St. Margaretsbury F.C.
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| Full name | St. Margaretsbury Football Club | ||
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| Nickname(s) | The Bury | ||
| Founded | 1894 (as Stanstead Abbotts) | ||
| Ground | The Recreation Ground, Stanstead Abbotts | ||
| Capacity | 1,000 (60 seated) | ||
| Chairman | Gary Stock | ||
| Manager | John Barker | ||
| League | Eastern Counties League Division One South | ||
| 2023–24 | Eastern Counties League Division One South, 21st of 22 | ||
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St. Margaretsbury F.C. are a football club based in Stanstead Abbotts, near Ware, Herts, England. The team currently competes in the Eastern Counties League Division One South.
History
The Club was Founded in 1894 as Stanstead Abbotts FC, with their home at Mill Field, Cappell Lane in Stanstead Abbotts. Prior to 1940 they played in the Herts County League, East Herts and Hertford & District Leagues and were winners of the local Graphic Cup during the 1920s and 1930s. After 1945 the Club played in the Waltham & District League, re-joining the Herts County League in season 1947–48. In their first season back in the Herts County League the Club won Division two, gaining promotion and also winning the Aubrey (League) Cup.
In 1962 the Club moved to their present location, St Margaretsbury Recreation Ground, one of the conditions being they change their name to St Margaretsbury FC.
The Croft family were the previous owners of the ground and agreed the sale to three parishes, Stanstead Abbotts, Great Amwell and St Margarets, providing that it was used for sporting and recreation purposes. It was also a condition that the ground should be known as St Margaretsbury Recreation Ground. St Margaretsbury Cricket Club has used the ground since 1946 and in 1962 the St Margaretsbury Tennis Club was founded.
The Club's next honour was in 1972 when again they won the Aubrey Cup. In 1985–86 they entered the FA Vase competition for the first time and although losing out in the 3rd round, they played to a record crowd of almost 400. In the same season the Aubrey Cup Final was also strongly contested with Wingate FC winning 3–1. After a spell of 10 years in the Premier Division the 1st XI were briefly relegated to Division One at the end of the 1987–88 season, but returned to the Premier Division at the start of 1991–92.
After a spell of 44 continuous years in the Herts Senior County League the 1st XI became members of the London Spartan League, Premier Division for the start of season 1992–93, finishing in a very creditable 6th place. The 1st XI also reached the final of the Roy Bailey Memorial Trophy, losing 1–0 to close neighbours Wormley Rovers, at Enfield FC. But that season also saw the Club gain its first County Cup when winning the Herts Senior Centenary Trophy, defeating Sawbridgeworth Town 2–1 at Ware FC.
When the 1st XI team joined the London Spartan League in the 1992–93 season, the Reserves and the 3rd XI also had to leave the Herts Senior County League and so became members of the McMullens Hertford & District League. The Reserves and 3rd XI have achieved considerable success during the past 20 years, winning championships and cup competitions in the Herts Senior County League and McMullens Hertford & District League.
By 1993–94 the 1st XI's league position had progressed to finish 3rd and they then topped that in 1994–95 by finishing 2nd.
In 1994 the Club celebrated its centenary and published a book covering the Club's 100 years history.
In 1995–96 the Club celebrated its 4th season in the Spartan League by winning the Premier Division Championship, winning 18 out of 30 games and pipping Hillingdon Borough by 2 points. The Reserves and the 3rd XI made it a treble of Championships by winning their respective Divisions in the McMullen's Hertford and District League. The Roy Bailey Memorial Trophy was also won that same season, defeating Ware 2–0 at Enfield FC.
Floodlights were installed in October 1997 and in 1997–98 season the 1st XI won the Herts Charity Shield for the first time, defeating London Colney on penalties following a 0–0 draw. In 1998–99 the 1st XI were accepted into the newly formed Minerva Footballs Spartan South Midlands League, Premier Division, having finished 9th in the Premier Division South the previous season.
The "Sunday Section" was revived in 1986 with success at both youth and senior levels with the Herts Sunday Junior Cup being won in 1994 and again in 1995. Since then they have won a number of league and cup competitions within the Mercury Waltham & District League (seniors) and the Mid-Herts Rural Minors League. There are currently three youth teams competing in Sunday Football, as the Sunday Section of the Men's XI was disbanded in 2010, owing money to the Mercury Waltham League.
In season 1997–98 the Reserves were accepted into the Essex & Herts Border Combination. In the 1999–2000 season they won promotion to the Premier Division also winning the Combination Cup, beating Harlow Town 2–0.
Since 1998–99 the Club has entered an Under 18 team in the Southern Counties Midweek Floodlight Youth League. In season 2003–04 the youth team (U18) entered the Youth FA Cup for the first time.
