Weston-super-Mare A.F.C.
| File:Weston-super-Mare AFC logo.png | |||
| Full name | Weston-super-Mare Association Football Club | ||
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| Nickname(s) | "The Seagulls" | ||
| Founded | 1948 | ||
| Ground | Woodspring Stadium, Weston-super-Mare | ||
| Capacity | 3,500 (350 seated) | ||
| Chairman | Paul Bliss | ||
| Manager | Ryan Northmore | ||
| League | National League South | ||
| 2015–16 | National League South, 16th | ||
| Website | http://westonsmareafc.co.uk/ | ||
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Weston-super-Mare Association Football Club are an English semi-professional football club based in Weston-super-Mare in Somerset, England. The club is affiliated to the Somerset County FA. The club are also known as The Seagulls.[1] The team's claim to fame is that they had never been relegated in their history, although bottom-three finishes in 2007 and 2008 and 2010 should have seen them relegated from the Conference South but there were reprieves all three occasions. The team's best performance in the FA Cup came in 2003–04 when they reached the second round of the competition.
Weston were founded in 1887, but disbanded twice (once for World War I, then again for World War II). The club were reformed in 1948 and have since moved up to Step 6 of the English football league system where they currently play today.
Weston-super-Mare has a modest fan base and a fierce rivalry with local club Clevedon Town, who are situated in Clevedon, North Somerset. However, the rivalry has been put on the back-burner as of late since Weston-super-Mare gained promotion to the Southern League Premier Division in 2002–2003, clinching promotion with a 1–0 win over rivals Clevedon. The two have not played in the same league since.
History
Weston-super-Mare A.F.C. was formed in 1887.[2] The team's first record of a competitive match being against near-neighbours Clevedon Town in a "Medal Competition" organised by the Somerset FA.[3] In 1900 they joined Division two of the Western Football League but left after two years.[4] In 1910 they rejoined this league and played there until World War I.[5]
Between the wars, the club played in the local Bristol and District Football League and then the Somerset County League but the club disbanded upon the outbreak of hostilities in 1939.[3] The club reformed in 1948 and immediately rejoined the Western League, initially in Division Two.[6] At this time the team played at the Great Ground in Locking Road, where initially there was no cover for spectators and the players had to change in a marquee.[3] A season after the club joined rejoined the Western league they made their debut in the FA Cup in the 1949–50 season losing to Gloucester City in the preliminary qualifying round.[5] The team remained in the Second Division until the league consolidated to a single division in 1960.[6] During this time they moved to the Langford Road Ground.[3] In 1976 they were placed into the Western League Premier Division upon the creation of a second tier, meaning that by their centenary in 1987 they had never been promoted or relegated in their history.[3][7]
In 1989 John Ellener was appointed manager and led the club to the Western League championship in 1991–92 and with it promotion to the Southern League Midland Division.[5] They remained at this level, playing successively in the Midland, Southern, Midland (again) and Western Divisions due to the Southern League's regular reorganisations, until 2002–03 when they finished in second place and were promoted to the Premier Division, clinching promotion with a win away to rivals Clevedon Town.[3][8] In their first Premier Division season they finished in 10th place, enough to clinch a place in the newly formed Conference South.[8]
The clubs most successful cup run came in the 2003-04 season, when the Seagulls reached the Second Round of the FA Cup. After defeating Dorchester Town, Chesham United (via a replay) and Welling United in the qualifying rounds, Weston secured a 1-0 away win against Farnborough Town to progress from the first round. They were awarded with an away tie against Third Division side, Northampton Town where they were eventually beaten 4-1. In the same season, Weston would equal their best performance in the FA Trophy, reaching the Fourth Round of the competition.
In the 2006–07 season of the conference south the club looked they finished in 20th position and looked seemingly relegated.[9] However, Farnborough Town were relegated due to going into liquidation and Hayes and Yeading merged to form Hayes & Yeading United, leaving the Conference South one team short, earning a reprieve for Weston.[10] The 2007–08 season ended in similar fashion for Weston. A 20th-place finish meant the club was eligible for relegation, only to be spared by the enforced demotion of Cambridge City, who failed a ground inspection.[11] The 2009–10 campaign again saw the club finish in the relegation zone again when they finished 21st, however as before the club was saved by the FA, this time when Salisbury City were demoted twice to the Southern league.[12]
The 2010–11 season saw the club win the Somerset Premier Cup for the first time, when they defeated Yeovil Town in the final.[13] The club retained the cup the following season (2011-12) when they beat local rivals Clevedon Town 2-1.[14]
In 2012-13, the club finished the season with their highest ever placing in the Conference South in 7th place with 67 points and narrowly missing out on a place in the playoffs. The 2014-15 season brought a relatively successful cup campaign as the Seagulls won three qualifying matches in the FA Cup and reached the First Round Proper of the FA Cup, where they lost 4-1 at home to Doncaster Rovers in front of a record attendance of 2,949.
Weston-super-Mare AFC are currently sponsored by Weston College and Howards Motor Group.
Ground
Weston-super-Mare A.F.C. play their home games at Woodspring Stadium, Winterstoke Road, Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, BS24 9AA.
The club moved to the new purpose-built Woodspring Stadium in August 2004. They previously played at the similarly named Woodspring Park a short distance away. The move marked the third time in the past 40 years that Weston-super-Mare have changed venues. The capacity of Woodspring Stadium is 3,500 in which 2,000 is covered and 350 are seated.[15]
Woodspring Park had been built almost entirely by supporters and boasted a clubhouse costing £100,000.[3] The Park had been the home of Weston-super-Mare since 1983 and had floodlights installed in 1986.[3] Weston-super-Mare sold this ground to a residential home builder when it became apparent the club was going to move the short distance to Woodspring Stadium. The last home fixture was played in April 2004.[15]
The ground for what is now Woodspring Stadium was formerly a sporting complex owned by Westland Aircraft known as Westland Sports Ground. It was home to cricket and football in addition to social buildings. Difficult financial times forced Westland to reconsider their place in town and put the ground up for sale. Weston-super-Mare purchased it for £270,000 in 2001.[15] The Stadium opened 14 August 2004, with its first match against Conference South opponent (and now defunct) Hornchurch drawing only 500 people to the game. This was well under the 3,500 capacity.
