A.F.C. Sudbury
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| A.F.C. Sudbury | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Full name | Amalgamated Football Club Sudbury |
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| Nickname(s) | Yellows | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Founded | June 1, 1999 (or 1885) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ground | King's Marsh, Sudbury, Suffolk | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Capacity | approx 2000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chairman | Keith Morris | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Manager | Mark Morsley | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| League | Isthmian League Division One North |
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| 2005-06 | Eastern Counties League Premier Division 3rd (promoted) |
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A.F.C. Sudbury are an English semi-professional football club from Sudbury, Suffolk, who play in the Isthmian League Division One North.
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[edit] History
A.F.C. Sudbury were formed on 1 June 1999 by the amalgamation of the town's two previous clubs, Sudbury Town (founded 1885) and Sudbury Wanderers (founded 1958).
The club's relatively short history has, thus far, been very successful. In their debut season (1999-2000) Sudbury finished in 3rd place in the Eastern Counties Premier Division. The following 5 seasons all resulted in Sudbury winning the same league's title - a league record. Sudbury did not take promotion at any of these opportunities, despite being entitled to. The financial constraints of owning two grounds lead the board not to apply for promotion until the beginning of the 2005-06 season. After finishing 3rd in 2005-06, and passing the necessary ground inspection, Sudbury were invited to take promotion into a resurrected Isthmian League Division One North, following the re-structuring of the National League System. Potential legal action from the Unibond League nearly scuppered this move,[1] but Sudbury started 2006-07 in the new division.[2] This new start will be without the management team of Gary Harvey and Michael Cheetham, who took the team up, as both have resigned, citing work and family commitments, respectively. New manager, Mark Morsley, was appointed in May 2006, signed from Needham Market.
As well as dominating the Eastern Counties Premier Division Sudbury have enjoyed several successful runs in the national cup competitions. In 2000-01 the club reached the first round proper of the FA Cup (a genuine achievement for a club at level 9 of the football pyramid) before being comprehensively defeated away at Darlington. Sudbury have mostly made a name for themselves nationally in the FA Vase. In 2001-02 the club reached the competition's semi-finals, before being knocked out by Tiptree United. The following three seasons saw Sudbury reaching the final each year (a Vase record), but being defeated every time: by Brigg Town , Winchester City and Didcot Town, respectively. Sudbury have also won the Suffolk Premier Cup three times, in 2001-02, 2002-03 and 2003-04, and the Ridgeons League Cup in 2005-06.
[edit] Colours and Badge
A.F.C. Sudbury's colours are yellow shirts with blue shorts and yellow socks. Perhaps surprisingly, these were the colours of both the former Sudbury teams.
The club badge is the town crest of Sudbury, which incorporates a talbot dog with its tongue sticking out.
[edit] Ground
Sudbury play their home games at the King's Marsh Stadium, previously home to Sudbury Wanderers. At the time of A.F.C. Sudbury's formation the ground consisted of two pitches, a training area, clubhouse, floodlights, a 200-seat stand on the West side of the main pitch and covered ends behind the goals. A 300-capacity terrace (The Shed) was constructed on the East side of the pitch in 2000, being the more vocal section of the ground. The ground is enclosed by fencing and there are two turnstiles, crucially complying with FA regulations regarding entry to the potentially lucrative FA Cup.
A.F.C. Sudbury still own Sudbury Town's former ground, the Priory Stadium. Despite a stand, a terrace and the clubhouse remaining the ground is in a state of disrepair, having been subject to repeated vandalism following the formation of the new club. The club has been intending to sell the land to property developers, and finally a deal with developers has recently been sealed.[citation needed] The money from this sale will allow A.F.C. Sudbury to make improvements at the Kings's Marsh, including a new clubhouse, with changing rooms, and a new 400-seat Stand.
[edit] Current squad
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[edit] Honours
- Eastern Counties Football League Premier Division Champions: 5
- 2000-01, 2001-02, 2002-03, 2003-04, 2004-05
- FA Vase Runners-up: 3
- 2002-03, 2003-04, 2004-05
- Suffolk Premier Cup Winners: 3
- 2001-02, 2002-03, 2003-04
- Eastern Counties Football League Cup Winners: 1
- 2005-06
[edit] League history
| Season | Division | Position | Significant Events |
|---|---|---|---|
| Formed as from merger of Sudbury Town & Sudbury Wanderers | |||
| Joined the Eastern Counties Premier League | |||
| 1999-2000 | Eastern Counties Premier League | 3 | – |
| 2000-2001 | Eastern Counties Premier League | 1 | Champions |
| Refused promotion due to financial constraints | |||
| 2001-2002 | Eastern Counties Premier League | 1 | Champions |
| Refused promotion due to financial constraints | |||
| 2002-2003 | Eastern Counties Premier League | 1 | Champions |
| Refused promotion due to financial constraints | |||
| 2003-2004 | Eastern Counties Premier League | 1 | Champions |
| Refused promotion due to financial constraints | |||
| 2004-2005 | Eastern Counties Premier League | 1 | Champions |
| Refused promotion due to financial constraints | |||
| 2005-2006 | Eastern Counties Premier League | 3 | Promoted |
| 2006-2007 | Isthmian Division One - North | ||
[edit] External links
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