Staines Town F.C.
Full name | Staines Town Football Club | |
---|---|---|
Nickname(s) | Skid Army | |
Founded | 1892 | |
Dissolved | 2022 | |
Ground | Wheatsheaf Park | |
Capacity | 3,002 | |
Owner | Fulcrum Sports Investments | |
|
Staines Town Football Club was a football club based in Staines-upon-Thames, Surrey. Founded in 1892, it last competed in the Isthmian League, until it was dissolved in 2022.
History
Early days
Staines Town FC was founded in 1892 and was known under various names including Staines F.C.,Staines Albany F.C., 'Staines Lagonda F.C.', and 'Staines Town F.C.', until it folded in 1935. However, prior to World War II the club re-formed as Staines Vale.
In 1953 Staines Town were founder members of the Hellenic League, where they finished runners-up in 1956. In 1958 they joined the Spartan League and won the title two years later. After finishing second in 1971, Staines Town advanced to the Athenian League, where they won the Second Division title at the first attempt, amassing a record number of points.
Isthmian League
The club were elected to the new Isthmian League Division One in 1973. In their second season, the club finished top and were promoted to the Premier Division. In a nine-year stay, the club's best finish was fourth. However, a ground grading ruling meant that the club were demoted in 1984. The club bounced back five years later only for its Premier Division status to be lost again in 1993 when the club were relegated for the first time in 63 years. Again the club were promoted in 1996 and again it was quickly lost, with the club returning to Division One after only a year.
Having lobbied
During 2002–03 and 2003–04, Staines played in Division One South of the
Life in the Conference South
The 2009–10 campaign marked the Swans' first ever appearance in the
Cup history
The club have reached the
On 7 November 2009 they beat
On 28 November 2009 they earned a place in the 3rd round Draw for the first time ever after a 1–1 draw[5] against League One Millwall, Ali Chaaban scoring a 79th-minute penalty to level the score after having gone behind ten minutes earlier, in front of a 2,753 crowd. The replay at the New Den was on 9 December and was broadcast live on the FA.com website. A home tie against Championship side Derby County in the 3rd round awaited the winners of the replay, which Millwall won 4–0.[6]
There have been two appearances in the last 32 of the
Another significant match in the club's history was in 1975 when they beat Italian Amateur cup winners Banco di Roma 3–0 on aggregate (1-0 in Rome, 2–0 in Wheatsheaf Lane) for the Barassi Cup.
Staines have also lifted the
The Carlsberg Cup (an Isthmian League tournament now abolished) was lifted in 1995 against Boreham Wood where the Swans scored a last minute equaliser from the last experimental 'kick in' in English football.
In the London Senior Cup, Staines were runners up in both 1977 and 1981, the earlier final went to a replay versus Wimbledon which 'The Dons' won in their last match as a non-League club.
Recent history
Staines have been involved in a protracted and bitter dispute over the club's land since 2018 with a London-based Investment firm Downing LLP, the club's current ownership has actively defended the club's position using its financial resources. In December 2020, the club's ownership group launched a multi-million pound bid to buy out the investment firm, believed to be in the region of £2.5 million. In March 2022, the club said it has suspended its operations due to a dispute with its landlord.[7] The club made several accusations against the investment firm, including breaches of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 which were denied by the firm, the club suspending all primary operations as a result.[8][9]
Staines were due to take up a place in the
Records
- Isthmian League Premier Division Play-Offs, 2008–09
- FA Cup best performance: Second round proper, 2007–08 and 2009–2010
- FA Trophy best performance: Fourth round, 2003–04
- Record attendance: 2,860 vs Stockport County, FA Cup first round replay, 22 November 2007[11]
- Biggest victory: 14–0 vs Croydon, Isthmian League Division One, 19 March 1994[11]
- Heaviest defeat: 1–18 vs Wycombe Wanderers, Great Western Suburban League, 27 December 1909[11]
- Most appearances: Dickie Watmore, 840[11]
- Most goals: Alan Gregory, 122[11]
Stadium
Wheatsheaf Park was the home of the Staines Town Football Club, situated in Wheatsheaf Lane, Staines-upon-Thames, Middlesex, TW18 2PD. It had been the home of the club since it was purchased in 1951. Like many football stadia, it had changed greatly over time; the most recent of these changes was the development of the main stand in the Wheatsheaf Lane End. Planning permission for this was granted by Spelthorne Council in March 2000, and Staines Town returned to the revamped ground on 22 February 2003. The club boasted a brand new sports bar with Sky Sports football each week and refurbished changing rooms. Wheatsheaf Park was one of the most developed stadiums in its league.
