Swindon Supermarine F.C.
Full name | Swindon Supermarine Football Club | ||
---|---|---|---|
Nickname(s) | The Marine | ||
Founded | 1992 | ||
Ground | Webb's Wood Stadium, South Marston, Swindon | ||
Capacity | 3,000 (325 seated) | ||
Chairman | Jez Webb | ||
Manager | Dave Webb | ||
League | Southern League Division One South & West | ||
2014–15 | Southern League Division One South & West, 14th | ||
Website | Club home page | ||
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Swindon Supermarine F.C. are a semi-professional football club based in Swindon, Wiltshire, that plays in the Southern League Division One South & West. The club is affiliated to the Wiltshire Football Association.[1] The club plays at the Hunts Copse Ground situated close to the Honda Plant in Swindon.
History
The club was established in 1992 as a merger between two local clubs in the Hellenic Football League, Supermarine F.C. and Swindon Athletic F.C..[2] Both clubs had problems with Supermarine finishing bottom of Division One and Swindon Athletic were having problems meeting the new ground grading requirements, required by the league, at their Swindon Borough Council owned Southbrook Recreation ground. So the two clubs decided to merge and took Swindon Athletics place in the Hellenic League Premier Division.[3]
Supermarine F.C. was originally set up in 1946 from the Social club associated with the Supermarine aircraft company.[3] The club was originally called Vickers Armstrong and then shortened to Vickers FC.[4] The club originally played in the Swindon & District league, working their way up the footballing pyramid, becoming founder members of the Wiltshire Football League in 1976, starting in Senior Division 1.[3][5] The club joined the Hellenic League in Division One for the 1982–83 season, under the name of Supermarine, and was immediately promoted to the Premier Division, where the club spent the next seven seasons.[6] The club during their time in the premier division also won the Wiltshire Senior Cup in the 1985–86 season.[3] After being relegated from the Premier Division the club struggled in Division One and at the end of the 1991–92 season, their last before they merged, finished in bottom place.[6]
Swindon Athletic F.C. were established in 1968 and were originally called Penhill, until 1989.[2] Like Supermarine they were founder members of the Wiltshire Football League in 1976, but started two divisions lower in Junior Division – Section A.[5] That season saw the club promoted and become Wiltshire Junior Cup winners.[3][5] The next season saw them become Senior Division 2 champions and went on to Become Senior Division 1 champions in the 1982–83 and 1983–84 campaigns.[5] At the end of the 1984–85 competition they were promoted to the Hellenic Football League Division one and gained promotion at the first attempt when they finished as runners up.[7] They then remained in the Premier Division of the Hellenic league.[7][8] During the 1980s the club also had some cup success, winning the Wiltshire Senior Cup three times and finishing runners-up twice.[3]
In 1997–98 the new club won the Hellenic League championship, but were not promoted due to ground requirements.[2] The championship was won for the second time in 2000–01 and this time they were accepted into the Southern League.[9] After four years of struggle at the foot of the table, not helped by a rapid succession of managerial changes, they qualified for the play-offs in 2005–06 but lost to Hemel Hempstead Town in the semi-finals.[10] In 2006–07 they again reached the promotion play-offs, where this time they were successful after beating Burnham in the semi-final and Taunton Town in the final.[11] This earned them a place in the Southern League Premier Division. That season also produced the club's last trophy win to date, securing the Wiltshire Premier Shield a decade after their first win in the competition.
