Redbridge F.C.
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| Full name | Redbridge Football Club | ||
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| Nickname(s) | The Motormen' [1] Blues | ||
| Founded | 1959 (as Ford United)[1] | ||
| Ground | Oakside, Redbridge (Capacity: 3,000 (316 seated)) |
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| Chairman | Dan Holloway | ||
| Manager | Terry Spillane | ||
| League | Isthmian League Division One North | ||
| 2010–11 | Isthmian League Division One North, 16th | ||
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Redbridge F.C. is an English Association football club based in the London Borough of Redbridge. Prior to July 2004 the club was known as Ford United F.C. The new name was chosen to help associate the club more within the local area and attract a larger support.
They should not be confused with the former Redbridge Forest, a predecessor of the current Dagenham & Redbridge, though both come from the borough of Redbridge in Greater London.
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[edit] History
The club's roots lie in the car industry which has long been a staple of the economy in East London and in Essex.[1]
The club was previously known as Ford United F.C., which dated from a 1959 merger between two older clubs, Ford Sports (Dagenham) and Briggs Sports, both of which were founded in 1934.[1] Up until World War II, the latter actually began life as Briggs Motor Bodies F.C. and entered a team in the London League under that name between 1935 and 1951.[1]
As Ford United F.C., they performed well in the Aetolian League winning the title twice[2][3] and finishing runners up once.[4] The club was in serious problems at the start of 1995/6 season, however, as sponsorship was lost and disbanding seemed a real danger, until Vice-Chairman George Adams enlisted Sky Sports as sponsors, rescuing the Club.[1]
During the 2001/02 season Barkingside F.C.'s lease at their Oakside ground was sold on to Ford United who needed to find a permanent home to allow their progression up the football pyramid. Barkingside F.C. derived considerable benefits from this. Considerable investment by Jimmy Chapman, the Ford/Redbridge Chairman, has seen Oakside developed to a grade 1 ground and Barkingside have a permanent ground-share agreement; indeed to demonstrate the intention that Barkingside would continue Jimmy Chapman became their president in a gesture of support. From 2004, Ford United were renamed Redbridge F.C.
Redbridge played the 2005-06 season in the Isthmian League Premier Division, as they were relegated after finishing bottom of Conference South,[5] and played in the Isthmian League First Division North in the 2006-07 season after being relegated once again.[6] New manager, ex Wimbledon and Bolton Wanderers striker Dean Holdsworth was appointed on 30 June 2007.[1] In the 2007/08 season, they missed the opportunity to be promoted back to the Isthmian League Premier Division, losing 5-4 on penalties to Canvey Island in the playoff final,[7] after finishing 3rd in the Isthmian League Division One North.[8] On Sunday 18 May 2008, Dean Holdsworth left his post as Manager of Redbridge to take up the Managers position at Newport County.
At the start of June 2008, former Dagenham & Redbridge reserve team coach Jay Devereux was appointed the club's new manager. Devereux's first season was blighted by floodlight problems at Oakside, but the team still finished a respectable 8th in the division. The side had a disappointing start to the 2009-2010 season and towards the end of September, it was announced that Devereux and his coaching staff had resigned from their jobs. First team coach Dave Ross took charge for Redbridge's game at Harlow Town, where they drew 3-3 after being 2-0 down and stayed as manager for the remainder of the season. Poor winter weather affected the side at the start of 2010, the team initially struggled with a fixture pile up but Ross managed to keep the side in the league avoiding relegation.
The 2010/2011 season proved to be one of the most turbulent in the club's history. Manager Dave Ross brought in Kris Taylor to form a management team. After a bad start to the season, which saw the club sitting bottom of the league, Dave was asked to step down. Kris Taylor was confirmed as 1st team manager on 1 October 2010 [9] after talks broke down with Kevin Durrant who looked all set to join the club. Kris Taylor's tenure ended in December 2010 when his work commitments affected the amount of time demanded to run a club of this stature meant he was unable to give 100% to the management of the team. 1st team coach Jody Brown was appointed 1st team manager on a short-term basis [10] just before Christmas 2010 and he was able to bring some stability and stave of relegation with three games of the season still remaining.
Chairman Dan Holloway moved quickly at the end of the season to make the changes that will bring the structure and stability needed at a football club at this level. Terry Spillane was appointed first team manager after a highly successful spell with Stansted FC with Jody Brown reverting to a coaching role.
On October 29, 2011 Redbridge reached the 1st Round Proper of the FA Cup for the first time since 2003 after beating Blue Square Premier side Ebbsfleet United 2-0, in the 1st Round they drew 0-0 with Oxford City and won the replay 2-1 after extra time, thanks to goals by Nathan Gordon and Ben Bradbury. They played League Two leaders Crawley Town in the 2nd Round, where they were beaten 0-5, against a side 4 divisions and 106 places above Redbridge in the league pyramid.
[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] Club records
- Record Attendance: 1374 v Port Vale, FA Cup 1st Round Replay 19.11.03
- Record Victory: 9-1 v Clapton, Ryman Division Three 03.04.99
- Record Defeat: 0-7 v Hendon, London Senior Cup Quarter Final 17.01.06
- Best league performance: 22nd in Conference South, 2004-05[11]
- Best FA Cup performance: 2nd Round, 2011–12
- Best FA Trophy performance: 3rd Round, 2003-04[12] and 2004-05[11]
- Best FA Vase performance: 5th Round, 1998-99[12]
[edit] League history
As Redbridge F.C.
| Season | Division | Position | Top League Goalscorer | Manager(s) | Extra Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004-2005 | Conference South | 22nd | Julian Edwards 9 | Craig Edwards, Jim Stannard | Relegated |
| 2005-2006 | Isthmian League Premier | 22nd | Ian Luck 9 | Jim Stannard, Alan Fenn | Relegated |
| 2006-2007 | Isthmian Division One North | 16th | Mitch Hahn 10 | Alan Fenn | |
| 2007-2008 | Isthmian Division One North | 3rd | Stephen Butterworth & Jeff Hammond 10 | Dean Holdsworth | Lost in Playoff Final |
| 2008-2009 | Isthmian Division One North | 8th | Hakeem Araba 17 | Jay Devereux | |
| 2009-2010 | Isthmian Division One North | 18th | Leon Diaczuk 13 | Jay Devereux, Dave Ross | |
| 2010-2011 | Isthmian Division One North | 16th | Kevin McLeod 12 | Dave Ross, Kris Taylor, Jody Brown |
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e f g BBC London: Your Team A-Z: Redbridge F.C.
- ^ Sheppey United: Aetolian League - 1959/60
- ^ 1950-1980 League Table Archive Search: Aetolian League - Division 1 - 1961-1962
- ^ 1950-1980 League Table Archive Search: Aetolian League - Division 1 - 1960-1961
- ^ Football Club History Database: Football Conference National, North and South 2004-05
- ^ Tony's English Football Site: 2005/06 Fixtures, Results, Tables, Attendances, Maps & Mileages: Isthmian Premier
- ^ Penalty Shoot Out Heartache for Motormen
- ^ Tony's English Football Site: 2007/08: Isthmian Division One North
- ^ Redbridge FC Official Website
- ^ Redbridge FC Official Website
- ^ a b Redbridge F.C. at the Football Club History Database
- ^ a b Ford United at the Football Club History Database
