Bideford A.F.C.
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| Full name | Bideford Association Football Club | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | The Robins | ||
| Founded | 1946 | ||
| Ground | The Sports Ground, Bideford | ||
| Capacity | 2,000[1] | ||
| Chairman | Roy Portch | ||
| Manager | Sean Joyce | ||
| League | Southern Football League Premier Division | ||
| 2014–15 | Southern Football League Premier Division, 15th | ||
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Bideford A.F.C. is an English non-league football club from Bideford, Devon that plays in the Southern Football League. The club is nicknamed "The Robins" due to their all-red strip. The club plays its home matches at The Sports Ground, Kingsley Road, Bideford. The club are currently members of the Southern Football League Premier Division.
History
Founded in 1946, Bideford A.F.C. has avoided relegation every year since the war, a distinction it shares only with Arsenal and Everton. The club played their first three seasons in the Exeter & East Devon League before joining the Western League in 1949.[2] Bideford had requested to the Western League to be elected to the Second Division, but this was denied and they had to start in Division Three instead. This was the only season the Western League ran a Third Division, and Bideford won it without losing a game. Two seasons in the 1951–52 season later they then won Division Two, and gained promotion to Division One.[3]
Bideford won the Western League three times before joining the Southern League in 1972. The club spent three seasons in the Southern league before the extra expense involved and increased travelling took its toll, forcing them to drop down back to the Western League. During their time in the Southern League, the club set an all-time FA Cup record, when in 1973–74 they played thirteen FA Cup games in a single season – as a result of playing numerous replays in qualifying rounds including needing five games to beat Falmouth Town and four more to beat Trowbridge Town in the next round.[4] With the subsequent abandonment of second and further replays, this record will never be beaten again. Two more Western League titles followed in the early 1980s, before a financial crisis hit the club. A re-formation took place in 1987, of the club leading to the current setup, a company limited by guarantee, under the revised company name Bideford AFC (1987) Ltd.[2]
Under the chairmanship of Jim McElwee, and then Paul Mitchell, the club won four more Western League titles since 2000, and have also made the FA Vase semi-finals, where they lost to Winchester City.[4] Despite winning the Western League four times, under Manager Sean Joyce, between 2000 to 2006, the club elected not to apply for promotion to the Southern League due to the amount of travelling and expense that would be involved in playing teams which, almost without exception, would be over 100 miles away.[2]
However after winning the Western League again for the 10th time in the 2009/10 season and winning the Devon St Lukes Bowl where they beat Exeter City 2–1 in the Final.[4][5] Bideford AFC accepted promotion to the Southern League in May 2010, joining Division One South & West. In their second season in Division One South & West the club gained promotion to the Southern League Premier Division as champions.[6]
Seasons
This is 5 recent Bideford seasons for a full history look List of Bideford A.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 | |||||||||||||
| 2009–10 | Western Football League Premier Division |
9 | 38 | 27 | 6 | 5 | 93 | 37 | +56 | 87 | 1st of 20 Promoted |
PR | 1-0-1 | - | ||||
| 2010–11 | Southern Football League Division One South & West |
8 | 40 | 17 | 7 | 16 | 68 | 73 | -5 | 58 | 10th of 21 | EPR | 0-0-1 | QR3 | 3-0-1 | |||
| 2011–12 | Southern Football League Division One South & West |
8 | 40 | 28 | 8 | 4 | 77 | 41 | +36 | 92 | 1st of 21 Promoted |
QR2 | 2-0-1 | QR1 | 1-0-1 | |||
| 2012–13 | Southern Football League Premier Division |
7 | 42 | 11 | 9 | 22 | 58 | 73 | -15 | 42 | 20th of 22 | Sean Downing | 14 | QR2 | 1-1-1 | QR1 | 0-0-1 | 183 |
| 2013–14 | Southern Football League Premier Division |
7 | 44 | 18 | 13 | 13 | 75 | 64 | 11 | 67 | 8th of 23 | QR2 | 1-0-1 | QR2 | 1-0-1 | 240 | ||
| 2014–15 | Southern Football League Premier Division |
7 | 44 | 16 | 7 | 21 | 66 | 85 | -19 | 55 | 15th of 23 | Sean Downing | 12 | QR2 | 1-1-1 | QR1 | 0-1-1 | 204 |
Ground
Bideford play their games at The Sports Ground, Kingsley Road, Bideford EX39 2LH.
