Sittingbourne F.C.

Sittingbourne

Full name	Sittingbourne Football Club
Nickname(s)	The Brickies
Founded	1886
Ground	Bourne Park, Sittingbourne (Capacity: 3,000 (300 seated))
Chairman	Andy Spice
Manager	Joe Dowley
League	Isthmian League Division One South
2010-11	Isthmian League Division One South, 11th
Home colours Away colours

Sittingbourne F.C. are a football club based in Sittingbourne, Kent, England. They were established in 1886 and were founder members of the Kent League. They have reached the 2nd round of the FA Cup at least twice in their history. They are currently playing in the Isthmian League Division One South.

Contents 1 History 2 Ground 3 Former Football League players 4 Previous managers 5 Current squad 6 Club records 7 References 8 External links

History

Although an earlier Sittingbourne United club had been playing since as early as 1881, Sittingbourne F.C. traces its lineage to 1886 when the club was reorganised under the new name. The club moved to a field behind the Bull pub in 1892, where they were to remain for nearly 100 years. Senior status was acquired in 1893, and the following year the club joined the first incarnation of the Kent League, before withdrawing to enter the South Eastern League in 1905.

After World War I the club rejoined the Kent League, where they played until 1927 when they joined the Southern League. In 1930 they left this league and it is unclear where they played next. After World War II the Brickies rejoined the Kent League once again, where they were champions in 1957–58 and 1958–59. After the second title win they rejoined the Southern League, but after a promising start their performances declined and in 1966–67, after finishing bottom, they dropped out to join the newly-formed Kent Premier League (a successor to the original Kent League, which had folded, and soon to be renamed the Kent League itself).

Sittingbourne were Kent League champions in 1975–76, 1983–84 and 1990–91, the third title win earning them a place back in the Southern League. In 1992–93, by now playing at the new Central Park ground, they won promotion to the Southern League Premier Division, however a financial crisis led to relegation two years later. Although the team bounced back, winning the Southern Division title at the first attempt, they were relegated again in 1998 as the club hovered on the brink of being wound up completely. A move out of Central Park and a drastic reduction in the playing budget saw the Brickies through their troubles, but they flirted with relegation back to the Kent League for a number of years, only finishing in the top half of the table on one occasion in the next eight seasons.

In 2006 a re-organisation of the English football league system saw Sittingbourne moved into the Isthmian League, starting in Division One South. The 2009–10 season ended with Sittingbourne winning the Kent Senior Cup for the first time in 52 years.

Gary Abbott left his position as manager in May 2011 and was replaced by his assistant Richard Brady. He brought in ex-brickie Jamie Coyle as his assistant. In Sept 2011 after a brief spell in charge they were offered management positions at Leatherhead FC and indicated that the positions were too good to turn down. Long serving player, Joe Dowley took over the caretaker position of manager with the assistance of players Bradley Spice (assistant manager) and Bryan Glover (coach). In November 2011 the committee were impressed with what had been achieved that they made their positions permanent.

Ground

Bourne Park
Full name	Bourne Park
Location	Murston, Kent, United Kingdom
Built	2002
Opened	2002
Owner	Caernsport
Operator	Sittingbourne F.C.
Surface	Grass
Capacity	3000 (200 seated)
Tenants
Sittingbourne (2002–present) Maidstone United (2002–09, 2011–)

Sittingbourne played at the Bull Ground until 1990 when they sold the site for £4.5 million and built a new state of the art stadium on the outskirts of the town named Central Park. However, overspending on the new ground caused the club financial difficulties and they were forced to sell the ground to the local council and lease it back. The ground was eventually leased to a company which ran greyhound racing events, who allowed the football club to sign a seven-year lease (a requirement of the Southern League). The club found it hard to guarantee the availability of the stadium due to the racing, however, and agreed to start playing their games on part of the complex where they used to train. This was built in 2002 and named Bourne Park. The ground was shared with homeless club Maidstone United between 2002 and 2009, and again from 2011 onwards.