At the end of the 2009–10 season, the club announced that it was facing a financial shortfall of £50,000, which would affect its immediate position in the Southern League.[12] A supporters consortium then took over the club and saved the club through various commitments and a sponsorship drive, which allowed them to continue in the Southern League Premier Division in the 2010–11 season.[3][13] Part of the sponsorship drive included the ground sponsorship which was taken up by local company H J Webb & Son and the ground was known as the Webbs Wood Stadium from August 2010.[2]
In February 2011, manager Mark Collier and assistant Tom Jones both resigned due to proposed budget cuts with player-managers Gary Horgan and Matt Robinson taking over as temporary managers until the end of the season.[14] The 2010-11 season saw them narrowly miss a lucrative FA Cup third round tie, though this was still the club's best ever cup run. Season 2011–12 kicked off with Horgan and Robinson now as permanent managers but the season didn't go well with relegation to the South & West Division confirmed on the last day of the season.[15][16]
In May 2012 the management team stepped down and Highworth Town manager Dave Webb was offered and accepted the manager's position.[17]
Crest
At the start of the 2001–02 season, the club was to no longer wear the traditional blue and white hooped kit with the wording "Swindon Supermarine Football Club" located where the badge usually is. The badge was adjusted slightly in the next decade in a shape. [18]
Colours and kits
The merger between the two Hellenic League clubs saw the new club adopt a new hooped blue and white Umbro kit. After three years of the club's existence Wemyss Lodge took over as sponsor, and remained a part of the hooped shirt until 2001. The turn of the millennium signalled a new era for the club, and the hooped blue and white kits were scrapped. Initially the new plain blue kits were sponsored by Fuelforce, who had also secured the away kit sponsorship as well. The kit has remained unchanged since. The club announced its first major sponsorship deal on 29 June 2012 with Wonga.com.[19]
Despite there not being much photographic evidence of Marine's away colours, the colours are traditionally red. Unlike the home kit, the away kit has not changed to any extent.[20]
Sponsors
Period | Kit supplier | Home kit front sponsor | Away kit front sponsor | Home kit rear sponsor | Away kit rear sponsor | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1993–95 | Umbro | E.F.P. | ||||
1995–98 | Wemyss Lodge | |||||
1998-2001 | Prostar | |||||
2001–02 | Unknown | FuelForce | FuelForce | |||
2002–04 | Nike & Unknown away kit supplier | |||||
2004–05 | Adidas | |||||
2005–06 | Adidas | |||||
2006–08 | Adidas | Lawson Group | ||||
2014–15 | Adidas | Wonga.com | Excalibur Communications | |||
2015–16 | Adidas | Oribtal Shopping Park[21] |
Ground
Swindon Supermarine play their home games at the Hunts Copse Ground in South Marston. The ground possesses a seated stand of 325 seats, a floodlit pitch; shop and clubhouse; 6ft perimeter fence. It is located near the Swindon Honda Plant and 4½ miles away from Swindon station.
The improvements necessary for the club to step up to the Southern League saw the building of a new 225-seater stand, taking the total covered capacity to 300, as well as new perimeter fencing and toilets and the addition of floodlights.[3]
Training ground
In November 2015, Supermarine successfully finished the new training facility, Swindome, behind the east goal. The all-weather 3G facility was quoted as "state of the art" and Supermarine chairman, Jez Webb, stated that he felt the facility would attract more people to the club and change Supermarine's game. The facility also has an upstairs gym and changing rooms.
Rivalries
Marine's rivals are considered to be Cirencester Town[23] and Chippenham Town[24]
Current squad
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Club officials
Board
- Chairman: Jez Webb
- Vice-Chairman: Keith Yeomans
- Directors: Jez Webb, Steve Moore, Alan Fletcher, Keith Yeomans
- Commercial Manager: vacant
- Committee: Marcus Cook, Dave Rideout, Roy Heather, Freda Heather, Gary Evans, Sean Rudd
Senior club staff
- Finance Manager: Steve Wheeler
- Groundsman: Steve Moore
- Kit Men: Bob Hunt, Adam Hunt
- Southern League Secretary: Judi Moore
- Fixtures Secretary: Sean Rudd
Coaching staff
- First Team Manager: Dave Webb
- First Team Assistant Manager/Coach: Lee Spalding
Medical staff
- Sports Therapist: Gerry McKay
Honours
League honours
- Hellenic Football League Premier Division:[9]
- Winners (2): 1997–98, 2000–01
- Hellenic Football League Division One:[6][7]
- Runners up (2): 1982–83†, 1985–86‡
- Wiltshire Football League Senior Division One:[5]
- Winners (2): 1982–83‡, 1983–84‡
- Wiltshire Football League Senior Division Two:[5]
- Winners (1): 1977–78‡
Cup honours
- Wiltshire Premier Shield[27][28]
- Winners (2) 1996–97, 2006–07
- Runners Up (3) 1994–95, 1998–99, 2002–03
- Wiltshire Senior Cup[3][27]
- Winners (2) 1985–86†, 1986–87‡
- Runners Up (3) 1985–86‡, 1990–91†, 1993–94
- Hellenic Football League Challenge Cup:.[3][29][30][31]
- Winners (2): 1996–97, 1999–00
- Runners up (2): 1994–95, 2000–01
- Hellenic Football League Floodlit Cup:[3][30]
- Winners (3): 1997–98, 1999–00, 2000–01
- Runners up (1): 1995–96
- Wiltshire Junior Cup[3]
- Winners (1) 1976–77‡
- Wiltshire Football League Ghia Senior KO Cup:[32]
- Winners (1): 1984–85‡
- Wiltshire Football League Subsidiary Cup:[33]
- Winners (1): 1980–81‡
- † Supermarine honour
- ‡ Swindon Athletic honour
Statistics
Notable former players
- Players that have played/managed in the football league or any foreign equivalent to this level (i.e. fully professional league).
