AFC Sudbury
Encyclopedia
A.F.C. Sudbury is an English
semi-professional football club from Sudbury, Suffolk
. The club was formed in 1999 by the merger of Sudbury Town
and Sudbury Wanderers
, the process giving rise to the name Amalgamated Football Club Sudbury. A.F.C. Sudbury won the Eastern Counties League
Premier Division five seasons in a row and reached the final of the FA Vase
three years in a row, both records for the respective competitions. Their home ground is the King's Marsh Stadium in the Ballingdon
area of Sudbury, and their home colours are yellow and blue. The club are now competing in the Isthmian League Division One North, having been transferred from the Southern Football League Division One Midlands after the end of the 2009–10
season.
The club is affiliated to the Suffolk County FA.
(founded 1885) and Sudbury Wanderers
(founded 1958).
The club's relatively short history has seen Sudbury win several league and cup titles. In their debut season, 1999–2000, Sudbury finished in third place in the Eastern Counties League
Premier Division. The following five seasons all resulted in Sudbury winning the same league's title - a league record. Sudbury did not take promotion at any of these opportunities, despite being entitled to. The financial constraints of owning two grounds led the board not to apply for promotion until the beginning of the 2005–06 season. After finishing third in 2005–06, and passing the necessary ground inspection, Sudbury were invited to take promotion into a resurrected Isthmian League Division One North, following the re-structuring of the National League System
. Potential legal action from the Northern Premier League
nearly scuppered this move, but Sudbury started 2006–07 in the new division. The management team of Gary Harvey and Michael Cheetham
, who took the team up, both resigned before the season could begin, citing work and family commitments, respectively. New manager Mark Morsley was appointed in May 2006, signed from Needham Market
. Sudbury's first season at this level saw the club finish in fifth place, qualifying them for the promotion play-offs. After beating Enfield Town
in the semi-final, Sudbury lost to Harlow Town
in a penalty shoot-out. Sudbury again qualified for the play-offs in 2007–08, finishing second in the table, but were defeated in the semi-final by eventual winners Canvey Island
. In the close-season manager Morsley resigned and was replaced by his assistant, Nicky Smith
. Sudbury were moved into the Southern Football League Division One Midlands for 2008–09 following a restructuring of the English football pyramid. After two seasons of mid-table finishes the club were moved back to the Isthmian League Division One North for 2010–11
. Smith resigned in September 2011 and was replaced by his assistant Chris Tracey.
Sudbury have enjoyed several successful runs in the national cup competitions. In 2000–01 the club reached the first round of the FA Cup
before being comprehensively defeated at Darlington
. Sudbury have mostly made a name for themselves nationally in the FA Vase
. In 2001–02 the club reached the competition's semi-finals, before being knocked out by Tiptree United
. The following three seasons saw Sudbury reaching the final each year (a Vase record), but being defeated every time, by Brigg Town
, Winchester City
and Didcot Town
, respectively. Sudbury have also won the Suffolk Premier Cup
three times, in 2001–02, 2002–03 and 2003–04, and the Eastern Counties League Cup in 2005–06.
. The club's second kit, worn when playing another team with a predominantly yellow kit, is all red with yellow and blue trim, although in past seasons other colours have been used, such as all white in the 2007–08 season
. Yellow and blue were the colours of Sudbury Town. The club badge is the town crest of Sudbury
, which incorporates a talbot
dog with its tongue
sticking out.
Sudbury play their home games at the King's Marsh Stadium in the Ballingdon
area of Sudbury, previously home to Sudbury Wanderers
. Since June 2010, due to a sponsorship deal, the ground is officially titled The MEL Group Stadium. At the time of A.F.C. Sudbury's formation the ground consisted of two pitches, a training area, clubhouse, floodlights, a 200-seat stand on the West side of the main pitch and covered ends behind the goals. A 300-capacity terrace (the Shed) was constructed on the East side of the pitch in 2000 and houses the more vocal section of the crowd. A new clubhouse, also containing a grassroots football and education centre, was completed in 2010. The ground is fully enclosed by fencing and has turnstile
s at the main entrance.
