History
Redbridge Football Club’s proud roots lie in East London and Essex’s rich car manufacturing heritage, tracing back to the iconic Ford Motors factory in Dagenham. The club’s story began in 1959, when Ford Sports (Dagenham) merged with Briggs Sports (originally Briggs Motor Bodies), both established in 1934, to form Ford United.
Success followed in the Aetolian League, with multiple title wins. But in 1995, the withdrawal of Ford’s sponsorship threatened the club’s existence. A rescue came in the form of a new sponsorship deal led by vice-chairman George Adams and backed by Sky Sports.
In 2001, the club secured a permanent home at Oakside Stadium by purchasing the lease from Barkingside FC, allowing for substantial ground improvements under Chairman Jimmy Chapman. To reflect its local identity and broaden appeal, the club was rebranded as Redbridge FC in 2004.
After a brief spell in the Conference South, the club faced back-to-back relegations but remained competitive in the Isthmian League Division One North. Under the stewardship of former professional Dean Holdsworth, Redbridge narrowly missed out on promotion in 2007–08.
The 2011–12 season proved to be one of the most memorable in club history. Redbridge reached the Second Round of the FA Cup, beating Ebbsfleet United and Oxford City, before falling to Crawley Town. That cup run captured national attention and marked a high point for the club on the big stage.
Despite moments of promise, financial challenges and changes in management led to a difficult period, and in 2015, Redbridge were relegated to the Essex Senior League for the first time in 19 years. Efforts to bounce back began under a joint management team of Ricky Eaton and Joey May, with the club consistently competing for promotion.
Like all clubs, Redbridge were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, which curtailed two consecutive seasons. But the team came back strong under manager George Christou, finishing 3rd in 2021–22 and securing promotion back to the Isthmian League the following season via an Inter-League Playoff Final victory over Haywards Heath Town.
In 2023–24, Redbridge achieved a historic milestone by lifting the Essex Senior Cup for the first time, beating EFL side Colchester United in a dramatic penalty shoot-out – a moment that will live long in the memory of every Motormen supporter.
Following the departure of George Christou in October 2024, Chris Taylor took over as manager, joining from Basildon United.
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