 | |||
| Full name | Bowers & Pitsea Football Club | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Bowers | ||
| Founded | 1946 | ||
| Ground | Len Salmon Stadium, Pitsea | ||
| Capacity | 3,500 (500 seated) [1] | ||
| Chairman | Barry Hubbard | ||
| Manager | James Collins | ||
| League | Isthmian League North Division | ||
| 2022–23 | Isthmian League Premier Division, 19th of 22 (relegated) | ||
| Website | Club website | ||
Bowers & Pitsea Football Club is a football club based in Pitsea, Essex, England. The club are currently members of the Isthmian League North Division and play at the Len Salmon Stadium.
The club was established in 1946 by Bert Salmon as Bowers United and initially played in the Thurrock and Thameside Combination. [2] The club won the league in 1958–59, and became founder members of the Essex Olympian League in 1966, before moving up to the Essex Senior League in 1974. [3] In 1980–81 the club won the league, and the following season saw them win the League Challenge Cup. [4] They won the Harry Fisher Trophy in 1991–92, before going on to win the league and challenge cup double in 1998–99. [4]
In 2004 Bowers United absorbed Pitsea Football Club, adopting their current name. [2] Pitsea had played in the Vange & District Sunday League and the Basildon Sunday League, winning the league treble in 1994–95 and 1995–96, and the league and cup double in 1996–97. [2] In 2014–15 the club won the Challenge Cup for a third time. The following season saw them win the league, earning promotion to Division One North of the Isthmian League. They also reached the semi-finals of the FA Vase, losing 4–3 on aggregate to eventual winners Morpeth Town. [5]
The 2017–18 season saw Bowers & Pitsea finish third in the renamed North Division, qualifying for the promotion play-offs. However, they were beaten 2–0 by Canvey Island in the semi-finals. The following season the club were North Division champions, earning promotion to the Premier Division. [6] In 2021–22 they reached the first round of the FA Cup for the first time, losing 1–0 at Lincoln City. They were relegated back to the North Division at the end of the 2022–23 season after finishing fourth-from-bottom of the Premier Division. [7] However, the season also saw them win the Thameside Trophy for the first time with a 3–2 victory over Grays Athletic in the final. [8]
The club were originally based at what later became Pitsea Market, before moving to Gun Meadow. When the A13 was built, the Gun Meadow ground was subject to a compulsory purchase order, resulting in the club moving to its current home on Crown Avenue. [2] The site was purchased from the Basildon Development Corporation, as well as a prefabricated building that became the club's dressing rooms. [9] It was officially opened with a friendly match against an ex-Tottenham Hotspur All-Star team. [9] A seated stand was built on one side of the pitch, with the original bench seating later replaced with red tip-up seats. [9] A covered standing area was erected next to the seated stand. [9]
The ground currently has a capacity of 2,661, of which 300 is seated. [1]
Canvey Island Football Club is a football club based in Canvey Island, Essex, England. They are currently members of the Isthmian League Premier Division and play at Park Lane.
The Essex Senior Football League is an English men's football league. It contains clubs from the Essex FA, Hertfordshire FA, London FA, Middlesex FA and the Amateur Football Alliance. It is a feeder league to Division One North of the Isthmian League and has a single division which sits at Step 5 of the National League System.
Redbridge Football Club is an English association football club based in Barkingside in the London Borough of Redbridge. Prior to July 2004 the club was known as Ford United F.C. The change of name was chosen to help associate the club within the local area and attract a larger support.
Grays Athletic Football Club is a football club based in Grays, Essex, England. They are currently members of the Isthmian League North Division and play at Chadfields in nearby Tilbury.
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.
Basildon United Football Club is a football club based in Basildon, Essex. They are currently members of the Isthmian League North Division and play at Gardiners Close.
Maldon & Tiptree Football Club is a football club based in Maldon, Essex, England. They are currently members of the Isthmian League North Division and play at the Wallace Binder Ground.
Billericay Town Football Club is a football club based in Billericay, Essex, England. The club are currently members of the Isthmian League Premier Division, the seventh tier of English football, and play at New Lodge. They are the second most successful club in FA Vase history, having won the competition on three occasions.
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.
Waltham Abbey F.C. is an English football club based in Waltham Abbey, Essex. The team currently plays in the Southern League Division One Central.
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.
Thurrock Football Club was an English football club based in Purfleet, Thurrock, Essex. Known as Purfleet until 2003, the club played at Ship Lane.
Aveley Football Club are a semi–professional football club based in Aveley, Essex, England. They are currently members of the National League South and play at Parkside.
Concord Rangers Football Club is a semi-professional football club based in Canvey Island in Essex, England. The club currently compete in the Isthmian League Premier Division, the seventh tier of English football, and play their home matches at Thames Road.
Haringey Borough Football Club is a football club based in Tottenham in the London Borough of Haringey, England. Formed 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.
Dexter Peter is an English footballer who plays as a centre-back for Bowers & Pitsea.
Hashtag United Football Club is a semi-professional football club based in Essex, England. They are currently members of the Isthmian League Premier Division and play at the Len Salmon Stadium in Pitsea.
The 2019–20 season was the 105th season of the Isthmian League, which is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from London, East and South East England. This was the second season to consist of four divisions after the league reorganised the former South Division into the new South Central and South East divisions.
Catholic United Football Club is a football club based in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, England. They are currently members of the Essex Olympian League Premier Division and play at the Len Forge Centre.
Basildon Town Football Club is a football club based in Basildon, England. They are currently members of the Eastern Counties League Division One South and play at Rookery Hill, Corringham.
