Aylesbury United F.C.
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| Full name | Aylesbury United Football Club | ||
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| Nickname(s) | The Ducks | ||
| Founded | 1897 | ||
| Ground | The ASM Stadium, Meadow View Park Thame Oxfordshire (Groundshare with Thame United F.C.) |
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| Capacity | 2,000 | ||
| Owner | Aylesbury United Supporters Trust (2009–present) | ||
| Chairman | Graham Read | ||
| Manager | Glyn Creaser | ||
| League | Southern League Division One Central |
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| 2014–15 | Southern League Division One Central 13th |
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Aylesbury United is a football club currently based in Thame, Oxfordshire, who currently play in the Southern League. They are nicknamed the Ducks.
The club are currently without a permanent home following eviction from their old Buckingham Road stadium in 2006, and from 2009-2015 were ground sharing at Leighton Town. From the 2015-2016 season, for the next two seasons, Aylesbury United will groundshare with Thame United.[1] Aylesbury are currently managed by Glyn Creaser.
Contents
History
Aylesbury United were formed in 1897 with the merging of Night School FC, the Printing Works and Aylesbury Town. Wearing the traditional green and white colours still worn today, they remained an amateur club, spending the post-war years playing in the Delphian League until it merged with the Athenian League in 1963 to become that competition's Division Two whilst the Corinthian League became Division One. They turned semi-professional and took their place in the Southern League in 1976 in the early years of open i.e. officially paid football.
Most successful period
During the period between 1985 and 1993, under the management of Trevor Gould, Aylesbury boasted the best FA Cup record of any side outside the Football League, reaching at least the First Round Proper every season. The highlights of this period were a victory over then Division Four leaders Southend United, a narrow extra-time replay defeat against Northampton Town, and Aylesbury's tie with Walsall at Buckingham Road being shown live across Europe on Sky television.
It was also during this period that the club reached its peak in terms of league competition, as a Southern League championship win led to the club spending an unsuccessful season in the Football Conference in 1988–89 after which they were relegated into the Isthmian League, where they would remain for fifteen years. Famously Aylesbury became the only non-League side to face the full England team, as they hosted the national side in a warm-up match in 1988 in preparation for the European Championships. The match attracted at record attendance of over 6,000 at Buckingham Road, and people even watched from the trees. England won the game 7–0.
Aylesbury enjoyed their longest FA Cup run in 1994–95, as they reached the Third Round Proper before going out to then Premiership side Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road. During this run, Aylesbury again made themselves well known, largely due to their invention of the "duck walk" goal celebration, and were notably featured performing this celebration on an edition of the popular BBC television programme They Think It's All Over.
Record holder: Cliff Hercules
Along with manager Gould, another figure central to this glory period was striker Cliff Hercules, who currently holds the club records for most appearances (669) and most goals (301), following a career spanning 18 years (1984–2002). Hercules "retired" from playing as Aylesbury were relegated in 2000, still one goal shy of his landmark 300th; however, he returned a few months later as manager and was able to add two more goals to his tally during fleeting substitute appearances as his team earned promotion in his first and only full season at the helm, 2001–02.
Recent history
Since their FA Cup success in 1994–95, Aylesbury have only reached the First Round proper on one further occasion, when they travelled to Port Vale in 2001. The club did however have their most successful FA Trophy campaign in 2002–03, reaching the semi-finals before finally losing to eventual winners Burscough by way of an injury-time penalty.
The closest that the club have come to returning to the Conference was in the 1998–99 season, when they led the Isthmian League Premier Division for long periods, but fell away, eventually finishing second following the sacking of manager Bob Dowie midway through the season. The club went into administration later that year (having experienced similar problems three years earlier) and, largely as a result of this, were relegated in 2000.
After the team regained their place in the Premier Division under the aforementioned Hercules, Steve Cordery took over at the helm, but resigned after just a year in the job to become manager at Staines Town. Following this, the club appointed three permanent managers and two joint-caretaker managers during a dismal 2003–04 season, which saw the club finish 24th and bottom of the Premier Division, ten points behind their nearest competition.
Following the extensive restructuring of the non-league pyramid in 2004, Aylesbury were placed in the Southern League for the 2004–05 season, finishing 10th. The following season they finished 23rd and were relegated to the Southern League Division One Midlands.
