Biggleswade Town F.C.

Biggleswade Town
Full name Biggleswade Town Football Club
Nickname(s) The Waders
Founded 1874
Ground Carlsberg Stadium, Biggleswade
Ground Capacity 3,000 (300 seated)
Chairman Maurice Dorrington
Manager Chris Nunn
League Southern League
Premier Division
2015–16 Southern League
Premier Division, 14th
Website [www.biggleswadetownfc.co.uk Club home page]

Biggleswade Town F.C. is an English football club based in Biggleswade, Bedfordshire. The club are currently members of the Premier Division of the Southern League and play at the Carlsberg Stadium.

History

The club were established in 1874 as Biggleswade. The club originally played at the Fairfield Road ground, which was shared with a local cricket club, and played only friendlies and cup matches until the late 1890s.[1] In 1902 they were founder members of the Biggleswade and District League, and were its first champions, also winning the Bedfordshire Senior Cup that year. The club went onto win the league twice more before World War I, also playing in the Bedford & District League between 1909 and 1912.[1]

The Main Stand, July 2015

In 1920 the club joined the Northamptonshire League, which became the United Counties League in 1934, and won the Bedfordshire Premier Cup in 1922–23 and 1927–28.[2] After World War II the club adopted its current name and joined the Spartan League in 1945. They returned to the UCL in 1951, before switching to the Eastern Counties League in 1955. During their time in the ECL they set the record for biggest away win with a 12–0 victory over Newmarket Town. In 1963 they returned to the UCL due to the increasing transport costs.[1] In 1975–76 they finished bottom of the Premier Division, and were relegated.

In 1980 they joined the Premier Division of the South Midlands League.[3] They were relegated to Division One in 1983, but were promoted back to the Premier Division in 1987. When the Spartan and South Midlands leagues merged to form the Spartan South Midlands League in 1997 the club were placed in the Premier Division North. The following season they were placed in the Senior Division, and after finishing fifth, were promoted to the Premier Division.

In 2006 the club left their Fairfield Road ground and groundshared with Bedford United & Valerio whilst a new ground was built on Langford Road, known as the Carlsberg Stadium. In 2007–08 they won the Bedfordshire Premier Cup for a third time, beating Luton Town 3–2 in the final. The following season they won the league title, earning promotion to Division One Midlands of the Southern League.

As of the 2012–13 season the club established a reserve side under the name of " AFC Biggleswade & Academy ", who began their first season playing in the Bedfordshire County Football League Premier Division.[4]

The 2012–13 season saw The Waders finish in fourth and a place in the play-offs, where they beat Rugby Town 3–1 to secure promotion[5] to the Evo-Stik Southern League Premier.

Seasons

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.
Year League Lvl Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Position Leading league scorer FA Cup FA Trophy Average home
attendance
Name Goals Res Rec Res Rec
2004–05 Spartan South Midlands League
Premier Division
9 38 15 5 18 61 72 −11 50 10th of 20 - -
2005–06 Spartan South Midlands League
Premier Division
9 38 11 8 19 52 74 −22 41 15th of 20 - -
2006–07 Spartan South Midlands League
Premier Division
9 40 11 6 23 47 73 −26 39 18th of 21 - -
2007–08 Spartan South Midlands League
Premier Division
9 42 28 5 9 93 51 +42 89 3rd of 22 EPR 0–0–1 -
2008–09 Spartan South Midlands League
Premier Division
9 40 27 4 9 100 41 +59 85 1st of 21
Promoted
EPR 0–0–1 -
2009–10 Southern Football League
Division One Midlands
8 42 14 13 15 56 63 −7 55 12th of 22 PR 0–0–1 QR1 1–2–0
2010–11 Southern Football League
Division One Central
8 42 24 9 9 89 51 +38 81 4th of 22
Lost in playoff semifinal
QR1 1–1–1 QR1 1–1–1
2011–12 Southern Football League
Division One Central
8 42 19 7 16 75 54 +21 64 8th of 22 QR2 2–2–1 QR1 1–0–1
2012–13 Southern Football League
Division One Central
8 42 26 7 9 97 50 +47 85 4th of 22
Promoted through playoffs
QR1 1–0–1 PR 0–1–1
2013–14 Southern Football League
Premier Division
7 44 16 16 12 85 61 +24 64 9th of 23 Sam Reed 18 R1 4–1–1 QR1 0–0–1 198
2014–15 Southern Football League
Premier Division
7 44 11 12 21 57 75 −18 45 19th of 23 Kelvin Bossman 11 QR3 2–1–1 QR2 1–1–1 161
2015–16 Southern Football League
Premier Division
7 46 17 9 20 76 82 −6 60 14th of 24 Inih Effiong 15 QR2 1–1–1 QR1 0–0–1 184

Stadium

The Carlsberg Stadium was opened for the start of the 2008–9 season, and has an official capacity of 3,000 people, with the grandstand currently containing seating for 300 spectators. The ground also has 6 floodlighting columns. The Carlsberg Stadium is located on the outskirts of Biggleswade on Langford Road. The turnstiles at the ground were once used at Sheffield United's Bramall Lane ground. The ground has a sportsbar on its premises for the use of spectators at games and is also available for other functions. Also on site are a number of all weather artificial pitches which the club also offers for hire. The first game to take place at the new stadium took place on 13 August 2008 between Biggleswade Town and Hertford Town, with Biggleswade Town winning 1–0.[6]

Current squad

as of 18 November 2013

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

No. Position Player
England GK Ian Brown
England GK Alexander Taylor
England DF Mark Coulson
England DF Ross Dedman
England DF Steven Gentle (captain)
England DF Daniel Harper
England DF Andrew Iwediuno
England DF Cameron Mawer
England DF Max York
England MF Lee Allinson
England DF George Bates
No. Position Player
England MF Craig Daniel
England MF Evan Key
England MF Callum Lewis
England MF Lee Reed
Republic of Ireland MF George Smith
England MF Alex Witham
England MF Jonathan Woolf
Ghana FW Shabazz Baidoo
England FW Brett Donnelly
England FW Harry Orr
England FW Sam Reed

Management and Coaching Staff

[7]

Honours

References

  1. 1 2 3 Blakeman, M (2010) The Official History of the Eastern Counties Football League 1935–2010, Volume II ISBN 978-1-908037-02-2
  2. Club honours Biggleswade Town FC
  3. Biggleswade Town at the Football Club History Database
  4. Academy Biggleswade Town FC
  5. "Biggleswade Win Promotion To Southern Premier". 6 May 2013.
  6. Picture Tour Biggleswade Town FC
  7. First Team Biggleswade Town FC

External links

Coordinates: 52°04′36.61″N 0°16′0.95″W / 52.0768361°N 0.2669306°W / 52.0768361; -0.2669306

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