Wivenhoe Town F.C.
Full name | Wivenhoe Town Football Club | ||
---|---|---|---|
Nickname(s) | The Dragons | ||
Founded | 1925 (as Wivenhoe Rangers) | ||
Ground | Broad Lane, Wivenhoe | ||
Capacity | 2,876 (161 seated)[1] | ||
Chairman | Mo Osman | ||
Manager | Kieron Shelley | ||
League | Eastern Counties League Division One North | ||
2023–24 | Eastern Counties League Division One North, 12th of 21 | ||
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Wivenhoe Town F.C. is an English football club based in Wivenhoe, Essex. The club are currently members of the Eastern Counties League Division One North and play at Broad Lane.
History
The club was established as Wivenhoe Rangers by Frank Slaughter and students from
They switched to the Colchester and East Essex League, winning the Premier Division in 1952–53 as well as the League Challenge Cup. In 1955–56 they won the league again, together with the Knock-Out Cup, and also reached the final of the Essex Junior Cup, losing 3–2 to Heybridge Swifts.
After being relegated, the club returned to the Premier Division as Division One champions in 1959–60, but were immediately relegated again, and later dropped into Division Two. In 1968–69 they finished runners-up and returned to Division One. The following season they won the division and were promoted back to the Premier Division.
After finishing runners-up to Mersea Island in 1970–71, the club were promoted to Division Two of the Essex & Suffolk Border League. They won the division in their first season, and also claimed the Division One title the following season. In 1974 the club were renamed Wivenhoe Town.
In 1977–78 the club bought a carrot field on Broad Lane the outskirts of Wivenhoe for £2,500 to move back to the town, having most recently been playing at the University of Essex in nearby Colchester. The following season they won the Premier Division, and were promoted to the Essex Senior League. After finishing runners-up three times in seven seasons, the club were promoted to Division Two North of the Isthmian League at the end of the 1985–86 season. In 1987–88 they won the title, and were promoted to Division One, also winning the Essex Senior Trophy.
In 1989–90 the club won Division One, accumulating 100 points, and were promoted to the Premier Division. A new record attendance of 1,992 was set for the visit of
During the 2008–09 season former West Ham player Julian Dicks was appointed manager, but he resigned in June 2009.[3] In 2009–10 the club finished bottom of the Premier Division with only eight points, but avoided relegation after two clubs (Harwich & Parkeston and King's Lynn reserves) withdrew from the league and one club (Needham Market) were promoted. However, they were relegated to Division One at the end of the 2014–15 season.[4] The following season they won Division One and were promoted back to the Premier Division. However, in 2017–18 Wivenhoe finished bottom of the Premier Division and were relegated to Division One South.
Ground
The club moved to their current home of Broad Lane in 1978, following time at a number of grounds, including Claude Watchman's Meadow, Vine Farm, Broomfield, Spion Kop and the King George V Playing Fields.[5]
Honours
- Isthmian League
- Division One champions 1989–90
- Division Two North champions 1987–88
- Eastern Counties League
- Division One champions 2015–16
- Brightlingsea & District League
- Champions 1932–33, 1936–37, 1947–48
- League Knock-Out Cup winners 1937, 1948
- League Challenge Cup winners 1937
- Colchester and East Essex League
- Premier Division champions 1952–53, 1955–56
- Division One champions 1959–60, 1969–70
- League Challenge Cup winners 1953
- League Knock-Out Cup winners 1956
- Essex & Suffolk Border League
- Premier Division champions 1978–79
- Division One champions 1972–73
- Division Two champions 1971–72
- Essex Senior Trophy
- Winners 1988
Records
- Best FA Cup performance: Fourth qualifying round replay, 1989–90
- Best FA Trophy performance: Third round proper, 1990–91
- Best FA Vase performance: Fifth round replay, 1995–96
- Attendance: 1,992 vs Runcorn, FA Trophy first round, February 1990[1]
- Appearances: Keith Bain, 538[1]
References
- ^ ISBN 978-1-869833-77-0
- ^ History Wivenhoe Town FC
- ^ Dicks appointed new Grays manager BBC Sport, 16 September 2009
- ^ "Thurlow Nunn League Season Review 2014/15". Eastern Counties League. 16 May 2015. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
- ^ Jon Weaver (2005) The Football Grounds of Rural Essex, p50
External links
- Club website
- Wivenhoe Town at the Football Club History Database