26 Jan 12 Air Partner Private Jets sponsors Diniyar Bilyaletdinov
Air Partner, the global private jet specialist, is sponsoring Everton Football Club’s Russian midfielder Diniyar Bilyaletdinov.
“Air Partner has close links with various sectors of the sports industry and a long history of organising private charter flights to and from Russia,” said David Macdonald, Air Partner Private Jets Director. “As we are very active in Russia and have Moscow-based account management providing local personal services for the company’s private jet ad hoc and JetCard membership clients, it seemed appropriate to sponsor a popular and prominent Russian player in support of our many clients who follow Diniyar in the English Premier League.”
Air Partner has 21 offices worldwide, has been trading for 50 years and has earned global recognition as a leading aircraft charter broker organising ad hoc charters of aircraft of every size for any reason. The UK-based Group organises around 18,000 charter flights annually, is fully listed on the London Stock Exchange and holds a Royal Warrant from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Air Partner Private Jets offers on-demand charter and the company’s unique pre-paid JetCard scheme.
About Air Partner
Air Partner has been trading for 50 years and is a world leading provider of aviation charter services to industry, commerce, governments and individuals worldwide. The Group is globally recognised as a leading charter broker and organises ad hoc aircraft charters of every type for any reason. Its three main divisions comprise Air Partner Freight, Air Partner Commercial Jets and Air Partner Private Jets. The Commercial Jets division charters large airliners to move groups of any size. Private Jets offers the company’s pre-paid JetCard scheme and on-demand charter. With its headquarters alongside Gatwick airport in the UK, Air Partner operates 24/7 year-round and employs 225 aviation professionals across its 21 offices in key business centres globally. Air Partner is fully listed on the London Stock Exchange and is the only company in the aviation industry to hold a Royal Warrant, a globally recognised mark of excellence.
For more information please visit:
http://www.airpartner.com/
http://www.airpartner.com/privatejets
24 Nov 11 A Look At Cambridge United
The history of many football clubs is often long and Cambridge United is no exception. The team was founded in 1912 under the name Abbey United and they currently compete in the fifth tier of English football where they have been playing games since 2005 after their sad relegation from the football leagues after 35 years. Cambridge United play their games at Abbey Stadium, which is located only 1.5 miles from the heart of Cambridge city centre.
The History of Cambridge United
Cambridge is an old city that boasts interesting architecture blended perfectly with modern shops and entertainment districts that cater to the students who study at the colleges and universities in the city. Cambridge United has successfully reached the FA Cup quarter finals twice and the Football League Cup final once. Their highest ever league position was achieved when the club finished in fifth place in the Second Division the year before the Premier League was set up (1991-1992 season) – narrowly missing out on a spot in the top flight.
Most of Cambridge United’s early club days were played in amateur leagues and spent many seasons moving from ground to ground. However, the team finally turned professional in 1949 and by 1951, the club went by the name it does today – Cambridge United. The team competed in the Eastern Counties League where they finished as runners up in the 1957-58 season when they celebrated a promotion to the Southern League. Years later the club enjoyed more success as they reached the Premier Division of the Southern League.
By 1970, Cambridge United reached the Football League and enjoyed mixed bouts of success and disappointment in the 1980s as the club was relegated for three successive seasons dumping them back down to the Fourth Division. The early 1990s saw a better period for the club as the U’s won a play-off final at Wembley against Chesterfield and gained promotion. 1990 and 1991 saw the team reach the quarter finals of the highly coveted FA Cup. Unfortunately more relegation battles were to come and in 2005 after 35 years in the football leagues, Cambridge United slipped down into the Football Conference.
In 2011, Cambridge United was put up for sale by its owners as it desperately needed more money to move forward. No new owner has yet been found and after 87 games in charge of the U’s, manager Martin Ling parted ways with the club who now operate under the direction of Jez George.
Notable Players
Cambridge United has been the home club for many notable players including Dion Dublin, Alan Kimble, Steve Claridge, Jody Craddock, Lindsey Smith, Les Reed, Wilf Mannion and Dave Kitson. Dion Dublin will be remembered by many for scoring the winning goal for Cambridge United against Chesterfield in the playoff final at Wembley. As well as many famous players finding themselves on the playing field for the Cambridge team, the club has also attracted big-name managers including Ron Atkinson, Bill Lievers, John Beck, John Taylor and Claude Le Roy.
