Burnham F.C.

Burnham
Full name Burnham Football Club
Nickname(s) The Blues
Founded 1878
Ground The Gore
Burnham
Buckinghamshire
Ground Capacity 2,500
Chairman Gary Reeves
Manager Luther Blissett (temporary)
League Hellenic League Premier Division
2015–16 Southern League Division One South & West, 21st (relegated)

Burnham F.C. is a non-League football club from Burnham in Buckinghamshire, near Slough. They currently compete in the Hellenic League Premier Division. The team play in blue and white shirts and white shorts. The club's chairman is Gary Reeves.[1] Home matches are played at The Gore. The Gore has been recently redeveloped, with a new stand and facilities.

History

The club was founded in 1878, and so Burnham FC is the second oldest club in Buckinghamshire. The club spent its first years in various local leagues, and then joined the Great Western Combination league in 1948. 16 years later they moved to the Wycombe Combination in 1964 and then spent one year in the Reading Combination for the 1970–71 season.[2]

The team first joined a senior league in 1971 when they entered the Hellenic Football League Division One A, finishing as runners-up in their first season, followed by a runners-up position in Division One which saw them promoted to the Premier Division. In 1975–76 they were Premier Division champions. In 1977 they switched to the Athenian League, where they achieved two runners-up finishes, and also reached the semi-finals of the FA Vase.

In 1984 Burnham switched leagues to the London Spartan League, where they were champions at the first attempt. The following year the club merged with Hillingdon Borough to form Burnham & Hillingdon F.C., taking over Hillingdon's place in the Southern League.[3][4] In 1987 the club's name reverted simply to Burnham F.C. but performances on the pitch declined and the 1994–95 season saw the club relegated back to the Hellenic League. In four seasons back at this level the club never finished out of the top 5, resulting in promotion back to the Southern League in 1999, where they remain to this day, although due to the renaming and restructuring of divisions they have technically played in three different divisions without ever being relegated or promoted.

Burnham have had modest success in cup competitions. Their best run in the FA Vase came in the 1982–83 season where they lost to Halesowen Town in a two legged semi-final (the home match being the clubs highest recorded attendance). In 1999–2000 they reached the 4th round of the FA Trophy where they drew Scarborough, then residing in the Conference (they had also recently been relegated from the Football League). Burnham managed a 1–1 draw at home before losing 6–0 in the replay. In the 2005–06 season Dave Mudge's Burnham side achieved their best run in the FA Cup, losing 3–1 at home to Aldershot Town in the 1st round proper. The game was watched by one of the biggest crowds at Burnham in recent years and even saw Burnham appear briefly on Match of the Day.

Burnham completed one of their best seasons in recent memory when they finished 3rd in the Southern League Division One South & West in 2006–07. Due to this league position they entered the promotion playoffs but lost at home in the semi-final 1–2 to eventual playoff winners Swindon Supermarine. This outcome was mirrored three seasons later, when, under the managerial guidance of Jamie Jarvis, the Blues again lost out in the semi-final of the play-offs, this time to Chesham United. Martin Stone was appointed manager in December 2011 and under his stewardship the club enjoyed its most successful period.

After winning the Wycombe Senior Cup in 2011-12 the 2012–13 season saw the club gain promotion to the Southern League Premier Division when they finished as champions of the Division One Central.[5] This was to be the first time Burnham had ever played at this level of football, but they had to reckon without top scorer Ryan Bird, who signed for Portsmouth. Martin Stone resigned in January 2014 with the club 8th in the Southern League Premier Division.

After just surviving relegation from the Southern League Premier Division having finished in 20th position in the 2013-14 season, the club appointed former Hillingdon Borough, Northwood and Wingate & Finchley manager Gary Meakin who joined the club from Beaconsfield SYCOB.[6] Byron Walton, who most recently served as SYCOB manager before leaving in 2012, joined as General Manager.

