Bideford A.F.C.

Bideford

Full name

Bideford Association Football Club

Nickname(s)

The Robins

Founded

1946

Ground

The Sports Ground,
Bideford

Capacity

2,000^[1]

Chairman

Roy Portch

Manager

Sean Joyce

League

Southern Football League Premier Division

2015–16

Southern Football League Premier Division, 23rd (Relegated)

Home colours

Away colours

Bideford A.F.C. is an English non-league football club from Bideford, Devon that plays in the Southern Football League. The club is nicknamed "The Robins" due to their all-red strip. The club plays its home matches at The Sports Ground, Kingsley Road, Bideford. The club are currently members of the Southern Football League Premier Division.

History

Founded in 1946, Bideford A.F.C. played their first three seasons in the Exeter & East Devon League before joining the Western League in 1949.^[2] Bideford had requested to the Western League to be elected to the Second Division, but this was denied and they had to start in Division Three instead. This was the only season the Western League ran a Third Division, and Bideford won it without losing a game. Two seasons in the 1951–52 season later they then won Division Two, and gained promotion to Division One.^[3]

Bideford won the Western League three times before joining the Southern League in 1972. The club spent three seasons in the Southern league before the extra expense involved and increased travelling took its toll, forcing them to drop down back to the Western League. During their time in the Southern League, the club set an all-time FA Cup record, when in 1973–74 they played thirteen FA Cup games in a single season – as a result of playing numerous replays in qualifying rounds including needing five games to beat Falmouth Town and four more to beat Trowbridge Town in the next round.^[4] With the subsequent abandonment of second and further replays, this record will never be beaten again. Two more Western League titles followed in the early 1980s, before a financial crisis hit the club. A re-formation took place in 1987, of the club leading to the current setup, a company limited by guarantee, under the revised company name Bideford AFC (1987) Ltd.^[2]

Under the chairmanship of Jim McElwee, and then Paul Mitchell, the club won four more Western League titles since 2000, and have also made the FA Vase semi-finals, where they lost to Winchester City.^[4] Despite winning the Western League four times, under Manager Sean Joyce, between 2000 to 2006, the club elected not to apply for promotion to the Southern League due to the amount of travelling and expense that would be involved in playing teams which, almost without exception, would be over 100 miles away.^[2]

However after winning the Western League again for the 10th time in the 2009/10 season and winning the Devon St Lukes Bowl where they beat Exeter City 2–1 in the Final.^[4]^[5] Bideford AFC accepted promotion to the Southern League in May 2010, joining Division One South & West. In their second season in Division One South & West the club gained promotion to the Southern League Premier Division as champions.^[6]

Seasons

This is 5 recent Bideford seasons for a full history look List of Bideford A.F.C. seasons

Year	League	Lvl	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Position	Leading league scorer		FA Cup		FA Trophy		Average home attendance
Year	League	Lvl	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Position	Name	Goals	Res	Rec	Res	Rec	Average home attendance
2009–10	Western Football League Premier Division	9	38	27	6	5	93	37	+56	87	1st of 20 Promoted			PR	1-0-1	-
2010–11	Southern Football League Division One South & West	8	40	17	7	16	68	73	-5	58	10th of 21			EPR	0-0-1	QR3	3-0-1
2011–12	Southern Football League Division One South & West	8	40	28	8	4	77	41	+36	92	1st of 21 Promoted			QR2	2-0-1	QR1	1-0-1
2012–13	Southern Football League Premier Division	7	42	11	9	22	58	73	-15	42	20th of 22	Sean Downing	14	QR2	1-1-1	QR1	0-0-1	183
2013–14	Southern Football League Premier Division	7	44	18	13	13	75	64	11	67	8th of 23			QR2	1-0-1	QR2	1-0-1	240
2014–15	Southern Football League Premier Division	7	44	16	7	21	66	85	-19	55	15th of 23	Sean Downing	12	QR2	1-1-1	QR1	0-1-1	204

Ground

The Sports Ground

Bideford play their games at The Sports Ground, Kingsley Road, Bideford EX39 2LH.

Players

First-team squad

According to the official site.^[7]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No.		Position	Player
		GK	Kyle Moore
		DF	Danny Harrison
		DF	Jordan Storey (on loan from Exeter City)
		DF	Nick Milton
		DF	Nick Barker
		DF	Ian Sampson
		DF	Chris McGrath
		DF	Kyle Egan (on loan from Exeter City)
		MF	Sean Downing
		MF	Ben Wood

No.		Position	Player
		MF	Matt Andrew
		MF	Matty Bye
		MF	Dan Western
		MF	Stephen Reed
		MF	Richard Groves
		MF	Matthew Hockley
		MF	Angus Wilson
		FW	Jamie Chamberlain
		FW	Kevin Squire
		FW	Billy Tucker
		FW	Joe Barker
		FW	Josh Johnson

Sponsorship

During the 2010/2011 season the first team were sponsored by Morrisons and in the 2011/2012 season by the Bideford & District Post, a local monthly newspaper; they are now sponsored by the Children's Hospice South West. The youth team has a number of clothing sponsors including Tesco and Sloman's removals.