Cambridge United is currently on the hunt for new owners as well as a possible relocation to a new stadium although while rumours abound, nothing has currently happened on either stance. The team wears amber and black kits and with so many possible changes in the pipeline, Cambridge United could be the team to watch out for!
Cambridge football fans need look no further than the Cambridge News. For the latest results and fixtures for Cambridge United, visit the Cambridge News online.
Tags: Cambridge, Cambridge News, Cambridge United
11 Nov 11 Interesting Trivia on the Bedford Blues
The main Bedford rugby club is called the Bedford Blues and the team is renowned for their strength and brawn on the field. The club was founded back in 1886 and they currently play their games at Goldington Road, a stadium boasting a capacity of 6500. They play in The Championship under manager Mike Rayer and so far, the 2011/12 season has proved promising for the club who are holding strong in the top portion of the table.
If you’re a fan of the Bedford Blues Rugby Club, then check out the top 10 pieces of interesting trivia based on your favourite team:
Facts and Figures
The Bedford Blues Rugby Club is a semi-pro club that has an unusual mixture of young and experienced players that currently play with a unique free-flowing style. In 2005 they won the Powergen Shield, in 1998-1999 and 1999-2000 the club won the Allied Dunbar Premiership and in 1975 they won the John Player Cup.
Rugby vs. Football
Bedford is famous for its rugby team as it is one of the very few large towns in England that doesn’t have a football team that plays in the Football League, ensuring rugby is better supported than its rival sport.
Ladies Day
Every October the Bedford Blues Rugby Club supports the Breast Cancer Care charity in honour of October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The team wears a special Kooga pink strip for a special home game and the shirts are auctioned off at the end of the game with all proceeds given to Breast Cancer Care.
Club Kit
Since 2007, the famous Bedford rugby club has had its kit supplied by Kooga and it is currently sponsored by three companies, namely Autoglass, Wells Bombardier and Lifesure Insurance.
Home Turf
Bedford Blues Rugby Club has been playing on the same pitch for more than 100 years, in which time 32 players have achieved international honours while playing for the club.
It’s All in a Name…
Bedford Blues Rugby Club was founded in 1886 when Bedford Swifts and Bedford Rovers amalgamated
Kit Origins
The light and dark blue colours used on the Bedford rugby club kit are derived from the schoolmasters association with Oxbridge while the badge colours come from the Swifts and Rovers strip that is black and cerise.
WWI Problems
The club nearly went out of existence during the First World War, as their ground was taken over and used as an Army Camp by the Military Authorities.
Consortium Takeover
A consortium made up of local Bedford businessmen headed by David Gunner, Geoff Irvine and David Ledsom along with help from Bedford Borough Council and a collection of other professionals bought shares in the club that was transferred to Bedford Blues Ltd.
Moving On
The 2007-2008 season saw a record number of players part ways and many big names left the Bedford Blues Rugby Club namely Alex Page, James Hinkins, Ben Patston, Mat Allen, John Phillips, Arthur Brenton, Bruno Fortuna, Jon Elrick and Nic Strauss.
The Bedford Blues Rugby Club is by far one of the most famous sporting teams in the region and they average about 3000 home supporters for home games. The town is home to many top attractions such as the River Great Ouse and there is also plenty of shopping to enjoy in the heart of the town. Whether you choose to visit Bedford to soak up the local sights and attractions or to take in a Bedford Blues rugby game on the weekend – Bedford has lots of interesting things to see and do to offer its visitors.
If you’re in the area, why not see the Bedford rugby club in action? Visit the Bedfordshire on Sunday for the latest Bedford Blues rugby news.
Tags: Bedford Blues rugby, Bedford rugby club, Bedfordshire on Sunday
27 Oct 11 The History of Hertford RFC
Hertford RFC was founded in 1932 and originally went by the name Old Hertfordians RFC. The popular rugby team is the largest in the area and has successfully made its way up the leagues throughout the years. The team’s kit is blue, black and gold and they now play their home games at the Highfields stadium on Hoe Road. The Director of Rugby is Nick Lloyd and the current coaches are Michael Owen, Paul Allen and Brett MacNamee.