The club played at Bell Close in Leighton Buzzard, the home of neighbours Leighton Town from 2009-2015. From the 2015-2016 season, the club agreed a two year groundshare with Thame United. There is an ongoing "Bring the Ducks Home" campaign to return the club to a ground in Aylesbury,[2] with one possibility being a new 10,000-seater stadium to be built if a new sports village is approved.[3]
In July 2009, The Aylesbury United Supporters Trust was able to gain control of the club, which thus became a fan-owned football team.[4]
At the end of the 2012–13 season the club gained promotion to Division One Central of the Southern League, when they finished as runners-up behind Dunstable Town.[5]
Aylesbury United timeline
| Season | Division | Position | Significant Events |
|---|---|---|---|
| Founding member of Delphian League | |||
| 1951–1952 | Delphian League | 6 | – |
| 1952–1953 | Delphian League | 2 | Runner-Up |
| 1953–1954 | Delphian League | 1 | Champions |
| 1954–1955 | Delphian League | 3 | – |
| 1955–1956 | Delphian League | 5 | – |
| 1956–1957 | Delphian League | 4 | – |
| 1957–1958 | Delphian League | 5 | – |
| 1958–1959 | Delphian League | 7 | – |
| 1959–1960 | Delphian League | 5 | – |
| 1960–1961 | Delphian League | 9 | – |
| 1961–1962 | Delphian League | 5 | – |
| 1962–1963 | Delphian League | Abandoned | – |
| Delphian League disbanded. Moved to Athenian League Division Two | |||
| 1963–1964 | Athenian League Division Two | 13 | – |
| 1964–1965 | Athenian League Division Two | 13 | – |
| 1965–1966 | Athenian League Division Two | 15 | – |
| 1966–1967 | Athenian League Division Two | 10 | – |
| 1967–1968 | Athenian League Division Two | 2 | Runner-Up |
| Promoted to Athenian League Division One | |||
| 1968–1969 | Athenian League Division One | 11 | – |
| 1969–1970 | Athenian League Division One | 11 | – |
| 1970–1971 | Athenian League Division One | 10 | – |
| 1971–1972 | Athenian League Division One | 15 | – |
| 1972–1973 | Athenian League Division One | 15 | Relegated |
| Relegated to Athenian League Division Two | |||
| 1973–1974 | Athenian League Division Two | 10 | – |
| 1974–1975 | Athenian League Division Two | 11 | – |
| 1975–1976 | Athenian League Division Two | 9 | – |
| Joined Southern League Division One South | |||
| 1976–1977 | Southern League Division One South | 18 | – |
| 1977–1978 | Southern League Division One South | 6 | – |
| 1978–1979 | Southern League Division One South | 10 | – |
| League re-organised, placed in Southern League Southern Division | |||
| 1979–1980 | Southern League Southern Division | 2 | Runner-Up |
| 1980–1981 | Southern League Southern Division | 11 | – |
| 1981–1982 | Southern League Southern Division | 11 | – |
| Moved to Southern League Midland Division | |||
| 1982–1983 | Southern League Midland Division | 13 | – |
| 1983–1984 | Southern League Midland Division | 5 | – |
| 1984–1985 | Southern League Midland Division | 2 | Runner-Up |
| Promoted to Southern League Premier Division | |||
| 1985–1986 | Southern League Premier Division | 8 | – |
| 1986–1987 | Southern League Premier Division | 3 | – |
| 1987–1988 | Southern League Premier Division | 1 | Champions |
| Promoted to Football Conference | |||
| 1988–1989 | Football Conference | 20 | Relegated |
| Relegated to Isthmian League Premier Division | |||
| 1989–1990 | Isthmian League Premier Division | 3 | – |
| 1990–1991 | Isthmian League Premier Division | 3 | – |
| 1991–1992 | Isthmian League Premier Division | 7 | – |
| 1992–1993 | Isthmian League Premier Division | 10 | – |
| 1993–1994 | Isthmian League Premier Division | 12 | – |
| 1994–1995 | Isthmian League Premier Division | 4 | – |
| 1995–1996 | Isthmian League Premier Division | 11 | – |
| 1996–1997 | Isthmian League Premier Division | 7 | |
| 1997–1998 | Isthmian League Premier Division | 18 | – |
| 1998–1999 | Isthmian League Premier Division | 2 | Runner-Up |
| 1999–2000 | Isthmian League Premier Division | 20 | Relegated |
| Relegated to Isthmian League Division One | |||
| 2000–2001 | Isthmian League Division One | 14 | – |
