Bridgwater Town F.C.
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| Full name | Bridgwater Town 1984 Football Club | |
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| Nickname(s) | The Robins | |
| Founded | 1898 (reformed 1984) | |
| Ground | Fairfax Park, Bridgwater (Capacity: 2,500 (310 seated)) |
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| Chairman | Alan Hurford | |
| Manager | Rob Dray | |
| League | Southern League Division One South & West |
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| 2010–11 | Southern League Division One South and West, 18th |
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Bridgwater Town Football Club are a football club from Bridgwater, Somerset, England. The original version of the club was founded in 1898.[1] They currently play in the Southern League Division One South and West. The club plays their home games at Fairfax Park. The club is affiliated to the Somerset County FA.
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[edit] History
[edit] Early years
They originally played in the Somerset County League, but dropped out after only four years. Re-establishing itself as Bridgwater AFC in 1903, the club played one year in the Clevedon & District League in 1905 before joining the Weston & District League the next year. After some initial success, financial problems and World War I forced the club to once again disband.[1]
In 1921, the club was again reformed, this time as Bridgwater Town F.C., and joined the Highbridge & District League for a few years, but ended up bouncing around several local leagues in this period. Eventually the club dropped down into junior football and eventually faded away.[1]
[edit] A new town club
In 1948, Bridgwater Town AFC was formed and finished runners-up in the Somerset County League.[1] They successfully applied for promotion to the Western Football League and reached the top level after three seasons. They remained at that level for many years, winning the title in 1968 and 1981. After a 3rd place finish in 1982, they were accepted into the Southern League, but increased costs forced the club into liquidation after only two years in the SL.[1]
[edit] Re-formed once again
In 1984 Bridgwater Town 1984 FC was formed and joined the Somerset County League. The club advanced to the Premier Division and finished in the top three for six years in a row from 1988-94, culminating in a promotion back to the Western League. A second place finish in the Western League Premier in 2006-07 was enough to see the club promoted back to the Southern League after a 23 year absence and they finished 6th in their first season. In the 2009-10 season Bridgwater recorded the most successful season in the club's history, reaching 3rd place and runners up in the Southern League Division 1 South and West Play offs and also a runners up position in the Somerset Premier Cup. During the close season, manager Craig Laird left his post to take up the job as manager of Weston-Super-Mare F.C taking the majority of the Bridgwater squad with him. Rob Dray took the helm in July 2010 and has worked on rebuilding the side since then.[1]
[edit] Cup exploits
Bridgwater Town has reached the 2nd round of the FA Cup twice, in 1960-61 and 1961-62, losing 2-1 to Oxford United and 3-0 to Crystal Palace respectively. They also reached the first round in 1963-64 and in 1971-72. In the FA Vase, the club reached the 5th round in 2004-05, eventually falling at home to AFC Sudbury.[2]
[edit] Current squad
Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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[edit] Notable former players
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e f "Club History". Bridgwater Town FC. http://www.bridgwatertownfc1984.co.uk/ClubHistory.asp. Retrieved 13 November 2010.
- ^ "Bridgwater Town". Football Club History Database. http://www.fchd.btinternet.co.uk/BRIDGWAT.HTM. Retrieved 13 November 2010.
