Thurrock F.C.

Thurrock
Full name Thurrock Football Club
Nickname(s) The Fleet
Founded April 1985 (as Purfleet)
Ground Ship Lane, Aveley
(Capacity: 3,500 (524 seated))
Chairman Tommy South
Manager Lee Goodwin & Grant Gordon
(joint caretakers)
League Conference South
2010–11 Conference South, 20th
Home colours
Away colours
Third colours

Thurrock F.C. are an English football club based in Aveley, Thurrock, Essex. Known as Purfleet until 2003, the club are currently members of the Conference South and play at Ship Lane.

Contents

History

Purfleet F.C. were established in April 1985 and entered the Reserve Division of the Essex Senior League in 1985 and spent one season in that division before joining the first-team league. After finishing third and winning the league cup in their first season, they won the league and cup double in 1987–88, earning promotion to Division Two North of the Isthmian League. They finished as runners-up in their first season, winning the Essex Senior Cup again, and were promoted to Division One. However, the following season they were relegated back to Division Two North after finishing second from bottom.

In 1991–92 the club won the division, and were promoted to Division One. Two seasons later they finished second, and were promoted to the Premier Division. In 2003 the club changed its name to Thurrock, and after finishing third in the league at the end of the 2003–04 season, in which they also won the league cup and the Essex Senior Cup, became founder members of the Conference South.

In the club's first season in the new league, they qualified for the promotion play-offs but were knocked out by Eastbourne Borough. However, they did win the Essex Senior Cup for a second successive season. In 2008–09 the club finished in the relegation zone, but were reprieved after Team Bath resigned from the league. In 2010–11 the club again finished in the relegation zone, but were reprieved after Rushden & Diamonds were expelled from the Conference National league hence Southport were not relegated from the Conference National.

Thurrock announced manager Robbie Garvey resigned following the clubs defeat against fellow Conference strugglers Staines Town on 5 December 2011. Lee Goodwin and Grant Gordon took charge of the team on a match by match basis until a new manager is appointed.[1]

Stadium

The club has played at Ship Lane since their establishment in April 1985. At first the ground was a part of the Thurrock Hotel complex, and initially consisted of two pitches and dressing rooms in the main hotel building. Due to this set-up the club could only compete at Junior level. The playing area was turned around 90° to make one full pitch and dressing rooms were built so the club could become a separate entity.

Floodlights were erected in January 1988 after planning permission was accepted from Thurrock Council to add these features as well as a grandstand.

Current squad

As of 20 December 2011

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 Craig Holloway
GK David Hughes
DF Nathan Ashton
DF Anthony Furlonge
DF Adam Gemili (on loan from Dagenham & Redbridge)
DF Peter Grant (on loan from Peterborough United)
DF Reece Harris (on loan from Braintree Town)
DF James White
MF Ben Bowditch
MF Sam Cutler
MF Jamie Davis
No. Position Player
MF Ahmed Deen
MF Luke I'Anson
MF Paul Terry
MF Stuart Thurgood
FW Drewe Broughton
FW Lee Boylan
FW Dan Evans (on loan from Peterborough United)
FW Jamie Guy (on loan from Braintree Town)
FW Alex Osborn (on loan from Dagenham & Redbridge)
FW Kieran Walsh

Honours

Records

References

External links