| 2001–2002 | Isthmian League Division One | 3 | Promoted |
| Promoted to Isthmian League Premier Division | |||
| 2002–2003 | Isthmian League Premier Division | 17 | – |
| 2003–2004 | Isthmian League Premier Division | 24 | – |
| Rejoined Southern League Premier Division | |||
| 2004–2005 | Southern League Premier Division | 10 | – |
| 2005–2006 | Southern League Premier Division | 21 | Relegated |
| Relegated to Southern League Division One Midlands | |||
| 2006–2007 | Southern League Division One Midlands | 6 | – |
| 2007–2008 | Southern League Division One Midlands | 8 | – |
| 2008–2009 | Southern League Division One Midlands | 10 | – |
| 2009–2010 | Southern League Division One Midlands | 22 | – |
| Relegated to Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division | |||
| 2010–2011 | Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division | 6 | – |
| 2011–2012 | Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division | 4 | – |
| 2012–2013 | Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division | 2 | Runner-Up |
| Promoted to Southern League Division One Central | |||
| 2013–2014 | Southern League Division One Central | 12 | – |
| 2014–2015 | Southern League Division One Central | 13 | – |
Ground
As of the 2015-16 season, Aylesbury United currently play their home games at The ASM Stadium, Meadow View Park, Tythrop Way, Thame, Oxfordshire, OX9 3RN.
The ground is shared with owners Thame United.
Honours
League honours
- Southern League Premier Division :[6]
- Winners: 1987–88
- Southern League Midland Division:[6]
- Runners-up: 1984–85
- Southern League Southern Division:[6]
- Runners-up: 1979–80
- Spartan South Midlands Football League Premier Division:[7]
- Runners-up: 2012–13
- Athenian League Division Two:[6]
- Runners-up: 1967–68
- Delphian League:[6]
- Winners: 1953–54
- Runners-up: 1952–53
- Spartan League:[6]
- Runners-up: 1913–14
- Spartan League Division A:[6]
- Runners-up: 1909–10
- Spartan League Western Division:[6]
- Winners: 1908–09
Cup honours
- Berks & Bucks Senior Cup:[8][9]
- Winners: 1913–14, 1985–86, 1996–97, 1999–00
- Runners-up: 1986–87, 1995–96, 2002–03, 2004–05
- Berks & Bucks Senior Shield:[10]
- Winners: 2012–13
- Berks & Bucks Benevolent Cup:[9]
- Winners: 1932–33, 1933–34, 1952–53, 1953–54
- Isthmian League Cup:[9]
- Winners: 1994–95
- Spartan South Midlands Football League Premier Division Cup:[11]
- Winners: 2012–13
http://spartansouthmidlands.goalrun.com/leagues?league_news_item&id=2932007&lid=398&did=3311
Records
- Highest League Position:[6] 20th in Conference National Division 1988–89
- FA Cup best performance:[6] Third round 1994–95
- FA Trophy best performance:[6] Semi-Final 2002–03
- FA Vase best performance:[6] Fourth round 1975–76
- Highest Attendance:[9] 7440 vs Watford 1951–52 Season
- Most Appearances:[9] 669 – Cliff Hercules 1984–2002
- Record Goalscorer:[9] 301 – Cliff Hercules 1984–2002
Former players
1. Players that have played/managed 20 or more games in the football league or any foreign equivalent to this level (i.e. fully professional league).
2. Players with full international caps.
3. Achieved a first in the football league
- A list of Aylesbury United Players former and current can be found, including those that do not meet the criteria above here:Category:Aylesbury United F.C. players
Sources
Aylesbury United at the Football Club History Database
References
- ↑ http://www.bucksherald.co.uk/news/more-news/aylesbury-united-announce-groundshare-with-thame-for-the-next-two-seasons-1-6658868
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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- ↑ 6.00 6.01 6.02 6.03 6.04 6.05 6.06 6.07 6.08 6.09 6.10 6.11 AYLESBURY UNITED at the Football Club History Database
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Berks & Bucks at the Football Club History Database
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 Honours Aylesbury United FC
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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External links
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