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| Full name | Association Football Club Telford United | |||
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| Nickname(s) | The Bucks or Lillywhites | |||
| Founded | 2004 (1872) | |||
| Ground | New Bucks Head Telford (Capacity: 6,300) |
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| Chairman |  Lee Carter |
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| Manager | Rob Smith Larry Chambers |
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| League | Conference North | |||
| 2008-09 | Conference North, 4th (Playoff Finalists) | |||
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A.F.C. Telford United are an English football club based in Telford, Shropshire, playing in the Conference North league at the sixth level of the English football pyramid. Telford is one of the largest towns in England without a league football club [1].
They were formed on 28 May 2004 by supporters of Telford United after it became clear that the club would cease to exist. Bernard McNally was installed as the manager as the team embarked on their first ever season. The club's colours are black and white.
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History
The town of Telford's original football club, Telford United, were experiencing severe financial difficulties towards the end of the 2003–04 season following the collapse of chairman and 100% shareholder Andrew John Shaw's business empire and were forced into administration. The club's supporters rallied and raised around £50,000 in two months, but with very large debts owed to various creditors amounting to over £4 million there was little hope for the club, and Telford United were forced into liquidation on 27 May 2004. On the same day that the proposed liquidation was announced the Supporters' trust, Telford United Supporters Ltd, created and became the sole owners of a new football club, AFC Telford United, giving the club the Latin motto numquam obliviscere (English: never forget). In the close season, manager Bernard McNally was appointed and a new squad assembled, the ground lease and assets were secured and the new club was placed in the Northern Premier League Division One by the Football Association.
In their first season, the club began with indifferent form, with a lack of consistency leaving them in mid-table and out of both the FA Cup and FA Trophy. However, following a 1-0 away defeat at Willenhall Town on 30 December 2004, the side never lost another league game all season, challenging for the title before eventually finishing third place, three points behind the champions North Ferriby United. In the subsequent playoffs, they defeated Eastwood Town 1-0 before defeating Kendal Town 2-1 in the final to clinch promotion. The final was attended by 4,215 people, a record in that league.
Midway through their second season Telford were second from bottom in the league, leading to the removal of manager McNally, to be replaced by Sean Parrish as caretaker. Results improved immediately, and the side were unbeaten under Parrish's guidance. On Thursday 16 February Rob Smith was announced as the club's new manager, assisted by Larry Chambers. The pair had been managing Willenhall Town. The new regime started with an unbeaten run and Telford finished the season in 10th place.
After a summer of transfer activity during which virtually the entire squad was renovated AFC Telford United topped the Northern Premier League table after 15 games, accumulating the best goal difference of any senior team in the British Isles. Telford could not maintain championship-winning form and a 2-1 home defeat to fellow challengers Burscough on the final game of the season, in front of a record crowd of 5,710, left the club finishing third, enough to qualify for the promotion play-offs. A 2-0 home win over Marine in the play-off semi-final was followed by a 3-1 away win at Witton Albion to give the club its second promotion in three years.
During the 2007-08 season Telford finished second in the Conference North, again qualifying for the playoffs. A two-legged semi-final against Barrow saw Telford lose 0-4 on aggregate.
During the 2008-2009 season, AFC Telford United showed a good run of cup form, reminiscent of the famed 'giant killers' reputation garnered by the old club. On 28th October 2008 the club secured a 3-0 victory over Northwich Victoria to secure a berth in the first round proper of the FA Cup for the first time. A fortnight later on 8th November, two goals from Jon Adams saw Telford come from behind against League One side Southend, who agonisingly equalised in injury time to prevent a major cup upset. Although the Bucks walked away with a very creditable 2-2 draw, the replay at Roots Hall was not fortuitous, as the teams 15-game unbeaten streak (in all competitions) was ended with a 2-0 loss. However, Telford continued their fine cup form in the FA Trophy, but a 4-1 aggregate loss to York City in the semi-finals denied the team a place at Wembley, and a chance to echo the joint record-winning endeavors of the club's previous iteration.
Telford won their first silverware since reforming on the 9th April 2009, defeating Forest Green Rovers at The New Lawn on penalties, after a goalless 90 minutes. Ryan Young saved all three Rovers penalties, with Jon Adams, Mark Danks and Gavin Cowan completing a 3-0 penalty demolition. The jubilant scenes that followed, with Telford supporters flooding the pitch and celebrating with the players, showed the watching public just how far the club had come in its five years in existence.
A third consecutive finish in a playoff position meant that Telford faced Alfreton Town in the first leg of the 2008-9 Conference North Semi-Final Playoffs on 29th April, a game which they subsequently won 2-0, thanks to goals by Emeka Nwadike and Danny Carey Bertram. The second leg was played on May 3rd with Telford losing 4-3 but securing a 5-4 aggregate victory and a place in the playoff final against Gateshead on May 8th.