Hertford Rugby Club – The Early Days
The original club had just 15 players and they only played four games per season! Until 1949, Hertford RFC was moved to and from six different grounds including school facilities, The Reindeer Pub, Hartham Common, Rye House and Ware Road. After the war in 1946, Hertford Rugby Club moved to the recreation ground in Station Road but a public right of way went across the pitch and every Saturday at the same time an old lady would wander across the pitch completely oblivious as to what was going on around her. While the referee ensured that half time always coincided with her visit, she still seemed to be completely unaware became a part of the history of Hertford RFC!
The existing clubhouse was erected in 1966 and by 1972, the club became known officially as Hertford RFC.
Recent Times at Hertford RFC
Hertford Rugby Club is famous in the region for a high level of professionalism, thanks to a strict managerial command of the club. Comprehensive facilities are provided by Hertford RFC to senior and junior players and it is by far the largest and most renowned club in the area. In the 2001-2002 season, Hertford RFC were promoted to play amateur rugby in London League 1 and the following season the team impressively finished in third place and also won the Powergen Intermediate Cup at the famous rugby ground in Twickenham. By the 2004-2005 season, Hertford RFC were promoted to National League 3 after successfully beating Cinderford in the playoffs.
The existing Director of Rugby handles seven senior sides including the first team squad. They play open and entertaining rugby that is actively promoted by the knowledgeable coaching team at Hertford RFC. The club is also proud of its local players with 30 players from Hertford representing Hertfordshire over the years taking between them almost 250 caps. The current team welcomes new players at all levels into their team and training starts for the new season in July every year.
Hertford RFC plays their games in the National 2 South League and they are hovering around the mid-table point. The clubhouse can be hired out for functions (both corporate or leisure) and many locals are proud to support their rugby team and are regular spectators at home and away games. They play by the RFU Fair Play Codes and many local companies and businesses sponsor the popular team. All sponsors get to enjoy the benefits of a perimeter board on first team games, display adverts in the annual fixtures card of which 2,000 are printed, a fixtures poster advert and display adverts in home match day programmes.
Hertford RFC is undoubtedly one of the most popular sporting teams in the region and the club continues to grow in the hope of gaining more notoriety and working its way up through the leagues.
As one of the most popular sports teams in the region, Hertford Rugby Club has many fans. To stay up to date on the latest Hertford RFC, visit the Hertfordshire Mercury.
Tags: Hertford RFC, Hertford Rugby Club, Hertfordshire Mercury
24 Oct 11 Five Triumphs and Disasters for Burton Albion FC
Burton may be famous for its brewing heritage but the small town in Staffordshire is also home to a great football team called Burton Albion FC. Burton Albion FC is a professional club which plays in League 2 and currently plays home games at the Pirelli Stadium, after leaving Eton Park back in 2005. Keeping in tune with the history of the area, the club’s nickname is The Brewers and they were founded fairly recently in 1950.
The club has been through many ups and downs and here are some of the most poignant triumphs and disasters that Burton Albion Football Club has gone through:
1. Promotion to the League
The most notable achievement for Burton Albion FC came about in the 2008/09 season when the team claimed promotion from the Conference into the Football League. Following their promotion to the league, the club appointed former Canadian international Paul Peschisolido and said farewell to caretaker manager Roy McFarland. Since their founding in 1950, the club has never played in the professional league making this the most noteworthy accomplishment for Burton Albion Football Club to date.
2. Demolition of Eton Park
In 2005, the club said goodbye to their home ground at Eton Park, as the site was demolished bringing an end to a long era of tradition for the team. Burton Albion had played all their home games at Eton Park from its founding in 1950 through to 2005 and the sadness of seeing Eton Park being replaced by housing was felt by many loyal fans. While this was considered to be a disaster at the time, many fans soon looked forward to spending time in the new stadium, which holds 6,912 people.
