Bideford AFC
Encyclopedia
Bideford A.F.C. is an English
non-league football club from Bideford
, Devon
that plays in the Southern Football League
. Managed by Sean Joyce
, they are one of the top sides in the division. 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.
Bideford won the Western League three times before joining the Southern League
in 1972. The club spent three seasons at that level before the expense involved and increased travelling took its toll, and they had to drop down back to the Western League. During their Southern League days, the club set an all-time FA Cup
record, when in 1974-75 they played thirteen FA Cup games in a single season - they faced numerous replays in qualifying rounds including needing five games to beat Falmouth Town and four more to beat Trowbridge Town
in the next round. With the subsequent abandonment of second and further replays, this record is likely to stand for a very long time. Two more Western League titles followed in the early 1980s, before a financial crisis hit the club. There was doubt that the club would be able to continue, but a re-formation took place in 1987 leading to the current setup, a company limited by guarantee
, under the revised company name Bideford AFC (1987) Ltd.
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
.
Several players from the club have progressed to Football League status, the most recent of them being Tony Dennis and Shaun Taylor
. Two former internationals have played for the club at the end of their career, Welshman Leighton Phillips
, and Dermot Curtis
from the Republic of Ireland.
Coaching staff
Commercial staff
Supporters' club
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...
non-league football club from Bideford
Bideford
Bideford is a small port town on the estuary of the River Torridge in north Devon, south-west England. It is also the main town of the Torridge local government district.-History:...
, Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
that plays in the Southern Football 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...
. Managed by Sean Joyce
Sean Joyce
Sean William Joyce is an English former professional footballer who made 200 appearances in the Football League playing for Doncaster Rovers, Exeter City and Torquay United...
, they are one of the top sides in the division. 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.
History
Founded in 1946, the club played three seasons in the Exeter & East Devon League before joining the Western League in 1949. Bideford had a request to be elected to the Second Division denied, and had to play in the Third Division instead. This was the only season the Western League ran a Third Division, and Bideford won it without losing a game. Two seasons later they also won Division Two, and so took their place in Division One.Bideford won the Western League three times before joining 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...
in 1972. The club spent three seasons at that level before the expense involved and increased travelling took its toll, and they had to drop down back to the Western League. During their Southern League days, the club set an all-time FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
record, when in 1974-75 they played thirteen FA Cup games in a single season - they faced numerous replays in qualifying rounds including needing five games to beat Falmouth Town and four more to beat Trowbridge Town
Trowbridge Town F.C.
Trowbridge Town F.C. are a football club based in Trowbridge, Wiltshire, England, and they play at Woodmarsh on the southern edge of the town. They are currently members of the Hellenic Football League Division One West.-History:...
in the next round. With the subsequent abandonment of second and further replays, this record is likely to stand for a very long time. Two more Western League titles followed in the early 1980s, before a financial crisis hit the club. There was doubt that the club would be able to continue, but a re-formation took place in 1987 leading to the current setup, a company limited by guarantee
Company limited by guarantee
In British and Irish company law, a private company limited by guarantee is an alternative type of corporation used primarily for non-profit organisations that require legal personality. A guarantee company does not usually have a share capital or shareholders, but instead has members who act as...
, under the revised company name Bideford AFC (1987) Ltd.
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
FA Vase
The Football Association Challenge Vase is an annual football competition for teams playing below Step 4 of the English National League System...
semi-finals, where they lost to Winchester City
Winchester City F.C.
Winchester City Football Club are an English football team based in Winchester, Hampshire and playing in the Wessex League Premier Division. The team is currently managed by Guy Butters and their motto is "Many in Men, One in Spirit",-History:...
.
Several players from the club have progressed to Football League status, the most recent of them being Tony Dennis and Shaun Taylor
Shaun Taylor
Shaun Taylor is an English former professional footballer who made more than 500 appearances in the Football League and Premier League, playing for Exeter City, Swindon Town and Bristol City.Taylor was born in Plymouth...
