Chippenham Town F.C.
Full name | Chippenham Town Football Club | ||
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Nickname(s) | The Bluebirds | ||
Founded | 1873 | ||
Ground | Hardenhuish Park, Chippenham | ||
Capacity | 3,000 (300 seated)[1] | ||
Chairman | Neil Blackmore | ||
Manager | Gary Horgan | ||
League | National League South | ||
2023–24 | National League South, 12th of 24 | ||
Website | Club website | ||
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Chippenham Town Football Club is a semi-professional football club based in Chippenham, Wiltshire, England. They are currently members of the National League South, the sixth tier of English football, and play their games at Hardenhuish Park.
History
The club states it was established in 1873,
In 1930 Chippenham rejoined Division Two of the Western League.[8] The league was reduced to a single division in 1939, and the club were runners-up when the league resumed in the 1945–46 season.[8] The 1951–52 season saw them win the Western League for the first time, and they also reached the first round of the FA Cup for the first time, losing 3–0 at Leyton.[8] They were Western League runners-up again in 1954–55.[8] However, they left the Western League at the end of the 1964–65 season,[8] dropping back into the Wiltshire League.[2] In 1968 the club joined the Premier Division of the Hellenic League, where they played until rejoining the Western League in 1973.[2] When the league gained a second division in 1976, the club were relegated to the new Division One.[8] They were Division One champions in 1980–81, earning promotion to the Premier Division.[8] In 1999–2000 the club reached the final of the FA Vase, eventually losing 1–0 to Deal Town at Wembley Stadium.[8]
After finishing as runners-up in
In 2016–17 Chippenham won the Southern League's Premier Division with a league record 103 points, earning promotion to the National League South. They reached the first round of the FA Cup again in 2019–20, losing 3–0 at home to Northampton Town. The 2021–22 National League South season saw the club qualify for the promotion play-offs after finishing seventh, going on to beat Dartford 3–2 on penalties (after a 0–0 draw) in the quarter-finals, before losing 1–0 to Ebbsfleet United after extra time in the semi-finals.[8] In 2022–23 the club reached the FA Cup first round again; after beating Lincoln City 1–0,[13] they lost 6–1 at Burton Albion in the second round.
Ground
The club moved to Hardenhuish Park in 1919, having previously played at at least four other grounds.[14] A main stand was erected and subsequently added to on several occasions.[14] A clubhouse was opened in 1979, which has since been turned into hospitality suites, and floodlights were installed in 1986.[14] Additional covered standing is, as of 2021, now provided behind one goal whilst covered standing is along the opposite side of the pitch to the main stand.[15] This was built in 1993, replacing an earlier stand that had been damaged by storms.[14] The pitch at Hardenhuish Park has a noticeable slope, downwards towards the Town End.[14] A new, bigger clubhouse at pitch level was opened in 2020, housing a bar and is a year-round community facility.[16] The ground currently has a capacity of 3,000, of which 300 is seated.[1]
Current squad
As of 2 November 2023[17]
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
- Southern League
- Premier Division champions 2016–17
- Western League
- Premier Division champions 1951–52
- Division One champions 1980–81
- League Cup winners 1999–2000, 2000–01
- Wiltshire League
- Champions 1907–08, 1908–09, 1928–29
- Wiltshire Premier Shield
- Winners 1965–66, 1986–87, 1988–89, 2001–02, 2003–04, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2010–11, 2017–18
Records
- Best FA Cup performance: Second round, 2022–23[8]
- Best FA Trophy performance: Third round, 2022–23[8]
- Best FA Vase performance: Finalists, 1999–2000[8]
- Record attendance: 4,800 vs Chippenham United, Western League, 1951[18]
- Biggest win: 9–0 vs Devizes Town, FA Cup, 1945–46;[8] 9–0 vs Dawlish Town, Western League;[18] 9–0 vs Moneyfields, FA Cup, 2015–16[8]
- Heaviest defeat: 10–0 vs Tiverton Town, Western League[18]
- Most appearances: Ian Monnery[18]
- Most goals: Dave Ferris[18]
See also
References
- ^ a b Chippenham Town Non-League Club Directory
- ^ a b c Club History Chippenham Town F.C.
- ^ Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard, 6 December 1884
- ^ Wiltshire Times, 6 December 1884
- ^ Devizes and Wiltshire Gazette, 24 December 1884: "Chippenham v Melksham. The first match played at Chippenham since the formation of the club a few weeks since was played at Chippenham, on Saturday afternoon, between the above clubs, when the Melksham team were victorious, having scored seven goals to one."
- ^ History of Senior Football Leagues in Wiltshire Wiltshire Senior League
- ^ a b c d Wiltshire League 1901-1955 Non-League Matters
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Chippenham Town at the Football Club History Database
- ^ 2004-05 Southern League Football Club History Database
- ^ 2005-06 Southern League Football Club History Database
- ^ 2007-08 Southern League Football Club History Database
- ^ 2009-10 Southern League Football Club History Database
- ^ "Chippenham Town 1–0 Lincoln City: Non-league side stun League One Imps". BBC Sport. 5 November 2022. Retrieved 6 November 2022.
- ^ a b c d e Chippenham Town Pyramid Passion
- ^ "Grading and additional covered seating". Chippenham Town F.C. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
- ^ "Clubhouse". Chippenham Town F.C. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
- ^ "The Team". Chippenham Town F.C.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-869833-77-0