Rugby Town F.C.
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| Full name | Rugby Town Football Club | ||
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| Nickname(s) | The Valley | ||
| Founded | 1955 (as New Bilton Juniors) | ||
| Ground | Butlin Road Rugby, Warwickshire | ||
| Capacity | 6,000 (740 seated & 1,000 covered) | ||
| Chairman | Brian Melvin | ||
| Manager | Dale Belford | ||
| League | Northern Premier League Division One South | ||
| 2015–16 | Northern Premier League Division One South, 9th | ||
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Rugby Town F.C. is a football club based in Rugby, Warwickshire, which plays in the Northern Premier League Division One South. It is nicknamed The Valley, and plays its home matches at Butlin Road. It was originally named New Bilton Juniors and renamed four times. First, in 1956, to Valley Sports. The next time was in 1971 to Valley Sports Rugby, or simply VS Rugby, then in 2000 to Rugby United, and again for the most recent time to Rugby Town F.C.
History
Formed by Keith Coughlan and under the name of New Bilton Juniors, the Valley played its first friendly match in 1955. They played on the Oakfield Recreation Park, and shared the ground with many clubs in Rugby until 1973.
In 1956, the club was renamed for the first time, to Valley Sports, where they entered Rugby and District Football League and played their first competitive fixture. Coughlan only sought for the Valley to play at local level, changing from the Coventry and North Warwickshire Football League in 1963, and to the United Counties League in 1969.
VS Rugby moved into its own ground, Butlin Road, in 1973. In that year, with many football clubs in Rugby folding, the Valley soon became one of the only, and the best, clubs in Rugby. In 1974, they moved from the United Counties League to the West Midlands League, and took part in the FA Cup in 1976, being knocked out in the first qualifying round.
In 1981, the Valley's most successful manager, Jimmy Knox, took over. His reputation as a defender during previous seasons at VS Rugby enabled him to avoid being sacked after a disappointing start, with 10 defeats in 11 games. The following season, the Valley would win the 1983 FA Vase, defeating Halesowen Town 1-0. Due to this win, they were invited into the Southern League.
During the 10-year reign of Knox, the Valley had success in the FA Cup, their best being a run to the second round in 1992, being knocked out by Marlow, and missing out on a third round match against Tottenham Hotspur. They have had memorable cup ties against Northampton Town, Bristol City, Bristol Rovers and Leyton Orient.
Once Knox left the club, club fortunes declined. They went into liquidation and, for the first time in the history of the club, they were relegated. A group of supporters that included founder Keith Coughlan, however, rescued the club, and manager Ron Bradbury stayed on to gain promotion behind newly formed Rushden & Diamonds in 1994.
VS Rugby changed its name to Rugby United in 2000, and to Rugby Town in 2005. It has always stayed in the Southern League ever since it was promoted in 1994. At this day, it has an allotment to one side of the ground, and astroturfed pitches to the other.
Valley came close to promotion twice under manager Dave Stringer in the 2012/13 and 2013/14 seasons. In 2012/13 they missed out on the title on the final day before losing to Biggleswade Town in the play-off final at Butlin Road. The following season saw Valley once again in contention for the title on the final day only to fail to secure top spot. Promotion hopes once again ended in the play-offs after a defeat to Slough Town over two legs in the semi-final. The 2014/15 season was less successful for Valley with the club failing to make the play-offs after an inconsistent season. At the end of the campaign, Rugby Town parted company with manager Dave Stringer.
For the first time in the club's history, Rugby Town were moved into the Northern Premier League system for the 2015/16 season.[1] Stringer's replacement, former Rushden & Diamonds midfielder Gary Mills, tendered his resignation early into the season after a poor start and was replaced by ex-Tamworth boss Dale Belford.[2]
Ground
 The club has played at Butlin Road since 1973. | |
| Location | Butlin Road Rugby Warwickshire England |
|---|---|
| Owner | Rugby Town F.C. |
| Operator | Rugby Town F.C. |
| Capacity | 6,000 (740 seated) |
| Record attendance | 3,961 (Rugby Town F.C. vs. Northampton Town F.C., 1984) |
| Surface | Grass |
| Opened | October 1973 |
| Tenants | |
| Rugby Town F.C. (1973-Present) | |
The ground, unlike many in non-league circles, has covering on all four sides of the ground and seating on two sides.