. Two former internationals have played for the club at the end of their career, Welshman Leighton Phillips
Leighton Phillips
Leighton Phillips is a Welsh former professional football player. During his career, he made over 450 appearances in The Football League during spells with Cardiff City, Aston Villa, Swansea City, Charlton Athletic and Exeter City and won 58 caps for Wales.-Club career:A Welsh schoolboy...
, and Dermot Curtis
Dermot Curtis
Dermot Curtis was a former Irish international footballer. He represented his country 17 times, playing at centre-forward.Curtis was playing in the League of Ireland for Shelbourne when he first hit the headlines...
from the Republic of Ireland.
First-team squad
According to the official site.Club officials
- President: Ron Ackland
- Honorary vice-president: Kevin Keegan
- Chairman: Roy Portch
- Directors: Ian Knight& Kevin Tyrell
Coaching staff
- First team manager: Sean JoyceSean JoyceSean William Joyce is an English former professional footballer who made 200 appearances in the Football League playing for Doncaster Rovers, Exeter City and Torquay United...
- Reserve team manager: Neil Hole
- Reserve team assistant manager: Chris White
- Ladies team manager: Vanessa Saunders
- Physiotherapist: Tony Beal
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
League
- Western LeagueWestern Football LeagueThe Western Football League is a football league in the south west of England, covering Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, western Dorset, parts of Gloucestershire and Wiltshire and parts of South Wales...
: 9- 1963–64, 1970–71, 1971–72, 1981–82, 2001–02, 2003–04, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2009–10
- Western League Division TwoWestern Football LeagueThe Western Football League is a football league in the south west of England, covering Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, western Dorset, parts of Gloucestershire and Wiltshire and parts of South Wales...
: 1- 1951–52
- Western League Division ThreeWestern Football LeagueThe Western Football League is a football league in the south west of England, covering Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, western Dorset, parts of Gloucestershire and Wiltshire and parts of South Wales...
: 1- 1949–50
Cups
- Devon St Lukes Bowl: 5
- 1981–82, 1983–84, 1985–86, 1995–96, 2009–10
- Devon Professional Cup: 8
- 1960–61, 1961–62, 1963–64, 1965–66, 1966–67, 1968–69, 1970–71, 1973–74
- Western League Cup: 5
- 1971–72, 1984–85, 2001–02, 2003–04, 2004–05
Records
- Record home win: 16–1 v SoundwellSoundwell F.C.Soundwell Football Club was an association football club who played in Soundwell, near Bristol. The club is now defunuct, but competed in the Western League and the FA Cup in the 1940s and 1950s....
, 1950–51 - Record away win: 10–0 v MelkshamMelksham Town F.C.Melksham Town F.C. are a football club based in Melksham, Wiltshire, England. They were established in 1876 and joined the Western Football League in 1974....