Youth teams

At the start of the 2011/2012 season Bideford AFC launched 3 youth teams, an under 11s team, an under 13s team and an under 15s team. The youth teams play in the North Devon Youth League and train on the astro turf pitch at the nearby Bideford College.

Other teams

The club's reserve team plays in the Premier Division of the North Devon Football League. The Academy team (founded in 2014) competes in the North Devon League. There is also a ladies team which plays in the local Sunday league; the chairwoman, and manager, is Vanessa Saunders.

Club officials

President: Jimmy McElwee
Honorary vice-president: Kevin Keegan
Chairman: Roy Portch
Directors: Ian Knight & Kevin Tyrell
Commercial Manager: Darren Hollyoak
Media Manager: Liam Curtis

First team

First team manager: Sean Joyce
First team assistant manager: Rob Dray
General Manager Steve Massey
Physiotherapist: Tony Beal

Other teams

Reserve team manager: Dean Johns
Ladies team manager: Vanessa Saunders

Youth teams

Youth Chairman: Bob Lovelace
Vice Chairman / Team Manager: Quinton Davies
Youth Secretary: Neil Blackburn
Head Coach and Welfare Officer: Pete North
Bideford under 9s team coach : Gary Bedler
Bideford under 11s team coaches : Neil Armstrong and Craig Poole
Bideford under 13s team coach : Chris Smailes
Bideford under 15s team coach: Mark Floyd
Bideford under 18s team coach: Peter North

Commercial staff

Marketing consultant: Mike Lee
Football secretary: Kevin Tyrrell
Tannoy and announcer: Barry Weston
Assistant editor: Ron Ackland

Supporters' club

Chairman: Mike Bell
Vice-chairman: Michael Lee
Secretary: John Henderson
Treasurer: Raymond Taylor

Honours

League

Southern Football League Division One South & West^[6]
- Winners(1): 2011–12
Western League:^[4]
- Winners (9): 1963–64, 1970–71, 1971–72, 1981–82, 2001–02, 2003–04, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2009–10
- Runners-up (6): 1962–63, 1964–65, 1968–69, 1977–78, 1978–79, 1984–85
Western League Division Two:^[4]
- Winners (1): 1951–52
Western League Division Three: 1^[4]
- Winners (1):1949–50

Cups

Devon St Lukes Bowl:^[5]
- Winners (5): 1981–82, 1983–84, 1985–86, 1995–96, 2009–10
- Runners-up (3): 1986–87, 1993–94, 1994–95
Devon Professional Cup:
- Winners (8):1960–61, 1961–62, 1963–64, 1965–66, 1966–67, 1968–69, 1970–71, 1973–74
Western Football League Cup:^[8]^[9]
- Winners (4):1971–72, 1984–85, 2001–02, 2003–04
Western Football League Alan Young Cup:^[10]
- Winners (2): 1964–65, 1969–70

Records

Highest League Position:^[4] 1st in Southern League Division One South & West 2011–12
FA Cup best performance:^[4] First round 1964–65, 1973–74, 1977–78, 1981–82
FA Trophy best performance:^[4] Second round 1969–70
FA Vase best performance:^[4] Semi-Final 2003–04
Record home win: 16–1 v Soundwell, 1950–51
Record home loss: 1–10 v Taunton Townl, 1998–99
Record away win: 10–0 v Melksham, 2003–04
Record attendance: 5,975 v Gloucester City, FA Cup, 1949

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.

Season-by-season record

Season	Division	Position	Notes
1949–50	Western League Division Three	1	Champions
1950–51	Western League Division Two	3
1951–52	Western League Division Two	1	Champions
1952–53	Western League Division One	4
1953–54	Western League Division One	10
1954–55	Western League Division One	6
1955–56	Western League Division One	6
1956–57	Western League Division One	14
1957–58	Western League Division One	13
1958–59	Western League Division One	7
1959–60	Western League Division One	7
1960–61	Western League	16
1961–62	Western League	3
1962–63	Western League	2	Runner-Up
1963–64	Western League	1	Champions
1964–65	Western League	2	Runner-Up, FA Cup First Round
1965–66	Western League	3
1966–67	Western League	6
1967–68	Western League	14
1968–69	Western League	2	Runner-Up
1969–70	Western League	6
1970–71	Western League	1	Champions
1971–72	Western League	1	Champions. Joined Southern League
1972–73	Southern League Division One South	4
1973–74	Southern League Division One South	5	FA Cup First Round
1974–75	Southern League Division One South	18	Returned to Western League
1975–76	Western League	10
1976–77	Western League Premier Division	6
1977–78	Western League Premier Division	2	Runner-Up, FA Cup First Round
1978–79	Western League Premier Division	2	Runner-Up
1979–80	Western League Premier Division	10
1980–81	Western League Premier Division	5
1981–82	Western League Premier Division	1	Champions, FA Cup First Round
1982–83	Western League Premier Division	1	Champions
1983–84	Western League Premier Division	6
1984–85	Western League Premier Division	2	Runner-Up
1985–86	Western League Premier Division	3
1986–87	Western League Premier Division	6
1987–88	Western League Premier Division	10
1988–89	Western League Premier Division	16
1989–90	Western League Premier Division	16
1990–91	Western League Premier Division	12
1991–92	Western League Premier Division	4
1992–93	Western League Premier Division	14
1993–94	Western League Premier Division	9
1994–95	Western League Premier Division	15
1995–96	Western League Premier Division	6
1996–97	Western League Premier Division	12
1997–98	Western League Premier Division	13
1998–99	Western League Premier Division	17
1999–00	Western League Premier Division	13
2000–01	Western League Premier Division	5
2001–02	Western League Premier Division	1	Champions
2002–03	Western League Premier Division	3
2003–04	Western League Premier Division	1	Champions, FA Vase semi-finals
2004–05	Western League Premier Division	1	Champions
2005–06	Western League Premier Division	1	Champions
2006–07	Western League Premier Division	4
2007–08	Western League Premier Division	6
2008–09	Western League Premier Division	6
2009–10	Western League Premier Division	1	Champions, rejoined Southern League
2010–11	Southern League Division One South & West	10
2011–12	Southern League Division One South & West	1	Champions, promoted to Premier Division
2012–13	Southern League Premier Division	20
2013-4	Southern League Premier Division	10