3. Bass Charity Vase
Burton Albion is no stranger to taking home the Bass Charity Vase. The club has won it on no less than 12 occasions in 1954, 1961, 1970, 1971, 1981, 1986, 1997, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2011. This is a great achievement for the club and as well as winning the cup 12 times throughout history, the team has also claimed the runner-up spot 12 times, in 1952, 1957, 1973, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1984, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2010. This is a highlight for Burton Albion as the club seems to have successfully dominated the competition for many years!
4. FA Cup Misery…
In 1985, Burton Albion lost dismally to Leicester City suffering a 6-1 defeat with Gary Lineker scoring a hat-trick to see off the challenge from The Brewers. Paul Evans stood in goal for Burton Albion and was unfortunately hit by a missile which was thrown from the taunting crowd. The score line wasn’t upheld as the attack led to a new game to be played behind closed doors and Burton Albion lost again – but with a more respectable score of 1-0!
5. FA Cup Success
A hugely notable triumph for Burton Albion was enjoyed on January 8, 2006 when the club managed an impressive 0-0 draw with Premier League high-flyers Manchester United in the third round of the FA Cup. While Manchester United won 5-0 in the replay at Old Trafford, gaining the replay was a great triumph for the small-town club and a whopping 11,000 loyal fans travelled to Old Trafford to watch the match. Their success continued into 2011 when Burton Albion knocked Championship side Middlesbrough out of the tournament with a 2-1 win.
Burton Albion has enjoyed many ups and a few downs with relegation and promotion being fought for, won and lost throughout the years. With Burton Albion now competing in the Football League, the club looks set to continue its footballing journey with more passion than ever before…
Burton FC fans need look no further than the Burton Mail for the lowdown on their team. For the latest results and fixtures for Burton football club, visit the Burton Mail online.
Tags: Burton FC, Burton football club, Burton Mail
24 Oct 11 Five Interesting Bits of Trivia about Burton RFC
Burton Rugby Club is one of the oldest in Rugby Union and it was originally founded way back in 1870. It was created by brewers working for a local pub and in 2001, during incorporation, the club changed its name to Burton Rugby Football Club. Burton RFC is hugely popular in the town as well as the surrounding areas and the kit has remained the same except for a few experimental changes since 1877, with white shirts with a black stripe, white shorts and black socks.
If you’re a fan of Burton Rugby Club, check out the top five interesting bits of trivia on the club:
1. When the club was originally founded, like many other clubs back in the 1800s, Burton had its own set of rules which all visiting clubs had to abide by. These rules were changed in 1876 when the club adopted the rules of the Rugby Football Union. The same year, the club chose to stop playing football as well as rugby and became solely a rugby team. Unusually for the time, the club began admitting women into their ground in 1889 and have since always valued their support even when women were struggling to earn equal rights with men.
2. Burton Rugby Club has played its games at many grounds and for the first 18 years, the club actually played its matches at a cricket ground. Peel Croft, Ind Coope Ground, Marston’s Ground and Crescent Brewery Ground are some of the more notable. Peel Croft is currently the home ground for Burton Rugby Club and the ground also shows big sporting events on their live TVs, including the 2011 Rugby World Cup, where England rugby fans can come to watch the games together over a sandwich and soft drink..
3. One of the finest sides to step on the pitch played for Burton RFC in 1900 and then again in the inter-war period. The 1932-33 season saw the side captained by G.T. Barker, who was one of the clubs most notable players. He captained Burton RFC for a further five years and during this period, the Peel Croft Social Club was introduced serving up refreshments to visiting teams.
4. As with many top sporting clubs both in rugby and in other sports, Burton RFC is known in the area for its charitable connections. The Acorns Children’s Hospice is the named charity for the 2011-12 season and this particular charity relies on donations for up to 70 per cent of its activities.
5. Burton RFC attracts many high-profile sponsors from local companies and Marston’s is the primary club sponsor for the 2011-12 season and is unsurprising thanks to the town’s brewing history. For many years, the town was renowned all over the country for its brewing abilities and now it is just as famous for its brewing heritage. Several local companies sponsor Burton RFC and the team attracts a lot of attention in the sports industry due to their long established roots.
