Billericay Town F.C.
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| Billericay Town | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Billericay Town Football Club | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Nickname(s) | Ricay, The Blues | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Founded | 1880 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ground | New Lodge (stadium), Blunts Wall Road, Billericay (Capacity 3,500) |
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| Chairman | Steve Kent | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Manager | Jason Broom and Grant Gordon | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| League | Isthmian Premier | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2007-08 | Isthmian Premier, 10th | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Billericay Town Football Club are an English association football club based in Billericay, Essex, who currently play in the Isthmian League Premier Division.
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[edit] History
The club was formed in 1880 making it the 11th oldest club in Essex and moved into the Romford & District League in 1890 - competing in this league until 1914. After the First World War, they entered the Mid-Essex League, where they remained until 1947. That year they joined the Southern Essex Combination, remaining there until 1966 when they became founder-members of the Essex Olympian League.
Five years later, Billericay Town became founder-members of the Essex Senior League and the club's six-year stay in that competition saw them win the Championship three times and were Runners-Up twice (and third the other season). The League Cup was won four times and they were Finalists once. In addition they won the League Challenge Cup the only time that it was competed for.
Progressing to the Athenian League in 1977, Billericay won the Championship and the League Cup in the first season. They became Champions again in 1978/79 and after two seasons were elected into the Isthmian League. Whilst members of the Essex Senior League, the club won the FA Vase in 1976 when Stamford were beaten 1-0 after extra-time at Wembley Stadium. The following season, 1976/77, saw the club go to Wembley again and - after a 1-1 draw there - played at Nottingham Forest's City Ground in the replay and emerged with a 2-1 victory over Sheffield.
Billericay Town became the first club to win the F.A. Vase for a third time in 1979 when they defeated Almondsbury Greenway 4-1. This match was notable for a hat-trick by Doug Young - the first hat-trick in a Cup Final at Wembley Stadium since Geoff Hurst's in the 1966 World Cup Final.
The Club then competed in the FA Trophy until 1989/90 when the F.A. Vase was again entered and the Quarter-Final was reached, losing 0-1 to the eventual finalists, Bridlington. After their success in the Athenian League, Billericay's league successes continued in the Isthmian League when in their first season they easily won the Division 2 title with a winning margin of 17 points, and scoring 100 goals in their 36 league matches. The following season, in Division 1, they finished as Runners-Up to Bishop's Stortford - the first time in the history of the Isthmian League that a club had won promotion in two successive seasons on entry into the League.
Billericay then had five seasons in the Premier Division until being relegated in 1986. They then spent two years in Division One before again being relegated - this time into Division Two North. Following re-organisation of the League, Billericay finished in third place in the newly formed Division Two and so gained promotion to Division One. That season, 1991/92, they finished the season with an unbeaten run of 15 games, including winning the Essex Thames-Side Trophy. Promotion back to the Premier Division was obtained in 1998 and 12th position was obtained in the first season back. In season 1999/2000 they obtained their highest-ever league position in the Pyramid structure - 7th place. In the following three seasons they finished in 8th, 9th and 12th places in the League.
Following the resignation of Gary Calder as Manager at the end of the 2002/03 season the Club moved away from the usual list of local managers and appointed ex-Tottenham Hotspur player Justin Edinburgh as Manager – his first venture into football management following his early retirement from the game after being injured playing for Portsmouth, where he spent two seasons.
In January 2004, a local business-man, Steve Kent, acquired the controlling interest in the Club by buying the shares of the major shareholders and also settling the club's debts. Since his arrival the Chairman has set about renovating some of the clubs facilities, including a complete refurbishment of the clubhouse and the building of new boardroom and office facilities.
Unfortunately the 2003/04 season ended in disappointment for Billericay as they were unable to escape the bottom four and failed to earn a place in the new Nationwide South league. In season 2004/2005 the Blues narrowly missed out on promotion from the Ryman Premier League, finishing second, only to lose in the play-offs.
Full Membership of the Football Association was achieved in 1993, twelve years after obtaining Associate Membership in 1981.
Billericay Town also became the first Non-League club to win the Rothmans Merit Award in 1978 for “having made a worth-while contribution to the wide spectrum of the game in 1977/78” - the only club previously to have won this Award was Liverpool, the previous season, when they were the European Champions.
