Bideford A.F.C.

Bideford Association Football Club is a football club based in Bideford, Devon, England. They are currently members of the Southern League Division One South and play at the Sports Ground. The club are nicknamed "The Robins" due to their all-red strip.

Bideford
Full nameBideford Association Football Club
Nickname(s)The Robins
Founded1890s (as Bideford Town)
GroundThe Sports Ground, Bideford
Capacity6,000 (375 seated)[1]
ChairmanKevin Tyrell
ManagerSean Joyce
LeagueSouthern League Division One South
2019–20Southern League Division One South (season abandoned)

History

Bideford Town was established in the late 1890s and spent most of their history playing in the North Devon League. In 1947 the club was reformed as Bideford A.F.C.,[2] and joined Section A of the North Devon League.[3] Although they finished bottom of the division, they remained in Section A for the 1948–49 season, which saw them finish sixth.[3] At the end of the season they joined Division Three of the Western League, which they won at the first attempt, winning 19 of their 20 matches and drawing the other to earn promotion to Division Two.[4] In 1951–52 they won Division Two, and were promoted to Division One.[4]

The league was reduced to a single division in 1960, and after finishing as runners-up in 1962–63, they won the league the following season.[4] In 1964–65 the club reached the first round of the FA Cup for the first time. They drew 3–3 with Third Division Colchester United at Layer Road before losing the replay 2–1.[4] They went on to win back-to-back championships in 1970–71 and 1971–72, also winning the League Cup during 1971–72,[5] and moved up to Division One South of the Southern League in 1972.[4] In 1973–74 they reached the first round of the FA Cup again following four replays with Falmouth Town in the third qualifying round and three replays against Trowbridge Town in the fourth. Drawn at home to Third Division Bristol Rovers, they lost 2–0.[4]

After three seasons in the Southern League they dropped back down to the Western League.[4] When the Western League gained a second division in 1976 Bideford were placed in the Premier Division. They finished as runners-up twice in a row in 1977–78 and 1978–79, also reaching the FA Cup first round in 1977–78, losing 3–1 at Portsmouth. They won the Western League again in 1981–82, as well as reaching the first round of the FA Cup, losing 2–1 at home to Barking. The following season saw them retain the league title, and they won the League Cup for the second time in 1984–85.[5]

Bideford dominated the Western League in the 2000s, winning the Premier Division in 2001–02, 2003–04, 2004–05, 2005–06 and 2009–10, as well as the League Cup in 2001–02 and 2003–04.[5] After continuously opting not to take promotion due to the increased travelling costs,[6] in 2010 they were promoted to Division One South & West of the Southern League, which they went on to win in 2011–12, earning promotion to the Premier Division.[4] After finishing second-from-bottom of the division in 2015–16 they were relegated back to Division One South & West.[4]

Season-by-season record

Other teams

Bideford reserves were founder members of the South Western League in 1951 and played in the league until 1957.[7] They joined the North Devon League in 2008. In 2015 they started playing under the name Bideford Community.[7] The club also had an 'A' team, which played in the North Devon League from 1996 until 2002.[8]

The Academy team was founded in 2014 and joined the North Devon League. They were renamed Bideford Community reserves in 2015.[9] The club's under 11s, under 13s and under 15s also compete in the North Devon League, whilst the women's team plays in the local Sunday league.

Ground
The Sports Ground

Bideford play their games at the Sports Ground on Kingsley Road. It has a capacity of 6,000, of which 375 is seated and 1,000 covered.[1]

Club officials
  • President: Jimmy McElwee
  • Chairman: Kevin Tyrrell
  • First team manager: Sean Joyce
  • Assistant manager: Craig Laird
  • Physiotherapist: Tony Beal
  • Kit man: Roger Beal
  • Reserve team manager:
  • Ladies team manager: Roger Bonaparte

Honours
  • Southern League
    • Division One South & West champions 2011–12
  • Western League
    • Champions 1963–64, 1970–71, 1971–72, 1981–82, 1982–83, 2001–02, 2003–04, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2009–10
    • Division Two champions 1951–52
    • Division Three champions 1949–50
    • League Cup winners 1971–72, 1984–85, 2001–02, 2003–04
    • Alan Young Cup winners 1964–65, 1969–70
  • Devon St Lukes Bowl
    • Winners 1981–82, 1983–84, 1985–86, 1995–96, 2009–10
  • Devon Professional Cup
    • Winners 1960–61, 1961–62, 1963–64, 1965–66, 1966–67, 1968–69, 1970–71, 1973–74

Records
  • Highest league position: 8th in the Southern League Premier Division, 2013–14[4]
  • Best FA Cup performance: First round, 1964–65, 1973–74, 1977–78, 1981–82[4]
  • Best FA Trophy performance: Second round, 1969–70[4]
  • Best FA Vase performance: Semi-finals, 2003–04
  • Biggest victory: 16–1 vs Soundwell, 1950–51[5]
  • Heaviest defeat: 1–10 vs Taunton Town, 1998–99[5]
  • Most appearances: Derek May, 647[5]
  • Most goals: Tommy Robinson, 259[5]
  • Record attendance: 5,975 vs Gloucester City, FA Cup, 1949[5]

See also
  • Bideford A.F.C. players
  • Bideford A.F.C. managers

References
  1. Bideford Non-League Club Directory
  2. Club History Bideford A.F.C.
  3. North Devon League 1946–1960 Non-League Matters
  4. Bideford at the Football Club History Database
  5. Honours Bideford A.F.C.
  6. Bideford's great western push The Scarborough News, 14 January 2009
  7. Bideford Reserves at the Football Club History Database
  8. Bideford "A" at the Football Club History Database
  9. Bideford Academy at the Football Club History Database
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