| Full name | Banbury United Football Club | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | The Puritans | ||
| Founded | 1931 (as Spencer Villa) | ||
| Ground | Spencer Stadium Banbury, Oxon (Capacity: 2,000 (250 seated)) |
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| Chairman | Paul Jones | ||
| Manager | Ady Fuller | ||
| League | Southern League Premier Division | ||
| 2010–11 | Southern League Premier Division, 16th | ||
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Banbury United is a football club based in Banbury, Oxfordshire, who play in the Southern League Premier Division. They are nicknamed The Puritans and they play their home matches at the Spencer Stadium. They were originally named Spencer Villa.
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Banbury United were founded in 1931, when they were called Spencer Villa. At this time it was essentially a works club. In 1934, they changed their name to Banbury Spencer and moved to the Spencer Stadium. They had a lot of early success, winning most of the leagues which they played in.
They were elected to the Birmingham Combination in 1935. In 1947 their attendances averaged at 3,500. They reached the first round proper of the FA Cup, where they lost 2-1 to Colchester United The club also broke their record attendance the following season, as over 7,000 people saw them lose to Oxford City in the third qualifying round of the FA Cup.[1]
In 1962, the club's owners signalled their wish to sell the club and in 1965, the club was bought out by a group of local businessmen. They changed the name from Banbury Spencer to Banbury United. Former Chelsea, West Ham United and Arsenal player Len Goulden, was employed as Manager.
In 1966, they joined the Southern League. They stayed in the Southern League for 24 years. In this time they won the Midland Floodlit Cup and reached the First Round Proper of the FA Cup, losing to Northampton Town in a replay.
However, in the late 1970s, Banbury suffered huge financial problems and by 1984 the club was nearly bankrupt. The club gave up the ownership of the ground. In the 1989-90 season, Banbury were relegated for the first time in their history. The new ground owners threatened to sell and for a brief period, the club was on the verge of extinction. The threat was withdrawn, and the club was saved by a small bunch of volunteers.
Banbury languished in the Hellenic League for several years, and at times they suffered more financial problems. But in 1997, the club's committee made several improvements in the team's finances.
At the start of the 1999-00 season, former Newcastle United, Oxford United and Queens Park Rangers player Kevin Brock was installed as manager of Banbury United. By the end of 1999, Banbury trailed Hellenic League leaders Highworth Town by 19 points. However, a run of 13 consecutive victories and 62 points from a possible 66 in the new year, saw Banbury overhaul Highworth and clinch the title.
In the next two seasons Banbury finished 13th and 15th. Banbury's hopes of improvement in the 2002-03 season were dealt a blow after injury to the club's top striker Matty Gooderick. Brock signed 19 year old Frenchman Norman Sylla, who would become Banbury's star player. After a slow start in which he scored 1 goal in his first five games, he hit form and began to improve the team's fortunes. His record of 41 goals in all competitions that season saw Banbury finish 8th.
Due to the restructuring of the non-league pyramid, the club knew that if in the 2003-04 season they could finish in the top seven or finish eighth and win a play off, they would be promoted to the Southern League Premier Division. Norman Sylla departed the club and joined Conference side Redditch United. Banbury wavered between 5th and 9th for much of the season and with twelve games remaining it seemed that they may struggle to finish in the top seven because their rivals had games in hand. Banbury won eight of their next games and finished eighth, securing a play-off match against Sutton Coldfield Town for promotion.
The game was played at the Spencer Stadium due to Banbury's superior record over the season. In the play-off the game was locked in a 0-0 stalemate after 90 minutes despite Banbury's dominance. Early in the second period of extra time, Sutton took the lead, but a Jason Allen equaliser saw Banbury level the scores and in the dying minutes Wayne Blossom headed the winner to send Banbury up.
In the 2004-05 season Banbury avoided relegation on the penultimate game of the season. New striker Howard Forinton was one of the heroes of the season.
The 2005-06 season saw the signing of a number of new players. Andy Baird joined from local rivals Brackley Town, Paul Lamb and Johnny Gardener signed from Aylesbury United, as well as Darren Pond and Tommy Kinch who came through Banbury's youth system.
Banbury were near the top of the table for the whole season and for a long time it seemed that they would earn a play-off place. However, a dip in form followed and Banbury finished 7th.
However, long time player Jody Mckay, who made over 600 appearances (a club record) and scored 170 goals, left the club in January 2006 to join Leamington.
Kevin Brock did an efficient job with very limited financial resources until he decided to leave the club after eight years (later moving to the nearby Hellenic League club Ardley United). He was replaced by Kieran Sullivan, a popular player with Banbury, but untested at management level. After a string of unfortunate defeats, Sullivan resigned and Banbury signed Billy Jeffery as manager in March 2009. Ady Fuller arrived as manager in July 2011 from Daventry Town.
Spencer Stadium is Banbury's home ground. It is situated next to the town's train station on Bridge Street in the Grimsbury ward of the town. The stadium has a capacity of 2,000 and has a 250 seat stand called the 'John Nicholls Stand', named after the club's sponsor. Oddly enough it isn't positioned in the middle of the touchline but towards the town end of the ground with roof pillars obscuring the view from many seats. The rest of the stadium is in a dilapidated state and very often only three-quarters of the floodlights are operating. The roof of the Town End stand was blown off by strong winds in 2007, but has been reconstructed. The club have secured a lease with Robin Faccenda until 2009.
Banbury United have been playing at the ground since 1934. It is thought that the roofing, which was partially blown down, is probably the only part of the ground which was originally there when Banbury United moved into the ground.
In 2010, Banbury United, in correspondence with Cherwell District Council, announced a proposed move to a new stadium, which would be built near to the proposed site of a new housing estate based near the Bankside area of Banbury. The proposals are set to be put forward to publica approval in the summer of 2010, subject to financial constraints.
Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Oxfordshire Senior Cup Champions
Attendance
In the 2005-06 season, the club had an average league attendance of 415 when playing at home. Their highest league attendance that season was 588 at home to Salisbury City.
| Season | League | Pld | Won | Draw | Lost | GF | GA | Points | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001-02 | Southern League Eastern Division | 42 | 13 | 9 | 20 | 57 | 54 | 47 | 15th |
| 2002-03 | Southern League Eastern Division | 42 | 21 | 11 | 10 | 75 | 50 | 74 | 8th |
| 2003-04 | Southern League Eastern Division | 42 | 19 | 10 | 13 | 65 | 57 | 67 | 8th |
| 2004-05 | Southern League Premier Division | 42 | 13 | 9 | 20 | 56 | 69 | 48 | 17th |
| 2005-06 | Southern League Premier Division | 42 | 17 | 11 | 14 | 66 | 61 | 62 | 7th |
| 2006-07 | Southern League Premier Division | 42 | 15 | 10 | 17 | 60 | 64 | 55 | 13th |
Banbury United at the Football Club History Database