- Players with full international caps.
Former coaches
- Managers/Coaches that have played/managed in the football league or any foreign equivalent to this level (i.e. fully professional league).
- Managers/Coaches with full international caps.
References
- ↑ "Wiltshire County Football Association Limited". Docstoc.com. Retrieved 2012-12-31.
- 1 2 3 4 Bernard, Rob (2012-10-06). "Hopping all over the World Two: Swindon Supermarine". Worldgroundhoptwo.blogspot.co.uk. Retrieved 2012-12-31.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 "Latest News". Swindonsupermarinefc.com. Retrieved 2012-12-31.
- ↑ "Swindon Supermarine". Pyramidpassion.co.uk. Retrieved 2012-12-31.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "History". Wiltshirefootballleague.com. Retrieved 2012-12-31.
- 1 2 3 SUPERMARINE at the Football Club History Database
- 1 2 3 PENHILL at the Football Club History Database
- ↑ SWINDON ATHLETIC at the Football Club History Database
- 1 2 SWINDON SUPERMARINE at the Football Club History Database
- ↑ "Football Club History Database – Southern League 2005–06". Fchd.info. Retrieved 2013-01-01.
- ↑ "Tims 92". Tims92.blogspot.co.uk. 2012-04-10. Retrieved 2013-01-01.
- ↑ "BBC Sport – Football – Swindon Supermarine eye FA Cup upset against Bath City". BBC News. 2010-10-22. Retrieved 2013-01-01.
- ↑ "BBC Sport – Football – Swindon Supermarine survival guaranteed". BBC News. 2010-06-16. Retrieved 2013-01-01.
- ↑ "BBC Sport – Football – Mark Collier quits as manager at Swindon Supermarine". BBC News. 2011-02-17. Retrieved 2013-01-01.
- ↑ "BBC Sport – Football – Swindon Supermarine appoint player-bosses". BBC News. 2011-05-05. Retrieved 2013-01-01.
- ↑ Lyus, Craig (2012-04-30). "SOUTHERN LEAGUE: Supermarine relegated from Southern Premier (From Swindon Advertiser)". Swindonadvertiser.co.uk. Retrieved 2013-01-01.
- ↑ Exclusive By Ned Payne (2012-05-15). "SOUTHERN LEAGUE: Webb appointed new Supermarine boss (From Swindon Advertiser)". Swindonadvertiser.co.uk. Retrieved 2013-01-01.
- ↑ http://www.swindonsupermarinefc.com/HISTORY/HISTORY.HTM
- ↑ http://www.swindonsupermarinefc.com/HISTORY/HISTORY.HTM
- ↑ http://www.swindonsupermarinefc.com/HISTORY/HISTORY.HTM
- ↑ http://www.swindonsupermarinefc.com/AAAAllseason%202009.10/SPONSORS/our%20sponsors.htm
- ↑ http://www.swindonsupermarinefc.com/HISTORY/HISTORY.HTM
- ↑ http://www.cirentownfc.com/centurion-football/firstteam/matchreport_20140318/
- ↑ http://www.swindonsupermarinefc.com/aaaallseason%202009.10/statistics/Home%20Games/Chippenham/Report%20Homev%20Chippenham%20league.htm
- ↑ http://www.swindonsupermarinefc.com/INDEX1.HTM
- ↑ http://www.swindonsupermarinefc.com/INDEX1.HTM
- 1 2 "Football Club History Database – Wiltshire County Cups Summary". Fchd.info. Retrieved 2013-01-01.
- ↑ "Players". Swindonsupermarinefc.com. Retrieved 2013-01-01.
- ↑ "Ascot United vs Kintbury Rangers FC Tuesday 27th October 2009" (PDF). Ascot United. 2009-10-27. Retrieved 2013-08-05.
- 1 2 "Uhlsport Hellenic Football League | Cup Winners". Hellenicleague.co.uk. 2007-11-01. Retrieved 2013-01-01.
- ↑ "Uhlsport Hellenic Football League | Statistics | Season 2000 – 2001". Hellenicleague.co.uk. 2007-11-01. Retrieved 2013-01-01.
- ↑ "Senior KO Cup". Wiltshirefootballleague.com. Retrieved 2013-01-01.
- ↑ "Subsidiary Cup". Wiltshirefootballleague.com. Retrieved 2013-01-01.
External links
- Official website
- BBC Wiltshire – News reports from BBC Wiltshire
Coordinates: 51°36′18.29″N 1°43′48.44″W / 51.6050806°N 1.7301222°W