A.F.C. Sudbury sold Sudbury Town's former ground, the Priory Stadium, to a housing developer in June 2007. The money from this sale was earmarked for paying off loans, and capital gains tax
, as well as a new clubhouse and changing rooms. Planning permission
for the construction of the new facilities was granted by Babergh District Council in August 2008, though various conditions regarding issues such as possible land contamination
, the site's archaeological
value, risk of flood
ing and drainage
are required to be addressed before work may commence.
}
|-
|- style="background: #97DEFF;"
|2001–2002
|Eastern Counties League
Premier Division
|1
|Champions
|-
|- style="background: #97DEFF;"
|2002–2003
|Eastern Counties League
Premier Division
|1
|Champions
|-
|- style="background: #97DEFF;"
|2003–2004
|Eastern Counties League
Premier Division
|1
|Champions
|-
|- style="background: #97DEFF;"
|2004–2005
|Eastern Counties League
Premier Division
|1
|Champions
|-
|-style="background: #90EE90;"
|2005–2006
|Eastern Counties League
Premier Division
|3
|Promoted
|-
|2006–2007
|Isthmian League Division One North
|5
|Lost in play-off final
|-
|2007–2008
|Isthmian League Division One North
|2
|Lost in play-off semi-final
|-
|2008–2009
|Southern League Division One Midlands
|12
|
|-
|2009–2010
|Southern League Division One Midlands
|14
|
|-
|2010–2011
|Isthmian League Division One North
|7
|
|-
|}
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
semi-professional football club from Sudbury, Suffolk
Sudbury, Suffolk
Sudbury is a small, ancient market town in the county of Suffolk, England, on the River Stour, from Colchester and from London.-Early history:...
. The club was formed in 1999 by the merger of Sudbury Town
Sudbury Town F.C.
Sudbury Town F.C. was an English football club based in Sudbury, Suffolk. Established in 1885, the club merged with Sudbury Wanderers in 1999 to form A.F.C. Sudbury.-History:...
and Sudbury Wanderers
Sudbury Wanderers F.C.
Sudbury Wanderers was an English football club based in Sudbury, Suffolk. Established in 1958, the club merged with Sudbury Town in 1999 to form AFC Sudbury.-History:The club was established in June 1958 following a meeting in the town's Black Horse pub...
, the process giving rise to the name Amalgamated Football Club Sudbury. A.F.C. Sudbury won the Eastern Counties League
Eastern Counties Football League
The Eastern Counties Football League is an English football league at levels 9 and 10 of the English football league system. It currently contains clubs from Norfolk, Suffolk, northern Essex and eastern Cambridgeshire, and is a feeder to the regional divisions of the Isthmian League and Southern...
Premier Division five seasons in a row and reached the final of the FA Vase
FA Vase
The Football Association Challenge Vase is an annual football competition for teams playing below Step 4 of the English National League System...
three years in a row, both records for the respective competitions. Their home ground is the King's Marsh Stadium in the Ballingdon
Ballingdon
Ballingdon is a suburb of the town of Sudbury in Suffolk, England. Once a separate village, today it is part of Sudbury civil parish. It is the only part of the town to the south of the River Stour....
area of Sudbury, and their home colours are yellow and blue. The club are now competing in the Isthmian League Division One North, having been transferred from the Southern Football League Division One Midlands after the end of the 2009–10
2009–10 Southern Football League
The 2009-10 season was the 106th in the history of the Southern League.-Premier Division:The Premier Division featured five new clubs:*Didcot Town, promoted from Division One South & West*Hednesford Town, transferred from Northern Premier League...
season.
The club is affiliated to the Suffolk County FA.
History
A.F.C. Sudbury was formed on 1 June 1999 by the amalgamation of the town's two previous clubs, Sudbury TownSudbury Town F.C.
Sudbury Town F.C. was an English football club based in Sudbury, Suffolk. Established in 1885, the club merged with Sudbury Wanderers in 1999 to form A.F.C. Sudbury.-History:...
