Aylesbury United F.C.

Last updated

Aylesbury United
Aylesbury United FC.png
Full nameAylesbury United Football Club
Nickname(s)The Ducks
Founded1897
GroundThe Meadow, Chesham
Capacity5,000 (284 seated) [1]
OwnerAylesbury United Supporters Trust
ChairmanGraham Read
Manager Dave Tuttle
League Southern League Division One Central
2023–24 Southern League Division One Central, 15th of 19

Aylesbury United Football Club is a football club based in Chesham, Buckinghamshire, England. They are currently members of Southern League Division One Central and play at Chesham United's Meadow ground. They were based in Aylesbury until being evicted from their Buckingham Road ground in 2006. They are nicknamed the Ducks due to the Aylesbury duck. [2]

Contents

History

Aylesbury United were formed in 1897 as a merger of Night School, Printing Works and Aylesbury Town. [2] After playing in local leagues, the club joined the Western Division of the Spartan League in 1908, which they won in their first season. [3] This was followed by a play-off with the winners of the Eastern Division, Luton Clarence, which Aylesbury won 4–1. [3] The following season they were placed in the league's A Division, in which they finished as runners-up. With the league becoming a single division in 1910, the club remained in it until World War I, finishing as runners-up again in 1913–14. [3]

After the war the league expanded to two divisions, with Aylesbury placed in Division One. They remained in the division until 1928 when league re-organisation saw Division One split into East and West divisions, with Aylesbury winning Division One West in 1928–29. [4] Further league reorganisation at the end of the season saw the creation of a Premier Division, in which Aylesbury were placed. However, after finishing bottom of the table in 1932–33 they were relegated to Division One. Two seasons later, a second-placed finish saw them promoted back to the Premier Division. The 1937–38 season saw the club relegated again, although they won Division One the following season. [5] However, the league was then suspended due to World War II.

The league resumed in 1945 and was split into three geographic divisions, with Aylesbury in the Western Division, finishing as runners-up in 1945–46. Several clubs left the league at the end of the season, resulting in it being reduced to a single division. [5] In 1951 Aylesbury were founder members of the Delphian League, and the 1951–52 season saw them reach the first round of the FA Cup for the first time. Drawn at home to Watford, they lost 1–0, [3] but the attendance of 7,440 remains a club record. [6] After finishing second in 1952–53, they were league champions the following season. The club remained in the league until it merged into the Athenian League in 1963, with Aylesbury placed in Division Two. [3] A second-place finish in 1967–68 saw them promoted to Division One, where they remained until being relegated at the end of the 1972–73 season. [3]

In 1976 the club joined Division One South of the Southern League, which became the Southern Division in 1979. In 1981 they were transferred to the Midland Division, and were promoted to the Premier Division after finishing as runners-up in 1984–85. [3] The following season saw them reach the first round of the FA Cup again, this time losing 5–2 to Slough Town in a replay after a 2–2 draw. [3] They reached the first round again in 1986–87, losing 3–2 to Bath City. In 1987–88 they won the Premier Division, earning promotion to the Football Conference; they also reached the first round of the FA Cup for the third consecutive season, this time losing 1–0 at Bristol City. At the end of the season the club were the unlikely opponents for the England national team as a warm-up match prior to Euro 88; the match attracted a record crowd of 6,031 to Buckingham Road to see England win 7–0. [7] [8]

Although Aylesbury were relegated at the end of the first season in the division, dropping into the Isthmian League Premier Division, a 1–0 defeat of Waterlooville saw them reach the second round of the FA Cup for the first time, where they lost 1–0 to Sutton United. [3] They remained in the Isthmian League's Premier Division for eleven seasons, finishing as runners-up in 1998–99, and advancing to the first round of the FA Cup in every season between 1989 and 1995; the 1989–90 season saw them beat Football League opposition for the first time when they defeated Southend United 1–0, before losing by the same scoreline to Northampton Town in a second round replay. [3] After being beaten by Walsall in the first round in 1990–91, they reached the second round again in 1991–92, eventually losing 3–2 to Hereford United. Another first round defeat took place in 1992–93 when they were beaten 8–0 at West Bromwich Albion, but the 1994–95 season saw their best performance to date, reaching the third round after defeating fellow non-League clubs Newport (IOW) and Kingstonian before losing 4–0 at QPR. The run included the "duck walk" celebration by Cliff Hercules, the club's record appearance holder and goalscorer, [9] which was featured on the BBC's They Think It's All Over programme. In the same season they won the Isthmian League Cup. [6]

