Banbury United F.C.

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Banbury United

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)

Chairman

Paul Jones

Manager

Edwin Stein

League

Southern League Premier Division

2012–13

Southern League Premier Division, 16th

Home colours

Away colours

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.

History

Early history

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.

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 The threat was withdrawn, and the club was saved by a small bunch of volunteers.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.

Modern history

At the start of the 1999–2000 season, former Newcastle United, Oxford United and Queens Park Rangers player Kevin Brock was installed as manager. By the end of 1999, Banbury trailed Hellenic League leaders Highworth Town by 19 points, but 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.

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 would 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 and was scoreless after 90 minutes. 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 in the penultimate game of the season. The following season 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. Kevin Brock left the club after eight years and was replaced by Kieran Sullivan, a former player with Banbury. In his first season he pulled off a 9th-place finish with limeted funds. However in the second season after a string of defeats, Sullivan resigned and Banbury signed Billy Jeffery as manager in March 2009. Ady Fuller arrived as manager in July 2011 but left the club in September 2012 when a new management team of Edwin Stein and Paul West was brought in.^[1]

Stadium

Banbury United play their home games at the Spencer Stadium, Station Approach, Banbury, Oxfordshire, OX16 5AB.

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.

Current squad

As of 19 April 2011^[2]

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	Kwame Fordah
		DF	Salvyn Kisitu
		DF	Luke Cray
		DF	Marvin Martin
		DF	Tom Ryan
		DF	Wayne Blossom
		DF	John Mbamarah
		DF	Kieren Westwood
		DF	Jamal Hackett
		MF	Corey King
		MF	Takura Mtandari
		MF	Kynan Isaac

No.		Position	Player
		MF	Scott Bridges
		MF	Aaron Morgan
		MF	Tanasheh Abrahams (on youth loan from (Barnet))
		MF	Anderson Pinto
		MF	Kyal McNulty
		MF	Kyle Fraser-Allen
		MF	Nathan Mukuna
		FW	Dominic Lawless
		FW	Adeyinka Talabi
		FW	Leon Simpson
		FW	Ashley Dumbleton

Club honours

Hellenic Football League Premier Division :^[3]
- Winners: 1999-00
Birmingham Combination League :^[4]
- Runners-up: 1947-48
Oxfordshire Senior Cup:
- Winners: 2003–04, 2005–06, 2006–07
- Runners-up: 2000-01, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2009–10
Hellenic League Premier Division Cup:^[5]
- Runners-up (1): 1991-92
Buckingham Charity Cup:^[6]
- Winners (1): 2001-02

Club Records

Best league position: 7th Southern League Premier Division, 2005–06
Best FA Cup performance:^[3]^[4] 1st round 1947-48, 1961–62, 1972–73, 1973–74
Best FA Trophy performance:^[3] 3rd round 1970–71, 1973–74
Best FA Vase performance:^[3] 2nd round, 1999–00
Highest Attendance:^[7] 7,160 vs Oxford City 1948-49

Player Records

Most goals scored in a season: Tony Jacques 62 1967–68

Previous League Positions

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

Former players

1. Players that have played/managed in the football league or any foreign equivalent to this level (i.e. fully professional league).
2. Players with full international caps.
3. Players that hold a club record or have captained the club.

References

↑ "New Management Team Take Over At Banbury United". Non League Bets. 2012-09-08. Retrieved 2012-09-08.
↑ "First Team – Players & Coaches". Banbury United F.C. Retrieved 2011-04-19.
↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 FCHD
↑ 4.0 4.1 FCHD Banbury Spencer
↑ "The History of Didcot Town Football Club". Didcot Town FC. 2006-05-18. Retrieved 2012-12-12.
↑ http://www.goalrun.com/clubs?club_info&cid=51326&tid=3196
↑ Pyramid Passion

Banbury United at the Football Club History Database

External links

v t e Southern League

Premier Division	AFC Totton Arlesey Town Banbury United Bashley Bedford Town Biggleswade Town Bideford Burnham Cambridge City Chesham United Chippenham Town Corby Town Frome Town Hemel Hempstead Town ~~Hinckley United~~ Hitchin Town Hungerford Town Poole Town Redditch United St. Albans City St Neots Town Stourbridge Truro City Weymouth

Division One Central	AFC Hayes Ashford Town Aylesbury Aylesbury United Barton Rovers Beaconsfield SYCOB Chalfont St. Peter Chertsey Town Daventry Town Dunstable Town Egham Town Kettering Town Leighton Town Marlow North Greenford United Northwood Potters Bar Town Royston Town Rugby Town Slough Town St Ives Town Uxbridge

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