If you live in Burton or you are a rugby fan it is likely that you are familiar with Burton RFC. The team is one of the most notable sporting teams in the area partly due to its long history and even non-rugby fans are proud if the town’s sporting heritage. There are many shops to explore in Burton and avid hikers can explore the nearby National Forest while sporting enthusiasts can enjoy watching a rugby game.
Burton Rugby Club has a long and proud history, plus some very loyal fans. For all the latest news and results from Burton RFC, visit the Burton Mail.
Tags: Burton Mail, Burton RFC, Burton Rugby Club
04 Aug 11 Burton Rugby Club Throughout the Years
Burton-on-Trent is known for many things and especially the excellent beer that came (but no longer comes) from its fast-flowing mineral-rich river water and Burton RFC. Beer gave many of Burton’s townsfolk food on the table and a roof over their heads, but all work and no play can make Jack a very dull boy. Fortunately, there’s one game (other than darts) that is almost synonymous with beer drinking and that is rugby football, so it is no surprise to find that the brewing men of Burton set up Burton Rugby Club to run off their excess energy and build up that all-important thirst.
A Brief History
The story of Burton RFC began when some brewers met in the Swan Hotel in Burton on October 5, 1870, to establish a club, long before the irrevocable split between Association Football and rugby happened. As a result, Burton Rugby Club is entitled to call itself a football club rather just than a rugby club. Initially, like other teams, it played by its own rules but finally adopted the rules of the Rugby Football Union in 1876, at the same time ending playing ‘ordinary’ football on alternate weekends. By 1876, the rules of the Rugby Football Union were adopted and in 1877 an AGM chose the club colours, black diagonal stripe on a white jersey, which is still used today. Ladies were admitted as club members (but not players!) as early as 1889, a remarkable bit of gender equality for that time. The ground itself has changed venue several times, sometimes controversially, but has ended up at Peel Croft which was first used as early as 1872.
Notable Players
The period 1870 to 1914 saw Burton RFC at its peak, gaining the Midland Counties Challenge Cup twice. They even managed a victory over the Maori Tourists in 1888 topped by a victory over the newly formed Barbarians in 1890. However, the 1932/33 side was captained by G. T. Barker and they beat well-rated Swansea, Barker continuing as captain for the next five years. He also set up Peel Croft Social Club to entertain teams who visited Burton’s ground, and plenty of Burton beer was available to quench their thirst.
Rugby is very much a full team game, so that individual performances are often less prominent than in football but there were some prominent names at Burton Rugby Club such as S. H. Evershed, who captained the Midlands Counties side as well as Burton. Naturally, he was also involved in running a local Burton brewery. Alongside him were six other Burton players, a measure of how good the local team of the day was. Today, Dominic ‘Spud’ Taylor has impressively been called up to play in England’s Under-19 squad.
Triumphs and Failures
Perhaps the greatest success at Burton Rugby Club is the fact that it has kept going from the very beginning of the sport, right up to today. This year, for instance, they have won the RFU’s Whole Club Seal of Approval, awarded in part for the long-term sustainability of the club and its contribution to the overall development of rugby as a sport. This is not a club obsessed with filling a cabinet with silverware, being more concerned with playing the game of rugby for its own sake. It has had periods of glory, such as winning the Midland Counties Challenge Cup twice, and in 1992, gained promotion to the Midlands League.
Since then, it has come very close to achieving National League status, coming second on three occasions, and it should only be a matter of time before it finally achieves this ambition, not least because club membership has steadily increased. Rugby may have unfairly been described as a gentleman’s game played by hooligans, but Burton RFC has proved that this sport can be played by proper gentlemen.
Burton Rugby Club fans need look no further than the Burton Mail to keep up to date with their team. For all the latest Burton RFC fixtures, results and news, visit the Burton Mail online.
Tags: Burton Mail, Burton RFC, Burton Rugby Club
19 Apr 11 The History of Windsor Football Club
Windsor FC is a relatively new club, forming after Eton & Windsor FC closed down in February, 2011.
Windsor Football Club was launched as the area’s new football team and their name was chosen by the supporters in a poll, with a massive 60 per cent of the voters choosing ‘Windsor FC’. They will play their games in the Hellenic Football League and they kick off their season at the Stag Meadow for the impending 2011/2012 season.