The play off final against was played at Gateshead due to them finishing in a higher league position than Telford. Gateshead went on to win the match 1-0 with a goal coming in the last 10minutes of the game after Telford had fullback Lee Vaughan sent off only a few minutes before.
Stadium
AFC Telford United play their home games at the New Bucks Head. Construction of the stadium commenced in 2000, replacing the Bucks Head ground which had been home to Wellington Town and later Telford United for over a century, which was in much need of renovation. In between the old ground closing and new one opening, Telford United played with only two terraces in operation, with a small temporary stand situated on what is now the East Terrace and portable cabins in the car park were used for changing rooms. The stadium, which could originally hold up to 6,300 supporters was completed in 2003 and was the 111th largest football ground in England, the official capacity of the Stadium is now 5400 after league final ties with Burscough FC in the Northern Premier League saw the stadium packed out.The New Bucks Head Stadium can hold more fans then some League two sides.
Rivals
AFC Telford United's local rivals are nearby Shropshire neighbours Shrewsbury Town, while the teams have rarely competed in the league the Shropshire Senior Cup final is often contended between the sides. But in the one season (2003-2004) that they competed in the same league Telford United came out on top drawing 0-0 at the Gay Meadow & winning 1-0 at The New Bucks Head in the league. And then 1-1 away & then winning 2-1 at home in the quarter final replay of the FA Trophy.
While in the Northern Premier League local derbies were contended with Willenhall Town, Leek Town, Hednesford Town and Witton Albion, the latter of whom The Bucks defeated in the playoff final of 2006/07 season 3-1.
Since the return the Conference league system AFC Telford United have been reunited with former sparring partners, including Tamworth and Stafford .
Potential
Telford is the 39th largest city or town in England. In terms of population, this gives AFC Telford United a potential fan base of 139,000 people[2] in the immediate area. Towns such as Wigan, Reading and Blackburn have been able to sustain a Premier League team with similar catchment profile.
The town is also earmarked for further expansion over the next 10 years with the population expected to increase to 250,000. This population expansion would place AFC Telford United in the top 10 for potential local fanbases in England.
Cup Runs 2008-09
During the 2008/2009 season, AFC Telford had a good run in the FA Cup, losing out to Football League One opponents Southend United. They also reached the semi-final of the FA Trophy, missing out on a Wembley Stadium final to York City over two legs.
AFC Telford United won the Setanta Shield, which was played at opponents Forest Green Rovers' The New Lawn Stadium. The Setanta Shield Final was broadcast live on Setanta Sports 1, on Thursday 9th April 2009 at 7:30pm.
FA Cup
2nd Qualifying Round - v Corby Town (h) won 3-2
3rd Qualifying Round - v Hendon F.C. (a) won 2-1
4th Qualifying Round - v Northwich Victoria (a) won 3-0 (original tie abandoned)
1st Round Proper - v Southend United (h) drew 2-2
1st Round Replay - v Southend United (a) lost 2-0
FA Trophy
3rd Qualifying Round - v Gainsborough Trinity (a) won 2-0
1st Round Proper - v Boston United (a) won 2-1
2nd Round Proper - v Hayes & Yeading United F.C. (h) won 4-0
3rd Round Proper - v Kettering Town (a) won 1-0
4th Round Proper - v Southport F.C. (h) drew 2-2
4th Round Replay - v Southport F.C. (a) won 1-0
Semi-Final 1st Leg - v York City (h) lost 2-0
Semi-Final 2nd Leg - v York City (a) lost 2-1 (agg. 1-4)
Setanta Shield
1st Round - v Gainsborough Trinity (h) won 3-2 a.e.t.
2nd Round - v Solihull Moors (h) won 2-1 a.e.t.
3rd Round - v Cambridge United (h) won 4-3
4th Round - v Burton Albion (h) won 3-0
5th Round - v Kettering Town (h) won 3-2 a.e.t.
Semi-Final - v Barrow A.F.C. (a) won 1-0 (original tie abandoned at 0-0)
Final - v Forest Green Rovers (a) won 3-0 on penalties
Current squad
- As of 4 December 2009.