Meakin resigned from his position as manager after the 0-0 draw with Chippenham Town on 29 November 2014, a result that left Burnham in 21st position.[7] Burnham then appointed a joint managerial team of Danny Gordon and Gareth Risbridger, who both assumed the role as joint-managers, in December 2014 as Meakin's replacements.[8]

Both Gordon and Risbridger departed the club, following their relegation from the Premier Division, in May 2015. The board moved quickly appointing former Binfield boss Mark Tallentire as the club's new manager on 11 May 2015, but he resigned in September 2015 bringing about yet another change in manager. On 23 November, Burnham confirmed a further managerial change, with former professional player Dave Tuttle taking charge.[9] Tuttle therefore becomes Burnham's third manager already during the 2015-16 season and their sixth in the last two campaigns.[9]

On 19 April 2016, Burnham lost 2-1 at home to Didcot Town.[10] This defeat confirmed the club's second successive relegation[11] and will see them play at a level below the Southern League for the first time since the late 1990s, when they played in the Hellenic Football League.[12] Burnham's chairman was quoted as saying that registering 112 players over the course of the season was "unforgivable" and was one of the contributing factors towards the club's relegation.[13][14] Following relegation, Burnham appealed against their demotion.[15] They were ultimately unsuccessful and it was confirmed they would play in the Hellenic Football League for season 2016-17.

Despite a promising pre-season with two wins, Burnham's new first team suffered their heaviest defeat in six years when they lost 8-1 to Thame United in their first game of the Hellenic League season.[16][17]

In August 2016, the club parted company with manager Dave Tuttle. The club's director of football, former Watford player and England international Luther Blissett continued to direct the coaching, along with Bliss8 assistant coaches. It was announced that a new first team manager would be recruited working within the club's development strategy. Blissett's first game in charge resulted in a 0-11 home defeat to Thatcham Town as Burnham's poor start to the season continued.[18] Due to the heavy nature of this defeat, the result and highlights were available on the BBC website,[19] and discussed briefly in The Guardian Football Weekly podcast.[20] On 27 September, Burnham announced that former Watford player Gifton Noel-Williams would be taking over the managerial job at the club.[21] He led the team to their first points of the season in October, but the club announced on 9 November that Noel-Williams had left the club.[22][23] As a result, Blissett again took charge of the team.[24]

Seasons

Year League Lvl Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Position Leading league scorer FA Cup FA Trophy Average home
attendance
Name Goals Res Rec Res Rec
2011–12 Southern Football League
Division One Central		 8 42 13 13 16 64 67 -3 52 15th of 22 QR3 3-1-1 PR 0-1-1
2012–13 42 31 6 5 108 39 69 99 1st of 22
Promoted		 PR 0-0-1 QR2 1-0-1
2013–14 Southern Football League
Premier Division		 7 44 12 8 24 60 91 -31 44 20th of 23 Ryan Blake 12 QR2 1-0-1 QR2 1-0-1 134
2014–15 44 5 8 31 41 89 -48 20* 23rd of 23
Relegated		 Nicke Kabamba 10 QR2 1-0-1 QR2 1-3-0 132
2015–16 Southern Football League
Division One South & West		 8 42 6 6 30 39 99 -60 24 21st of 22
Relegated		 Tre Mitford 9 PR 0-1-1 PR 0-0-1 79

Ground

The Gore, Burnham

Burnham play their games at The Gore, Wymers Wood Road, Burnham SL1 8JG.

In December 2010 Burnham applied to the Southern Football League to lay a new third generation (3G) playing surface at The Gore, which was eventually sanctioned in January 2011.[25][26] As of April 2016, Burnham have yet to install a new 3G surface.

Club honours

Club records

Former players

1. Players that have played/managed in the football league or any foreign equivalent to this level (i.e. fully professional league).
2. Players with full international caps.