The early days of Windsor & Eton FC
The original Windsor & Eton FC was formed back in 1892 and they first played their games in the same league as the likes of Tottenham. The club’s nickname ‘the Royalists’ was given to the team after many members of the royal family took an interest in the club, including HRH Prince Christian, King George V and King George VI. Windsor sports have always attracted a royal spectatorship due to their location and the present Duke of Edinburgh is also a huge fan.
The club’s most notorious period of success was enjoyed in the 1980s as they won the Athenian League and made the semi finals of the FA Vase Trophy. After winning the title in their league in 1981, Windsor FC went on to play in the Isthmian League Division Two before being promoted just one season later after finishing in second spot.
Tough competition
While managing AFC Bournemouth, boss Harry Redknapp once famously said that playing Windsor & Eton FC was a ‘tougher game than playing against Manchester United’. While his side went on to beat Windsor & Eton FC in the FA Cup, they proved to live up to their tough reputation, only losing by a narrow margin to a team ranked far higher than their opponents.
Recent times
In more recent years, 2001 saw the world of Windsor sports suffer a major blow as Windsor & Eton finished bottom in Division One after enduring a season filled with major injuries. Fortunately for the club, they were not relegated as the league was restructured and the club was left to fight another tough season in the same league.
In the 2002/03 season, the club enjoyed a good run in the FA Vase Trophy and they beat the likes of Welling United, Hitchin Town and then Vauxhall Motors before they eventually lost to Aylesbury United in a penalty shoot-out.
Windsor & Eton FC then moved to the Premier Division in 2004 before another reshuffle moved them to the Southern League in 2006. The 2006/07 season saw them finish in 14th place but in 2009 they enjoyed some success in the Berks & Bucks Senior Cup after they beat Marlow FC 1-0.
While the 2009/10 season welcomed the club as champions of the Southern League Division One South and West, the club’s promotion was thwarted by the news of mounting debts and on January 30, 2011, Windsor & Eton ceased to exist.
Windsor FC 2011
Just two days later a new club was formed and Windsor FC now look set to give Windsor sports a whole new reputation. The team is yet to be announced for the upcoming new season but with Windsor & Eton previously attracting big names in the industry including Vic Woodley and Billy Coward, Windsor FC will certainly make an impact when the new season kicks off later in the year.
For news on the newly formed Windsor FC, you can do no better than the Windsor Express. Visit the newspaper online for all the latest Windsor sports headlines.
Tags: SilverDoor, Windsor FC, Windsor sports
19 Apr 11 Slough FC – A History
The Slough sports industry is proud to be represented by Slough FC, which is currently a semi-professional club which plays in the Southern Football League Division One Central. They go by the nickname ‘The Rebels’ and were founded in 1890 when three clubs merged: Slough Albion, Young Men’s Friendly Society and Swifts.
Ground sharing
After the birth of Slough FC, they began their early life playing against the likes of Windsor & Eton and Tottenham. Slough joined the Spartan League in 1921 after missing out on the voting system to Wycombe Wanderers when they attempted to join the Isthmian League.
In 1936, the club owners sold The Dolphin Stadium to a greyhound consortium and the football club were ordered to vacate the premises three years later, forcing them to ground share with Maidenhead United.
After this humiliation in Slough sports circles, the club agreed to merge with Slough Centre FC. They became Slough United FC and enjoyed a move back to their home town.
Rebellious tendencies
The club earned its nickname ‘The Rebels’ after becoming part of the Corinthian League after breaking away from the Spartan League – a move that caused quite a stir at the time. Slough FC then became champions of the Athenian League three times and they eventually enjoyed promotion to the Isthmian League in 1973.
The 1980s were also a good decade for the club as they won the title twice with the second win earning them a promotion to the Football Conference.
Recent years
In 1991 the club was bought out of receivership and seven years later the same consortium then backed out of their initial promise and failed to pay for the ground improvements that were needed to remain in the Conference League. Slough FC were demoted to the Isthmian League, even though they had secured an eighth place finish the season before. By the 2000/01 season, the Slough FC were relegated again but managed to claim its Premier Division status in 2003/04, when the club won their league.
