Bowers & Pitsea F.C.
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| Full name | Bowers & Pitsea Football Club | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2003 | ||
| Ground | Len Salmon Stadium, Pitsea | ||
| Capacity | 2,000 (200 seated)[1] | ||
| Chairman | Barry Hubbard | ||
| Manager | Rob Small | ||
| League | Isthmian League Division One North | ||
| 2015–16 | Essex Senior League, 1st | ||
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Bowers & Pitsea Football Club is an English football club based in Pitsea, Essex. The club are currently members of the Essex Senior League and play at the Len Salmon Stadium.
History
Bowers United were established by Bert Salmon in 1946 and initially played in the Thurrock and Thameside Combination.[2] The club won the league in 1958–59, and became founder members of the Essex Olympian League in 1966.[3] In 1974 the club moved up to the Essex Senior League, which they won in 1980–81. In 1998–99 the club won the league for the second time, also winning the League Cup.[2]
Pitsea Young People's Club were formed in 1970 and despite having an average age of 15, joined Division Three of the adult Vange and District Sunday League. At the end of their first season the club was renamed Pitsea F.C., and were gradually promoted to the top division of the league. In 1975 the club switched to the Basildon Sunday League, reaching the top division in 1981.[2] The club won the league treble in 1994–95 and 1995–96, and the league and cup double in 1996–97.[2]
In 2003–04 the clubs merged to form Bowers & Pitsea.
Bowers & Pitsea reached the semi-final of the 2015–16 FA Vase, however their chances of reaching Wembley Stadium ended after a 4–3 aggregate loss to Morpeth Town.[4]
Also in 2015-16 Bowers & Pitsea finally gained promotion to The Ryman League Division One North after winning Essex Senior League and piping local rivals Basildon United to the League Title.
Ground
The club were originally based at what later became Pitsea Market, before moving to Gun Meadow. When the A13 was built, the Gun Meadow ground was subject to a compulsory purchase order, resulting in the club moving to its current home on Crown Avenue.[2]
Honours
- Essex Senior League
- Champions: 1980–81, 1998–99, 2015-16
- Runners up: 2014–15
- Challenge Cup winners: 1981–82, 1998–99, 2014–15
- Thurrock & Thameside Combination League
- Champions: 1958–59
Records
- Attendance: 1,800 vs Billericay Town, FA Vase
References
- ↑ Mike Williams & Tony Williams (2012) Non-League Club Directory 2013, p657 ISBN 978-1-869833-77-0
- 1 2 3 4 5 History Bowers & Pitsea
- ↑ Bowers United at the Football Club History Database
- ↑ "Late heartbreak for Bowers & Pitsea as Morpeth Town book FA Vase final spot". The Echo. 19 March 2016. Retrieved 25 March 2016.
External links
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Coordinates: 51°34′26.558″N 0°31′5.160″E / 51.57404389°N 0.51810000°E