A.F.C. Sudbury
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| A.F.C. Sudbury | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Amalgamated Football Club Sudbury |
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| Nickname(s) | Yellows, The Suds | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Founded | June 1, 1999 (merger) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ground | King's Marsh, Sudbury, Suffolk (Capacity approx 3,800) |
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| Chairman | Keith Morris | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Manager | Nicky Smith | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| League | Southern League Division One Midlands |
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| 2007–08 | Isthmian League Division One North, 2nd |
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A.F.C. Sudbury is an English semi-professional football club from Sudbury, Suffolk. The club was formed in 1999 by the merger of Sudbury Town and Sudbury Wanderers,[1] the process giving rise to the name Amalgamated Football Club Sudbury.[2] A.F.C. Sudbury won the Eastern Counties League Premier Division five seasons in a row and reached the final of the FA Vase three years in a row, both records for the respective competitions.[1][3] Their home ground is the King's Marsh Stadium in the Ballingdon part of Sudbury and their home colours are yellow and blue. The club competed in the Isthmian League Division One North in the 2007–08 season, but is to be transferred into the Southern Football League Division One Midlands for 2008–09, a decision that the club are considering contesting.[4]
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[edit] History
A.F.C. Sudbury was formed on 1 June 1999 by the amalgamation of the town's two previous clubs, Sudbury Town (founded 1885) and Sudbury Wanderers (founded 1958).[1]
The club's relatively short history has, thus far, been very successful. In their debut season (1999–2000) Sudbury finished in 3rd place in the Eastern Counties League Premier Division.[2] The following 5 seasons all resulted in Sudbury winning the same league's title - a league record.[1] Sudbury did not take promotion at any of these opportunities, despite being entitled to. The financial constraints of owning two grounds led the board not to apply for promotion until the beginning of the 2005–2006 season. After finishing 3rd in 2005–2006, and passing the necessary ground inspection, Sudbury were invited to take promotion into a resurrected Isthmian League Division One North, following the re-structuring of the National League System. Potential legal action from the Northern Premier League nearly scuppered this move,[5] but Sudbury started 2006–07 in the new division.[6] The management team of Gary Harvey and Michael Cheetham, who took the team up, both resigned before the season could begin, citing work and family commitments, respectively. New manager Mark Morsley was appointed in May 2006, signed from Needham Market. Sudbury's first season at this level saw the club finish in fifth place, qualifying them for the promotion play-offs. After beating Enfield Town in the semi-final, Sudbury lost to Harlow Town in a penalty shoot-out.[7] Sudbury again qualified for the play-offs in 2007–2008, finishing 2nd in the table, but were defeated in the semi-final by eventual winners Canvey Island.[8]
As well as consistently good league performances, Sudbury have enjoyed several successful runs in the national cup competitions. In 2000–01 the club reached the first round proper of the FA Cup before being comprehensively defeated away at Darlington.[9] Sudbury have mostly made a name for themselves nationally in the FA Vase. In 2001–02 the club reached the competition's semi-finals, before being knocked out by Tiptree United. The following three seasons saw Sudbury reaching the final each year (a Vase record), but being defeated every time, by Brigg Town,[10] Winchester City[11] and Didcot Town, respectively. Sudbury have also won the Suffolk Premier Cup three times, in 2001–02, 2002–03 and 2003–04, and the Eastern Counties League Cup in 2005–06.[2]
[edit] Colours and badge
A.F.C. Sudbury's colours are yellow shirts with blue shorts and yellow socks. Perhaps surprisingly, these were the colours of both the former Sudbury teams.
The club badge is the town crest of Sudbury, which incorporates a talbot dog with its tongue sticking out.
[edit] Ground
Sudbury play their home games at the King's Marsh Stadium in the Ballingdon part of Sudbury, previously home to Sudbury Wanderers.[12] At the time of A.F.C. Sudbury's formation the ground consisted of two pitches, a training area, clubhouse, floodlights, a 200-seat stand on the West side of the main pitch and covered ends behind the goals.[1] A 300-capacity terrace (The Shed) was constructed on the East side of the pitch in 2000 and houses the more vocal section of the crowd.[1] The ground is enclosed by fencing and there are three turnstiles.