(founded 1885) and Sudbury Wanderers
Sudbury Wanderers F.C.
Sudbury Wanderers was an English football club based in Sudbury, Suffolk. Established in 1958, the club merged with Sudbury Town in 1999 to form AFC Sudbury.-History:The club was established in June 1958 following a meeting in the town's Black Horse pub...
(founded 1958).
The club's relatively short history has seen Sudbury win several league and cup titles. In their debut season, 1999–2000, Sudbury finished in third place in the Eastern Counties League
Eastern Counties Football League
The Eastern Counties Football League is an English football league at levels 9 and 10 of the English football league system. It currently contains clubs from Norfolk, Suffolk, northern Essex and eastern Cambridgeshire, and is a feeder to the regional divisions of the Isthmian League and Southern...
Premier Division. The following five seasons all resulted in Sudbury winning the same league's title - a league record. Sudbury did not take promotion at any of these opportunities, despite being entitled to. The financial constraints of owning two grounds led the board not to apply for promotion until the beginning of the 2005–06 season. After finishing third in 2005–06, and passing the necessary ground inspection, Sudbury were invited to take promotion into a resurrected Isthmian League Division One North, following the re-structuring of the National League System
National League System
The National League System comprises the seven levels of the English football league system immediately below the level of the Premier League and The Football League. It contains 91 league competitions and more than 1,600 clubs. It comes under the jurisdiction of The Football Association...
. Potential legal action from the Northern Premier League
Northern Premier League
The Northern Premier League, is one of the regional English football leagues which sits directly below the Football Conference featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs. Geographically, the league covers all of Northern England, and the northern areas of the Midlands. Originally just one...
nearly scuppered this move, but Sudbury started 2006–07 in the new division. The management team of Gary Harvey and Michael Cheetham
Michael Cheetham
Michael Cheetham is a retired English footballer most notable for his time at Cambridge United in the early 1990s.Ipswich Town manager Bobby Robson paid to buy him out of the army to enable him to start his football career at Portman Road where he went on to make 4 appearances.After a loan spell at...
, who took the team up, both resigned before the season could begin, citing work and family commitments, respectively. New manager Mark Morsley was appointed in May 2006, signed from Needham Market
Needham Market F.C.
Needham Market F.C. is an English football club based in Needham Market, Suffolk. The club are currently members of Isthmian League Division One North and play at Bloomfields.The club is affiliated to the Suffolk County FA.-History:...
. Sudbury's first season at this level saw the club finish in fifth place, qualifying them for the promotion play-offs. After beating Enfield Town
Enfield Town F.C.
Enfield Town F.C. is an English football club from Enfield Town, Greater London. Established in 2001 as a fan-led breakaway from Enfield FC, the club currently play in Division One North of the Isthmian League and are based at the Queen Elizabeth II stadium....
in the semi-final, Sudbury lost to Harlow Town
Harlow Town F.C.
Harlow Town F.C. are an English football club based in Harlow, Essex. The club currently play in the Division One North of the Isthmian League, after relegation from the Isthmian League Premier Division in 2009....
in a penalty shoot-out. Sudbury again qualified for the play-offs in 2007–08, finishing second in the table, but were defeated in the semi-final by eventual winners Canvey Island
Canvey Island F.C.
Canvey Island F.C, known as the Gulls or Yellow Army, are an English football club founded in 1926 that play in the Isthmian League Premier Division....
. In the close-season manager Morsley resigned and was replaced by his assistant, Nicky Smith
Nicky Smith
Nicholas Leslie "Nicky" Smith is a former professional footballer. After his professional career ended, he played for several non-League teams whilst serving as a policeman and has captained, coached and managed the England police team, as well as managing A.F.C...
. Sudbury were moved into the Southern Football League Division One Midlands for 2008–09 following a restructuring of the English football pyramid. After two seasons of mid-table finishes the club were moved back to the Isthmian League Division One North for 2010–11
2010–11 Isthmian League
The 2010–11 season is the 105th season of the Isthmian League Premier Division and the 5th season for the current incarnations of the Division One North and Division One South...
