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60 years ago T & M joined the Isthmian league, and unfortunately I have witnessed and endured every season of this adventure. From the Highs, Extraordinary Highs, Mediocre, Lows, the Unbelievable Lows, and the Catastrophic.
T& M and Dulwich Hamlet are the only clubs in the league(s) today who have remained from the original 16 clubs in 1956/57 season. What happened to the other 14 ?
Wycombe Wanders made it to the Football League
5 clubs closed or went out of Business - Ilford - Walthamstow Avenue - Leytonstone - Wimbledon - Romford - 2 off these clubs were later reformed.
Woking - Bromley - Oxford City - Kingstonians - St Albans City - Clapton - Barking and Corinthian Casuals have played in different leagues, some successfully some in the lower reaches.
To join the Isthmian League was considered to be an honour, and indeed was the number one Amateur League in the Country (Top of the pyramid at non league level). How times have changed!
The Terrors operate in Isthmian League Division South, Level 4, of the non league pyramid. And for couple of seasons flirted with step 5, Combined Counties League. Division South today is really a poor standard, an even the Isthmian League Premier Division is considered a resting place or proving ground for youngsters from the Conference Leagues.
Most of the Conference Clubs today are operated on fairly high budgets and loan players from the Football League. Clubs failing this test will sink quickly. As for the Terrors the current operation and set up will make it very difficult to reach step 3, and maintain funding levels. As for steps 1 and 2, we'll have to wait for black and white pigs to fly!