Huntingdon Town F.C.
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| Full name | Huntingdon Town Football Club | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | The Croms | ||
| Founded | 1980 (modern club) | ||
| Ground | Jubilee Park, Huntingdon | ||
| Capacity | 1,000 (100 Seated) | ||
| Chairman | Doug McIlwain | ||
| Manager | Bob Warby | ||
| League | United Counties League Premier Division | ||
| 2015–16 | United Counties League Premier Division, 22nd | ||
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Huntingdon Town F.C. is an English football club based in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire. The club are currently members of the United Counties League Premier Division and play at Jubilee Park.
History
The original Huntingdon Town was formed in the 1800s and won the Huntingdonshire Senior Cup eleven times before World War I. For most of the period between 1922 and the merger, they had played in the Peterborough & District League, before merging with Huntingdon Wanderers to form Huntingdon United in 1948.[1]
Huntingdon Town Football Club were formed in 1995 following a move from the West Anglian League to the Cambs League. Prior to entry to the Cambs League Division 2B for the 1996-97 season, Town were known as Sun FC and originally began life back in 1980 as the Montagu which was formed by the current Secretary Russell Yezek. The committee decided that they wished to progress in local football and choose to resurrect the then defunct name of Huntingdon Town. Progress was soon made both on & off the field. Behind the scenes the club is run on a very sound footing by a solid committee led by Chairman Hans Reif. On the playing front the appointment of Manager Andy Rossi, who’s wealth of experience on both the playing & Managerial side, led to a steady climb through the Cambs league. In 1998 “The Town” gained promotion from Division 2B into Division 1B. In the season 1999-2000 the club finished as winners of Division 1B as well as winning the Huntingdonshire FA Junior Cup for the first time. The following season saw more Cup success, retaining the Hunts Junior Cup, as well as runners up in the Hunts Scott Gatty Cup. The 2001-2002 season was also very successful winning the Scott Gatty Cup & also the Hunts Junior Cup for the third successive time. The club also finished runners up in the Cambs League Senior B Division and the Percy Oldham Cup that season. The Club moved to their new site at Jubilee Park in 2003 & this enabled work to be undertaken to provide the facilities necessary for the continued progression of the Club. The team moved to play in the UCL Division 1, having transferred from the Cambs league at the end of the 2002/2003 season. The first four seasons in the United Counties League were something of a learning curve for Town, reflected in their league positions of 17th, 14th, 12th & 14th respectively. The 2007-2008 saw the 1st Team finish 4th only missing out on promotion by goal difference & the Reserves win the Reserve Division 2 Title & win the Hunts Benevolent Cup. Huntingdon Town also run an Under 18 side in the Ridgeons Youth League. All three teams play their home games at the Clubs Jubilee Park ground on Kings Ripton Road, In July 2004 the new £37,000 floodlighting system was opened with a match against Peterborough United which attracted a near 1000 crowd.
The new £1.1 million Clubhouse was open for the 2009-2010 season with the only success on the field being the all conquering U18 team, winning the league, league Cup & County Cup.
The 2011-2012 season started full of optimism, with a new Chairman at the helm & many new signings. Faith was kept with the Management pairing of Ricky Marheineke & Paul Swannell who guided Town to a credible 5th place in the 2010-2011 season after sitting 3rd from bottom when taking over in February 2011. Optimism turned to joy with Town winning the United Counties League Division 1 Title, scoring over 100 goals in the process. Manager Ricky Marheineke won 2 Manager of the month awards. Town also reached the Semi – Final of the Hinchingbrooke Cup losing 3 – 0 to step 4 side St Neots Town. A new 50 seater stand was erected, with another planned by the end of the 2012–2013 season
The 2012-2013 season saw Town finish 4th in their first season in the Premier again scoring over 100 goals & reaching the Hunts Senior Cup Final drawing 0-0 with St Neots Town & losing on Penalties. The second 50-seat stand was erected
The 2013-2014 season saw Town finish runners up in the league again scoring over 100 goals. But won the league KO Cup & the prestigious Hinchingbrooke Cup both for the first time
The 2014-2015 season saw Town just staved off relegation, the club started the 2015-2016 season in turmoil. Doug McIlwain was bought in as Chairman to steady the ship & move the club forward. Rebuilding came with a price, losing both the Reserve & U18 team by the end of the season.
Although Town finish bottom of the league for the first time in their history, due to circumstances held on to their position in the UCL Premier Division, so the 2016-2017 season starts on a more positive note with Bob Warby as Manager & Mark Forrest as his assistant full of optimism
Honours
References
- ↑ Blakeman, M (2010) The Official History of the Eastern Counties Football League 1935-2010, Volume II ISBN 978-1-908037-02-2
External links
Coordinates: 52°21′30.26″N 0°09′58.07″W / 52.3584056°N 0.1661306°W