, 2003–04 - Record attendance: 5,975 v Gloucester City, FA CupFA CupThe Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
, 1949
Season-by-season record
| Season | Division | Position | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1949-50 | Western League Western Football League The Western Football League is a football league in the south west of England, covering Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, western Dorset, parts of Gloucestershire and Wiltshire and parts of South Wales... Division Three |
1 | Champions |
| 1950-51 | Western League Western Football League The Western Football League is a football league in the south west of England, covering Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, western Dorset, parts of Gloucestershire and Wiltshire and parts of South Wales... Division Two |
3 | |
| 1951-52 | Western League Western Football League The Western Football League is a football league in the south west of England, covering Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, western Dorset, parts of Gloucestershire and Wiltshire and parts of South Wales... Division Two |
1 | Champions |
| 1952-53 | Western League Western Football League The Western Football League is a football league in the south west of England, covering Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, western Dorset, parts of Gloucestershire and Wiltshire and parts of South Wales... Division One |
4 | |
| 1953-54 | Western League Western Football League The Western Football League is a football league in the south west of England, covering Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, western Dorset, parts of Gloucestershire and Wiltshire and parts of South Wales... Division One |
10 | |
| 1954-55 | Western League Western Football League The Western Football League is a football league in the south west of England, covering Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, western Dorset, parts of Gloucestershire and Wiltshire and parts of South Wales... Division One |
6 | |
| 1955-56 | Western League Western Football League The Western Football League is a football league in the south west of England, covering Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, western Dorset, parts of Gloucestershire and Wiltshire and parts of South Wales... Division One |
6 | |
| 1956-57 | Western League Western Football League The Western Football League is a football league in the south west of England, covering Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, western Dorset, parts of Gloucestershire and Wiltshire and parts of South Wales... Division One |
14 | |
| 1957-58 | Western League Western Football League The Western Football League is a football league in the south west of England, covering Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, western Dorset, parts of Gloucestershire and Wiltshire and parts of South Wales... Division One |
13 | |
| 1958-59 | Western League Western Football League The Western Football League is a football league in the south west of England, covering Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, western Dorset, parts of Gloucestershire and Wiltshire and parts of South Wales... Division One |
7 | |
| 1959-60 | Western League Western Football League The Western Football League is a football league in the south west of England, covering Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, western Dorset, parts of Gloucestershire and Wiltshire and parts of South Wales... Division One |
7 | |
| 1960-61 | Western League Western Football League The Western Football League is a football league in the south west of England, covering Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, western Dorset, parts of Gloucestershire and Wiltshire and parts of South Wales... |
16 | |
| 1961-62 | Western League Western Football League The Western Football League is a football league in the south west of England, covering Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, western Dorset, parts of Gloucestershire and Wiltshire and parts of South Wales... |
3 | |
| 1962-63 | Western League Western Football League The Western Football League is a football league in the south west of England, covering Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, western Dorset, parts of Gloucestershire and Wiltshire and parts of South Wales... |
2 | Runner-Up |
| 1963-64 | Western League Western Football League The Western Football League is a football league in the south west of England, covering Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, western Dorset, parts of Gloucestershire and Wiltshire and parts of South Wales... |
1 | Champions |
| 1964-65 | Western League Western Football League The Western Football League is a football league in the south west of England, covering Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, western Dorset, parts of Gloucestershire and Wiltshire and parts of South Wales... |
2 | Runner-Up, FA Cup FA Cup The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's... First Round |
| 1965-66 | Western League Western Football League The Western Football League is a football league in the south west of England, covering Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, western Dorset, parts of Gloucestershire and Wiltshire and parts of South Wales... |
3 | |
| 1966-67 | Western League Western Football League The Western Football League is a football league in the south west of England, covering Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, western Dorset, parts of Gloucestershire and Wiltshire and parts of South Wales... |
6 | |
| 1967-68 | Western League Western Football League The Western Football League is a football league in the south west of England, covering Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, western Dorset, parts of Gloucestershire and Wiltshire and parts of South Wales... |
14 | |
| 1968-69 | Western League Western Football League The Western Football League is a football league in the south west of England, covering Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, western Dorset, parts of Gloucestershire and Wiltshire and parts of South Wales... |
2 | Runner-Up |
