Brackley Town F.C.
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| Full name | Brackley Town Football Club | ||
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| Nickname(s) | The Saints | ||
| Founded | 1890 | ||
| Ground | St. James Park Brackley |
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| Capacity | 3,500 (600 seated) | ||
| Chairman | Francis Oliver | ||
| Manager | Kevin Wilkin | ||
| League | National League North | ||
| 2014–15 | Conference North, 18th | ||
| Website | Club home page | ||
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Brackley Town Football Club are a football club based in Brackley, Northamptonshire, England, who play their home games at St. James Park. They were established in 1890. They have won the Hellenic League twice in their history. The 2015–16 season will be their fourth in the National League North, the highest league they have ever reached in the National League System, and in the 2013–14 season they reached the FA Cup second round proper for the first time in their history.
History
Brackley Town F.C. was formed in 1890 and were initially a prominent side in the area, but fell away, with most of the period before the Second World War being spent in the Oxfordshire Senior Football League, before a switch to the North Bucks and District League in the post war years. In 1968 they took a step down the ladder by joining the Banbury & District League.
In 1974 they moved back to the North Bucks League and also moved to their current St James Park ground in Churchill Way. A small clubhouse and changing rooms were built and by 1977 the club had stepped up to the Hellenic League. They stayed in Division One until 1983 when they switched to the United Counties League, where they won the Division One title at the first attempt. Although they were Premier Division runners-up in 1988–89 their time in the division was generally spent near the foot of the table, with three consecutive last-place finishes between 1992 and 1994.
In 1994 the club moved back to the Hellenic League. After a mediocre first season, Phil Lines took over as manager and led them to the Premier Division title in 1997 and with it promotion to the Southern League. However, they only managed two seasons at that level during which, with finances at full stretch, the club was forced into liquidation in February 1999 with debts of over £100,000. The club was saved from extinction but demoted back into the Hellenic League.
Despite a speedy turnover of managers they consistently finished in the Hellenic League's top 10 and were promoted back to the Southern League after winning the title in 2004. Phil Lines returned in February 2006 and guided the club to a third-place finish, culminating in defeat in the last few minutes of the play-off final for promotion to the Southern League Premier Division.
In 2006–07, Brackley Town finished top of the Southern League Division One Midlands. In the 2007–08 season, they competed in the Southern League Premier Division. Manager Phil Lines, however, became director of football, and Roger Ashby became the new manager for the new season. Ashby was soon sacked by the club replaced by former player David Oldfield in a player/manager role. Oldfield departed Brackley Town at the end of the season to join Peterborough United, after which Phil Lines came back as manager. During the 2006–07 season, Brackley Town reached the fourth qualifying round of the FA Cup (the round immediately prior to the first round proper), up until then their best achievement in that competition, but were knocked out at that stage by Havant & Waterlooville. Two seasons later Brackley Town surpassed this by beating Hampton & Richmond Borough in the fourth qualifying round to reach the first round proper for the first time. They went on to lose 2–1 to Eastwood Town at Coronation Park.
Phil Lines handed in his resignation in April 2009 after a run of bad results ended Town's chances of a play-off place. Midfielder Jon Brady was given the caretaker's job while the job was advertised. Eventually, Brady was appointed as permanent manager for the 2009–10 season. The club finished in 5th place, their highest ever finish in the non league pyramid, but lost in the play-off semi-final to Nuneaton Town.
The 2011–12 season saw Brackley Town reach the Football Conference after winning the Southern League Premier Division title by 8 points. Brackley Town went top of the table after 20 games and never relinquished their top position for the remainder of the season. On top of the league title the club retained the Northamptonshire Hillier Senior Cup, beating Conference North club Corby Town in the final at Nene Park. They completed a treble by also claiming the Maunsell Cup for the first time in their history after they defeated Northampton Town 1–0 in a game played during pre-season. The club retained the Maunsell Cup in July 2012, beating a youthful Peterborough United side 3–0 at St James Park. The club has also added the Southern League Champions Cup to their trophy cabinet in 2012–13 season, beating Clevedon Town 2–1.
Ground
Brackley Town F.C. play at St James Park. It has in excess of 500 seats. There are two main stands, one alongside the touchline next to the club house, and a main stand behind the goal with terracing either side at the Evenley end of the ground known to the fans as the South Bank. There is also a small stand to house 160 people standing up at the cricket ground end of the ground. Groundsman Paul Kuhn won the "groundsman-of-the-year" award for 2008–09. He added the same award again in 2009–10 season.
Current squad
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Honours
- Southern League
- Hellenic League
- Premier Division Champions 1996–97, 2003–04
- United Counties League
- Division One Champions 1983–84
- Northamptonshire Hillier Senior Cup
- Winners 2010–11, 2011–12, 2014-15
- Maunsell Cup
- Winners 2011–12, 2012–13.
Records
- Best league performance: 3rd in Conference North, 2012–13
- Best FA Cup performance: 2nd round, 2013–14
- Best FA Trophy performance: 1st round, 1998–99, 2004–05 and 2008–09
- Best FA Vase performance: 3rd round, 1987–88
- Record attendance: 2,604 vs FC Halifax Town, 12 May 2013, Conference North play-off final
Sources
- Brackley Town at the Football Club History Database
External links
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