The official capacity was confirmed as 5,375 in 2005 but this is set to increase with the new 1,300 covered terrace at the allotment end as well as further terracing developments throughout the stadium.
Now, approximately 2,800 spectators are able to be accommodated under cover and 740 of these can also be seated.
Butlin Road boasts the magnificent main stand, which holds 500 fans and also includes the dressing rooms.
Helped by a Football Foundation & Stadia Improvement Fund Grant, the stand was open for use in early 2003, but it was not officially opened until August 2003, when ex-England International Darius Vassell did the honours as Rugby played an Aston Villa XI.
New facilities under the stand also include 4 changing rooms, referees' room, male, female and disabled toilets and a physio room. It will provide air conditioned rooms and top quality showers – bought from another ex-Premiership ground in the shape of Manchester City's old ground Maine Road.
These new changing facilities will create extra space where the old rooms are placed to possibly extend the superb VS Bar which was refurbished into a sports bar in 1999 and is a great place for all functions.
The 2003/04 season saw the introduction of new dugouts at Butlin Road. The ex-Filbert Street (Leicester City) structures have brought another professional feel to the club, with a strip of Astroturf laid in front of the dugout area to stop wear and tear.
Current squad
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Past players
Since entry to Southern Football League in 1983–84
Record appearances
in order of most appearances
- 390: Danny Conway, 1983–1990
- 290: Craig Herbert, 2000–09
- 286: Tom McGinty, 1989–95
- 285: Mick Martin, 1988–94 & 1996
- 275: Dave Ingram, 1983–90
- 273: Steve Ross, 1986–91
Record goalscorers
in order of most goals
- 127: David Kolodynski, 2005-10 & 2012-2014 & 2015-Present
- 124: Danny Conway, 1983–90
- 85: Ian Crawley, 1983–85, 1987 & 1991–94
- 84: Robbie Beard, 2000–06
- 77: Ashley Warner, 1992–94 & 1998–2000
Managers
Since entry to Southern Football League in 1983–84
- 1981–1992: Jimmy Knox
- 1992–1993: Mick Martin
- 1993–1995: Ron Bradbury
- 1995–1996: Stuart Robson
- 1996: David Jones & Steve Hunt
- 1996–1998: Alan Lewer
- 1998–2001: Martin Sockett
- 2001–2005: Tony Dobson
- 2005–2007: Billy Jeffrey
- 2008: Rod Brown
- 2008–2009: Tony Dobson
- 2009–2010: Lee Colkin
- 2010–2011: Martin Sockett
- 2011–2015: Dave Stringer
- 2015: Gary Mills
- 2015- : Dale Belford
Honours
- Southern League Division One Midlands:
- Winners (1): 1986–87
- Runners-up (3): 1993–94, 2012-13 & 2013-14
- Southern League Cup:
- Winners (1): 1989–90
- FA Vase:
- Winners (1): 1982–83
- Birmingham Senior Cup:
- Winners (2): 1988-89 & 1991-92
- Runners-up (1): 1992–93
- Midland Floodlit Cup:
- Winners (3): 1984–85, 1989–90 & 1998–99
- Runners-up(1): 1987–88
Records
Since entry to Southern Football League in 1983–84
- League victory: 11–0 v Malvern Town in 1983–84 (In a non-Southern Football League game)
- League defeat: 1–11 v Ilkeston Town in 1997–98
- Games without defeat: 16 in 1988–89 & 1993–94
- Games without victory: 19 in 1995–96
- Wins in a row: 12 in 2012-13
- Defeats in a row: 8 in 1995–96
Best performances
- Best League performance: 3rd in Southern League Premier Division, 1988–89 & 1991–92
- Best FA Cup performance: 2nd Round, 1987–88 & 1992–93
- Best FA Trophy performance: 3rd Round, 1999–2000 & 2002–03
- Best FA Vase performance: Winners, 1982–83
References
- ^ "Rugby Town officially bid farewell to Southern League". Rugby Observer. 28 June 2015. Retrieved 13 August 2015.
- ^ "Dale Belford Takes The Valley Reins". Rugby Town FC. 16 September 2015. Retrieved 16 September 2015.