Bridgwater United F.C.
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| Full name | Bridgwater Town (1984) Football Club | ||
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| Nickname(s) | The Robins | ||
| Founded | 1984 | ||
| Ground | Fairfax Park, Bridgwater | ||
| Capacity | 2,500 (318 seated) | ||
| Chairman | Clive Kemmish, Vice Chairman Jason Depledge | ||
| Manager | Paul West | ||
| League | Southern League Division One South & West | ||
| 2014–15 | Southern League Division One South and West, 12th | ||
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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.
History
Early years
The first club to bear the name of the town was formed in 1898 and played in the grounds of Sydenham House off Bath Road. BRIDGWATER AFC won the Somerset Senior Cup in its first season beating Yeovil Casuals in the final played at Wells. They were finalist once more the following season but this time ended as runners-up, and only two years later they were forced to disband due to lack of support and financial difficulties - which was a theme that carries on to this day.
In 1903 a second attempt was made to establish senior football in the town and a completely different set of people formed another BRIDGWATER AFC - playing in the Westonzoyland Road area of the town. This club played in local leagues and lasted until the outbreak of World War One.
In 1919, local works side WILLS ATHLETIC were formed, but just two years later changed their name to BRIDGWATER TOWN FC. Initially they played in 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 faded away during the early 1930s.
There was one further club bearing the name of the town during the pre Second World War period (possibly Bridgwater UNited) but no information on this club is available.
A new town club
Local side CROWN DYNAMOS were formed in 1946 playing at Eastover Park but two years later changed their name to BRIDGWATER TOWN AFC LTD and moved to a new ground Castle Field. Originally playing in the Somerset Senior League but soon successfully applied for promotion to the Western Football League and reached the top division after three seasons. They remained at that level for the next 30 years, winning the title in 1967/68 and 1980/81. After a 3rd-place finish in 1981/82, they were accepted into the Southern League, but increased costs, plus a large debt incurred in enlarging the Robins Social Club) forced the club into liquidation after only two years at the higher level. The end of an era...
Re-formed once again
In 1984, Bridgwater Town (1984) FC was formed and joined the Somerset Senior League. The club advanced to the Premier Division and finished in the top three for six years in a row from 1988–94 (including a hat-trick of successive league titles) culminating in a promotion to the Western League. A second-place finish in the Western League Premier Division in 2006–07 was enough to see the club promoted once more and the name Bridgwater appeared back to the Southern League after a 23-year absence.
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, 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]
Ground
Bridgwater Town play their home games at Fairfax Park, College Way, Bridgwater, Somerset, TA6 4YQ.
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]
Honours
- Western Football League Cup:[3][4]
- Winners (4): 1957–58, 1981–82, 2002–03, 2004–05
- Western Football League Alan Young Cup:[5]
- Winners (2): 1968–69 (Shared with Glastonbury Town), 1971–72
- Somerset Senior Cup[6]
- Winners (3): 1898–99, 1993–94, 1995–96
Current squad
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Notable former players
References
- ^ a b "Club History". Bridgwater Town FC. Retrieved 13 November 2010.
- ^ "Bridgwater Town". Football Club History Database. Retrieved 13 November 2010.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Senior Cup". SomersetFA. 2012-04-19. Retrieved 2013-04-04.