Wheatsheaf Park had a total capacity of 3,009, with 300 seated and 800 in covered terrace. The record league attendance for a match at Wheatsheaf Park was 2,285 vs AFC Wimbledon in 2006. However, one year later Staines had an F.A Cup match against Stockport County and the attendance just crept over the 2,860 mark, setting the club's overall attendance record.
Wheatsheaf Park was also previously the home stadium of
Club honours
League
- Athenian League Division Two
- Winners: 1971–72
- Great Western Suburban League Division Two
- Winners: 1920–21
- Isthmian League Division One
- Isthmian League Premier Play-offs
- Winners: 2008–09
- Spartan League
- Winners: 1959–60
- West London Alliance Division One
- Winners: 1899–1900
- West London League Division One
- Winners: 1900–01
- West Middlesex League
- Winners: 1904–05
Cup
- Barassi Cup
- Winners: 1975–76
- El Cañuelo Trophy
- Geoff Harvey Memorial Vase
- Winners: 2010–11
- George Ruffell Shield
- Winners: 2010–11
- Jim Lawford Memorial Cup
- Winners: 1999–00
- John Livey Memorial Trophy
- London Senior Cup
- Lord of Ashford Charity Bowl
- Melksham Middlesex Charity Shield
- Winners: 1997–98
- Merthyr Middlesex Charity Shield
- Winners: 1990–91
- Middlesex Junior Cup
- Middlesex Senior Challenge Cup
- Middlesex Senior Charity Cup
- Winners: 1993–94
- Southern Combination Challenge Cup
- Spartan League Challenge Cup
- Winners: 1968–69
- Staines Cottage Hospital Cup
- Winners: 1925–26
- West Middlesex Cup
- Winners: 1924–25
Former players
1. Players that have played/managed in the Football League or any foreign equivalent to this level (i.e. fully professional league).
2. Players with full international caps.
3. Players that hold a club record or have captained the club.
References
- ^ "Stockport 1-1 Staines Town". News.bbc.co.uk. 10 November 2007.
- ^ "Staines 1-1 Stockport (4-3 pens)". News.bbc.co.uk. 22 November 2007.
- ^ "Staines 0-5 Peterborough". News.bbc.co.uk. 1 December 2007.
- ^ "Shrewsbury 0-1 Staines Town". News.bbc.co.uk. 7 November 2009.
- ^ "Staines Town 1-1 Millwall". News.bbc.co.uk. 28 November 2009.
- ^ "Millwall 4-0 Staines Town". News.bbc.co.uk. 9 December 2009.
- ^ "Staines Town FC: Non-league club suspends operations over legal row". BBC Sport. 29 March 2022. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
- ^ Nakrani, Sachin (30 March 2022). "Staines Town accuse investment fund of breaching the modern slavery act". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
- ^ "Urgent Club Statement". stainestownfootballclub.co.uk. 29 March 2022. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
- ^ "The FA have confirmed that Hilltop FC have been moved up to CCL Prem North to fill the vacancy left by Staines Town". Twitter.com. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
- ^ ISBN 978-1869833848
External links
- Official website (archived)
- Staines Town at the Football Club History Database