. Smith resigned in September 2011 and was replaced by his assistant Chris Tracey.
Sudbury have enjoyed several successful runs in the national cup competitions. In 2000–01 the club reached the first round of the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
before being comprehensively defeated at Darlington
Darlington F.C.
Darlington Football Club is a professional association football club based in Darlington, County Durham, currently playing in the Conference National. The club was founded in 1883, and originally played its games at Feethams, before moving to the Darlington Arena in 2003...
. Sudbury have mostly made a name for themselves nationally in the FA Vase
FA Vase
The Football Association Challenge Vase is an annual football competition for teams playing below Step 4 of the English National League System...
. In 2001–02 the club reached the competition's semi-finals, before being knocked out by Tiptree United
Tiptree United F.C.
Tiptree United F.C. was an English football club based in Tiptree, Essex. Established in 1933, the club was absorbed into Maldon Town in 2010, creating Maldon & Tiptree.-History:...
. The following three seasons saw Sudbury reaching the final each year (a Vase record), but being defeated every time, by Brigg Town
Brigg Town F.C.
Brigg Town Football Club, formed in 1864, are a football team from Brigg, North Lincolnshire. They are the oldest football team in the county and one of the oldest in the world...
, Winchester City
Winchester City F.C.
Winchester City Football Club are an English football team based in Winchester, Hampshire and playing in the Wessex League Premier Division. The team is currently managed by Guy Butters and their motto is "Many in Men, One in Spirit",-History:...
and Didcot Town
Didcot Town F.C.
Didcot Town F.C. are a football club based in Didcot in Oxfordshire, England. They won the FA Vase in 2005 and are currently members of Division One South & West of the Southern League, having been relegated from the Premier Division in 2010–11....
, respectively. Sudbury have also won the Suffolk Premier Cup
Suffolk Premier Cup
The Suffolk Premier Cup is the top level football cup competition organised by the Suffolk FA. It is currently open to clubs competing at the Eastern Counties League Premier Division level and above. Suffolk's only professional football club, Ipswich Town, enters a reserve team.-Past...
three times, in 2001–02, 2002–03 and 2003–04, and the Eastern Counties League Cup in 2005–06.
Colours and badge
A.F.C. Sudbury's club colours are yellow and blue. The club's kit for the 2008–09 season comprises yellow shirts with blue trim along the shoulders, blue shorts with yellow trim down the sides, and plain yellow socks. The kit is manufactured by Vandanel, and the front of the shirts features the logo of the club's sponsor, The MEL Group, an aerospace design and manufacture company. The style of the blue trim has varied from season to season, taking the form of broad bands towards the end of the sleeves in the 2006–07 season2006-07 in English football
The 2006–07 season was the 127th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:* The number of divisions at Level 8 of the English football league system increased from four to five...
. The club's second kit, worn when playing another team with a predominantly yellow kit, is all red with yellow and blue trim, although in past seasons other colours have been used, such as all white in the 2007–08 season
2007-08 in English football
The 2007–08 season was the 128th season of competitive football in England.-European competitions:In October 2007 Arsenal equalled the UEFA Champions League record victory with a 7–0 win over Slavia Prague at the Emirates Stadium. The record was broken the following month when Liverpool...
. Yellow and blue were the colours of Sudbury Town. The club badge is the town crest of Sudbury
Sudbury, Suffolk
Sudbury is a small, ancient market town in the county of Suffolk, England, on the River Stour, from Colchester and from London.-Early history:...
, which incorporates a talbot
Talbot (dog)
The talbot was a white hunting dog which is now extinct because of its lack of purpose and need for constant care, but it has been credited with being an ancestor of the modern beagle and bloodhound...
dog with its tongue
Tongue
The tongue is a muscular hydrostat on the floors of the mouths of most vertebrates which manipulates food for mastication. It is the primary organ of taste , as much of the upper surface of the tongue is covered in papillae and taste buds. It is sensitive and kept moist by saliva, and is richly...
sticking out.
