ARDLEYUNITEDCLUBHISTORY
ArdleyUnitedwereformedin1945justaftertheendoftheSecond WorldWar.Intheearlyyears,theclubplieditstradeintheLordJersey FAandplayedonapitchwhichwassituatedclosetotherailwayline ontheOxfordRoad.The1950’sand‘60’sweresuccessfulfortheclub astheywonbothleaguetitlesandcups;mostnotablytheOxfordshire JuniorShieldonthreeoccasionsaswellasmanyothertrophies.The acquisitionofthecurrentPlayingFieldsiteinthemid-60’senabledthe clubtomoveintotheheartofthevillage,andanumberofvolunteers ledbylife-longsupporterDougHodgesbuiltmodestchangingrooms.
ArdleycontinuedtocompeteintheJerseyLeaguethroughoutthe70’s andearly80’swithoutmuchsuccessbutthiswastochangeinthe mid-‘80’swiththearrivalofNormanStaceyaschairman–aposition thathegracestothisday.In1988theclubwerepromotedtothe OxfordshireSeniorLeagueandwontheDivisionOnetitleatthefirst attempt,followingthisupwiththePremierDivisiontitlethefollowing season.AcceptingaplaceintheHellenicLeagueforthe1993/4 season,Ardleyspentsixseasonsinthe‘old’DivisionOnewinningitin both1996/7and97/8aswellaswinningtheDivision1Cupfora recordfourconsecutiveseasonsbeforeitwasmergedwiththe PremierDivisionCuptobecometheChallengeCupthatweknow today.Themanagerduringtheseyearswasex-OxfordUnitedleading scorerPeterFoleyandhewastobethefirstinalineofmanagersto keepArdleyattheforefrontwhoincludePaulSpittle,PaulBerry,Dan StillandKevinBrockamongtheirnumber.
Majorchangewastocomeintheearly2000’sas,alongwiththe ArdleyPlayingFieldCommittee,ArdleyUnitedoversawthe constructionofdedicatedfacilitiesalongwithaseparatevillagehall whichenabledtheclubtobeindependentofcommunityactivities.The newclubhouse,whichhadbeenawardedtheNon-LeaguePaper’s HungerfordCupformost-improvedfacilities,allowedtheclubtobe promotedtotheHellenicPremierDivisionandsobegantheclub’s mostsuccessfulyearstodate.
KevinBrocktookthereinsforsevenseasonswhichsawArdleywin severalcupsincludingtheOxfordshireSeniorCupin2013/14,a seasonduringwhichtheynarrowlylostoutonthePremierDivisiontitle byjusttwopoints.FollowingBrock’sdeparture,PaulDavistookover asmanagerfornearlytwoseasonsuntiltheresignationoflong-time chairmanNormanStaceyinJune2017forpersonalreasons.Ian FeavertookovertheroleofChairmanandappointedCraigAdeyas
FirstTeamManager.Adecisiontobevoluntarilyrelegatedtouhlsport HellenicLeagueDivisionOneWestgaveeveryonesomebreathing spacetoadjusttothenewregime.
Craigbroughtwithhimatalentedsquadofplayersandtheywonthe DivisiontitlegainingpromotionbacktothePremierDivisionatthefirst timeofasking.The2018/2019seasonhaditsupsanddownsbutthe teamfinishedonahighwinningtheHellenicLeagueFloodlitCup.
LeeMatthewswasappointedmanagerforthe2020-21season,after beingjointmanagerwithDanial(Elvis)KnightafterCraigdeparted duringthe2019-20season.Theclubwentthrougharestructureinthe backoffice,leadingtoEddieNixbeingappointedasDirectorof FootballandthecreationoftheArdleyUnitedDevelopmentteam, managedbyCarlReed.
LEAGUEHISTORY
TheLeagueisrelativelyyoungcomparedtoother’sbeingformedin 1922astheBedfordshireCountyLeague.Withnewclubskeentojoin fromoutsidetheCountyitwasdecidedin1929tochangethenameto theSouthMidlandsLeague.
