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Banbury United F.C.

Coordinates: 52°3′24.451″N 1°19′32.920″W / 52.05679194°N 1.32581111°W / 52.05679194; -1.32581111
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Banbury United
Full nameBanbury United Football Club
Nickname(s)The Puritans, The bottle
Founded1931 (as Spencer Villa)
GroundThe Banbury Plant Hire Community Stadium, Banbury, Oxon
Capacity2,000 (250 seated)
ChairmanRonnie Johnson
ManagerMike Ford
LeagueSouthern League Premier Division
2015–16Southern League Division One South & West, 2nd (Play-Off Winners & Promoted)

Banbury United Football Club is a football club based in Banbury, Oxfordshire, who play in the Southern League Premier Division. They are nicknamed The Puritans and they play their home matches at the The Banbury Plant Hire Community Stadium. They were originally named Spencer Villa.

History

Early history

Banbury United were founded in 1931, when they were called Spencer Villa. At this time it was essentially a works club. In 1934, they changed their name to Banbury Spencer and moved to the Spencer Stadium, now known as The Banbury Plant Hire Community Stadium. They had a lot of early success, winning most of the leagues which they played in.

They were elected to the Birmingham Combination in 1935. In 1947 their attendances averaged at 3,500. They reached the first round proper of the FA Cup, where they lost 2–1 to Colchester United The club also broke their record attendance the following season, as over 7,000 people saw them lose to Oxford City in the third qualifying round of the FA Cup.[1]

In 1962, the club's owners signalled their wish to sell the club and in 1965, the club was bought out by a group of local businessmen. They changed the name from Banbury Spencer to Banbury United. Former Chelsea, West Ham United and Arsenal player Len Goulden, was employed as Manager.

In 1966, they joined the Southern League. They stayed in the Southern League for 24 years. In this time they won the Midland Floodlit Cup and reached the First Round Proper of the FA Cup, losing to Northampton Town in a replay.

However, in the late 1970s, Banbury suffered huge financial problems and by 1984 the club was nearly bankrupt. The club gave up the ownership of the ground. In the 1989–90 season, Banbury were relegated for the first time in their history. The new ground owners threatened to sell and for a brief period, the club was on the verge of extinction. The threat was withdrawn, and the club was saved by a small bunch of volunteers.

Banbury languished in the Hellenic League for several years, and at times they suffered more financial problems. But in 1997, the club's committee made several improvements in the team's finances.

Modern history

At the start of the 1999–2000 season, former Newcastle United, Oxford United and Queens Park Rangers player Kevin Brock was installed as manager. By the end of 1999, Banbury trailed Hellenic League leaders Highworth Town by 19 points, but a run of 13 consecutive victories and 62 points from a possible 66 in the new year, saw Banbury overhaul Highworth and clinch the title.

Due to the restructuring of the non-league pyramid, the club knew that if in the 2003–04 season they could finish in the top seven or finish eighth and win a play-off, they would be promoted to the Southern League Premier Division. Norman Sylla departed the club and joined Conference side Redditch United. Banbury wavered between 5th and 9th for much of the season and with twelve games remaining it seemed that they would struggle to finish in the top seven because their rivals had games in hand. Banbury won eight of their next games and finished eighth, securing a play-off match against Sutton Coldfield Town for promotion. The game was played at the Spencer Stadium due to Banbury's superior record over the season and was scoreless after 90 minutes. Early in the second period of extra time, Sutton took the lead, but a Jason Allen equaliser saw Banbury level the scores and in the dying minutes Wayne Blossom headed the winner to send Banbury up.

In the 2004–05 season Banbury avoided relegation in the penultimate game of the season. The following season Banbury were near the top of the table for the whole season and for a long time it seemed that they would earn a play-off place. However, a dip in form followed and Banbury finished 7th. Kevin Brock left the club after eight years and was replaced by Kieran Sullivan, a former player with Banbury. In his first season he pulled off a 9th-place finish with limited funds. However, in the second season after a string of defeats, Sullivan resigned and Banbury signed Billy Jeffery as manager in March 2009. Ady Fuller arrived as manager in July 2011 but left the club in September 2012 when a new management team of Edwin Stein and Paul West was brought in.[1]