Ground
Ballingdon
Ballingdon is a suburb of the town of Sudbury in Suffolk, England. Once a separate village, today it is part of Sudbury civil parish. It is the only part of the town to the south of the River Stour....
area of Sudbury, previously home to Sudbury Wanderers
Sudbury Wanderers F.C.
Sudbury Wanderers was an English football club based in Sudbury, Suffolk. Established in 1958, the club merged with Sudbury Town in 1999 to form AFC Sudbury.-History:The club was established in June 1958 following a meeting in the town's Black Horse pub...
. Since June 2010, due to a sponsorship deal, the ground is officially titled The MEL Group Stadium. At the time of A.F.C. Sudbury's formation the ground consisted of two pitches, a training area, clubhouse, floodlights, a 200-seat stand on the West side of the main pitch and covered ends behind the goals. A 300-capacity terrace (the Shed) was constructed on the East side of the pitch in 2000 and houses the more vocal section of the crowd. A new clubhouse, also containing a grassroots football and education centre, was completed in 2010. The ground is fully enclosed by fencing and has turnstile
Turnstile
A turnstile, also called a baffle gate, is a form of gate which allows one person to pass at a time. It can also be made so as to enforce one-way traffic of people, and in addition, it can restrict passage only to people who insert a coin, a ticket, a pass, or similar...
s at the main entrance.
Capital gains tax
A capital gains tax is a tax charged on capital gains, the profit realized on the sale of a non-inventory asset that was purchased at a lower price. The most common capital gains are realized from the sale of stocks, bonds, precious metals and property...
, as well as a new clubhouse and changing rooms. Planning permission
Planning permission
Planning permission or planning consent is the permission required in the United Kingdom in order to be allowed to build on land, or change the use of land or buildings. Within the UK the occupier of any land or building will need title to that land or building , but will also need "planning...
for the construction of the new facilities was granted by Babergh District Council in August 2008, though various conditions regarding issues such as possible land contamination
Contamination
Contamination is the presence of a minor and unwanted constituent in material, physical body, natural environment, at a workplace, etc.-Specifics:"Contamination" also has more specific meanings in science:...
, the site's archaeological
Archaeology
Archaeology, or archeology , is the study of human society, primarily through the recovery and analysis of the material culture and environmental data that they have left behind, which includes artifacts, architecture, biofacts and cultural landscapes...
value, risk of flood
Flood
A flood is an overflow of an expanse of water that submerges land. The EU Floods directive defines a flood as a temporary covering by water of land not normally covered by water...
ing and drainage
Drainage
Drainage is the natural or artificial removal of surface and sub-surface water from an area. Many agricultural soils need drainage to improve production or to manage water supplies.-Early history:...
are required to be addressed before work may commence.
Current squad
- As of 31 August 2010.
Former players
- For all A.F.C Sudbury players with a Wikipedia article see :Category:A.F.C. Sudbury players.