Another Milestone was reached in 2000–01 when the Club qualified for entry into the FA Cup and has earned the reputation of giant killers having disposed of more senior opposition in successive competitions. In 2001–02, the Club was awarded the Houghton Regis Cup by the Spartan South Midlands League for achievements in the FA Cup competition, after victories were recorded against Gorleston Town, Hertford Town and Wembley before succumbing to Stafford Rangers. In the same season the Club gained its first Spartan South Midlands League competitive trophy, when they won the Premier Division Cup, beating Potters Bar Town 2–0 in the final.
The 2001–02 season also saw the withdrawal of the Reserves from the Essex & Herts Border Combination due to the long midweek journeys involved and the team reverted to competing in the McMullens Hertford & District League for the 2002–03 season. In the season 2003–04 there was another good run in the FA Cup, having negotiated three rounds before going down to Kettering Town 0–2 away. In the same season, the South Midland Floodlit Cup was won with 3–2 victory against Wooton Blue X and finished 3rd in the league. In 2003–04 the Reserves joined the newly formed World Class Homes Senior Reserves League (Herts County League), which unfortunately disbanded in 2004–05 due to lack of support. The Reserves then joined the Spartan South Midlands League Reserve Division One.
Over recent years there has been major redevelopment of the Recreation Ground with the conversion of the training area to a full size pitch suitable for FA Cup competition. This resulted in a complement of two senior pitches and one junior. In 2002, grants from the Football Stadia Improvement Fund and the Local Authority enabled various improvements such as major drainage works on the main playing surface, an extension to the covered seating area, fencing for the enclosure of the playing and spectator areas and the installation of a PA System. Added security was also provided with the installation of CCTV equipment.
St Margaretsbury Girls and Women's team's existed for a number of years and in the 2003–04 season they amalgamated to start playing in the Eastern Region Women's League. Unfortunately this folded in season 2004–05 following difficulty in recruiting players.
Season 2004–05 saw major changes in management and key players, and although viewed as a building season the club still managed a credible 7th place in the premier league.
The robustness and foundation of the club continued to build in season 2005–06 with the introduction of additional youth teams, ranging from under 12's up to under 18's into the senior team. A good FA Cup run, with a dramatic 3–2 away win against Isthmian League Premier Division club Billericay Town, only to be knocked out 1–0 by the less impressive Folkestone Invicta. A tough league season followed with the Bury finishing 12th.
Season 2008–09 – a very turbulent season in terms of internal club issues that put a strain on every aspect of our efforts to achieve our true potential. Despite these First team manager Lee Judges still managed to hit a credible 14th league position and came in as runners up in the Premier Division Cup.
Season 2009/10 – the club saw new Chairman Gary Stock take up his position, who along with an almost completely new committee, having had to overcome issues at the club that started with the previous Chairman & Director of Football being banned for gross misconduct. With the majority of our youth teams being ‘ripped’ out of the club by the Director of Football (who was Chairman of MHRML at the time), derisory finances on handover in a recession year, this was without doubt one of the toughest starts to any season. But the team somehow still matched last season’s 14th league position and were runners up in the Herts Charity Shield final.
Season 2010/11 – the club has now started to put some much-needed structure, organisation and processes into place, along with ground work and improved facilities like the pitch-side snack bar new last season. Our U18’s SCFYL team performed magnificently, winning their own division and then going on to beat the much admired Academy side Boreham Wood U18’s in the 4 team divisional final, to become overall League Champions. Our First team finished 18th in the league, whilst the reserves finished 3rd and won the Floodlit Cup.
Season 2011/12 – The club’s restructuring and regeneration program was complemented by the merger of John Warner Youth FC. This has reintroduced the critical mass of youth back into the club. The First team finished 12th in the league and were Premier League Cup Finalists, while the Reserves were Finalists in the Floodlit Cup. The Senior Club also achieved Chartered Standard,
Season 2012/13 – The First Team had an exceptional season, that challenged for the league title until around January, when their form dipped, but still finished in 4th position in a very strong season where the eventual league champions Dunstable Town did not lose one game. First Team Manager Lee Judges, and Assistant Manager Clive Brooks announced they were to step down at the end of the season, Lee having spent 6 seasons and Clive 3 seasons at the Club. We thank them for their contributions to the club and wish them both well in their future endeavours.
Season 2013/14 – The club appointed Gavin Kelsey to First Team Manager. He subsequently appointed Paul Tomkins to the position of Reserves Manager. Major changes are also being implemented as the Club’s youth section undergoes a transition to follow the new Club Ethos on Youth Development, which adopts the ‘Streaming’ method as it’s underlying youth strategy.
The Reserve Team won the Spartan South Midlands Division One title 2013/14, in a campaign that saw them lose just one of their last twenty two games. At the end of the season Paul Tomkins had to step down due to health reasons and Coach Alex Ward was appointed as Manager for 2014/15 season.
The Reserves successfully defended the League title in 2014/15, losing only once. But were to lose in the Final of the Divisional Championship to AFC Dunstable. After a tremendous run they also reached the final of the Herts Intermediate Cup, but lost to an extra time goal 2-3.