TheLeaguecontinuedtoconsolidateandstrengthenovertheensuing 70yearsorsoprovidingqualityfootballformanyteamsoveralarge areaoftheSouthMidlands.
In1997itbecameapparentthattheLondonSpartanLeague,which wasverymuchtotheSouthoftheLeague’sgeographicalfootprint,was strugglingadministratielyand,withthefullsupportoftheFootball Association,thedecisionwastakentomergethetwocompetitionswith thenewLeaguebeingknownastheSpartanSouthMidlandsLeague.
TheLeaguenowcoversawideareafromNorthLondonintheSouthto MiltonKeynesintheNorthandfromWareintheEasttoAylesburyin theWest.
TheLeagueispartoftheFA’sNationalLeagueSystem(NLS)and comprisesofthreeDivisions;PremieratStep5oftheNLS,Division OneatStep6andDivisionTwoatStep7.
TheLeaguehasaproudrecordofpromotingclubstoStep4oftheNLS andhasalsoprovided4FAVaseFinalistsincludingtwowinnersin ArleseyTownandHoddesdonTownFC.
SPARTANSOUTH MIDLANDSLEAGUE PREMIERDIVISION
ArdleyUnited TheNolanOilsGroundArdley PlayingFieldOX277PA 07467549294 ArleseyTown NewlambMeadowHitchinRd SG156RS 07910110720 AylesburyVale Dynamos TheGreenfleetsStadium HaywoodWayHP199WZ 07715772500 BaldockTown NewLambMeadowHitchinRd SG156RS 07507445099 BiggleswadeUnited SecondMeadowFairfieldRd BiggleswadeSG180AA 07714661827 Cockfosters ChalkLaneBarnetEN49JG 07956143291 Colneyheath TheRecreationGroundColney HeathAL40NP 07769644003 CrawleyGreen TheStadiumattheBrachePark StLutonLU13HH 07762752213 DunstableTown CreaseyParkDriveDunstable LU61BB 07828604170 HarpendenTown RothamsteadParkAmenbury LaneAL52EF 07796955197 HoddesdonTown ParkViewHoddesdonEN118PX 01767631297 LeightonTown BellCloseLakeStLeighton BuzzardLU71RX 07757720833 LeverstockGreen PancakeLaneLeverstockGreen HP24NQ 07747756591 LondonColney CotlandswickPlayingField LondonColneyAL21DW 07958794109 PottonUnited TheHutchinsonHollow BiggleswadeRdSG192LX 07703442565 RisboroughRangers BEPStadiumHorsendenLane HP279NE 07855958236 SheffordTown& Campton SheffordSportsClubHitchinRd SG175JD 07885557274 Stotfold JSJStadiumNewRokerPark ArleseyRdSG54HE 07752430493 StPanteleimon HertingfordburyPark,WestSt SG138EZ TringAthletic TheGrassRootsStadiumCow LaneTringHP235NT 07825747775 SPARTANSOUTHMIDLANDS LEAGUE PREMIERDIVISION DIRECTORY CLUB ADDRESS PHONE
TheHistoryofLeightonTownFootballClub
LeightonTown,whowereknownasLeightonUnitedbetween1922and1963, wereformedin1885.Theyweremainlyinvolvedinlocalleaguesuntilthe outbreakoftheGreatWarandwerewinnersoftheLeightonandDistrictLeague onseveraloccasions.
LeightonwereoneoftheoriginalmembersoftheSouthMidlandLeaguein1922 –whichatthetimewasknownastheBedfordshireCounty.Theywerealso membersoftheSpartanLeaguebetween1922/23and1951/52,buttheironly successesbeingtheSpartanLeagueDivision2titlein1923/24and1927/28. TheywereBedfordshireSeniorCupwinnersin1926/27.League
In1952,theybecameafoundermemberoftheHellenicLeague,butaftertwo disappointingseasons,movedtotheSouthMidlandsLeague.In1965/66 seasonhowever,thePremierChampionshipsatintheLeightonTown Boardroom.TheclubthenrejoinedtheSpartanLeaguein1967/68.
