WHERE IT ALL BEGAN A history of Old Bradwell United

The Club’s early history is far from clear, but formation around the late 1920s, would seem most likely. Membership of the North Bucks League began in 1930, with a visit to Potterspury and a 5-2 defeat That first season proved to be very tough and we finished last, of fourteen Clubs The first victory, 5-2 at Paulerspury, came in November but only five points, with two victories and one draw, were gained during that initial season. However, three cup matches were won, two in the County Cup and one in the Stantonbury Hospital Cup.

The following campaign saw some improvement, although the five wins gained, from twenty-two matches, could only produce an eleventh place finish, one off the bottom, on goal average Defeats in the first round, in two Cups and a second round exit to Woburn Excelsior, in the Bletchley Hospital Cup, completed a fairly average season. Research has uncovered occasional references to an Old Bradwell United Reserve Team but they seem to have played friendly matches only. There is evidence of further seasons in the League, with similar outcomes, in terms of performances, although a Buckingham Hospital Cup Final defeat to Maids Moreton, would have been the highlight Having previously suffered relegation, League success was achieved by winning Division Two, in 1937/38 but the Second World War halted further progress.

Despite the Club re-entering the North Bucks League, post World War II, for a number of years, there are no records of their performances.

Eventually, the Club again withdrew from the League but were re-admitted in 1965, as a group of lads of similar age, from within the village, took the step up from Youth (Minor) football. Although no trophies were won during a period of establishment and consolidation in the League, steady progress was made. Due to several League re-structures and the formation of a Premier Division, by the mid seventies, Old Bradwell United was an established Division One Club

In season 1977/78 the Club took the Division One title and won the Buckingham Junior Charity Cup. Promotion to the Premier Division was secured and an era of considerable success began. Several more Buckingham Junior Charity Cups followed, including three in a row and there were a number of League Cup successes also We were also Runners Up, on a number of occasions, in these Competitions, during this period A Reserve Team was formed and they too were successful in winning, both their League and League Cup and achieving Runners Up slots in both. By the mid nineties the Club was looking to step up into a higher grade and we applied to the South Midlands League, to enter for season 1995/96.

As our application to the SML was under consideration, the 1994/95 season was to produce the most significant result in the Club’s history Having battled through six rounds of highly competitive football, including an amazing tie at Beacons Bottom, where we came back from 5-1 down, with ten men, to win 8-5, after extra time, we got to the final of the Berks & Bucks Junior Cup.

Reading League Club, Cox Green, were duly despatched, 2-1, to give us the trophy. Unfortunately, fixture congestion, caused by this cup run, scuppered our title ambitions and we signed off from the North Bucks League as Runners Up, yet again.

Our South Midlands League membership was approved and we began season 1995/96 with a home fixture v Cranfield United and a 6-4 defeat It’s fair to say that since then, in twenty plus years of membership, our results and progress, have, for the most part, been disappointing. However, we have grown substantially as a Club, in many different ways and are continually striving to move forward.

The 2014-15 season continued the progress under David Keene, as we emulated our best ever season in the League, fifth place in 1996/97 and also reached the Division Two Cup Final, where a 4-0 defeat to League Champions, Hale Leys United was a disappointing outcome. A best ever third place finish, in season 2015-16, including a record 18 successive wins, continued our upward progress. The side were brilliant all season, but the early defeats to Kent Athletic and Hale Leys (twice) in the first 4 games, proved costly.

We managed fifth place, yet again, in 2016-17, despite having to play all our Home matches at Stony Stratford Town FC, due to our Dressing Rooms at Abbey Road being classed as too small. Their reconstruction, with the help of FA and Parish Council grants and despite having to resolve many frustrating planning issues, was completed in October 2017, which meant our first game at Abbey Road in the 2017-18 season wasn't until November and a disappointing exit from the Berks & Bucks Senior Trophy against Newport Pagnell Reserves The season in general was up and down as the team struggled for consistency and once again we finished 5th

With the previous two seasons a little disappointing compared to 2015-16, for probably the first time in his tenure, manager David Keene was a lot more active in player recruitment than before ahead of the 2018/19 season. A tough start against new side Bovingdon ended in a resounding 4-0 defeat and indicated that once again we might fall short his soon changed as we won 12 games on the bounce, our run came to an end in game 14 as we went out on penalties against Premier Division Colney Heath in the Challenge Trophy. Sandwiched in between that was a lucky penalty win against North Bucks side Hanslope.

Despite the form, our title challenge were dented in December as we drew with Mursley and defeated at home by Berkhamsted Raiders. This would prove to be true as Bovingdon went on a superb winning run to have the title won by the time they came to us in April. We would have our best finish in our history as we were runners up, 4 points behind the champions and 10 clear of 3rd

It was the in the cups though that would finally end a 24 year wait for a trophy. Reaching the Division Two Cup final without conceding a goal, we faced Aston Clinton in the final. An early red card looked to have made it an impossible task, but a resolute performance from the 10 men meant the game finished 0-0. The game went to penalties, where we won the trophy 3-2

In the Berks & Buck Senior Trophy, we opened up with 2 3-0 wins against Stewkley and MK Gallacticos, respectively. Only to nearly come unstuck against Hanslope. A late winner from Peter Maxey saw us past Aston Clinton and in to the semis. We met Step 6 Sandhurst Town where we won through 2-0.

In the final, we faced a Marlow United team who had reached (and lost) the previous 2 finals Despite some excellent support, we never really got going and in truth Marlow had the better chances Once again it ended 0-0 and went to penalties With Marlow needed to score to win it, the kick was blazed over and we eventually won it 5-4 on penalties.

So the 2018-19 season ended as our most successful to that point, however, the Covid-19 pandemic then denied us our League winning ambitions, with seasons 19-20 and 20-21, both null and voided, with us leading the pack

However, 2021-22 would see us achieve that long awaited Trophy, when a late goal for Pitstone & Ivinghoe, at Aston Clinton, denied the Home side the title and we pipped them on goal difference, having lead the table for almost the whole season.