Heybridge Swifts F.C.
 | |||
| Full name | Heybridge Swifts Football Club | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Swifts | ||
| Founded | 1880 | ||
| Ground | Scraley Road, Heybridge | ||
| Capacity | 3,000 (550 seated) | ||
| Chairman | Gary White | ||
| Manager | Jody Brown | ||
| League | Isthmian League Division One North | ||
| 2015–16 | Isthmian League Division One North, 20th | ||
|
| |||
Heybridge Swifts Football Club are a non-league football club based in Heybridge, near Maldon, Essex. They were established in 1880 and were founding members of the Essex Senior League in 1971. The Swifts are currently playing in Isthmian League Division One North.
History
Heybridge Swifts FC was formed in 1880, but the club's first foray into senior football did not come until 1971 when they were founder members of the Essex Senior League. In between that time the club was almost put out of existence when they were evicted from their previous home at Bentall’s Sports Ground in 1964, as it was sold to be made into a shopping precinct. The club then became tenants of neighbours Sadd’s Athletic for two years, but they managed to acquire in time the former carrot field in Scraley Road, which became their new home.[1] After finishing in second place in Essex Senior League at the end of the 1980–81 season the club claimed the league championship in the following three seasons, after which they were admitted to the Isthmian League, initially in Division Two North, which they won in the 1989–90 season.
In 1995–96 Swifts finished as runners-up in Isthmian League Division One and stepped up to the Premier Division, where they remained until relegation during the 2008–09 season. They finished second in the league in 2005–06 behind champions Braintree Town, missing out on promotion to the Conference South after a penalty shoot-out defeat to Fisher Athletic in the play-off final.
A poor 2008–09 season saw Heybridge Swifts relegated from the Isthmian League Premier Division to the Isthmian League Division One North. They have remained in Isthmian League Division One North ever since.
In September 2011 the club also got some media attention as they signed Mark Wright from the ITV2 show The Only Way Is Essex,[2] he played two games and left at the end of October to join his brother Josh at Thurrock[3]
Club honours
- Isthmian League Premier Division :[4]
- Runners-up: 2005–06
- Isthmian League Division One:[4]
- Runners-up: 1995–96
- Isthmian League Division Two North:[4]
- Winners: 1989–90
- Essex Senior League:[4]
- Winners: 1981–82, 1982–83, 1983–84
- Runners-up: 1980–81
- Isthmian League Cup:[5]
- Winners: 1981–82, 2000–01
Club records
- Best league performance:[4] 2nd in Isthmian League Premier Division, 2005–06
- Best FA Cup performance:[4] 1st round, 1994–95, 1997–98, 2002–03
- Best FA Trophy performance:[4] Quarter-finals, 1996–97
- Best FA Vase performance:[4] 5th round, 1986–87
- Record attendance: 2,477 v Woking, FA Trophy, 1997
Notable 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 achieved success in another sport or media career.
 |
|
References
- ^ Scraley Road Pyramid Passion
- ^ The Daily Mail Mark Wright (no, not that one) signs for Heybridge Swifts – TOWIE star joins Ryman League outfit
- ^ The Maldon Chronicle TV star Mark Wright quits Heybridge Swifts having played twice
- ^ a b c d e f g h FCHD Football Club History Database
- ^ History Heybridge Swifts History
External links
- Official website
- Heybridge Swifts at the Football Club History Database