Barton Rovers F.C.

Barton Rovers

Full name	Barton Rovers Football Club
Nickname(s)	Rovers
Founded	1898
Ground	Sharpenhoe Road, Barton-le-Clay[1]
Ground Capacity	4,000[1]
Chairman	Darren Whiley[2]
Manager	Richard Wilmot & Wes Byrne[3]
League	Southern League Division One Central
2014–15	Southern League Division One Central, 5th
Home colours Away colours

Barton Rovers Football Club is an English semi-professional football club based in Barton-le-Clay, Bedfordshire. They currently compete in the Southern League Division One Central and play their home matches at Sharpenhoe Road. The club is affiliated to the Bedfordshire Football Association.

History

Barton Rovers Football Club was formed in 1898. An article in the local church newsletter from January 1899 records:^[4]

“

Another venture was the football club, which is now in full swing, and bids fair to flourish. The following matches have already been played: Oct. 8th At Barton, 3 goals; Toddington, 2 goals. Oct. 29th At Toddington, 3 goals; Barton, 2 goals. Nov. 12th At Silsoe, 2 goals; Barton, 2 goals. Several more fixtures have been made, and we trust that the January list will show somewhat different results. The members of the club take the present opportunity of thanking Mr. W. Hill for the use of his field.

”

The Rovers played in the Luton and District League prior to joining the South Midlands League ahead of the 1954–55 season. They won the South Midlands League Premier Division eight times in nine seasons during the 1970s and were rewarded with a place in the Isthmian League in 1979.

They were beaten finalists in the 1977–78 FA Vase, losing 2–1 to Newcastle Blue Star at Wembley Stadium. In November 1980, the club reached the first round proper of the FA Cup for the first time in their history. The Rovers lost 2–0 against Torquay United at Plainmoor. In January 2001, the club got to the third round of the FA Trophy, after beating Banbury United and Uxbridge respectively. They were beaten 6–1 by eventual finalists and Conference Premier side Forest Green Rovers in round three.

The Rovers played in the Isthmian League until 2004, playing in both Division One and Two. However, a re-organisation of the pyramid saw them switch to the Southern League, where they remain to this day.

In 2008, former Luton Town players Tony Thorpe, Scott Oakes and Liam George signed for Barton Rovers. In June 2014, Dan Kennoy stepped down as manager after almost four years in charge, to take up the role of director of football. He was replaced by Richard Wilmot and Wes Byrne, both former players.^[5]

On the final day of the 2015 January transfer window, Premier League side Crystal Palace signed Rovers striker Keshi Anderson after scoring a hat-trick against them in a trial game the week before.^[6] According to chairman Darren Whiley, Anderson was only the third player that the club has ever sold.^[5] The 2014–15 season saw the club achieve its highest ever league finish, ending up in 5th place in the Southern League Division One Central.

Ground

Stadium

Barton Rovers play their home matches at Sharpenhoe Road in Barton-le-clay, Bedfordshire. The main stand is all seated, occupying 160 seats. The stand that is directly opposite has covered terracing and runs the length of the pitch. The rest of the ground consists of large fencing behind both goals, as well as the side that's occupied by the main stand. The overall capacity of Sharpenhoe Road is 4,000.

Clubhouse

Situated behind the main stand of Sharpenhoe Road is the Barton Rovers clubhouse, which is open seven days a week. Music, comedy, bingo and other events are held there every month. There is also an annual fireworks display, which is famous in the area and attracts thousands of people every year to the club.

Opening Hours:

Monday ~ 19:00 - 23:00

Tuesday ~ 19:00 - 23:00

Wednesday ~ 19:00 - 23:00

Thursday ~ 19:00 - 23:00

Friday ~ 15:00 - 00:00

Saturday ~ 12:00 - 00:00

Sunday ~ 12:00 - 23:00

Honours

• FA Vase
  • Finalists 1977-78
  • Semi-Finalists 1976-77, 1981-82

• Isthmian League Division Two
  • Runners-up 1994–95

• South Midlands League Premier Division
  • Champions 1970–71, 1971–72, 1972–73, 1974–75, 1975–76, 1976–77, 1977–78, 1978–79
  • Runners-up 1967-68

• South Midlands League Division One
  • Champions 1964–65
  • Runners-up 1955-56

• South Midlands League Division Two
  • Champions 1954-55

• Bedfordshire Senior Cup
  • Winners 1971-72, 1972-73, 1980-81, 1981-82, 1989-90, 1997-98, 1998-99
  • Finalists 1974-75, 1975-76, 1982-83, 1990-91, 1995-96, 2004-05

Records

• League: 5th (Southern League Division One Central); 2014-15
• FA Cup: 1st Round, 1980-81
• FA Trophy: 3rd Round, 2000-01
• FA Vase: Final, 1977-78
• Attendance: 1,900 (Nuneaten Borough, FA Cup 4th Qualifying Round); 1976–77

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Barton Rovers FC.

• Official website

Southern League Premier Division Arlesey Town Banbury United Bideford Biggleswade Town Burnham Cambridge City Chesham United Chippenham Town Cirencester Town Corby Town Dorchester Town Dunstable Town Frome Town Histon Hitchin Town Hungerford Town Paulton Rovers Poole Town Redditch United Slough Town St Neots Town Truro City Weymouth Division One Central AFC Hayes Aylesbury Aylesbury United Barton Rovers Beaconsfield SYCOB Bedford Town Bedworth United Chalfont St. Peter Daventry Town Egham Town Godalming Town Hanwell Town Kettering Town Leighton Town Marlow North Greenford United Northwood Potters Bar Town Royston Town Rugby Town St Ives Town Uxbridge Division One South & West AFC Totton Bashley Bishop's Cleeve Bridgwater Town Cinderford Town Clevedon Town Didcot Town Evesham United Fleet Town Larkhall Athletic Mangotsfield United Merthyr Town North Leigh Sholing Shortwood United Stratford Town Swindon Supermarine Taunton Town Tiverton Town Wantage Town Wimborne Town Yate Town Seasons 1894–95 1895–96 1896–97 1897–98 1898–99 1899–1900 1900–01 1901–02 1902–03 1903–04 1904–05 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 1918–19 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 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15

Coordinates: 51°57′49″N 0°25′49″W / 51.963671°N 0.430173°W / 51.963671; -0.430173