Biggleswade Town F.C.
{{short description|Association football club in England}}
{{distinguish|Biggleswade F.C.}}
{{EngvarB|date=September 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2024}}
{{Infobox football club
| clubname = Biggleswade Town
| image = Biggleswade Town F.C. logo.png
| fullname = Biggleswade Town Football Club
| nickname = The Waders
| founded = {{start date and age|1874}}
| ground = Langford Road, Biggleswade
| capacity = 3,000 (300 seated)[http://www.non-leagueclubdirectory.co.uk/index.php/clubs/biggleswade-town Biggleswade Town] Non League Club Directory
| chairman = Maurice Dorrington
| manager = Jimmy Martin
| league = {{English football updater|BigglesT}}
| season = {{English football updater|BigglesT2}}
| position = {{English football updater|BigglesT3}}
| pattern_b1 =_thinwhitestripes
| pattern_la1=_greenborder
| pattern_la2=_orange_border
| pattern_b2 =_thinblackstripes
| pattern_ra1 =_greenborder
| pattern_ra2 =_orange_border
| pattern_sh1=
| pattern_sh2=_orangesides
| pattern_so1=_whitetop
| pattern_so2=
| leftarm1 = FFFFFF
| leftarm2=000000
| body1 = 008000
| body2 = F88017
| rightarm1 = FFFFFF
| rightarm2 = 000000
| shorts1 = 008000
| shorts2 = 000000
| socks1 = 008000
| socks2 = 000000
}}
Biggleswade Town Football Club is a football club based in Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, England. The club are currently members of the {{English football updater|BigglesT}} and play at Langford Road.
History
The club were established in 1874 as Biggleswade, later becoming known as Biggleswade & District, and played only friendlies and cup matches until the late 1890s.Blakeman, M (2010) The Official History of the Eastern Counties Football League 1935–2010, Volume II {{ISBN|978-1-908037-02-2}} In 1902 they were founder members of the Biggleswade and District League, and were its first champions, also winning the Bedfordshire Senior Cup that year.[http://www.biggleswadetownfc.co.uk/#/history/4539827387 History] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120102114616/http://www.biggleswadetownfc.co.uk/#/history/4539827387 |date=2 January 2012 }} Biggleswade Town F.C. The club went on to win the league twice more before World War I, also playing in the Bedford & District League between 1909 and 1912 and winning one title.
In 1920 Biggleswade Town joined the Northamptonshire League, which became the United Counties League in 1934, and won the Bedfordshire Premier Cup in 1922–23 and 1927–28.[http://www.biggleswadetownfc.co.uk/#/club-honours/4539831404 Club honours] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120102114616/http://www.biggleswadetownfc.co.uk/#/club-honours/4539831404 |date=2 January 2012 }} Biggleswade Town FC After World War II the club adopted its current name and joined the Spartan League in 1945. They returned to the UCL in 1951, before switching to the Eastern Counties League in 1955. During their time in the ECL they set the record for biggest away win with a 12–0 victory over Newmarket Town. In 1963 they returned to the UCL due to the increasing transport costs. The 1975–76 season saw them finish bottom of the Premier Division, resulting in relegation to Division One. In 1980 they joined the Premier Division of the South Midlands League.{{fchd|id=BIGGLEST|name=Biggleswade Town}} They were relegated to Division One in 1983, but were promoted back to the Premier Division in 1987. When the Spartan and South Midlands leagues merged to form the Spartan South Midlands League in 1997 the club were placed in the Premier Division North. The following season they were placed in the Senior Division, and after finishing fifth, were promoted to the Premier Division.
