First Tower United F.C.
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First Tower United F.C. is an amateur association football club in Jersey, Channel Islands. Their home ground is La Hague Manor and the club plays in white and blue. They are the second most successful club in the island after Jersey Wanderers, having won the Jersey League 19 times.
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[edit] History
The club was founded in 1920 [1] and won their first championship in 1927. This entitled them to take on the winners of the Guernsey League, Northerners A.C. in the Upton Park Trophy, though they lost 1-0. They won the championship again in 1929 and this time followed it up by winning the Upton Park Trophy, beating Northerners 2-1 after extra time. The club won back-to-back championships in 1937 and 1938, and won the trophy again in 1938. Another double was completed in 1959, and another championship, but no trophy, in 1966.
The 1968-69 season marked the start of a golden age for the club. The championship was won again in 1969 (though the trophy final ended in defeat), with the same result in the 1969-70 season. Following a year without a trophy, the club won seven consecutive championships from 1972 until 1978, doing the double on five occasions. This period of success conincided with steel magnate, and later owner of Blackburn Rovers, Jack Walker becoming a patron of the club in 1975, following a conversation with his postman.[2] Financial input from Walker meant the club were consistently the best in Jersey, but did not have their own ground. Seven years after becoming involved with the club, Walker bought La Hague Manor for £1.2 million, leasing it back to St George's Preparatory School on the condition that part of the site was developed into a new stadium for the club.[2] Walker was later made an Honorary Life Vice President of the club.
The club won back-to-back championships in 1983 and 1984 and again in 1994 and 1995, also winning the trophy on each occasion. However, the 1995 trophy win has been their last honour to date.
Between 1978 and 1998 the club also played in the FA Vase, a competition for Non-League football clubs in England, though they never made it past the third round.[3]
The club suffered a first top flight relegation in its history, with mathematical relegation confirmed with a 4-0 defeat at the hands of Jersey Scottish on Tuesday 26th February 2008[4]. This was the clubs twelfth defeat in twelve league games, and means that La Hague Manor will be hosting Division II football in the 2008-09 season.
[edit] Current teams
First Tower United have two men's teams and a ladies' team in the Jersey Football Combination. They also have a number of junior boys and girls teams ranging from Under-10 to Under-18.
[edit] Stadium
The clubs home is in the grounds of La Hague Manor, which is also the site of St George's Preparatory School, in the parish of St Peter. The pitch is lined on one side by a stand that can accommodate just under 80 people. On the opposite side of the pitch stand the two team dugouts, with a training and warm-up area located behind this with floodlights. Towards the corner of the complex are the changing rooms, bar and car park. The achievements and glories of the club's past adorn the walls of the clubhouse reflecting the clubs rich history.
[edit] Players and coaching staff
| Name | Position |
|---|---|
| Luke Bechelet | Goalkeeper |
| Jack Jouanny | Goalkeeper |
| Elliot de Sousa | Goalkeeper |
| Phil Wood | Defender |
| Peter Gough | Defender |
| Matt Swinburne | Defender |
| Gordon Brodie | Defender |
| Tom Poole | Defender |
| Gavin Toudic | Defender |
| Steven Ruiz | Midfielder |
| Neil Langdon | Midfielder |
| Martin Higgins | Midfielder |
| Lee Ryan Wilson | Midfielder |
| Glenn McKenna | Forward |
| John Carter | Forward |
| Adrian Carr | Forward |
| Name | Role |
|---|---|
| Roger Gibbon | President |
| Geoff Liron | Secretary |
| Bob Kearsey | 1st Team Manager |
| Chad Morris | 1st Team Assistant |
| Paul Skelley | 1st Team Assistant |
| Geoff Liron | Reserve Team Manager |
[edit] Honours
- Jersey Football Combination
- Champions 1926-27, 1928-29, 1936-37, 1937-38, 1958-59, 1965-66, 1968-69, 1969-70, 1971-72, 1972-73, 1973-74, 1974-75, 1975-76, 1976-77, 1977-78, 1982-83, 1983-84, 1993-94, 1994-95
- Upton Park Trophy
- Winners 1929, 1938, 1959, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1978, 1983, 1984, 1994, 1995
- Runners-up 1927, 1937, 1966, 1969, 1970, 1974, 1976
[edit] League history
| Season | Position | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006-07 | 7 | 16 | 5 | 0 | 11 | 32 | 40 | 15 |
[edit] Notable former club personnel
- Brett Pitman (now playing for A.F.C. Bournemouth)
- Jack Walker
- Peter Vincenti (now playing at Stevenage Borough FC)
- Murray Dron (Presenter on Setanta Sports News)
[edit] References
- ^ First Tower Utd BBC
- ^ a b JACK WALKER: Jersey League side made a Tower of strength Lancashire Telegraph, 18 August 2000
- ^ First Tower United Football Club History Database
- ^ BBC SPORT | Football | Relegation for First Tower United