References

  1. ↑ Breen looking to build at Burnham 19/08/10 Time 106.6fm
  2. ↑ A brief history of Burnham FC Burnham Football Club and Conference Centre
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 BURNHAM at the Football Club History Database
  4. ↑ BURNHAM & HILLINGDON at the Football Club History Database
  5. ↑ "Gary Reeves set to replace Bob Breen as chairman of Burnham FC / Local Berkshire / Sport / Football". Localberkshire.co.uk. 23 May 2013. Archived from the original on 17 May 2014. Retrieved 22 June 2013.
  6. ↑ "Gary Meakin Takes Over At Burnham". NonLeagueBet.co.uk. 15 May 2015. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
  7. ↑
  8. ↑ The Evo-Stik League Southern (2014-12-05). "Burnham appoint Gordon and Risbridger as Joint Managers | The Evo-Stik League Southern". Southern-football-league.co.uk. Retrieved 2015-11-08.
  9. 1 2 http://www.maidenhead-advertiser.co.uk/Sport/Football/Burnham-FC/Tuttle-takes-over-from-Mulvaney-as-Burnham-FC-manager-23112015.htm
  10. ↑ https://www.southern-football-league.co.uk/league-news/action-from-final-midweek-matches
  11. ↑ http://www.maidenhead-advertiser.co.uk/Sport/Football/Burnham-FC/Burnham-FC-relegated-from-the-Southern-League-after-home-defeat-to-Didcot-Town-FC-20042016.htm
  12. ↑ http://www.fchd.info/BURNHAM.HTM
  13. ↑ http://www.windsorexpress.co.uk/Sport/Football/Burnham-FC/Reeves-says-Burnham-FC-will-come-back-stronger-from-back-to-back-relegations-21042016.htm
  14. ↑ http://www.maidenhead-advertiser.co.uk/Sport/Football/Burnham-FC/Reeves-says-Burnham-FC-will-come-back-stronger-from-back-to-back-relegations-21042016.htm
  15. ↑ http://www.maidenhead-advertiser.co.uk/Sport/Football/Burnham-FC/Burnham-FC-appeal-Southern-Leagues-decision-not-to-hand-them-a-reprieve-from-relegation-18052016.htm
  16. ↑ http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/burnhamfc/teams/100689/match-centre/1-2199042#comments-2199042
  17. ↑ http://www.maidenhead-advertiser.co.uk/gallery/burnham-fc/102320/burnham-fc-humiliated-by-thame-united-on-hellenic-league-return.html
  18. ↑ http://newburyobserver.co.uk/thatcham-fire-11-past-burnham-in-dominant-display
  19. ↑ http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/37177511
  20. ↑ https://www.theguardian.com/football/audio/2016/sep/05/sam-allardyces-winning-start-and-the-return-of-luther-blissett-football-weekly
  21. ↑ http://www.maidenhead-advertiser.co.uk/gallery/burnham-fc/104784/former-watford-striker-gifton-noel-williams-named-new-burnham-fc-manager.html
  22. ↑ http://www.sloughobserver.co.uk/sport/14877679.Burnham_FC__Gifton_Noel_Williams_stands_down_as_Blues_manager/
  23. ↑ http://www.maidenhead-advertiser.co.uk/gallery/burnham-fc/107048/burnham-part-company-with-gifton-noel-williams.html
  24. ↑ http://www.nonleaguedaily.com/headlines/blissett-takes-control-as-noel-williams-departs-from-burnham.html
  25. ↑ "Tonight FC Entertain Burnham – Aylesbury FC". Pitchero.com. 5 March 2013. Retrieved 22 June 2013.
  26. ↑ Robinson, Matt (6 December 2010). "Burnham seeking permission for 3G pitch – Hungerford Town Football Club". Pitchero.com. Retrieved 22 June 2013.
  27. ↑ "Football round-up: Burnham FC are champions | Burnham FC | News on the club and match reports for Burnham FC". Maidenhead-advertiser.co.uk. 27 April 2013. Archived from the original on 14 January 2016. Retrieved 22 June 2013.
  28. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Honours Burnham Football Club and Conference Centre
  29. ↑ "Finals". Stccc.org.uk. Retrieved 2015-11-08.

Sources

External links

Coordinates: 51°32′16.321″N 0°40′0.451″W / 51.53786694°N 0.66679194°W / 51.53786694; -0.66679194

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