Players
First-team squad
According to the official site.[7]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Sponsorship
During the 2010/2011 season the first team were sponsored by Morrisons and in the 2011/2012 season by the Bideford & District Post, a local monthly newspaper; they are now sponsored by the Children's Hospice South West. The youth team has a number of clothing sponsors including Tesco and Sloman's removals.
Youth teams
At the start of the 2011/2012 season Bideford AFC launched 3 youth teams, an under 11s team, an under 13s team and an under 15s team. The youth teams play in the North Devon Youth League and train on the astro turf pitch at the nearby Bideford College.
Other teams
The club's reserve team plays in the Premier Division of the North Devon Football League. The Academy team (founded in 2014) competes in the North Devon League. There is also a ladies team which plays in the local Sunday league; the chairwoman, and manager, is Vanessa Saunders.
Club officials
- President: Jimmy McElwee
- Honorary vice-president: Kevin Keegan
- Chairman: Roy Portch
- Directors: Ian Knight & Kevin Tyrell
- Commercial Manager: Darren Hollyoak
- Media Manager: Liam Curtis
First team
- First team manager: Sean Joyce
- First team assistant manager: Rob Dray
- General Manager Steve Massey
- Physiotherapist: Tony Beal
Other teams
- Reserve team manager: Dean Johns
- Ladies team manager: Vanessa Saunders
Youth teams
- Youth Chairman: Bob Lovelace
- Vice Chairman / Team Manager: Quinton Davies
- Youth Secretary: Neil Blackburn
- Head Coach and Welfare Officer: Pete North
- Bideford under 9s team coach : Gary Bedler
- Bideford under 11s team coaches : Neil Armstrong and Craig Poole
- Bideford under 13s team coach : Chris Smailes
- Bideford under 15s team coach: Mark Floyd
- Bideford under 18s team coach: Peter North
Commercial staff
- Marketing consultant: Mike Lee
- Football secretary: Kevin Tyrrell
- Tannoy and announcer: Barry Weston
- Assistant editor: Ron Ackland
Supporters' club
- Chairman: Mike Bell
- Vice-chairman: Michael Lee
- Secretary: John Henderson
- Treasurer: Raymond Taylor
Honours
League
- Southern Football League Division One South & West[6]
- Winners(1): 2011–12
- Western League:[4]
- Winners (9): 1963–64, 1970–71, 1971–72, 1981–82, 2001–02, 2003–04, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2009–10
- Runners-up (6): 1962–63, 1964–65, 1968–69, 1977–78, 1978–79, 1984–85
- Western League Division Two:[4]
- Winners (1): 1951–52
- Western League Division Three: 1[4]
- Winners (1):1949–50
Cups
- Devon St Lukes Bowl:[5]
- Winners (5): 1981–82, 1983–84, 1985–86, 1995–96, 2009–10
- Runners-up (3): 1986–87, 1993–94, 1994–95
- Devon Professional Cup:
- Winners (8):1960–61, 1961–62, 1963–64, 1965–66, 1966–67, 1968–69, 1970–71, 1973–74
- Western Football League Cup:[8][9]
- Winners (4):1971–72, 1984–85, 2001–02, 2003–04
- Western Football League Alan Young Cup:[10]
- Winners (2): 1964–65, 1969–70
Records
- Highest League Position:[4] 1st in Southern League Division One South & West 2011–12
- FA Cup best performance:[4] First round 1964–65, 1973–74, 1977–78, 1981–82
- FA Trophy best performance:[4] Second round 1969–70
- FA Vase best performance:[4] Semi-Final 2003–04
- Record home win: 16–1 v Soundwell, 1950–51
- Record home loss: 1–10 v Taunton Townl, 1998–99
- Record away win: 10–0 v Melksham, 2003–04
- Record attendance: 5,975 v Gloucester City, FA Cup, 1949
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.
