A.F.C. Newbury
Encyclopedia
A.F.C. Newbury were a football
club based in Newbury, Berkshire
, in England
. At their peak they were a strong force in the Wessex League
and had over 30 teams from seven years old through to veterans including junior teams, a senior squad, a ladies and several girls teams competing in national, regional and local football leagues and competitions throughout the year. However, it all came to an abrupt end in 2006 when the club lost their ground and financial backing.
and bring senior football back to Faraday Road.
The new club was formed from the resources of three local clubs - Ecchinswell
(founded 1906), Shaw Boys & Belles Juniors (established in 1972) and Wickham U17 Youth Team.
Prior to this, Ecchinswell
had a long history playing in the North Hants League
and Basingstoke League. In 1991 they were elected to the reformed Division 3 of the Hampshire League
and after a slow start their fortunes dramatically took off when they won the Division 2 and Division 1 titles in 1993/94 and 1994/95 seasons. However they were unable to progress further due to the lack of facilities at their ground so upon formation of AFC Newbury they became the new club's 1st Team.
status after finishing runners-up in 1996/97 and winning the League Cup - defeating run-away league champions Moneyfields
2-0 in the final.
Upon joining the Wessex League
the club soon became a strong force, twice finishing 3rd and regularly found towards the top of the table in what was a tough league. After finishing 3rd in 1998/99 the club applied for promotion to the Southern League
but were unsuccessful.
The club continued to thrive with a Reserve team competing in the Combination of the Wessex League
, winning the Combination Cup in 2002/03. The U18's Youth Team played in the Allied Counties Youth League with the extensive range of Junior boys and girls teams played in the Peter Houseman League, the South Chiltern Minor League, the Bracknell League and the Vale and District League.
AFC Newbury also enjoyed numerous cup runs in the national competitions, especially in the 2004/05 season. Firstly they reached the 3rd Qualifying Round of the FA Cup (equaling the record set by the original club) where, after famously beating Conference South neighbours Basingstoke Town they lost 0-2 away to another Conference South side Bognor Regis Town. Later that same season the club reached the Quarter Finals of the FA Vase
(again equalling the record set by the original club) but here they went down 1-2 away to Bedlington Terriers.
Sadly, the bubble seemed to burst in 2005 when after the loss of their main financial backer the club lost many key personnel, and like their predecessors Newbury Town
endured numerous problems with their home ground.
, the penniless club struggled to attract good quality players and after a slow start they withdrew from the competition in October 2006.
The actual club itself did not fold however, as their numerous Youth sides continued to operate in their respective competitions.
. In 2007/08 they won promotion to Division 1 East of the Hellenic League
. They have since taken the previous club's Youth sides under their umbrella and are ambitious to progress further.
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
club based in Newbury, Berkshire
Newbury, Berkshire
Newbury is a civil parish and the principal town in the west of the county of Berkshire in England. It is situated on the River Kennet and the Kennet and Avon Canal, and has a town centre containing many 17th century buildings. Newbury is best known for its racecourse and the adjoining former USAF...
, in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. At their peak they were a strong force in the Wessex League
Wessex League
The Wessex League is an English association football league formed in 1986, with its premier division currently at the fifth step of the National League System, or the ninth tier of the overall English football league system...
and had over 30 teams from seven years old through to veterans including junior teams, a senior squad, a ladies and several girls teams competing in national, regional and local football leagues and competitions throughout the year. However, it all came to an abrupt end in 2006 when the club lost their ground and financial backing.
Formation
AFC Newbury were formed in 1996 to replace the now defunct Newbury TownNewbury Town F.C.
Newbury Town F.C. is a now-defunct football club based in Newbury, England. They won the Hellenic League title two times in their history. They also won the Isthmian League Division Two in 1994, but ceased to exist just before the start of the 1995–96 season...
and bring senior football back to Faraday Road.
The new club was formed from the resources of three local clubs - Ecchinswell
Ecchinswell
Ecchinswell is a village in the civil parish of Ecchinswell, Sydmonton and Bishops Green in the English county of Hampshire.-Geography:Watership Down, location of the famous Richard Adams' novel of the same name, is just South of Ecchinswell. Ladle Hill on Great Litchfield Down, also lies to the...
(founded 1906), Shaw Boys & Belles Juniors (established in 1972) and Wickham U17 Youth Team.
Prior to this, Ecchinswell
Ecchinswell
Ecchinswell is a village in the civil parish of Ecchinswell, Sydmonton and Bishops Green in the English county of Hampshire.-Geography:Watership Down, location of the famous Richard Adams' novel of the same name, is just South of Ecchinswell. Ladle Hill on Great Litchfield Down, also lies to the...
had a long history playing in the North Hants League
North Hants League
The North Hants Senior League was a football competition based in England. Founded in 1969, it was for the majority of existence a single division competition that fed into the Hampshire League. In turn, it was fed by the Andover and District League, the Winchester and District League, and the...
and Basingstoke League. In 1991 they were elected to the reformed Division 3 of the Hampshire League
Hampshire League
Hampshire League is a name used for two distinct football competitions based in Hampshire, England. There are two leagues; Hampshire Premier Football League named 'Puma Engineering Hampshire Premier Football League' for sponsor purposes and the division below which is the Hampshire League 2004 or...
and after a slow start their fortunes dramatically took off when they won the Division 2 and Division 1 titles in 1993/94 and 1994/95 seasons. However they were unable to progress further due to the lack of facilities at their ground so upon formation of AFC Newbury they became the new club's 1st Team.