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Management and Coaching Staff
- Manager:
- Rob Smith
- Assistant Manager:
- Larry Chambers
- Player Coach:
- Steve Wynn
- Goalkeeper Coach
- Dean Williams
- Physio:
- Ruddy Farquharson
- Brin May
- Club Physician:
- Dr Nick Tindall
- Medical Practitioner:
- Simon Hester
Managerial History
- Bernard Mcnally 2004-2006
- Rob Smith 2006-
Club Honours
Northern Premier League Division 1 Play off winners 2004/2005
Northern Premier League Premier Play off winners 2006/2007
Setanta Shield Winners 2008/2009
Shropshire Senior Cup Winners 2008/2009
Season-by-season performance
| Season | Division | Tier | Pos | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Points | Outcome | FA Cup |
FA Trophy |
Conference League Cup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004-05 | Division One North | 8 | 3 | 42 | 23 | 11 | 8 | 78 | 44 | 34 | 80 | Playoff promotion | Pre | Pre | N/A |
| 2005-06 | Northern Premier League | 7 | 10 | 42 | 14 | 17 | 11 | 54 | 52 | 2 | 59 | 2Q | 3Q | N/A | |
| 2006-07 | Northern Premier League | 7 | 3 | 42 | 21 | 15 | 6 | 72 | 40 | 32 | 78 | Playoff promotion | 1Q | 1Q | N/A |
| 2007-08 | Conference North | 6 | 2 | 42 | 24 | 8 | 10 | 70 | 43 | 27 | 80 | Playoff semi-finalist | 2Q | 1R | 3R |
| 2008-09 | Conference North | 6 | 4 | 42 | 22 | 10 | 10 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 76 | Play off finalists | 1R | SF | Winners |
Brackets ( ) Indicate still in the competition.
Club Records
All of the below records for AFC Telford United since reforming in 2004.
- Record Home Win: 6-1 vs Leigh Railway Mechanics Institute 19/01/2008
- Record Away Win: 7-0 vs Runcorn FC Halton 17/04/2006.
- Record Home Defeat: 5-1 vs Southport 22/03/2008
- Record Away Defeat: 5-1 vs Shrewsbury Town 27/07/2004 (Shropshire Senior Cup Final 2004)
- 4-0 vs Witton Albion 26/12/2005.
- 4-0 vs Barrow AFC 17/11/2007.
- 4-0 Vs Alfreton Town 12/09/2009
- Record Home Crowd: 5710 vs Burscough 28/04/2007
- Record Away Crowd: 4415 vs Southend United (FA Cup 1st Round Proper) 18/11/2008
- Unbeaten Run 37 games, 21/1/2006 to 9/12/2006
- Best League Finish: 2nd/22 - Conference North 2007/08.
- Best FA Cup Performance: 1st Round Replay - Away vs Southend United 8/11/2008 (0-2) Following a 2-2 draw at the New Bucks Head.
- Best FA Trophy Performance: Semi-final - vs York City 20/3/2009 (1-4 aggregate)
- Best Shropshire Senior Cup Performance: Winners - Away vs Shrewsbury Town, 18/07/2009, (1-1, won 4-1 on penalties)
- Best Northern Premier League Challenge Cup Performance: 3rd Round - Home vs Witton Albion, 07/01/2006 (0-1)
- Best Northern Premier League Chairman's Cup Performance: Semi-Final - Home vs Kidsgrove Athletic, 05/03/2005 (1-3 AET)
- Best Setanta Shield Performance: Winners 2009 - Away vs Forest Green 09/04/2009 (0-0, won 3-0 on penalties)
- Top 10 Goal Scorers
- 1st Lee Moore 33 (2006-2009)
- 2nd Kyle Perry 32(2004-2006)
- 3rd Luke Reynolds 25(2005-2006), (2007-2008)
- 3rd Andy Brown 27(2008-)
- 5th Danny Carey-Bertram 22 (2008-)
- 6th Steve Foster 18 (2006-2007)
- 7th Terry Fearns 17 (2008-2009)
- 8th Matty Lewis 15 (2007-2009)
- 9th Carl Rodgers 13 (2006-)
- 10th Davion Hamilton 12 (2005-2006)
- 10th Jon Adams 12 (2007-)
- Most Goals In One Season: Kyle Perry, 23 goals (2004-05)
- Most Appearances: Lee Vaughan 155 appearances.
- Longest Serving Player: Lee Vaughan (February 2006 - )
- Record Signing (Inward): Lee Moore from Tamworth on 08/12/06 for a fee of £5000.
- Record Signing (Outward): Duane Courtney to Burnley on 31/08/05 for a fee of about £33,000 along with a sell-on clause.
- Promotion to Conference North: 2007; After beating Witton Albion in the play-offs 3-1
See also
External links
Official websites
Unofficial websites
- The Bucks
- BBC AFC Telford United
- Shropshire Star AFC Telford United
- Buckschat (Unofficial fans forum)
References
- ^ Love my Town accessed 4 May 2008
- ^ UK census 2001
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