Dunstable Town F.C.
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| Full name | Dunstable Town Football Club | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | The Blues | ||
| Founded | 1883, (reformed in 1998) (see history) | ||
| Ground | Creasey Park Dunstable | ||
| Capacity | 3,200 | ||
| Chairman | Roger Dance | ||
| Manager | Darren Croft & Paul Reeves | ||
| League | Southern League Premier Division | ||
| 2013–14 | Southern League Division One Central, 1st (promoted) | ||
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Dunstable Town F.C. is a football club based in Dunstable, Bedfordshire, currently playing in the Southern Football League. They play their home matches at Creasey Park Stadium.
The original 'Dunstable Town' were in existence from the nineteenth century until 1975, being replaced by Dunstable F.C. They themselves then folded in 1993–94, and the new Dunstable Town were created in 1998.
The club is affiliated to the Bedfordshire County Football Association. The clubs' main rivals are AFC Dunstable with whom they groundshare.
The first Dunstable Town
Early history
Dunstable Town FC were formed in 1883, first playing in local league and cup competitions. On 6 April 1896, they won the Bedfordshire Senior Cup, a feat they were not to repeat until 1956.[1]
1950s–1970s
The history of the club is sketchy until 1950, when Dunstable Town joined the Metropolitan League. The club moved to a stadium at Kingsway, and played in this league for many years, before moving to the Southern League in 1965. In 1956, they also achieved their best result in the FA Cup, reaching the first round proper.
In 1973, the club received the financial backing of Keith Cheesman. He hired a young Barry Fry as manager, and gave him money to build up a strong team; indeed in his autobiography, Fry claims that he was often given blank, signed cheques. Of note, both Jeff Astle and George Best were bought in to play for the team (Best only actually playing three competitive games). However, this spending quickly led to the accumulation of debt, and the club folded.[1]
Dunstable F.C.
Dunstable F.C. was formed to take over the team's fixtures, completing the 1975–76 season. They were then demoted to the bottom level of the Southern League. There they stayed for following twenty years; however, more financial difficulties led to the club's disbanding in 1994, for the second time.[1]
Dunstable Town today
Creasey Park, the current stadium, was leased in 1997, allowing the team to be reformed for the 1998–99 season. Promotion from their initial league, the South Midlands League Division One was obtained at the second attempt, followed by two promotions in three years to the Isthmian League First Division. A feeder club, Dunstable Town 98 F.C., was establishe d in 2003 based around the former reserve side. League restructuring put them in the Southern League Premier Division, from which they were relegated for the 2005–06 season. Roger Dance the new chairman brought in Kerry Dixon but he and and Paul Reeves failed to stop the rot and the Blues were relegated again until the FA's restructuring granted Dunstable a reprieve. Young manager Darren Feighery was drafted in for the 2006–07 season in the Southern League Division One Midlands, and he and his young side finished 11th as well as winning the Bedfordshire Senior Cup Final, for a record 11th time.
The Blues kicked off the 2007–08 season by defeating Luton Town 3–2 to win the Bedfordshire Premier Cup, as well as the Peter Metcalfe Memorial Tournament. After another midtable finish, the reign of Feighery came to an end as new chairman Pete Burgoyne sought a new direction in the form of Lee Cowley. Major ground improvements were carried out over the summer but the function hall at Creasey Park collapsed, taking with it a significant chunk of the budget and the boardroom. Cowley struggled after a good start to the season, highlighted by a 5–1 win at Canvey Island in the FA Cup, and ultimately resigned in March with reserve team managers, Mike Locke and Wayne Roff, taking over temporarily. Locke and Roff led the team to a record twelfth Bedfordshire Senior Cup but the team were relegated from the Southern League.
The 2009–10 season also became one of consolidation as Pete Burgoyne attempted to secure the redevelopment of Creasey Park and a long term successor. His successor was to be the man who sparked it all off in 1997 – Darren Croft. Attempting to bring the good times back to Creasey Park, Croft brought back Grant Carney as player/coach to compliment Darren Feighery. The summer also saw the start of the redevelopment with two new stands, a new pitch perimeter fence and new floodlights.
2010–11 was a ground-breaking season for Dunstable, as Town reached the fifth round of the FA Vase, only exiting away to holders Whitley Bay, who would go on to win the competition for the third year in a row. John McLoughlin also led the side to the SSMFL Challenge Trophy final, missing out to a last-gasp extra-time winner by league champions Chalfont St Peter.
2011/2012. Roger Dance once again became chairman and Paul Reeves came back to join Darren Croft to make up the old team of first team managers, September saw the finish of the Development of Creasy Park and the 6 year wait for the new stadium was over. Dunstable finished runners up in the SSMFL Premier League
2012–2013 became a record breaking season for Dunstable, under the guidance of Darren Croft and Paul Reeves the Beds Premier Cup was won with a 1–0 win against Luton Town, promotion was added when the SSMFL Premier League was won undefeated, with a record of 36 wins and 6 draws in 42 matches. A 3–2 win over Codicote in the SSMFL Challenge Trophy completed a historic treble for the club.
2013-2014. was again a fantastic year for the Blues. Their first year back they won the Southern League Central Division, gaining back to back promotions and a place in the Southern Premier League.
