up to 12/6d. Palmers Green changed their name again this time to Alcazar.

Finchley’s hold on the Callaghan board was finally broken in 1969 when Wood Green took their first Championship. E.R.D.E successfully defended the Lawrance Cup and Finchley won the B Division. Brian Zietman regained the Kirby Cup. Earlier in the season the League had defeated the Middlesex League in a match. This was to be the last match for Jim Anstey who resigned and John Cook took over. Wood Green beat the Rest 8½-3½

L.E.S.S.A (London Electric Sports and Social Association) were admitted into the League. The League’s finances again dropped this year down to £1 19/8, but there was no change to subscription rates.

Alacazar won the A Division for the first time in 1970, Waltham Forest won the B Division and E.R.D.E became the first club to win the Lawrance Cup three years in a row. John Cook again took the Kirby Cup. The Champions v The Rest match took place and ended in a loss for Alcazar by 5½-6½. A proposed match against the Middlesex League had to be cancelled because a suitable venue could not be found.

Southgate returned to the League after a gap of three years and Hampstead Garden Suburb joined. Old Elizabethan’s had shown an interest in joining but had decided against it (they eventually became members of the League in 1993). These new members were offset by the withdrawal of Waltham Forest and Enfield Grammar School (the last of three Grammar schools to have played in the League).

Bob Jones proposed that the League enter a correspondence league. This was welcomed and he said he would arrange matters.

Alcazar became the first club to complete the "treble" in 1971 when they took the A Division, B Division and Lawrance Cup (Waltham Forest are the only other club who have emulated this feat ten years later). John Cook took his third Kirby Cup. L.E.S.S.A (who had got into trouble for defaulting two matches) changed their name to Barking. Barnet were admitted into the League. The League had won 10½-9½ against the Essex League.

The League’s finances were again discussed and it was agreed to raise the subscription for the A Division to £1.50, the B Division to 65p, the entry fee to the Lawrance Cup to 75p, the Kirby Cup to 15p and the correspondence team to 30p.

In 1972 Alcazar continued their domination of the A Division and also retained the Lawrance Cup winning on board count against Wood Green. Enfield took the B Division. The Rest held Alcazar to a 10-10 draw.

Camden were admitted to the League though there was an unsuccessful proposal that they play all their matches away. The correspondence team had finished the season with 15½/16 and had been promoted to the Premier Division. John Cotterell resigned as the Tournament Organiser and was replaced by William Elton.

Wood Green took the A Division in 1973. Barnet won their first titles by taking the B Division and Lawrance Cup. Cliff Chandler won the Kirby Cup. The Champions v The Rest match was played [again no result] but no other Leagues were interesting in playing any matches this season.

The 1^st correspondence team had finished third in the Premier League and the 2^nd team had performed well. Cheshunt joined but Hampstead Garden Suburb left. Eric Symonds resigned as the grader and Callaghan took over the role.

Wood Green retained the Championship but Chingford finally won their first piece of silverware since they joined in 1959 when they won the Lawrance Cup. Barnet retained the B Division. Graham Lee took his first Kirby Cup. The Rest defeated Wood Green 8-4.

The Southern Counties Chess Union had taken the decision to computerise their grading and had asked the League for a donation. The AGM put forward £10, but raised the subscriptions for the A Division to £2.50 and the B Division to £1. Callaghan stepped down after one season of grading and Elton was elected in his place.

 To be continued...