The record attendance for this ground 2,949 in a match in the Emirates FA Cup against Doncaster Rovers on the 18th November 2014.
First team
Current squad
As of 13 April 2016
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Management and Coaching Staff
| Position | Name | Nationality |
|---|---|---|
| Manager | Ryan Northmore |  English
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| Assistant Coach | Mark McKeever |  Republic of Ireland
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| Goalkeeping Coach | Kevin Hurd | English
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| First Team Coach | Tom Jordan | English
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| First Team Coach | Clayton Fortune | English
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Club officials
| Position | Name | Nationality |
|---|---|---|
| Chairman | Paul Bliss | English
|
| President | Dennis Usher | English
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| Managing Director | Oli Bliss | English
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| Director of Football | Ryan Northmore | English
|
| Football Secretary | Richard Sloane | English
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| Commercial Director | Neil Keeling | English
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Honours
League honours
- Southern League Western Division[5]
- Runners-up (1): 2002–03
- Western League[5]
- Champions (1): 1991–92
- Runners-up (1): 1976–77
- Bristol and District League[3]
- Runners-up (1): 1922–23
Other honour
- Clevedon and District Charity Cup
- Winners: 1922-23
Cup honours
- Somerset Premier Cup[13][14][16]
- Winners (2): 2010–11, 2011–12
- Runners-up (1): 1990–91
- Western Senior Cup[3]
- Winners (6): 1971–72, 1972–73, 1973–74, 1974–75, 1975–76, 1977–78
- Western League Challenge Cup[17]
- Winners (1): 1976–77
- Western Merit Cup[3]
- Winners (2): 1976–77, 1977–78
- Western Merit Cup[3]
- Winners (2): 1976–77, 1977–78
- Western Merit Cup[3]
- Winners (2): 1976–77, 1977–78
- Western League Subsidiary Cup[3]
- Runners-up (1): 1959–60
- Somerset Senior Cup [18]
- Winners (1): 1926–27
- Bristol Charity Cup[3]
- Winners (1): 1922–23
- Weston Charity Cup[3]
- Winners (1): 1910–11
- Clevedon Charity Cup[3]
- Runners-up (1): 1926–27
Records
- Highest League Position:[5] 7th in Conference South 2012–13
- FA Cup best performance:[5] Second round 2003–04
- FA Trophy best performance:[5] Fourth round 1998–99, 2003–04
- Highest Attendance:[3] 2,949 vs Doncaster Rovers - 2014-15 (F.A. Cup)
Former players
- Players that have played/managed at least 40 games in the football league or any foreign equivalent to this level (i.e. fully professional league).
- Players with full international caps.
- Players that have played/managed within in another professional sport.
For those players that also played for the club but did not meet the criteria above:
Former coaches
- Managers/Coaches that have played/managed in the football league or any foreign equivalent to this level (i.e. fully professional league).
- Managers/Coaches with full international caps.
References
- ^ "Weston-super-Mare FC 2012/13 Blue Square Bet South fixtures released". This is Somerset. 2 July 2012. Retrieved 9 December 2012.
- ^ "Weston Super Mare FC - Fixtures, History and Club Information". Napit.co.uk. Retrieved 9 December 2012.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r "History | Weston-super-Mare Football Club". Weston-s-mareafc.co.uk. Retrieved 9 December 2012.
- ^ "Western League 1892–1914". Nonleaguematters.net. Retrieved 9 December 2012.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Weston-super-Mare at the Football Club History Database
- ^ a b "Western League 1945–1965". Nonleaguematters.net. 5 June 1947. Retrieved 9 December 2012.
- ^ "Western League 1965–1985". Nonleaguematters.net. Retrieved 9 December 2012.
- ^ a b "Southern League 2001–2011". Nonleaguematters.net. Retrieved 9 December 2012.
- ^ "Website created using 350pages at www.350.com". Nonleaguematters.net. Retrieved 9 December 2012.
- ^ "NonLeagueDaily.com". NonLeagueDaily.com. Retrieved 9 December 2012.
- ^ "Cambridge City fail in FA appeal". BBC Sport Online. 28 May 2008. Retrieved 29 May 2008.
- ^ "BBC Sport - Football - Salisbury City lose their appeal against demotion". BBC News. 10 June 2010. Retrieved 9 December 2012.
- ^ a b "Weston-super-Mare beat Yeovil Town to lift Somerset Cup". This is Bath. 4 May 2011. Retrieved 9 December 2012.
- ^ a b "Weston-super-Mare AFC defeat Clevedon Town to retain the Somerset Premier Cup - 09 May 2012 - Guide2Weston Super Mare News". Guide2westonsupermare.com. Retrieved 9 December 2012.
- ^ a b c [Groundtastic – The Football Grounds Magazine. GT40 – Spring 2005. Published 1 March 2005. Pages 34–37.]
- ^ "Football Club History Database - Somerset County Cups Summary". Fchd.info. Retrieved 9 December 2012.
- ^ "Western Football league challenge Cup winners" (PDF). Western Football league. Retrieved 9 December 2012.
- ^ "Senior Cup". SomersetFA. 19 April 2012. Retrieved 4 April 2013.