LeightonproceededtoconsolidatetheirLeaguesuccessbywinningthe BedfordshireSeniorCupforthreesuccessiveseasonsin1968,1969and1970. Unfortunately,someofthesuccessfulplayersmovedontootherclubs,and Leighton’sfortunesagaindeclined.AmovetotheUnitedCountiesLeague proveddisastrousandafterjusttwoseasons,theclubrejoinedtheSouth MidlandsLeague.
Duringthe‘70’sand‘80’s,Leightonwereunabletocapturethesuccessofthe ‘60’s.
In1990/1991theFirstTeamwontheSouthMidlandsLeagueChallengeTrophy andtheO’Brien’sPremierDivisionCup,bothforthefirsttimeintheclub’s history.
The1991/2seasonwasoneoftheclub’sbest.TheSouthMidlandsPremier Divisiontitle,whichhadeludedtheclubforsolong,waswon,andwithitaplace intheIsthmianLeague.
1992/3sawtheClub’ssuccesscontinuewhentheywontheBedfordshireSenior Cupforthefirsttimesince1970.TheClubmissedoutonpromotionintheirfirst IsthmianLeagueseasonbyjustasinglepointbuttheYouthTeamretainedthe CountyCup.
1995/6sawtheFirstTeamwinpromotiontoDivision2oftheIsthmianLeague, whilstatthesametimeretainingtheBuckinghamCharityCup.
Inthe1996/7season,LeightonwontheIsthmianLeagueAssociatedMembers Trophyforthefirsttime.1998/99sawthereturnoftheAssociatedMembers TrophyandtheBuckinghamCharityCup.
Season2003/04LeightonwontheRymanIsthmianSecondDivisiontitle.They werealsonamedRymanDivisionTwoTeamoftheYear,andPaulBurgesswas awardedManageroftheYear.TheyalsoreachedtheFifthroundoftheFAVase, andthefinaloftheBedsSeniorCup,beforelosingtoAndoverandArleseyTown respectively.
The2004-05seasonsawtheclubplacedinTheSouthernLeagueEastDivision andfinishedinacreditabletenthplace.TheyalsowontheBuckinghamshire CharityCup.TheReserveswontheBedfordshireIntermediateCupandthe U18’swontheSCYFLLeagueShield.
The05-06SeasonsawtheClubprogressagain,improvingontheyearbefore, astheyfinished8th inTheSouthernLeagueWesternDivision.Afterapoorstart, Leagueresultsimprovedandthesideonlysufferedfourdefeatsfromthestartof NovemberuntiltheendofMarch,aplay-offplacejusteludingthem.
AfterthreeexcellentvictoriesinterestintheFA.Trophycompetitionendedwitha singlegoaldefeattoeventualsemi-finalists,Borehamwood.
TheClubalsoreachedtheBedsSeniorCupFinal,butsadlytheyagainfinished asRunnersUp.
TheClubwererelocatedtotheSouthernLeagueMidlandDivisionfor06-07 seasonbutonlyoneLeaguewininthefirstsixgamesandearlyexitsinthetwo FACompetitionscostPaulBurgesshisjobinSeptember.Hewasreplacedby formerWycombeprofessionalKeithScott,resultsdidimprovebutitwasa disappointingseason,althoughTowndidwintheBucksSeniorCharityCup.
The07-08startedbrightlywiththefirstLeaguedefeatnotcominguntilmidOctober.ThreewinsintheFACupsawtheClubreachthe4th QualifyingRound forthefirsttimeinit’shistory.A3-0defeattoConferenceSouth,Havantand Waterloovillefinallyendedtherun.KeithScottthenleftinDecembertojoin WindsorandEton.InJanuary2008,AssistantManagerSeanDowneywas appointedasFirstTeamManageranddidasplendidjobastheClubendedtheir Leagueseasonin9th place,winningtheBucksCharityCupandreachingthe finaloftheBedsSeniorCuponcemore.
