Basildon United F.C.
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| Full name | Basildon United Football Club | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | The Bees | ||
| Founded | 1963 | ||
| Ground | Gardiners Close, Basildon | ||
| Capacity | 2,000 (400 seated)[1] | ||
| Chairman | David Maxwell | ||
| Manager | Aaron Bloxham | ||
| League | Essex Senior League | ||
| 2015–16 | Essex Senior League, 2nd | ||
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Basildon United Football Club is a football club based in Basildon, Essex. They are currently members of the Essex Senior League and play at Gardiners Close.
History
The club was established in 1963 as a junior team named Armada before becoming an adult club and adopting their current name in 1967.[2] The club joined the Thurrock Thames-side Combination League for the 1967–68 season.
In 1971 the club were founder members of the Essex Senior League (ESL).[3] They finished as runners-up in 1972–73, before winning the league in 1976–77. The club went on to win the league for the next three seasons, as well winning the League Cup in 1977–78,[2] before switching to the Athenian League in 1980.[3]
After finishing second in their first season in the Athenian League, the club joined Division Two of the Isthmian League for the 1981–82 season. In 1983–84 they won Division Two and were promoted to Division One. The club remained in Division One until being relegated at the end of the 1988–89 season, when they finished second bottom of the Division, and were demoted to Division Two North.[3]
In 1991 the club left the Isthmian League and dropped back into the Essex Senior League. They won the league and League Cup double in 1993–94, but did not take promotion to the Isthmian League. The club won the League Cup for a third time in 1997–98.[2]
Ground
The club initially played at the Gun Ground in Pitsea, which was the home ground of Bowers United.[4] In 1970 they moved to Gardiners Close,[4] which was opened by then West Ham players Geoff Hurst and Jimmy Greaves. The first match was played against West Ham in front of what remains the club's record crowd of 4,000.[1]
Floodlights were installed in 1985.[4] It currently has a capacity of 2,000, of which 400 is seated and 1,000 covered.[1]
Honours
- Isthmian League
- Division Two champions 1983–84
- Essex Senior League
- Champions 1976–77, 1977–78, 1978–79, 1979–80, 1993–94
- Challenge Cup winners 1977–78, 1993–94, 1997–98
- Essex Senior Trophy
- Winners 1978–79
Records
- Best FA Cup performance: Third qualifying round, 1983–84, 1998–99[3]
- Best FA Trophy performance: Second qualifying round, 1985–86[3]
- Best FA Vase performance: Quarter-finals, 1980–81[3]
- Record attendance: 4,000 vs West Ham United, friendly match, 11 August 1970[1]
See also
- Basildon United F.C. players
- Basildon United F.C. managers
References
External links
Coordinates: 51°35′10.241″N 0°28′40.350″E / 51.58617806°N 0.47787500°E