Former Football League players

• Arthur Albiston
• Mark Barham
• Colin Bateman
• John Bethune
• Kevin Bond
• Martin Buglione
• Jimmy Case
• Andy Drury
• Len Dunderdale
• Neil Emblen
• Paul Haylock
• Chris Lewington
• Jason Lillis
• Steve Lovell
• Raphael Meade
• Kenny Pavey
• Alan Walker
• Graham Knight

Previous managers

• 1988 to Jan-92 Hugh Stinson
• Jan-92 to Mar-92 Andy Woolford (caretaker)
• Mar-92 to Feb-95 John Ryan
• Feb-95 to Sep-96 Steve Lovell
• Sep-96 to Mar-99 Alan Walker
• Mar-99 to Jan-01 Hugh Stinson
• Jan-01 to Sep-01 John Roles
• Oct-01 to Nov-04 Mark Beeney
• Nov-04 to Mar-05 Steve Nolan
• Mar-05 to Oct-07 Steve Lovell
• Nov-07 to Jul-11 Gary Abbott
• Jul-11 to Sep-11 Richard Brady
• Sep-11 to current Joe Dowley

Current squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player GK Matt Reed DF Ryan Cooper DF Dan Palfrey DF Brenden Cullen DF Cedric Abraham DF Joe Dowley MF Anthony Hogg MF Jonathan Hogg MF Joe Goldsmith MF Bryan Glover

No. Position Player MF Jaie Nuttall MF Luke Girt MF Jack Hooper FW Ryan Golding FW Elie Keyembe FW Hicham Akhazzan FW Josh West FW Bradley Spice FW Joe Nwoko FW Luke Coleman

N.B. The Isthmian League does not use a squad numbering system

Club records

• Best league performance: Eighth in the Southern League Premier Division, 1993–94 and 1996–97
• Best FA Cup performance: Second round, 1925–26 and 1928–29
• Best FA Trophy performance: Second round, 1998–99
• Best FA Vase performance: Fourth round, 1992–93^[1]

References

External links

• Official website

Isthmian League Premier Division AFC Hornchurch Aveley Billericay Town Bury Town Canvey Island Carshalton Athletic Concord Rangers Cray Wanderers East Thurrock United Harrow Borough Hastings United Hendon Horsham Kingstonian Leatherhead Lewes Lowestoft Town Margate Metropolitan Police Tooting & Mitcham United Wealdstone Wingate & Finchley Division One North AFC Sudbury Brentwood Town Chatham Town Cheshunt Enfield Town Grays Athletic Great Wakering Rovers Harlow Town Heybridge Swifts Ilford Leiston Maldon & Tiptree Needham Market Potters Bar Town Redbridge Romford Soham Town Rangers Thamesmead Town Tilbury Waltham Abbey Waltham Forest Ware Division One South Bognor Regis Town Burgess Hill Town Chipstead Corinthian-Casuals Crawley Down Croydon Athletic Dulwich Hamlet Eastbourne Town Faversham Town Folkestone Invicta Godalming Town Hythe Town Maidstone United Merstham Ramsgate Sittingbourne Walton & Hersham Walton Casuals Whitehawk Whitstable Town Whyteleafe Worthing Seasons 1905–06 1906–07 1907–08 1908–09 1909–10 1910–11 1911–12 1912–13 1913–14 1914–15 1915–16 1916–17 1917–18 1919 1919–20 1920–21 1921–22 1922–23 1923–24 1924–25 1925–26 1926–27 1927–28 1928–29 1929–30 1930–31 1931–32 1932–33 1933–34 1934–35 1935–36 1936–37 1937–38 1938–39 1939–40 1940–41 1941–42 1942–43 1943–44 1944–45 1945–46 1946–47 1947–48 1948–49 1949–50 1950–51 1951–52 1952–53 1953–54 1954–55 1955–56 1956–57 1957–58 1958–59 1959–60 1960–61 1961–62 1962–63 1963–64 1964–65 1965–66 1966–67 1967–68 1968–69 1969–70 1970–71 1971–72 1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12