Woodbridge Town F.C.

Woodbridge Town
Full nameWoodbridge Town Football Club
Nickname(s)The Woodpeckers
Founded23 July 1885
GroundNotcutts Park, Woodbridge
Capacity3,000 (50 seated)[1]
ChairmanPaul Leech
ManagerLuke Hyam
LeagueEastern Counties League Premier Division
2023–24Eastern Counties League Premier Division, 13th of 19

Woodbridge Town Football Club is a football club based in Woodbridge, Suffolk, England. They are currently members of the Eastern Counties League Premier Division and play at Notcutts Park.

History

Woodbridge Town F.C. was formed at a meeting held on 23 July 1885, and the first match was played between the club's own members on a pitch at Farlingaye Hall.[2] The club's first match, against St Helens of Ipswich, resulted in a 10–0 victory. The Suffolk County Football Association was formed in the same year, and the club were a founder member, as well as winning the first Suffolk Senior Cup by beating Ipswich Town 3–1 in the final at Portman Road.

In 1908–09 they won the Junior Cup by beating RFA Ipswich 2–1, and in 1912–13 were champions of the Ipswich and District League's Senior Division. They won the Junior Cup again in 1927, beating Southwold Town 4–2. In 1929 they reached the final of the Senior Cup, but lost 5–0 to Ipswich Town

The club struggled to find a permanent home, and played at five different grounds during the 1950s and 1960s. They won Division One of the Ipswich and District League and the Junior Cup in 1970–71. In 1977–78 they won the Senior Cup, beating Cranes 2–1.

They were relegated in 1982–83, but returned to the Senior Division as Division One champions in 1986–87, also winning the Junior Cup. They won the Senior Division in 1988–89 (by which time it had become the Suffolk & Ipswich League), and were promoted to the newly established Division One of the Eastern Counties League. In 1990 the club bought a new ground to replace Kingston Field, and the opening game in October saw a crowd of around 3,000 attend for a friendly against Arsenal.

In 1993 the club won the Senior Cup again, beating Stonham Aspal 5–2. The following season the club retained the cup, beating Saxmundham Sports 4–0, as well as finishing second in Division One and earning promotion to the Premier Division. In the same season they also won the Harwich Charity Cup and the Churchman Cup, as well as becoming the first Division One side to win the League Cup by beating Chatteris Town 2–0 in the final.

In 1998 the club won the League Cup again, beating Warboys Town 4–2 in the final. In 1998–99 they reached the quarter-finals of the FA Vase, attracting a record crowd for a competitive match (1,051) to the game against Thame United, which was lost 2–0 after extra time

Between 2004 and 2007 the team was managed by former Ipswich Town midfielder Mick Stockwell.[3]

Honours

  • Eastern Counties League
    • Division One champions 2017–18
    • League Cup winners 1993–94, 1997–98
  • Suffolk & Ipswich League
    • Senior Division champions 1912–13, 1988–89
    • Division One champions 1986–87, 1970–71
    • League Cup winners 1978–79
  • Suffolk Senior Cup
    • Winners 1885–86, 1977–78, 1992–93, 1993–94, 2017–18
  • Suffolk Junior Cup
    • Winners 1908–09, 1926–27, 1970–71, 1986–87

Records

  • Record attendance: 3,000 vs Arsenal, friendly match, 2 October 1990[1]

References

  1. ^ a b Mike Williams & Tony Williams (2012) Non-League Club Directory 2013, p649 ISBN 978-1-869833-77-0
  2. ^ History Archived 2009-07-31 at the Wayback Machine Woodbridge Town FC
  3. ^ "Stockwell leaves Woodbridge Town". East Anglian Daily Times. 13 November 2007. Retrieved 12 April 2016.

52°05′07.97″N 1°17′27.46″E / 52.0855472°N 1.2909611°E / 52.0855472; 1.2909611