In 2007–08 Biggleswade Town won the Bedfordshire Premier Cup for a third time, beating Luton Town 3–2 in the final. The following season they won the league title, earning promotion to Division One Midlands of the Southern League. In 2010 the division was renamed Division One Central, and the 2010–11 season saw Biggleswade finish fourth, qualifying for the promotion play-offs and losing 2–0 to Daventry Town in the semi-finals.[https://www.fchd.info/lghist/south2011.htm 2010-11 Southern League] Football Club History Database In 2012–13 they finished fourth again, and in the subsequently play-offs they beat Godalming Town 2–1 in the semi-finals and Rugby Town 3–1 to earn promotion to the Premier Division. In 2014–15 the club reached the first round of the FA Cup for the first time, losing 4–1 at Stourbridge. In 2018 the club were placed in the Premier Division Central of the Southern League as a result of league reorganisation. The 2021–22 season saw them finish second-from-bottom of the Premier Division Central, resulting in relegation to Division One Central. In 2023–24 they were Division One Central champions, earning promotion back to the Premier Division Central. {{cite web|url=https://southern-football-league.co.uk/news/135838/PITCHING-IN-SOUTHERN-LEAGUE-DIVISION-ONE-CENTRAL-FINAL-WEEKEND-REVIEW|title=Pitching in Southern League Division One Central {{!}} Final weekend review|website=Southern League|date=28 April 2024|accessdate=28 April 2024}}
=Season-by-season record=
{{notelist}}
Ground
File:Main stand at Biggleswade Town F.C.jpg
The club originally played at the Fairfield Road ground, which was shared with a local cricket club. A wooden stand was erected in the 1920s, and for several years had an Anderson shelter on either side.[http://www.pyramidpassion.co.uk/html/biggleswade_town.html Biggleswade Town] Pyramid Passion Floodlights were installed in 1989, and the wooden stand was demolished after being condemned in the 1990s. In 2006 the club left Fairfield Road and groundshared with Bedford United & Valerio whilst a new ground was built on Langford Road.
The new ground, named the Carlsberg Stadium for sponsorship purposes, was opened for the start of the 2008–09 season, with the first game on 13 August 2008 between Biggleswade Town and Hertford Town resulting in a 1–0 for the home team.[http://www.biggleswadetownfc.co.uk/#/picture-tour/4540065127 Picture Tour] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120102114616/http://www.biggleswadetownfc.co.uk/#/picture-tour/4540065127 |date=2 January 2012 }} Biggleswade Town FC The ground has a capacity of 3,000, of which 300 is seated.
Managerial history
| class="wikitable sortable"
!Years !Manager | |
| 2006–2018 | {{flagicon|ENG}} Chris Nunn |
| 2018–2019 | {{flagicon|ENG}} Lee Allinson |
| 2019–2022 | {{flagicon|ENG}} Chris Nunn |
| 2022–2023 | {{flagicon|ENG}} Robbie O'Keefe |
| 2023–2024 | {{flagicon|ENG}} Danny Payne |
| 2024– | {{flagicon|ENG}} Jimmy Martin |
Honours
- Southern League
- Division One Central champions 2023–24
- United Counties League
- Premier Division Cup winners 1973–74
- Division One cup winners 1963–64, 1979–80
- Division One Cup winners 1979–80
- South Midlands League
- Premier Division Cup winners 1991–92
- League Challenge Trophy winners 1992–93
- Floodlit Cup winners 1995–96, 2002–03
- Spartan South Midlands League
- Premier Division champions 2008–09
- Biggleswade & District League
- Champions 1902–03
- Bedfordshire Premier Cup
- Winners 1922–23, 1927–28, 2007–08
- Bedfordshire Senior Cup
- Winners 1902–03, 1907–08, 1946–47, 1950–51, 1961–62, 1962–63, 1966–67, 1973–74, 2018–19
- Huntingdonshire Premier Cup
- Winners 1992–93, 1993–94, 1997–98, 2000–01, 2002–03
Records
See also
- {{c|Biggleswade Town F.C. players}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{official website|http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/biggleswadetownfc}}
{{Southern League}}
{{coord|52|04|36.7|N|0|16|7.8|W|display=title}}
Category:Football clubs in England
Category:Football clubs in Bedfordshire
Category:Association football clubs established in 1874
Category:1874 establishments in England
Category:United Counties League
Category:Eastern Counties Football League
Category:South Midlands League