Aveley F.C.
Full name | Aveley Football Club | ||
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Nickname(s) | The Millers | ||
Founded | 1927 | ||
Ground | Parkside, Aveley | ||
Capacity | 3,500 (424 seated)[1] | ||
Chairman | Graham Gennings | ||
Manager | Danny Scopes | ||
League | National League South | ||
2023–24 | National League South, 7th of 24 | ||
Website | Club website | ||
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Aveley Football Club are a semi–professional
History
The club was established in 1927 and played in local leagues until
In 1973 Aveley joined Division Two of the Isthmian League, which became Division One in 1977. They won the Essex Thameside Trophy in 1979–80 and the Hornchurch Charity Cup in 1982–83. In 1985–86 they finished bottom of the division, and were relegated to Division Two North. After finishing second in 1989–90, a season in which they also became the first club from the bottom division to win the League Cup, the club was promoted back to Division One. Although they finished fourth in their first season back in Division One, the club finished bottom of the division the following season, but were not relegated. However, in 1992–93 they finished bottom again and were relegated to Division Two. In 1994–95 the club were relegated to Division Three, where they remained until 2002, when league reorganisation saw them placed in Division One North.
Aveley were transferred to Division One East of the Southern League in 2004, before returning to Division One North of the Isthmian League in 2006. They won the division in 2008–09, and were promoted to the Premier Division. After finishing third in Isthmian League under manager Rod Stringer, the club lost in the promotion play-off semi-finals to eventual winners Boreham Wood.[4] In 2011–12 the club were relegated back to Division One North after finishing third-from-bottom. In their first season in Division One they finished fifth and qualified for the promotion play-offs. They lost 3–1 to Maldon & Tiptree in the semi-finals.[4] In 2021–22 Aveley were Division One North champions and were promoted to the Premier Division.[5] The following season saw the club win the League Cup, defeating Potters Bar Town 3–0 in the final.[6] They went on to finish fourth in the league, and after beating Canvey Island in the play-off semi-finals, defeated Hornchurch 1–0 in the final to earn a second consecutive promotion, this time to the National League South.[7]
Ground
The club played at Lodge Meadow until moving to Mill Field in 1952, at which point they gained the nickname the Millers.[2] The new ground was built by supporters on land they had purchased,[1] and a stand was bought from Grays Athletic for £100, subsequently becoming known as the Pepper Stand.[8] The ground was opened with a local derby match against Grays.[9] Terracing was installed on the other side of the ground, on which a 400-seat wooden stand was erected in 1958 at a cost of £2,600, together with additional terracing.[8] Floodlights were installed in 1967, with Grays again the visitors for the first match played under them.[9] At the time of its closure, the ground had a capacity of 4,000, of which 400 was seated and covered.[10]
During the 2010s the club bought the site of a former
Current squad
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Out on loan
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Honours
- Isthmian League
- Division One North champions 2008–09, 2021–22
- League Cup winners 1989–90, 2022–23
- Athenian League
- Champions 1970–71
- London League
- Premier Division champions 1954–55
- Division One champions 1950–51
- Essex Thames-Side Challenge Trophy
- Winners 1979–80, 2004–05, 2006–07
Records
- Best FA Cup performance: First round, 1970–71[4]
- Best FA Trophy performance: Quarter-finals, 2019–20[4]
- Best FA Vase performance: Fourth round, 1995–96[4]
- Biggest win: 11–1 vs Histon, 24 August 1963[10]
- Heaviest defeat: 8–0 vs Orient, Essex Thames-Side Trophy[10]
- Record attendance: 3,741 vs Slough Town, 27 February 1971[10]
- Most appearances: Ken Riley, 422[10]
- Record goalscorer: Jotty Wilks, 214[10]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d "Parklife for Millers", Groundtastic, Autumn 2017, issue 90, pp46–49
- ^ a b c History Archived 16 August 2016 at the Wayback Machine Aveley FC
- ^ London League 1950–1964 Non-League Matters
- ^ a b c d e f g Aveley at the Football Club History Database
- ^ "CHAMPIONS". www.pitchero.com/clubs/aveley. 19 April 2022. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
- ^ Millers lift the Velocity Cup Thurrock Nub News, 5 April 2023
- ^ "Two In A Row For The Millers- As Lightning Strikes Twice For The Urchins". Isthmian League. 1 May 2023. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
- ^ a b Jon Weaver (2006) The Football Grounds of Essex Metropolitan, pp4–6
- ^ a b Aveley Archived 1 July 2016 at the Wayback Machine Pyramid Passion
- ^ ISBN 978-1-869833-77-0
- ^ Exchange marks historic day for Aveley Archived 16 September 2016 at the Wayback Machine Non-League Daily
- ^ Why the CONIFA World Football Cup matters to Matabeleland Sky Sports, 31 May 2018
- ^ "First Team squad". Aveley F.C. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
- ^ "Aveley". Soccerway.