Honours, achievements and records
- Isthmian League
- League Cup Runners-up 2008
- Eastern Counties League
- Premier Division Champions 2000–01, 2001–02, 2002–03, 2003–04, 2004–05
- League Cup Winners 2006
- FA Vase
- Runners-up 2003, 2004, 2005
- Suffolk Premier Cup
- Winners 2002, 2003, 2004
- FA Cup
- First round proper 2000–01
- FA Trophy
- First round 2006–07, 2008–09, 2010–11
League history
| Season | Division | Position | Significant Events |
|---|---|---|---|
| Formed as merger of Sudbury Town Sudbury Town F.C. Sudbury Town F.C. was an English football club based in Sudbury, Suffolk. Established in 1885, the club merged with Sudbury Wanderers in 1999 to form A.F.C. Sudbury.-History:... & Sudbury Wanderers Sudbury Wanderers F.C. Sudbury Wanderers was an English football club based in Sudbury, Suffolk. Established in 1958, the club merged with Sudbury Town in 1999 to form AFC Sudbury.-History:The club was established in June 1958 following a meeting in the town's Black Horse pub... |
|||
| Joined the Eastern Counties League Eastern Counties Football League The Eastern Counties Football League is an English football league at levels 9 and 10 of the English football league system. It currently contains clubs from Norfolk, Suffolk, northern Essex and eastern Cambridgeshire, and is a feeder to the regional divisions of the Isthmian League and Southern... Premier Division |
|||
| 1999–2000 | Eastern Counties League Eastern Counties Football League The Eastern Counties Football League is an English football league at levels 9 and 10 of the English football league system. It currently contains clubs from Norfolk, Suffolk, northern Essex and eastern Cambridgeshire, and is a feeder to the regional divisions of the Isthmian League and Southern... Premier Division |
3 | – |
| 2000–2001 | Eastern Counties League Eastern Counties Football League The Eastern Counties Football League is an English football league at levels 9 and 10 of the English football league system. It currently contains clubs from Norfolk, Suffolk, northern Essex and eastern Cambridgeshire, and is a feeder to the regional divisions of the Isthmian League and Southern... Premier Division |
1 | |
|-
|- style="background: #97DEFF;"
|2001–2002
|Eastern Counties League
Eastern Counties Football League
The Eastern Counties Football League is an English football league at levels 9 and 10 of the English football league system. It currently contains clubs from Norfolk, Suffolk, northern Essex and eastern Cambridgeshire, and is a feeder to the regional divisions of the Isthmian League and Southern...
Premier Division
|1
|Champions
|-
|- style="background: #97DEFF;"
|2002–2003
|Eastern Counties League
Eastern Counties Football League
The Eastern Counties Football League is an English football league at levels 9 and 10 of the English football league system. It currently contains clubs from Norfolk, Suffolk, northern Essex and eastern Cambridgeshire, and is a feeder to the regional divisions of the Isthmian League and Southern...
Premier Division
|1
|Champions
|-
|- style="background: #97DEFF;"
|2003–2004
|Eastern Counties League
Eastern Counties Football League
The Eastern Counties Football League is an English football league at levels 9 and 10 of the English football league system. It currently contains clubs from Norfolk, Suffolk, northern Essex and eastern Cambridgeshire, and is a feeder to the regional divisions of the Isthmian League and Southern...
Premier Division
|1
|Champions
|-
|- style="background: #97DEFF;"
|2004–2005
|Eastern Counties League
Eastern Counties Football League
The Eastern Counties Football League is an English football league at levels 9 and 10 of the English football league system. It currently contains clubs from Norfolk, Suffolk, northern Essex and eastern Cambridgeshire, and is a feeder to the regional divisions of the Isthmian League and Southern...
Premier Division
|1
|Champions
|-
|-style="background: #90EE90;"
|2005–2006
|Eastern Counties League
Eastern Counties Football League
The Eastern Counties Football League is an English football league at levels 9 and 10 of the English football league system. It currently contains clubs from Norfolk, Suffolk, northern Essex and eastern Cambridgeshire, and is a feeder to the regional divisions of the Isthmian League and Southern...
Premier Division
|3
|Promoted
|-
|2006–2007
|Isthmian League Division One North
|5
|Lost in play-off final
|-
|2007–2008
|Isthmian League Division One North
|2
|Lost in play-off semi-final
|-
|2008–2009
|Southern League Division One Midlands
|12
|
|-
|2009–2010
2009–10 Southern Football League
The 2009-10 season was the 106th in the history of the Southern League.-Premier Division:The Premier Division featured five new clubs:*Didcot Town, promoted from Division One South & West*Hednesford Town, transferred from Northern Premier League...
|Southern League Division One Midlands
|14
|
|-
|2010–2011
2010–11 Isthmian League
The 2010–11 season is the 105th season of the Isthmian League Premier Division and the 5th season for the current incarnations of the Division One North and Division One South...
|Isthmian League Division One North
|7
|
|-
|}
- A. The club turned down the opportunity of promotion due to financial reasons.