In January 2006 manager Justin Edinburgh left the club to be manager of Fisher Athletic in the same division. Assistant manager Matt Jones took over as caretaker, and later was appointed as permanent manager. As assistant managers he has employed the former Billericay player Jason Broom, and Grant Gordon.
In the 2005/2006 season Billericay narrowly missed out on the ryman league play offs finishing seventh where a last day win would have been enough to see town in the play offs for the second consecutive season. Town also lost the Ryan Legau Cup Final at Grays 4-0 to Fisher Athletic
2006/2007 saw town finish a creditable fourth place and up until the penultimate round of fixtures town where still in with a chance of wining the league. In the play off semi final town faced local rivals Chelmsford City FC. Things looked bleak for town when striker Rikki Burbridge was sent off minutes into the second half. With five minutes of the game left Chelmsford scored following an error from blues keeper Bily McMahon who up to that point had been immense. Seemingly down & out Town scored a goal with the last kick of the game through much touted youngster Chris Whelpdale. Extra time produced a stalemate so the match went all the way to penalties. With ex Canvey player Lee Boylan having his penalty marvellously saved by Billy McMahon and the win 5-3 on penalties was completed when club captain Jamie Dormer put away his penalty. Town then went on to play Bromley F.C. in the play off final. A goal put Bromley in the lead until a cross bounced perfectly for Lee Hodges to blast the ball into the back of the net. In the second half the score stayed the same with a nail biting last few minutes. The blues went out to play a poor half of football then came back on again in the second half of extra time rocking the game completely but still couldn't manage to get the ball into the back of the net. The referee blew to see Billericay lose on penalties 5-3.
On 10 November 2007 Billericay played on of the biggest games in the clubs history. Swansea, of League One, came to New Lodge in the first round proper of the FA Cup. Even though Swansea played a much depleted side, Billericay still gave the Swans a tough game. Wayne Semanshia put Billericay one goal up in the 26th minute, but the Spanish player Guillem Bauza brought the league side level shortly after half time. He then again was on the mark in the 83rd minute and dashed Billericay's hopes for a replay or a victory.
[edit] Current squad
As of December, 2007:
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[edit] Notable former players
Steve Jones sold to West Ham United for a then club record £22,500 in October 1992 having found first team opportunities limited at West Ham making only 16 appearances for the Hammers he moved on to Bournemouth. When his manager Harry Redknapp was appointed West Ham manager he returned to West Ham for £150,000 in January 1996 again finding first team opportunities limited at Upton Park again he moved onto Charlton Athletic for £400,000 after making over 50 appearances for Charlton he was sold to Bristol City for £400,000 he then moved onto big spending (with other peoples money provided by John Williams through this multiple bankrupted window companies) non leaguers Hornchurch.
Nathan Elder sold to League One outfit Brighton in the 2007 January transfer window for £10,000 and a 15% sell on clause
Chris Whelpdale who arrived at New Lodge following a protracted transfer from Maldon Town several months into the 2006/2007 after agreeing terms in the summer of 2006 with Maldon claiming he had verbally agreed a new deal with them. He want onto transform Billericay’s season from being on the edge of the play offs to genuine title contenders. He then moved onto League Two outfit Peterborough United in the summer of 2007 for a club record £40,000 with interest from League One sides Southend United and Swansea City as well as Championship side Crystal Palace.
DJ Campbell briefly played for Billericay, he went onto inspire a fantastic cup run by fellow non-league outfit Yeading before being sold to Brentfordrom where, after scoring twice against Sunderland to knock them out of the FA Cup, he was sold on to Birmingham City and then Leicester City.
[edit] External links
| Preceded by Hoddesdon Town |
Winner of the FA Vase 1975–6 & 1976–7 |
Succeeded by Newcastle Blue Star |
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AFC Hornchurch | Ashford Town (Middx) | Billericay Town | Boreham Wood | Canvey Island | Carshalton Athletic | Dartford | Dover Athletic | Harlow Town | Harrow Borough | Hastings United | Hendon | Heybridge Swifts | Horsham | Maidstone United | Margate | Ramsgate | Staines Town | Sutton United | Tonbridge Angels | Tooting & Mitcham United | Wealdstone |
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