| 1969-70 | Western League Western Football League The Western Football League is a football league in the south west of England, covering Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, western Dorset, parts of Gloucestershire and Wiltshire and parts of South Wales... |
6 | |
| 1970-71 | Western League Western Football League The Western Football League is a football league in the south west of England, covering Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, western Dorset, parts of Gloucestershire and Wiltshire and parts of South Wales... |
1 | Champions |
| 1971-72 | Western League Western Football League The Western Football League is a football league in the south west of England, covering Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, western Dorset, parts of Gloucestershire and Wiltshire and parts of South Wales... |
1 | Champions. Joined 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... |
| 1972-73 | 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... Division One South |
4 | |
| 1973-74 | 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... Division One South |
5 | FA Cup FA Cup The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's... First Round |
| 1974-75 | 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... Division One South |
18 | Returned to Western League Western Football League The Western Football League is a football league in the south west of England, covering Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, western Dorset, parts of Gloucestershire and Wiltshire and parts of South Wales... |
| 1975-76 | Western League Western Football League The Western Football League is a football league in the south west of England, covering Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, western Dorset, parts of Gloucestershire and Wiltshire and parts of South Wales... |
10 | |
| 1976-77 | Western League Western Football League The Western Football League is a football league in the south west of England, covering Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, western Dorset, parts of Gloucestershire and Wiltshire and parts of South Wales... Premier Division |
6 | |
| 1977-78 | Western League Western Football League The Western Football League is a football league in the south west of England, covering Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, western Dorset, parts of Gloucestershire and Wiltshire and parts of South Wales... Premier Division |
2 | Runner-Up, FA Cup FA Cup The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's... First Round |
| 1978-79 | Western League Western Football League The Western Football League is a football league in the south west of England, covering Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, western Dorset, parts of Gloucestershire and Wiltshire and parts of South Wales... Premier Division |
2 | Runner-Up |
| 1979-80 | Western League Western Football League The Western Football League is a football league in the south west of England, covering Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, western Dorset, parts of Gloucestershire and Wiltshire and parts of South Wales... Premier Division |
10 | |
| 1980-81 | Western League Western Football League The Western Football League is a football league in the south west of England, covering Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, western Dorset, parts of Gloucestershire and Wiltshire and parts of South Wales... Premier Division |
5 | |
| 1981-82 | Western League Western Football League The Western Football League is a football league in the south west of England, covering Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, western Dorset, parts of Gloucestershire and Wiltshire and parts of South Wales... Premier Division |
1 | Champions, FA Cup FA Cup The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's... First Round |
| 1982-83 | Western League Western Football League The Western Football League is a football league in the south west of England, covering Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, western Dorset, parts of Gloucestershire and Wiltshire and parts of South Wales... Premier Division |
1 | Champions |
| 1983-84 | Western League Western Football League The Western Football League is a football league in the south west of England, covering Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, western Dorset, parts of Gloucestershire and Wiltshire and parts of South Wales... Premier Division |
6 | |
| 1984-85 | Western League Western Football League The Western Football League is a football league in the south west of England, covering Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, western Dorset, parts of Gloucestershire and Wiltshire and parts of South Wales... Premier Division |
2 | Runner-Up |
| 1985-86 | Western League Western Football League The Western Football League is a football league in the south west of England, covering Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, western Dorset, parts of Gloucestershire and Wiltshire and parts of South Wales... Premier Division |
3 | |
| 1986-87 | Western League Western Football League The Western Football League is a football league in the south west of England, covering Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, western Dorset, parts of Gloucestershire and Wiltshire and parts of South Wales... Premier Division |
6 | |
| 1987-88 | Western League Western Football League The Western Football League is a football league in the south west of England, covering Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, western Dorset, parts of Gloucestershire and Wiltshire and parts of South Wales... Premier Division |
10 | |
| 1988-89 | Western League Western Football League The Western Football League is a football league in the south west of England, covering Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, western Dorset, parts of Gloucestershire and Wiltshire and parts of South Wales... Premier Division |
16 | |
| 1989-90 | Western League Western Football League The Western Football League is a football league in the south west of England, covering Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, western Dorset, parts of Gloucestershire and Wiltshire and parts of South Wales... Premier Division |