Aylesbury were relegated to Division One in 1999–2000, but a third-place finish in 2000–01 saw them promoted back to the Premier Division; they also reached the first round of the FA Cup for the first time since 1994, this time losing 3–0 at Port Vale. [3] In 2002–03 they reached the semi-finals of the FA Trophy, but lost 2–1 to Burscough over the two legs. [3] In 2004 Aylesbury were transferred to the Premier Division of the Southern League, but were relegated to Division One Midlands in 2005–06. In July 2009, the Aylesbury United Supporters Trust was able to gain control of the club. [10] However, in 2009–10 they finished bottom of the division and were relegated to the Premier Division of the Spartan South Midlands League. After finishing as runners-up in 2012–13, they were promoted to Division One Central of the Southern League.

Ground

Aylesbury played at Turnfurlong Lane until moving to Buckingham Road in the mid-1980s. [2] In July 2006 the lease on the ground expired and they were forced to play matches outside the town. [2] They played at the Meadow in Chesham (groundsharing with Chesham United), before moving to Bell Close in Leighton Buzzard in 2009, where they shared with Leighton Town. In 2015 they began a groundshare at Thame United's Meadow View Park. [11] The club moved back to Chesham United's Meadow ground in 2017. [12]

Honours

Statistics

Season-by-season

Records

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Corinthian-Casuals F.C.</span> Association football club in London, England

Corinthian-Casuals Football Club is a football club based in Tolworth in the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames, England. Affiliated to the London Football Association, they are currently members of the Isthmian League South Central Division and play at King George's Field.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Albans City F.C.</span> Association football club in St Albans, England

St Albans City Football Club is a semi-professional association football based in St Albans, Hertfordshire, England. The club currently competes in the National League South, the sixth level of the English football league system.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chesham United F.C.</span> Association football club in England

Chesham United Football Club is a semi-professional football club in Chesham, Buckinghamshire, England. Nicknamed "the Generals", they are currently members of the Southern League Premier Division South and play at the Meadow.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hemel Hempstead Town F.C.</span> Association football club in Hemel Hempstead, England

Hemel Hempstead Town Football Club is a semi-professional football club based in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, England. Affiliated to the Hertfordshire County Football Association, they are currently members of the National League South and play at Vauxhall Road.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Histon F.C.</span> Association football club in England

Histon Football Club is a football club based in the village of Histon, Cambridgeshire, England. The club are currently members of the United Counties League Premier Division South and play at Bridge Road in Impington. Nicknamed 'the Stutes', originating from the club's previous name Histon Institute, Histon's crest features a rose, the flower representing the rose-covered field given to the people of Histon & Impington in perpetuity for sporting activities in the community by local firm Chivers and Sons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brentwood Town F.C.</span> Association football club in England

Brentwood Town Football Club is a football club based in Brentwood, Essex, England. They are currently members of the Isthmian League North Division and play at the Brentwood Centre Arena.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harrow Borough F.C.</span> Association football club in London, England

Harrow Borough Football Club is an English football club based in Harrow, London. They were founded in 1933 and compete in the Southern League Premier Division South. Harrow Borough's home ground is Earlsmead Stadium, which has a capacity of 3,070. Harrow Borough moved into Earlsmead Stadium in 1934 and have kept it as their home stadium since then. Harrow Borough's colour is red, which is the colour of their home kit. Their crest depicts the coat of arms of the London Borough of Harrow.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hornchurch F.C.</span> Association football club in London, England

Hornchurch Football Club is a football club based in Upminster, England. They are currently members of the Isthmian League Premier Division and play at the Hornchurch Stadium.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maidenhead United F.C.</span> Association football club in Maidenhead, England

Maidenhead United Football Club is a semi-professional football club based in Maidenhead, Berkshire, England. Affiliated to the Berks & Bucks FA, they are currently members of the National League, the fifth tier of English football.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Berkhamsted Town F.C.</span> Football club

