Faversham Town F.C.

Coordinates: 51°18′24.51″N 0°53′43.81″E / 51.3068083°N 0.8955028°E / 51.3068083; 0.8955028
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Faversham Town
Club badge
Full nameFaversham Town Football Club
Nickname(s)The Lilywhites
Founded1884
GroundShepherd Neame Stadium, Faversham
Capacity2,000
ChairmanRay Leader
ManagerRay Turner
LeagueIsthmian League Division One South
2015–16Isthmian League Division One South, 5th

Faversham Town Football Club are a football club based in Faversham, Kent, England. They joined the original Kent League in 1949 and the second Kent League in 1966, winning the title in 1970, 1971 and 1990. In 2003 they resigned from the league with 8 games left to play, but rejoined in 2006.

They are known locally as the 'Lilywhites' (because they play in white).

History

A view of the club's stadium

The club was formed in 1884, entering the Kent League in 1894. In those early years they played under a variety of names including Faversham Invicta, Faversham Railway and Faversham Rangers as well as Faversham Town.

The Lilywhites joined the original Kent League in 1949 and played there, without any great success, until it folded ten years later. Records are unclear as to what the club did next, but in 1966 a new incarnation of the Kent League was formed, with Faversham as one of the founder members. They played in this league until 1971 when, after two successive championships, they became founder members of the new Metropolitan–London League. Two years later they were on the move again, this time to the Athenian League, where they played for three seasons before rejoining the Kent League.

In the Lilywhites' second season back in the Kent League they were champions, a feat they repeated in 1990, but in 2003 they were forced to resign from the league midway through the season. Strangely the league opted not to expunge their record but rather to decide the final table on an "average points per game" basis.

The ground fell into disrepair, but was renovated in the spring of 2005 by a committed group of local people.

Faversham Town rejoined the Kent County League for the 2005–06 season, winning promotion to the Kent League at the first attempt. Four years later they won the Kent League meaning they now play in the Isthmian League Division One South for 2011–12.

Having consolidated their position, as a mid-table Division One South side during the first two years of manager Ray Turner's reign, Faversham embarked on one of the best seasons in the club's history during the 2012–13 season.

The Lilywhites lost just three away league games all campaign on their way to finishing in third position and reaching the play-off final, but lost 3–0 to Maidstone United.

Town spent the majority of the 2013-14 campaign just outside the play-offs, and ultimately, had to settle for tenth position in their fourth season in Division One South.

The Lilywhites had a productive 2014-15 season, scoring 111 league goals (more than any other Ishtmian League side that campaign) and amassing a record 97 points to finish in third place in Division One South for the second time in three seasons, however they lost 5-4 on penalties at home to Merstham in the play-off semi-final following a goalless draw.

Faversham came fifth at the end of the 2015-16 season, again reaching the play-offs, but after beating Dorking Wanderers 2-1 in the semi-final they lost 3-0 to Worthing in the final.

Ground

Faversham Town play their home games at the Shepherd Neame Stadium, Salters Lane, Faversham, Kent, ME13 8ND.

During the 2010–11 season the stadium name was changed from "Salters Lane" to the "Shepherd Neame Stadium", due to the club's sponsorship deal with Shepherd Neame.[1]

Club records

  • Best League performance: Kent League champions 1969–70, 1970–71, 1989–90, 2010-11
  • Best FA Cup performance: 2nd qualifying round, 1973–74, 1974–75, 1975–76, 1976–77, 1991–92, 2014/15
  • Best FA Trophy performance: Preliminary round, 1974–75 (only entry)
  • Best FA Vase performance: 3rd round, 1991–92

Sources

External links

References

  1. ^ "Faversham Town unveil stadium sponsorship deal with local brewery". Kentishfootball.co.uk. 16 August 2010. Retrieved 24 March 2013.

51°18′24.51″N 0°53′43.81″E / 51.3068083°N 0.8955028°E / 51.3068083; 0.8955028