ST Ives Town Football Club is 125 years old this season and there will be a day of celebration on Saturday, November 10, when Long Buckby visit Westwood Road for an unusual 4pm kick-off.

There is a lot to celebrate at the club right now with the team stretching their lead at the top of the United Counties League Premier Division on Tuesday night with a 3-1 away win at Cogenhow Town – and secretary Simon Clark is hoping for a big turn-out for the game against Buckby and evening event that will follow it.

“It’s all about the club – not the class of 2012-13 and how successful the team is today,” he told The Hunts Post. “It will be more about bringing together the people from yesteryear – about mixing the old and the new.

“And if we attract some new supporters then that will be a bonus.”

The club has been given special dispensation by the league to kick the game off at 4pm rather than 3pm with a mini tournament featuring veterans, parents and coaches taking place from 1.30pm.

The clubhouse bar will be open from 2pm and there will be a happy hour after the match from 7pm. Following that there will be entertainment and raffles, and a chance to catch up and have fun.

All very nice – but the history of St Ives Town still remains shrouded in mystery.

The date on the badge is 1887 – but very little is known about the club from those times, and nothing is know of the men behind its formation.

The earliest photo the club has, pictured above, is of the 1910-11 Cambridge Thursday Cup winning team. “The date has always been on the badge for as long as anyone can remember,” said Clark. “So we have been building up to this celebration for a couple of years.

“We should have done something during the close season but I have been telling people the formation was in October or November. I don’t have a clue when the formation was to be fair, but I think I have got away with it … so far.”

Karl Gibbs scored twice at Cogenhoe with Will Fordham also on the score sheet. Last Saturday St Ives came from behind to beat Stewarts & Lloyds in Corby 5-3. David Cobb got a hat-trick with Fordham and Stuart Cobb scoring the other goals.

“It was great that the team showed the character to come back at S&L,” said joint manager Jez Hall. “But it was a disappointing performance from our defence at times – especially after five clean sheets. In the last 25 minutes we stepped it up and it was good to keep our unbeaten record.”

And on the big day of celebrations, Hall said: “It should be a really good day. We have quite a few big games coming up with Quorn at home next Saturday and then Wisbech Town in the FA Vase.

“Hopefully we will get a good result against Long Buckby and people will come back.”