Ilfracombe Town F.C.
Full name | Ilfracombe Town Football Club | ||
---|---|---|---|
Nickname(s) | The Millers | ||
Founded | 1902 (as Ilfracombe) | ||
Ground | Marlborough Park, Ilfracombe | ||
Capacity | 1,000 | ||
Chairman | Kenny Robertson | ||
Manager | Ross Middleton | ||
League | South West Peninsula League Division One East | ||
2016â17 | North Devon League Premier Division, 1st of 15 (promoted) | ||
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Ilfracombe Town Football Club is a football club based in Ilfracombe, Devon, England. They are currently members of the South West Peninsula League Division One East and play at Marlborough Park, situated high on a hill overlooking the Bristol Channel.
History
The club was founded in 1902 as Ilfracombe F.C. and became a founder member of the North Devon League in 1904. In 1920, the Town suffix was added to the club's title. In 1922, the club switched to the East Devon League. The club in 1923 then acquired its present ground of Marlborough Park and laid out the pitch ready to start in the 1924â25 season.[1]
After the Second World War they were the founding members of the Western Football League Division Three in 1949 and progressed through the divisions until reaching the Western League top flight in 1953. The 1949â50 season also saw the club make its debut in the FA Cup.[2] After only two seasons, they were relegated and after four more seasons in Division Two, left the Western League in 1959 and joined the North Devon League. With relegation the club also stopped playing in the FA Cup having to wait until 1989 before entering it again.[2]
After a quarter of a century back in local football in the North Devon League, they re-joined the Western League in 1984 as members of Division One and in 1986 entered the FA Vase for the first time. The club gained promotion in 2007 to the Western Football League Premier Division, and also won the 2010â11 Les Phillips Cup by beating Cadbury Heath 3â1 in the final.[3]
In 2014 the club withdrew from the Western League and returned to the more local North Devon League. In 2016 the clubs record goal scorer Toby Reed transferred to local rivals Combe Martin FC.
Ground
Ilfracombe Town play their games at Marlborough Park, Ilfracombe EX34 8PD. The ground has a capacity of 1,000 and two covered stands. The clubhouse has a fully licensed bar with catering and function rooms, available to hire. The ground has six floodlight pylons to enable evening games to be played.
Honours
- Western League Division Two :[2]
- Runners-up: 1952â53
- Western League Division Three :[2]
- Runners-up: 1949â50
- Western Football League Cup:[4]
- Winners (
Records
- Highest League Position:[2] 3rd in Western League Division 2009â10, 2010â11
- FA Cup best performance:[2] Fourth qualifying round 1952â53
- FA Vase best performance:[2] Third round 2011â12
References
- â "Western Football League | Club Directory | Ilfracombe Town". Toolstationleague.com. Retrieved 2012-08-13.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 ILFRACOMBE TOWN at the Football Club History Database
- â "MORE used to being underdogs, Ilfracombe Town found the favourites tag suited them in the most significant game in the club's history.". This is North Devon. 2011-05-12. Retrieved 2012-08-13.
- â "Western Football League Cup - Les Phillips cup 1989-present" (PDF). Western Football League. Retrieved 2013-01-06.
External links
Coordinates: 51°12â˛09.03âłN 4°06â˛56.04âłWďťż / ďťż51.2025083°N 4.1155667°W