References

↑ "The Sports Ground, Bideford". Soccerway. Global Sports Media. Retrieved 20 August 2011.
1 2 3 Published on Friday 9 January 2009 12:52 (2009-01-09). "Bideford's great western push – Sport". The Scarborough News. Retrieved 2012-07-30.
↑ Williams, John (2012-07-21). "Bideford A.F.C". Bideford A.F.C. Retrieved 2012-07-30.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 BIDEFORD at the Football Club History Database
1 2 "Football Club History Database – Devon County Cups". Fchd.info. Retrieved 2012-07-30.
1 2 "Taunton Town fall to defeat against new champions Bideford". This is Somerset. 2012-04-10. Retrieved 2012-07-30.
↑ "Bideford AFC Squad". Bideford A.F.C. Archived from the original on 21 November 2008. Retrieved 2008-11-04.
↑ "Western Football League Cup 1955–1988" (PDF). Western Football League. Retrieved 2013-01-06.
↑ "Western Football League Cup – Les Phillips cup 1989–present" (PDF). Western Football League. Retrieved 2013-01-06.
↑ "Western Football League Alan Young Cup Winners" (PDF). Western Football League. Retrieved 2013-01-07.
↑ http://www.neilbrown.newcastlefans.com/player4/briano%27neil.html

External links

Southern League

Premier Division	Bedworth United Bideford Biggleswade Town Cambridge City Chesham United Chippenham Town Cirencester Town Dorchester Town Dunstable Town Frome Town Histon Hitchin Town Hungerford Town Kettering Town King's Lynn Town Leamington Merthyr Town Paulton Rovers Poole Town Redditch United Slough Town St Neots Town Stratford Town Weymouth

Division One Central	AFC Rushden & Diamonds Arlesey Town Aylesbury Aylesbury United Barton Rovers Beaconsfield Town Bedford Town Chalfont St. Peter Egham Town Fleet Town Godalming Town Hanwell Town Kings Langley Leighton Town North Greenford United Northwood Petersfield Town Potters Bar Town Royston Town St Ives Town Uxbridge Ware

Division One South & West	AFC Totton Banbury United Bashley Bishop's Cleeve Bridgwater Town Burnham Cinderford Town Didcot Town Evesham United Larkhall Athletic Mangotsfield United Marlow North Leigh Shortwood United Slimbridge Swindon Supermarine Taunton Town Tiverton Town Wantage Town Wimborne Town Winchester City Yate Town

Seasons	1894–95 1895–96 1896–97 1897–98 1898–99 1899–1900 1900–01 1901–02 1902–03 1903–04 1904–05 1905–06 1906–07 1907–08 1908–09 1909–10 1910–11 1911–12 1912–13 1913–14 1914–15 1915–16 1916–17 1917–18 1918–19 1919–20 1920–21 1921–22 1922–23 1923–24 1924–25 1925–26 1926–27 1927–28 1928–29 1929–30 1930–31 1931–32 1932–33 1933–34 1934–35 1935–36 1936–37 1937–38 1938–39 1939–40 1940–41 1941–42 1942–43 1943–44 1944–45 1945–46 1946–47 1947–48 1948–49 1949–50 1950–51 1951–52 1952–53 1953–54 1954–55 1955–56 1956–57 1957–58 1958–59 1959–60 1960–61 1961–62 1962–63 1963–64 1964–65 1965–66 1966–67 1967–68 1968–69 1969–70 1970–71 1971–72 1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17

Coordinates: 51°1′18.840″N 4°12′31.410″W / 51.02190000°N 4.20872500°W / 51.02190000; -4.20872500

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