They were relegated again in the 2006/07 season when they conceded a whopping 120 goals. The 2007/08 season was played in the Southern Football League Division One South & West and they finished second from bottom. However, they managed a lucky escape from relegation at the expense of Halifax Town, who fell into administration.
After a few rocky years, Slough FC has stabilised its position in the league and they finished in an impressive fifth spot in the 2009/10 season. They currently play their games at Holloways Park in Beaconsfield and the club is managed by Steve Bateman. The stadium holds a capacity of 3,500 Slough sports fans and the team has shared grounds over the years with Windsor & Eton, among others, and will be hoping to be in their new venue at the end of the 2010/11 season.
Slough FC is currently in sixth position in the league table and with only a handful of games remaining, they are still in the fight for top spot.
The Slough Express is the first port of call for Slough sports news. Slough FC fans can find the latest results and news from their team at the Slough Express website.
Tags: Slough Express, Slough FC, Slough sports
19 Apr 11 Maidenhead FC – The Story So Far
Of Maidenhead sports teams, Maidenhead FC is the most famous. It was originally formed in October 1870, and the club played their first professional game against Windsor Home Park in the December.
Maidenhead FC is famous for being one of the first 15 clubs which played in the first-ever FA Cup competition.
Post-war success
After WWI, Maidenhead FC merged with Maidenhead Norfolkians and they went on to win the title in the Great Western League the same season.
By 1922 they were in the Spartan League, where they won the title three times during their 14-year reign in the league.
In 1936 Maidenhead FC got a taste for the big time as they reached the semi-finals of the FA Cup and the club attracted a record-breaking crowd of 7,989 at York Road.
The club enjoyed even more success as they reached a record goal scoring tally of 65 goals in just 39 games, scored by future Sheffield Wednesday striker Jack Palethorpe.
After the end of WWII, Maidenhead FC played in the Corinthian League until 1962 and they took the league title three times during their stay, as well as finishing second twice.
Mid-table success
The Seventies and Eighties saw Maidenhead FC hang around the mid-table position and similarly in the 1990s.
In 1987 the club endured the pain of relegation for the first time in its history and the season’s second blow came when the main stand was destroyed in an arson attack. The club also suffered from financial problems and Maidenhead FC became stuck in Division Two for the next four years.
Martyn Spong was the man to take them out of the division in 1991 and the club narrowly missed out on the title to Abingdon Town on the last day of the season.
Maidenhead FC was then managed by Gary Goodwin, John Clements and John Watt, and all three managers achieved mid-table standings.
Management vs. mediocrity
In 1996 Maidenhead FC hired Martyn Busby to manage the club with the intention of bringing to club back to its successful roots and out of the mediocrity that it had come familiar with in recent years.
Busby was joined on the management team by Alan Devonshire, who had previously played for West Ham and England in the midfield position. Busby left the club half-way through the season but Devonshire stayed on and won the Isthmian League Full Members Cup in 1997.
The following season welcomed even more success as the club won three County Cups and took the title for the Isthmian Fair Play Award.
Maidenhead FC finished fourth in the 97/98 season with an impressive 81 points and the following year the club won the Berks & Bucks Senior Cup.
Recent success
May 2001 welcomed a new enclosure at the stadium which held an additional 700 fans to make the capacity up to 4,500 at York Road.
The 03/04 season was a tense one in Maidenhead sports and the club went seven games without a win and ended up at the bottom of the table.
After a team shake-up, Maidenhead FC shot up the table positions and they finished the season in a position that allowed them to play Conference South Football. However, this move proved to be a struggle. The club were relegated and after a financial crisis hit in 2005, Maidenhead FC went through a turbulent time.
Maidenhead FC still plays at York Road – the world’s oldest senior football ground which has been continuously used.
Currently the team is placed second from bottom in the Blue Square Bet South and the club faces an anxious end to their 10/11 campaign.
Through good and bad times for Maidenhead FC, you can rely on the Maidenhead Advertiser to keep fans up to date. For all the latest Maidenhead sports news, visit the Maidenhead Advertiser online.
Tags: Maidenhead Advertiser, Maidenhead FC, Maidenhead sports
