Thurrock F.C.
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| Full name | Thurrock Football Club | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | The Fleet | |||
| Founded | April 1985 (as Purfleet) | |||
| Ground | Ship Lane, Aveley | |||
| Capacity | 3,500 (524 seated) | |||
| Chairman | Tommy South | |||
| Manager | Mark Stimson | |||
| League | Isthmian League Division One North | |||
| 2016–17 | Isthmian League Division One North, 3rd (Promoted as playoff winners) | |||
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Thurrock Football Club is an English football club based in Aveley, Thurrock, Essex. Known as Purfleet until 2003, the club are currently members of the Isthmian League Division One North and play at Ship Lane.
History
Purfleet F.C. were established in April 1985 and entered the Reserve Division of the Essex Senior League in 1985 and spent one season in that division before joining the first-team league. After finishing third and winning the league cup in their first season, they won the league and cup double in 1987–88, earning promotion to Division Two North of the Isthmian League. They finished as runners-up in their first season and were promoted to Division One. However, the following season they were relegated back to Division Two North after finishing second from bottom.
In 1991–92 the club won the division, and were promoted to Division One. Two seasons later they finished second, and were promoted to the Premier Division. In 2003 the club changed its name to Thurrock, and after finishing third in the league at the end of the 2003–04 season, in which they also won the league cup and the Essex Senior Cup, became founder members of the Conference South.
In the club's first season in the new league, they qualified for the promotion play-offs but were knocked out by Eastbourne Borough. However, they did win the Essex Senior Cup for a second successive season. In 2008–09 the club finished in the relegation zone, but were reprieved after Team Bath resigned from the league. In 2010–11 the club again finished in the relegation zone, but were reprieved after Rushden & Diamonds were expelled from the Conference National league hence Southport were not relegated from the Conference National.
Thurrock announced manager Robbie Garvey resigned following the clubs defeat against fellow Conference strugglers Staines Town on 5 December 2011. Lee Goodwin and Grant Gordon took charge of the team on a match by match basis until a new manager was appointed.[1] Thurrock were relegated at the end of the season, finishing bottom of the Conference South. In 2012–13, they initially finished 19th in the Isthmian Premier, two spots above relegation, but then had three points controversially deducted for fielding an ineligible player, dropping them to last place and thus relegating them to Division One North of the Isthmian League. The three points were deducted after the season ended despite the offence taking place in August leading to a protracted legal dispute.
2013–14 saw Thurrock fall short of the play-offs on the very last game of the season. A 2–1 defeat to Tilbury combined with Needham Market beating Chatham Town 7–1 saw Needham Market take the last play-off place on goal difference. Thurrock went one better in 2014–15 finishing in fifth place. They went on to beat Harlow Town 4–3 after extra time in the play-off semi final but were beaten 5–0 by Brentwood Town in the final. In 2015-2016 Thurrock once more made the play-offs taking league runners-up position but were beaten 2-0 by AFC Hornchurch in the play-off semi final. 2016-2017 saw Thurrock make it three play-offs in a row as they finished 3rd gaining promotion to the Isthmian League Premier division by beating both AFC Hornchurch and Maldon & Tiptree by 1-0
Stadium
The club has played at Ship Lane since their establishment in April 1985. At first the ground was a part of the Thurrock Hotel complex, and initially consisted of two pitches and dressing rooms in the main hotel building. Due to this set-up the club could only compete at Junior level. The playing area was turned around 90° to make one full pitch and dressing rooms were built so the club could become a separate entity.
Floodlights were erected in January 1988 after planning permission was accepted from Thurrock Council to add these features as well as a grandstand.
Current squad
- As of 22 May 2017
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Honours
- Essex Senior League
- Champions 1987–88
- League Cup Winners 1986–87, 1987–88
- Isthmian League
- Division Two Champions 1991–92
- League Cup winners 2003–04
- Division One PlayOff winners 2016-17
- Essex Senior Cup
- Winners 2003–04, 2004–05
Records
- Best league performance: Third in the Conference South, 2004–05
- Best FA Cup performance: First round proper, 2003–04, 2004–05
- Best FA Trophy performance: Fourth round, 2004–05
- Best FA Vase performance: Fourth round, 1990–91
References
- ^ "Robbie Garvey Quits at Thurrock". 5 December 2011.
External links
- Club website
- Thurrock at the Football Club History Database
- Purfleet at the Football Club History Database