The08/09SeasontheFirstTeamfinished8th intheSouthernLeague,Midland Division,achievingtheirhighestpointstotaltodateatthatlevel.
The09/10seasonsawLeightononceagainfinishinthetophalfofthetable, whentheyfinishedin9th placeandtheyalsolosttheBedfordshireSeniorCup FinaltoSouthernLeaguerivals,ArleseyTownafterpenalties.
Season2010/2011,sawTownfinishin7th placeintheLeague,gaining69 points,theirbestperformancesincejoiningtheSouthernFootballLeague.
The2011/2012apoorseasonsawLeightonfinishintheirlowestpositionfor severalyears.
2012/13wasalsoverydisappointingfortheFirstTeamastheyfinishedin20th place.
2015/2016After3disappointingseasonsLeightonfinishedtheseasoninthe bottomtwooftheSouthernLeagueCentralDivisionandwererelegatedtothe SpartanSouthMidlandsLeaguewheretheyhadlastplayedinthe1991/92 season.
2016/2017Thiswasadisappointingseasonwiththeclubstrugglingformuch ofthetimeafteryetanotherManagerialChange.Thingsdidpickuptowardsthe endoftheseasonandweeventuallyfinishedin16th place.
2017/18TheclubretainedScottReynoldsasManagerandfinished4th inthe LeagueandreachedtheQuarterFinalsoftheFAVASE.Gatesimprovedand itwasourbestseasonforabout8years,
2018/2019Manager,ScottReynoldsresignedinthecloseseasonandDanny NichollswasappointedasManagerbutleftinOctoberduetowork commitments.TheClubthenappointedJoeSweeneyandPaulCopson,who hadpreviouslywonthePremierdivisiontitlewithLondonColneyasthenew ManagementTeam.Theysteadiedtheshipandwefinishedinmidtable.
2019/2020WasagoodseasonfortheClubasweagainreachedtheQuarter FinaloftheFAVaseandafteraslowstartintheLeaguetheteamstartedtofind somegoodformasweslowlyclimbedupthetable.Theteamwerealso awardedtheTeamoftheMonthtwice.
2020/2021Townforthethirdtimein4seasonsreachedtheQuarterFinalofthe FAVasebutsadlylostoutto2latepenalties.AnindifferentstartintheLeague meantwecouldnotquitegainthepointsneededtogainpromotioninaCovid affectedseason.
2021/2022Weeventuallyfinished4th inthetableafteramidseason Managementchangeandafterthedisappointmentoflosingourprevious4 BedsSeniorCupFinalswewontheTrophybybeatingSouthernLeagueDiv1 Champions,BedfordTownonpenaltiesafterthegamehadendedina2-2draw.
WelldonetotheU18’s,John&SueTurner,andmembersoftheclubwhohelped raisemoneyandspreadsomeChristmasjoylalongsidetheRotaryClub Agreatnightwashadbyallandmoreimportantlyagreatamountofmoneywas raisedforcharity! Manythankstoallinvolved
ChristmasReport
DirectorofFootballandViceChairman,SeanDowneyprovidesasummaryof progresssofarthisseason.
Itisalwaysimportantinanyfootballclubtoreviewprogressatregularintervals andtomakeanassessmentofwhathasgonewell,whatrequiresimprovement andhowcloselytheaimssetatthebeginningoftheseasonhavebeenmatched bytheperformancesandresultsonthefield.
IthinkthateveryoneinvolvedwithLeightonTownFCshouldfeelveryproudof theprogressandachievementsofalltheteamsinourSeniorsectionaswe approachChristmasandthehalfwaypointoftheseason.