To add to this they won the Southern League champions Trophy and team of the year.
The long hard road back to the Southern Premier had arrived.
Club colours and crest
Dunstable Town have always been associated with Royal Blue and White, in a number of combinations. Unlike some of the larger clubs who hold an identity with one particular pattern, Dunstable have had stripes, hoops, halves, quarters, pin stripe and plain shirts. One kit that many Dunstablians would like to see the return of is the away kit from the early 21st century, a red and black hooped shirt as shown on the left. The club enjoyed the 2002–2003 season winning the Spartan South Midlands Premier Division while sporting this kit.
The present Dunstable Town crest is simply a recoloured version of the coat of arms for the Town of Dunstable. The previous badge, which is still displayed on supporters' flags, is based around the Chiltern White Lion. The lion originates from the figure cut into the chalk in the south of the town as part of Whipsnade Zoo in 1933.[2]
Current squad
as of July 2014 Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Notable former players
Jeff Astle – England international.
George Best – 1968 European Cup Winner and European Footballer of the Year. Northern Ireland international.
Shane Blackett – played for Dagenham & Redbridge, Peterborough United and Luton Town as well as being a Barbados international. Returned to Dunstable Town in 2014.- Tony Currie – England international.
- Kerry Dixon – Chelsea legend and former England international. Started his career at Dunstable before a £20,000 move to Reading.
Seamus Dunne – Republic of Ireland international.- Barry Fry – Manchester United trainee and former Birmingham City manager.
- Liam George – Republic of Ireland Under-21 international.
- Harry Hooper – England B-international and member of England's 1954 FIFA World Cup squad.
- Brendan McNally – Republic of Ireland international.
- Dean Brennan – former Luton Town player who played for Dunstable Town during the 2011-12 season. Now manager of Hemel Hempstead Town.
- Pat Morrissey – Republic of Ireland Under-23 international.
- Dave Galley – Physiotherapist in the 2005 UEFA Champions League winning Liverpool side, currently working for Sunderland and England.
- Bradley Walsh – Television presenter and actor
- Danny Hutchins – Ex Tottenham Hotspur and Yeovil Town.
- Stefan Bailey – Ex QPR
Officials
- Chairman: Roger Dance
- Honorary President: Barry Fry
- Honorary Vice President:Paul Croft
- Football Secretary: Malcolm Aubrey
- Fixtures Secretary : Paul Harris
- Director of Football: John McLoughlin
- Programme Editor and Reporter:Paul Harris
- Club Photographer: Liam Smith
- Welfare Officer : Paul Harris
- Executive Committee: Roger Dance, John McLoughlin, Darren Croft
- Paul Reeves,Robin Head, Paul Croft, Malcolm Aubrey.Paul Harris
Management team
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| First Team Manager | Darren Croft
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| First Team Manager | Paul Reeves
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| Director of Football | John McLoughlin
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| First Team Coach | Anthony Fontanelle
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| First Team Physio | John Bell
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Honours
- Bedfordshire Senior Cup:
- Winners (12): 1895–96, 1956–57, 1959–60, 1979–80, 1982–83, 1985–86, 1986–87, 1987–88, 1988–89, 2002–03, 2006–07, 2008–09,[3]
- Bedfordshire Premier Cup:
- Winners (5): 1980–81, 1982–83, 1990–91, 2006–07 2012–2013[4]
- Bedfordshire Intermediate Cup:
- Winners (2): 1999–2000, 2008–09[5]
- Bedfordshire Floodlit Cup:
- Winners (1): 2007–08[6]
- Eastern Junior Cup:
- Winners (1): 2006–07
- Colwyn Cup:
- Winners (2): 2006–07, 2009–10
- Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division:
- Winners (2): 2002–03, 2012–13
- Spartan South Midlands League Division One:
- Winners (1): 1999–2000
- Spartan South Midlands League Challenge Trophy:
- Winners (1): 2012–2013
- Southern Football League Division One Central:
- Winners (1): 2013–2014
Southern League Champions Cup
Winners (1) 2013-2014
Records
- Unbeaten in the Spartan South Midlands League 2012–2013
- Best league position: 8th in Southern League, Premier division (then step 1), 1975–76
- Best attendance: Approx. 10,000 against Manchester United in a friendly, in July 1974
- Best FA Cup performance: 1st Round Proper, 1956–57 Margate (a) Lost 3–1
- Best FA Trophy performance: 1st round, 2004–05 Histon (h) Lost 6–2
- Best FA Vase performance: 5th round, 2010–11 Whitley Bay F.C. (a) Lost 5–1
- Highest transfer fee received: £20,000, Kerry Dixon to Reading. 1980[7]
- Most Appearances Paul Taylor 637
References
- ^ a b c "Dunstable Town History". Dunstabletownfc.org.uk. Retrieved 8 September 2012.
- ^ "Whipsnade White Lion". Hows.org.uk. Retrieved 8 September 2012.
- ^ [1][dead link]
- ^ [2][dead link]
- ^ [3][dead link]
- ^ [4][dead link]
- ^ "Kerry Dixon Profile". Give Me Football. 24 July 1961. Retrieved 8 September 2012.
- Dunstable Town at the Football Club History Database
- Dunstable FC at the Football Club History Database