Wessex League
The 1st Team quickly achieved Wessex LeagueWessex League
The Wessex League is an English association football league formed in 1986, with its premier division currently at the fifth step of the National League System, or the ninth tier of the overall English football league system...
status after finishing runners-up in 1996/97 and winning the League Cup - defeating run-away league champions Moneyfields
Moneyfields F.C.
Moneyfields F.C. is a football club based in Portsmouth, England. Formerly known as Portsmouth Civil Service F.C., they changed their name to Moneyfields F.C. in 1994. They have reached the third round of the FA Vase four times in their history. In 1997, they were the champions of the Hampshire...
2-0 in the final.
Upon joining the Wessex League
Wessex League
The Wessex League is an English association football league formed in 1986, with its premier division currently at the fifth step of the National League System, or the ninth tier of the overall English football league system...
the club soon became a strong force, twice finishing 3rd and regularly found towards the top of the table in what was a tough league. After finishing 3rd in 1998/99 the club applied for promotion to the Southern League
Southern Football League
The Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales...
but were unsuccessful.
The club continued to thrive with a Reserve team competing in the Combination of the Wessex League
Wessex League
The Wessex League is an English association football league formed in 1986, with its premier division currently at the fifth step of the National League System, or the ninth tier of the overall English football league system...
, winning the Combination Cup in 2002/03. The U18's Youth Team played in the Allied Counties Youth League with the extensive range of Junior boys and girls teams played in the Peter Houseman League, the South Chiltern Minor League, the Bracknell League and the Vale and District League.
AFC Newbury also enjoyed numerous cup runs in the national competitions, especially in the 2004/05 season. Firstly they reached the 3rd Qualifying Round of the FA Cup (equaling the record set by the original club) where, after famously beating Conference South neighbours Basingstoke Town they lost 0-2 away to another Conference South side Bognor Regis Town. Later that same season the club reached the Quarter Finals of the FA Vase
FA Vase
The Football Association Challenge Vase is an annual football competition for teams playing below Step 4 of the English National League System...
(again equalling the record set by the original club) but here they went down 1-2 away to Bedlington Terriers.
Sadly, the bubble seemed to burst in 2005 when after the loss of their main financial backer the club lost many key personnel, and like their predecessors Newbury Town
Newbury Town F.C.
Newbury Town F.C. is a now-defunct football club based in Newbury, England. They won the Hellenic League title two times in their history. They also won the Isthmian League Division Two in 1994, but ceased to exist just before the start of the 1995–96 season...
endured numerous problems with their home ground.
Demise
After a tough season in 2005/06 which saw relegation narrowly avoided and the Reserve side disbanded, disaster struck the club when they lost the lease on the Faraday Road ground and as a result were demoted to the Wessex League's bottom division. Now playing at St. Bartholomew's SchoolSt. Bartholomew's School
St Bartholomew's School is a co-educational comprehensive school founded in 1466 in Newbury, Berkshire in the United Kingdom. It accepts students aged 11–18 and currently has approximately 1,600 students on roll including a sixth form of around 400...
, the penniless club struggled to attract good quality players and after a slow start they withdrew from the competition in October 2006.
The actual club itself did not fold however, as their numerous Youth sides continued to operate in their respective competitions.
Successor club
Fortunately, football still continues at Faraday Road today as upon taking up residence in 2006, Reading League side Old London Apprentice changed their name to NewburyNewbury F.C.
Newbury F.C. are a football club based in Newbury, Berkshire, England. Newbury was originally formed in 2002 as the Saturday side for A.F.C. Newbury and entered into the Reading League Division 4, winning it in its debut season...
. In 2007/08 they won promotion to Division 1 East of the Hellenic League
Hellenic Football League
The Hellenic Football League is an English football league covering an area including the English counties of Berkshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, southern Buckinghamshire, southern Herefordshire, western Greater London, and northern Wiltshire. There is also one team from Hampshire.The league...
. They have since taken the previous club's Youth sides under their umbrella and are ambitious to progress further.
Notable former players
- Theo WalcottTheo WalcottTheo James Walcott is an English footballer of Jamaican descent who plays for Arsenal and the England national team. Walcott is a product of the Southampton F.C. Academy. He is a striker who is usually deployed on the right wing as a wide forward to exploit his speed...
- Tony RaeTony RaeAnthony James Morell Rae AM was an Australian-born headmaster of a GPS School and chairman of the Headmasters' Conference of the Independent Schools of Australia.-Early life:...
- Former PortsmouthPortsmouth F.C.Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from...
striker, Guy WhittinghamGuy WhittinghamGuy Whittingham is a retired professional footballer with over 450 appearances for a number of English clubs, after leaving the British Army. He is currently serving as joint caretaker manager of Portsmouth together with Stuart Gray...
, served as player-manager during the memorable 2004/05 season. - Jordan Ellis