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Season-by-season record
| Season | Division | Position | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1949–50 | Western League Division Three | 1 | Champions |
| 1950–51 | Western League Division Two | 3 | |
| 1951–52 | Western League Division Two | 1 | Champions |
| 1952–53 | Western League Division One | 4 | |
| 1953–54 | Western League Division One | 10 | |
| 1954–55 | Western League Division One | 6 | |
| 1955–56 | Western League Division One | 6 | |
| 1956–57 | Western League Division One | 14 | |
| 1957–58 | Western League Division One | 13 | |
| 1958–59 | Western League Division One | 7 | |
| 1959–60 | Western League Division One | 7 | |
| 1960–61 | Western League | 16 | |
| 1961–62 | Western League | 3 | |
| 1962–63 | Western League | 2 | Runner-Up |
| 1963–64 | Western League | 1 | Champions |
| 1964–65 | Western League | 2 | Runner-Up, FA Cup First Round |
| 1965–66 | Western League | 3 | |
| 1966–67 | Western League | 6 | |
| 1967–68 | Western League | 14 | |
| 1968–69 | Western League | 2 | Runner-Up |
| 1969–70 | Western League | 6 | |
| 1970–71 | Western League | 1 | Champions |
| 1971–72 | Western League | 1 | Champions. Joined Southern League |
| 1972–73 | Southern League Division One South | 4 | |
| 1973–74 | Southern League Division One South | 5 | FA Cup First Round |
| 1974–75 | Southern League Division One South | 18 | Returned to Western League |
| 1975–76 | Western League | 10 | |
| 1976–77 | Western League Premier Division | 6 | |
| 1977–78 | Western League Premier Division | 2 | Runner-Up, FA Cup First Round |
| 1978–79 | Western League Premier Division | 2 | Runner-Up |
| 1979–80 | Western League Premier Division | 10 | |
| 1980–81 | Western League Premier Division | 5 | |
| 1981–82 | Western League Premier Division | 1 | Champions, FA Cup First Round |
| 1982–83 | Western League Premier Division | 1 | Champions |
| 1983–84 | Western League Premier Division | 6 | |
| 1984–85 | Western League Premier Division | 2 | Runner-Up |
| 1985–86 | Western League Premier Division | 3 | |
| 1986–87 | Western League Premier Division | 6 | |
| 1987–88 | Western League Premier Division | 10 | |
| 1988–89 | Western League Premier Division | 16 | |
| 1989–90 | Western League Premier Division | 16 | |
| 1990–91 | Western League Premier Division | 12 | |
| 1991–92 | Western League Premier Division | 4 | |
| 1992–93 | Western League Premier Division | 14 | |
| 1993–94 | Western League Premier Division | 9 | |
| 1994–95 | Western League Premier Division | 15 | |
| 1995–96 | Western League Premier Division | 6 | |
| 1996–97 | Western League Premier Division | 12 | |
| 1997–98 | Western League Premier Division | 13 | |
| 1998–99 | Western League Premier Division | 17 | |
| 1999–00 | Western League Premier Division | 13 | |
| 2000–01 | Western League Premier Division | 5 | |
| 2001–02 | Western League Premier Division | 1 | Champions |
| 2002–03 | Western League Premier Division | 3 | |
| 2003–04 | Western League Premier Division | 1 | Champions, FA Vase semi-finals |
| 2004–05 | Western League Premier Division | 1 | Champions |
| 2005–06 | Western League Premier Division | 1 | Champions |
| 2006–07 | Western League Premier Division | 4 | |
| 2007–08 | Western League Premier Division | 6 | |
| 2008–09 | Western League Premier Division | 6 | |
| 2009–10 | Western League Premier Division | 1 | Champions, rejoined Southern League |
| 2010–11 | Southern League Division One South & West | 10 | |
| 2011–12 | Southern League Division One South & West | 1 | Champions, promoted to Premier Division |
| 2012–13 | Southern League Premier Division | 20 | |
| 2013-4 | Southern League Premier Division | 10 |
References
- ^ "The Sports Ground, Bideford". Soccerway. Global Sports Media. Retrieved 20 August 2011.
- ^ a b c Published on Friday 9 January 2009 12:52 (2009-01-09). "Bideford's great western push – Sport". The Scarborough News. Retrieved 2012-07-30.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Williams, John (2012-07-21). "Bideford A.F.C". Bideford A.F.C. Retrieved 2012-07-30.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j BIDEFORD at the Football Club History Database
- ^ a b "Football Club History Database – Devon County Cups". Fchd.info. Retrieved 2012-07-30.
- ^ a b "Taunton Town fall to defeat against new champions Bideford". This is Somerset. 2012-04-10. Retrieved 2012-07-30.
- ^ "Bideford AFC Squad". Bideford A.F.C. Archived from the original on 21 November 2008. Retrieved 2008-11-04.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "Western Football League Cup 1955–1988" (PDF). Western Football League. Retrieved 2013-01-06.
- ^ "Western Football League Cup – Les Phillips cup 1989–present" (PDF). Western Football League. Retrieved 2013-01-06.
- ^ "Western Football League Alan Young Cup Winners" (PDF). Western Football League. Retrieved 2013-01-07.
- ^ http://www.neilbrown.newcastlefans.com/player4/briano%27neil.html