Community Takeover

In August 2015, a supporter-led Community Benefit Society took formal control of the club.[2]

Seasons

This is 5 recent Banbury United seasons, for a full history look List of Banbury United F.C. seasons

Year League Lvl Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Position Leading league scorer FA Cup FA Trophy Average home
attendance
Name Goals Res Rec Res Rec
2011–12 Southern Football League
Premier Division 		7 42 13 10 19 54 61 -7 49 16th of 22 Ricky Johnson 12 QR1 0-0-1 QR3 2-1-1 273
2012–13 42 14 9 19 60 75 -15 51 16th of 22 Albi Skendi 10 QR1 0-1-1 QR1 0-2-0 220
2013–14 44 14 5 25 64 116 -52 47 19th of 23 Kynan Isaac 12 QR1 0-0-1 QR1 0-0-1 242
2014–15 44 9 10 25 53 86 -33 37 21st of 23
Relegated 		Leam Howards 12 QR2 1-0-1 QR3 2-1-1 247
2015–16 Southern Football League
Division One South & West 		8 42 28 10 4 97 38 +59 94 2nd of 22
Promoted 		Rickie Johnson 26 PR 0-0-1 QR1 1-1-1 327

Stadium

Banbury United play their home games at the Banbury Plant Hire Community Stadium, Station Approach, Banbury, Oxfordshire, OX16 5AB.

The stadium has a capacity of 2,000 and has a 250-seat stand called the 'John Nicholls Stand', named after the club's sponsor. Oddly enough it isn't positioned in the middle of the touchline but towards the town end of the ground with roof pillars obscuring the view from many seats. The rest of the stadium is in a dilapidated state and very often only three-quarters of the floodlights are operating. The roof of the Town End stand was blown off by strong winds in 2007, but has been reconstructed. The club have secured a lease with Robin Faccenda until 2009.

Banbury United have been playing at the ground since 1934. It is thought that the roofing, which was partially blown down, is probably the only part of the ground which was originally there when Banbury United moved into the ground.

In 2010, Banbury United, in correspondence with Cherwell District Council, announced a proposed move to a new stadium, which would be built near to the proposed site of a new housing estate based near the Bankside area of Banbury. The proposals are set to be put forward to publica approval in the summer of 2010, subject to financial constraints.

Club honours

  • Hellenic Football League Premier Division :[3]
    • Winners: 1999-00
  • Birmingham Combination League :[4]
    • Runners-up: 1947-48
  • Oxfordshire Senior Cup:
    • Winners: 2003–04, 2005–06, 2006–07
    • Runners-up: 2000-01, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2009–10
  • Hellenic League Premier Division Cup:[5]
    • Runners-up: 1991-92
  • Buckingham Charity Cup:[6]
    • Winners: 2001-02

Club records

  • Best league position: 7th Southern League Premier Division, 2005–06
  • Best FA Cup performance:[3][4] 1st round 1947-48, 1961–62, 1972–73, 1973–74
  • Best FA Trophy performance:[3] 3rd round 1970–71, 1973–74
  • Best FA Vase performance:[3] 2nd round, 1999–00
  • Highest attendance:[7] 7,160 vs Oxford City 1948-49

Player records

  • Most goals scored in a season: Tony Jacques 62 1967–68

Former players

  1. Players that have played/managed in the football league or any foreign equivalent to this level (i.e. fully professional league).
  2. Players with full international caps.
  3. Players that hold a club record or have captained the club.

References

  1. ^ "New Management Team Take Over At Banbury United". Non League Bets. 2012-09-08. Retrieved 2012-09-08.
  2. ^ "CBS takeover is completed at Spencer Stadium". Retrieved 15 August 2015.
  3. ^ a b c d FCHD
  4. ^ a b FCHD Banbury Spencer
  5. ^ "The History of Didcot Town Football Club". Didcot Town FC. 2006-05-18. Retrieved 2012-12-12.
  6. ^ http://www.goalrun.com/clubs?club_info&cid=51326&tid=3196
  7. ^ Pyramid Passion

Banbury United at the Football Club History Database

52°3′24.451″N 1°19′32.920″W / 52.05679194°N 1.32581111°W / 52.05679194; -1.32581111

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