Bury Town F.C.
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| Full name | Bury Town Football Club | ||
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| Nickname(s) | The Blues | ||
| Founded | 1872[1] | ||
| Ground | Ram Meadow, Bury St Edmunds | ||
| Capacity | 3,500 (300 seated)[2] | ||
| Chairman | Russell Ward | ||
| Manager | Ben Chenery[3] | ||
| League | Isthmian League Division One North | ||
| 2014–15 | Isthmian League Premier Division, 24th (Relegated) | ||
| Website | Club home page | ||
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Bury Town Football Club is an English semi-professional football club, based in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk. The club are currently members of the Isthmian League Division One North and play at Ram Meadow.
Contents
History
Early history
The club was established by William Lake at a meeting in the Suffolk Hotel in 1872.[1] Initially named Bury St Edmunds FC, the first committee of the club elected to choose royal blue as the club's colours.[1] In 1885 they were one of eleven founder members of the Suffolk FA and voted to change their name to Bury Town FC.[1] The club took up residence at Kings Road, also known as the Cemetery Road ground, in 1888.[1] In 1895 the club's name reverted to Bury St Edmunds FC, then to Bury United in 1908 and back to Bury Town in 1923.[1]
Initially in the Norfolk & Suffolk League and then the Essex & Suffolk Border League, the Blues moved to senior football by becoming founder members of the Eastern Counties League in 1935.[1] They gained their first honour when they won the Suffolk Senior Cup in 1936–37, a trophy they retained for the next two seasons. 1937–38 saw the club achieve its best pre-war league position of runners-up,[1] before the competition was suspended due to the outbreak of World War II. Bury Town won the Suffolk Senior Cup for the fourth time in 1945 before resuming league action in 1946.
Post-war
Kings Road became the first football ground in East Anglia to operate floodlights, when on 12 January 1953, Bury played their first ever floodlit game against Cambridge City in front of 2,105 spectators. A total of 14 bulbs of 1,500 watts were used, with the lights financed by the Bury Town Supporters Club.
In 1958–59 Bury Town became the first ever winners of the Suffolk Premier Cup and went on to retain the trophy for the next three seasons. In 1961–62 the Eastern Counties League Cup was won for the first time and then in 1963–64 the club won the Eastern Counties League Championship for the only time in its history, recording a "treble" by winning the League Cup and the Suffolk Premier Cup for the fifth time. This success prompted the club to join the Metropolitan League in 1964 when once again, they won the Suffolk Premier Cup. During the 1965–66 campaign, Bury Town recorded yet another “treble” winning the Metropolitan League Championship, the Metropolitan League Professional Cup and for the seventh time, the Suffolk Premier Cup. In 1967–68 the Blues won the Metropolitan League Cup for the only time and finished runners-up in the league.
The Metropolitan League title was won for the second and last time in 1968–69 when the club reached the first round proper of the FA Cup for the first time in their history. 3,000 spectators saw the Blues hold Third Division leaders Bournemouth to a goalless home draw at Kings Road, but the replay at Dean Court was lost 3–0.
1970–71 was the club's last in the Metropolitan League when they finished as runners-up and also lifted the Suffolk Premier Cup for the eighth occasion. In 1971–72 Bury Town moved into the Southern League but poor results prompted a return to the Eastern Counties League in 1976–77. A year later, the Blues moved to Ram Meadow and again won the Suffolk Premier Cup.
1980s to present
In 1986–87, which proved to be Bury Town's last season in the Eastern Counties League, the club enjoyed another good run in the FA Cup reaching the fourth qualifying round. The Blues were drawn away to Football Conference leaders Enfield and forced a 0–0 draw before 842 spectators. A record crowd of over 2,500 saw the visitors win the replay at Ram Meadow.
In the 1987–88 season, Bury Town rejoined the Southern League and experienced mixed fortunes in the Southern Division. The 1995–96 season saw the club accepting a transfer across to the Midland Division. After completion of only one season in the Midland Division, Bury Town were unable to maintain a strong enough fight and were relegated. Despite relegation Bury won the Suffolk Premier Cup, beating Woodbridge Town in the final.
Bury saw little success until the 2004–05 season with the club finishing second in the league and winning the Westwood Shield, as well as reaching the quarter-finals of the FA Vase for the second time. The following season saw the club finish second in the league again, allowing them promotion to Division One North of the Isthmian League, as well as reaching the semi-final of the FA Vase. Two seasons later the club were transferred into the Southern League Division One Midlands as part of a geographical reorganisation. In the same season they reached the first round proper of the FA Cup for the first time in forty years, losing 4–2 away to Conference North club Alfreton Town.[4] The 2009–10 season ended with the club winning 3–0 on the final day of the season to claim the title,[5] earning promotion to the seventh level of English football, where they were placed in the Isthmian League Premier Division. The following season they won the Premier Cup for a tenth time, defeating Needham Market 2–0 in the final, and also finished third in the league, qualifying for the play-offs, where they lost 2–1 at home to Lowestoft Town. In 2011–12 the club won the Isthmian League Cup. After finishing bottom of the Premier Division in 2014–15 season they were relegated to Division One North.
Current squad
- As of 1 December 2015.[6]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Honours
- Isthmian League
- League Cup winners 2011–12
- Southern League
- Division One Midlands champions 2009–10
- Eastern Counties League
- Champions 1963–64
- League Cup winners 1961–62, 1963–64
- Metropolitan League
- Champions 1965–66, 1968–69
- League Cup winners 1967–68
- Suffolk Premier Cup
- Winners 1958–59, 1959–60, 1960–61, 1961–62, 1963–64, 1964–65, 1970–71, 1977–78, 1995–96, 2010–11, 2012–13, 2013–14
- Suffolk Senior Cup
- Winners 1936–37, 1937–38, 1938–39, 1944–45, 1984–85.
Records
- Attendance
- At King's Road: 4,343 vs Cambridge Town, FA Cup first qualifying round, 1949[7]
- At Ram Meadow: 2,500 vs Enfield, FA Cup 4th Qualifying Round, 1986[2]
- Record Goalscorer: Doug Tooley – 251 goals in 9 seasons[2]
- Appearances: Dick Rayner – 610 appearances in 12 seasons[2]
- Transfer fee received: £5,500 for Simon Milton from Ipswich Town[2]
- Transfer fee paid: £1,500 for Mitchel Springett to Chelmsford City[2]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 History Bury Town FC
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Mike Williams & Tony Williams (2012) Non-League Club Directory 2013, p536 ISBN 978-1-869833-77-0
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Alfreton Town 4–2 Bury Town – BBC Sport
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Player Profiles Bury Town FC
- ↑ Records Bury Town FC
External links
- Club website
- Bury Town at the Football Club History Database
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