16 | |
| 1990-91 | Western League Western Football League The Western Football League is a football league in the south west of England, covering Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, western Dorset, parts of Gloucestershire and Wiltshire and parts of South Wales... Premier Division |
12 | |
| 1991-92 | Western League Western Football League The Western Football League is a football league in the south west of England, covering Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, western Dorset, parts of Gloucestershire and Wiltshire and parts of South Wales... Premier Division |
4 | |
| 1992-93 | Western League Western Football League The Western Football League is a football league in the south west of England, covering Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, western Dorset, parts of Gloucestershire and Wiltshire and parts of South Wales... Premier Division |
14 | |
| 1993-94 | Western League Western Football League The Western Football League is a football league in the south west of England, covering Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, western Dorset, parts of Gloucestershire and Wiltshire and parts of South Wales... Premier Division |
9 | |
| 1994-95 | Western League Western Football League The Western Football League is a football league in the south west of England, covering Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, western Dorset, parts of Gloucestershire and Wiltshire and parts of South Wales... Premier Division |
15 | |
| 1995-96 | Western League Western Football League The Western Football League is a football league in the south west of England, covering Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, western Dorset, parts of Gloucestershire and Wiltshire and parts of South Wales... Premier Division |
6 | |
| 1996-97 | Western League Western Football League The Western Football League is a football league in the south west of England, covering Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, western Dorset, parts of Gloucestershire and Wiltshire and parts of South Wales... Premier Division |
12 | |
| 1997-98 | Western League Western Football League The Western Football League is a football league in the south west of England, covering Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, western Dorset, parts of Gloucestershire and Wiltshire and parts of South Wales... Premier Division |
13 | |
| 1998-99 | Western League Western Football League The Western Football League is a football league in the south west of England, covering Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, western Dorset, parts of Gloucestershire and Wiltshire and parts of South Wales... Premier Division |
17 | |
| 1999-00 | Western League Western Football League The Western Football League is a football league in the south west of England, covering Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, western Dorset, parts of Gloucestershire and Wiltshire and parts of South Wales... Premier Division |
13 | |
| 2000-01 | Western League Western Football League The Western Football League is a football league in the south west of England, covering Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, western Dorset, parts of Gloucestershire and Wiltshire and parts of South Wales... Premier Division |
5 | |
| 2001-02 | Western League Western Football League The Western Football League is a football league in the south west of England, covering Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, western Dorset, parts of Gloucestershire and Wiltshire and parts of South Wales... Premier Division |
1 | Champions |
| 2002-03 | Western League Western Football League The Western Football League is a football league in the south west of England, covering Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, western Dorset, parts of Gloucestershire and Wiltshire and parts of South Wales... Premier Division |
3 | |
| 2003-04 | Western League Western Football League The Western Football League is a football league in the south west of England, covering Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, western Dorset, parts of Gloucestershire and Wiltshire and parts of South Wales... Premier Division |
1 | Champions, 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... semi-finals |
| 2004-05 | Western League Western Football League The Western Football League is a football league in the south west of England, covering Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, western Dorset, parts of Gloucestershire and Wiltshire and parts of South Wales... Premier Division |
1 | Champions |
| 2005-06 | Western League Western Football League The Western Football League is a football league in the south west of England, covering Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, western Dorset, parts of Gloucestershire and Wiltshire and parts of South Wales... Premier Division |
1 | Champions |
| 2006-07 | Western League Western Football League The Western Football League is a football league in the south west of England, covering Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, western Dorset, parts of Gloucestershire and Wiltshire and parts of South Wales... Premier Division |
4 | |
| 2007-08 | Western League Western Football League The Western Football League is a football league in the south west of England, covering Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, western Dorset, parts of Gloucestershire and Wiltshire and parts of South Wales... Premier Division |
6 | |
| 2008-09 | Western League Western Football League The Western Football League is a football league in the south west of England, covering Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, western Dorset, parts of Gloucestershire and Wiltshire and parts of South Wales... Premier Division |
6 | |
| 2009-10 | Western League Western Football League The Western Football League is a football league in the south west of England, covering Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, western Dorset, parts of Gloucestershire and Wiltshire and parts of South Wales... Premier Division |
1 | Champions, rejoined 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... |