TheFirstTeam,althoughlyinginsecondplace,havethebestpointspergame recordintheleague,anunbeatenhomerecordandareontracktostagea crediblechallengeforpromotioninthesecondhalfoftheseason.Inaddition, wehavemadethelast32oftheFAVaseafter5victories,includingtough encounterswithSaffronWaldenFC,SheffordandCamptonandFakenham TownFCinpreviousrounds.Weremainin2othercupcompetitionsatthetime ofwritingandmoraleandconfidenceishighinthesquad.LeeBircham(Birchy) hasputtogetheratalentedandcompetitivesquadofplayersandvindicatedthe committee’sdecisiontoappointhimlatelastseason.Hehasbeenably supportedbyAssistantManagerTonyJoyceandanexcellentcoachingand backroomstaff.HowmanyclubsatourlevelhaveaHarleyStreetspecialistas theirHeadPhysio?!Thesecondhalfoftheseasonwillbetough.Thereare manystrongsidesintheleaguethisyear,andintheFAVase,wehavedrawn lastyear’swinnersNewportPagnellTownawayinthenextround. Nevertheless,weareexcitedbywhattherestoftheseasonhasinstoreand remainconfidentthatifwecankeepoursquadfitandcontinuetoutilisethe excellentbalanceofyouthandexperienceBirchyhasbuilt,wewillremaininthe mixcometheendoftheseason.
OurnewDevelopmentTeamisayoungandtalentedgroupofplayers,who havehadanexceptionalstarttotheirfirstseasoninSeniorfootball.Jamieand Neil,supportedbyHeadofYouthDevelopmentDanTurneyandU18Manager JamesHeeps,haveprovidedimportantopportunitiestoourrisingyouthstars togainvaluableexperienceatStep7intheirquesttobreakintotheFirstTeam squad.TheycurrentlylieinfourthplaceinDivision2oftheSouthMidlands havinglostonlyonegameallseasonsofar,totopoftheleagueandunbeaten NewBradwellStPeter.Agreatstart!
Finally,ourU18TeamsitsproudlytopoftheSouthernCountiesFootballLeague afteranexcellentseasonsofar.Manyoftheplayershavehadexperienceboth intheDevelopmentTeamandinafewcases,theFirstTeamaswell.Thereis someexcitingtalentbeingcarefullynurturedbyourexcellentU18coaching staff,includingexfirstteamplayerssuchasEnzoSilvestriandexfirstteam managerGuyKefford.DannyBugajprovidesafurtherlayerofsupportand manyofhisexcellentU16teamhavehadsignificantminutesintheU18team. Astheysay,‘ifyouaregoodenough,youareoldenough!
Agreatseasonsofarateveryleveloffootballandsomuchtolookforwardto intheNewYear.
Offthefieldourfantasticsupporterscontinuetobetheenvyofmostclubs,not onlyatStep5,butatStep4too.Thebuzzinthestadiumonmatchdaysis palpableandIwouldliketotakethisopportunityonbehalfofthecommitteeto thankeachandeveryoneofyouwhohasgiventheclubsomuchsupportthis seasonsofar.AttendanceatDevelopmentTeamandU18gameshasalsobeen amazing,oftenhigherthanmostcrowdsatStep5!Longmayitcontinue.
Withintheclubhousemuchworkcontinuestobedonetoprovideanexcellent matchdayexperienceforeveryoneandhugethanksmustgotoourhospitality teamandvolunteerswhogivesomuchtimetoensuringthattheclubcontinues togofromstrengthtostrengthasagenuinecommunityfootballclub.Therange ofpartners,sponsorsandcommunitygroupsconnectedwiththeclubcontinues togrowandIwillprovideanup-dateonthisimportantpartofourworkinafuture post.Theyallplayacrucialroleinsupportingtheclubinmovingforwardand ourgratitudeissincereanddeeplyfeltbyatalltheclub.
Itonlyremainsformetowishallourfantasticplayers,managementand coachingstaff,hospitalitystaff,volunteers,supportersandpartners/sponsors,a verymerryChristmasandahappy,healthyandsuccessfulNewYear.
WelookforwardtowelcomingyouallbacktoBellCloseforourimportanthome leaguegameagainst ArdleyUnitedFConTuesday27thDecember,kick-off at3-00pm.
UPTHETOWN!