Berkhamsted Town F.C. was a football club from Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire. The club was founded in 1919, played in a black & white strip, and was nicknamed the Lilywhites or Berko. The team began the 2008–09 season playing in the Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division, but was dissolved in January 2009 due to its outstanding debts. Supporters set up a new club, Berkhamsted F.C., in the summer of 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bracknell Town F.C.</span> Association football club in England

Bracknell Town Football Club is a football club based in Sandhurst, Berkshire, England. Affiliated to the Berks & Bucks Football Association and nicknamed The Robins, they are currently members of the Southern League Premier Division South and play their home matches at Bottom Meadow in Sandhurst.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Windsor & Eton F.C.</span> Football club

Windsor & Eton F.C. was an English association football club based in Windsor, Berkshire, last playing in the Southern League Premier Division in 2010–11, until it was wound up on 2 February 2011 due to large debts. A new club, Windsor F.C., was formed to compete from the 2011–12 season onwards. In 2023, a new Windsor & Eton Football Club was formed, based at Stag Meadow, the lease of the ground was awarded to Windsor & Eton Football Club & as a result Windsor FC were forced to move to Beaconsfield

<span class="mw-page-title-main">East Thurrock United F.C.</span> Association football club in England

East Thurrock United Football Club was a football club based in Corringham, Essex, England. They last competed in the Isthmian League North Division, the eighth tier of English football, and played at Rookery Hill. The club was placed into liquidation by owner Alfie Best on 1 September 2023. The club stated this was due to historic debts from the previous owners.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bishop's Stortford F.C.</span> Association football club in England

Bishop's Stortford Football Club is a football club based in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire, England. They are currently members of the National League North and play at Woodside Park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hertford Town F.C.</span> Association football club in England

Hertford Town Football Club is a football club based in Hertford, Hertfordshire, England. They are currently members of the Southern League Division One Central and play at Hertingfordbury Park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aylesbury Vale Dynamos F.C.</span> Association football club in England

Aylesbury Vale Dynamos Football Club is a football club based in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, England. They are currently members of the Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division and play at Haywood Way.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Haringey Borough F.C.</span> Association football club in London, England

Haringey Borough Football Club is a football club based in Tottenham in the London Borough of Haringey, England. Established in 1973 by a merger of Edmonton and Wood Green Town, they are currently members of the Isthmian League Premier Division and play at Coles Park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Holmer Green F.C.</span> Association football club in England

Holmer Green Football Club are an F.A. Charter Standard football club based at Holmer Green near High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire, England. The club is affiliated to the Berks & Bucks Football Association. They were established in 1908 and were founder members of the Chiltonian League in 1984. They are members of the Combined Counties League Division One. They are currently managed by Keith Scott.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Risborough Rangers F.C.</span> Association football club in England

Risborough Rangers Football Club are a football club based in Princes Risborough, Buckinghamshire, England. They are members of the Combined Counties League Premier Division North.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thame United F.C.</span> Association football club in England

Thame United Football Club are a football club based in Thame, Oxfordshire, England. They were established in 1883 and joined the Hellenic League in 1959. The club currently competes in the Southern League Division One Central.

References

  1. ↑ Chesham United Non-League Club Directory
  2. 1 2 3 4 The history of Aylesbury United Aylesbury United F.C.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Aylesbury United at the Football Club History Database
  4. ↑ Spartan League 1907-1934 Non-League Matters
  5. 1 2 Spartan League 1934-1955 Non-League Matters
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Honours Aylesbury United F.C.
  7. ↑ Club v Country When Saturday Comes, issue 302, April 2012
  8. ↑ Neil Johnston (1 October 2021), FA Cup: The inside story of when non-league Aylesbury United played Bobby Robson's England, BBC Sport
  9. ↑ A true hero Archived 12 August 2016 at the Wayback Machine The Bucks Herald, 2 May 2002
  10. ↑ Aylesbury United Is Now A Fan Owned Club Aylesbury United F.C., 15 July 2009
  11. ↑ Aylesbury United announce groundshare with Thame for the next two seasons Archived 4 July 2015 at the Wayback Machine Bucks Herald, 27 March 2015
  12. ↑ Southern Premier side Chesham United get new manager and new tenants The Non-League Football Paper, 28 March 2017
  13. 1 2 Records Aylesbury United F.C.

51°41′55.889″N0°36′50.450″W / 51.69885806°N 0.61401389°W / 51.69885806; -0.61401389

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.