A.F.C. Sudbury sold Sudbury Town's former ground, the Priory Stadium, to a housing developer in June 2007. The money from this sale was earmarked for paying off loans, and capital gains tax, as well as a new clubhouse and changing rooms.[13] A planning permission request was lodged with Babergh District Council in May 2008 for the construction of the new facilities.[14]
[edit] Current squad
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[edit] Honours, achievements and records
- Isthmian League
- League Cup Runners-up 2008
- Eastern Counties League
- Premier Division Champions 2000–01, 2001–02, 2002–03, 2003–04, 2004–05
- League Cup Winners 2006
- FA Vase
- Runners-up 2003, 2004, 2005
- Suffolk Premier Cup
- Winners 2002, 2003, 2004
- FA Cup
- 1st round proper 2000–01
- FA Trophy
- 1st round 2006–07
- Biggest win
- Harwich & Parkeston 0–10 A.F.C. Sudbury - December 10 2002, Eastern Counties League Premier Division
- Biggest defeat
- Darlington 6–1 A.F.C. Sudbury - 18 November 2000, FA Cup First Round
[edit] League history
| Season | Division | Position | Significant Events |
|---|---|---|---|
| Formed as from merger of Sudbury Town & Sudbury Wanderers | |||
| Joined the Eastern Counties League Premier Division | |||
| 1999–2000 | Eastern Counties League Premier Division | 3 | – |
| 2000–2001 | Eastern Counties League Premier Division | 1 | Champions* |
| 2001–2002 | Eastern Counties League Premier Division | 1 | Champions* |
| 2002–2003 | Eastern Counties League Premier Division | 1 | Champions* |
| 2003–2004 | Eastern Counties League Premier Division | 1 | Champions* |
| 2004–2005 | Eastern Counties League Premier Division | 1 | Champions* |
| 2005–2006 | Eastern Counties League Premier Division | 3 | Promoted |
| 2006–2007 | Isthmian League Division One North | 5 | Lost in play-off final |
| 2007–2008 | Isthmian League Division One North | 2 | Lost in play-off semi-final |
* Each time the club turned down the opportunity of promotion for financial reasons.
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e f History. www.afcsudbury.co.uk. Retrieved on 2008-01-22.
- ^ a b c A.F.C. Sudbury at the Football Club History Database
- ^ FA Vase Summary. Football Club History Database. Retrieved on 2008-05-22.
- ^ A Leagues agreed for 2008/09 season. BBC Sport Online (2008-05-16). Retrieved on 2008-05-19.
- ^ Promotion plans look set to stall. www.sudburytoday.co.uk (2006-03-23). Retrieved on 2007-12-21.
- ^ Nantional League Club allocations agreed.. www.thefa.com. Retrieved on 2007-12-21.
- ^ Richard Whiting (2007-05-05). Harlow Town 5 - 3 AFC Sudbury. www.afcsudbury.com. Retrieved on 2007-12-21.]
- ^ MORSLEY STILL HURTING. www.nonleaguedaily.com (2008-05-02). Retrieved on 2008-05-06.
- ^ Darlington 6–1 AFC Sudbury. BBC Online (2000-11-18). Retrieved on 2008-01-22.
- ^ AFC Sudbury lose FA Vase final. BBC Suffolk (2003-05-10). Retrieved on 2008-01-22.
- ^ AFC Sudbury 0-2 Winchester City - FA Vase Final (2004-05-16). Retrieved on 2008-01-22.
- ^ AFC Sudbury. www.pyramidpassion.co.uk. Retrieved on 2008-05-21.
- ^ Priory Stadium sold. www.sudburytoday.co.uk (2007-06-07). Retrieved on 2007-12-21.
- ^ Details of Planning Application - B/08/00881. Babergh District Council (2008-05-20). Retrieved on 2008-05-21.
- ^ Squad > First. www.afcsudbury.com. Retrieved on 2008-06-09.
[edit] External links
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A.F.C. Sudbury | Arlesey Town | Atherstone Town | Aylesbury United | Barton Rovers | Bedworth United | Bromsgrove Rovers | Bury Town | Chasetown | Chesham United | Dunstable Town | Leamington | Leighton Town | Malvern Town | Marlow | Nuneaton Town | Romulus | Rothwell Town | Soham Town Rangers | Stourport Swifts | Sutton Coldfield Town | Woodford United |
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