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CLUB
HISTORY
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West Bergholt Football Club was formed in the 1938/39 season, however there was a side representing the village since the early 1900's. They were nicknamed "The Brewers" due to the large brewery that was in the village at that time and they entered the Essex & Suffolk Border League in it's inuagural season, 1911/12, but withdrew after just one season. After playing only frendlies, the club re-emerged in the Brightlingsea & District League in 1928/29. Although they finished bottom of the league, they managed to reach the final of the Amos Cup (League Cup) losing 2-0 to West End United at Layer Road (the home ground of Colchester United). Again after just one season they dropped out of the league. The
current club was then formed and it was admitted into the Brightlingsea
& District League, but due to the war the team never played a match.
After years of friendlies, West Bergholt F.C. re-formed again in the 1959/60 season thanks to the efforts of Jim Fisher. Entering into Division 5 of the Colchester & East Essex League the club now played at the current ground, Lorkin Daniel Field in Lexden Road. It took the 1st team just 5 years to reach Division 1 and finishing as runners up in the 1971/71 season earned promotion in to the Premier Division. In
1980, after being declined the previous season, the club made a second
application for it's 1st team and reserves to enter the Essex & Suffolk
Border League. Both teams were accepted and were admitted into the 2nd
and 3rd Divisions respectively. In the first season, under manager Alan
Chalk, the club won the 2nd Division title. In the early 1990's the club was managed by former West Ham defender Alan Stephenson, Russell Storey and Neil Baron respectively. Neil's teams reached the Essex Intermediate Cup Final, finished as Border League Premier Division runners up twice and winners of the Border League Knock Out Cup for the first time. However, it wasn't until the 2000/01 season that West Bergholt F.C. won the Premier Division, under manager Paul Davis and Assistant Manager Tony Longhurst, 89 years after the first village team entered the league. Paul resigned his position in at the end of the 2003/4 season and Scooby Watson took over as player/manager taking us to the Border League Cup final in his first season in charge where we defeated Kelvedon Social 1-0. Kevin Mather took charge of the reserves in 2006 leading them to victory in the Border League Reserve Cup in 2007/8. 2007/8 was also a season for the history books as it was the first season for West Bergholt Ladies who started well by winning the Essex Womens League Division in their first season. This was followed by the Division 2 title in 2008/9 and they were unbeaten in the league in both seasons. Kevin Ketley
became 1st team manager and after 3 consecutive runners up finishes in
the Border League Premier Division he finally led his side to the title
in 2008/9. They completed the double that season by also winning the Border
League Cup. After going a year without losing in the league, and only
losing 1 game on penalties, the icing on the cake for 2009 was winning
the Colchester and District Sports Council's award for Team of the Year. |
1st
Team Essex
Intermediate Cup Winners
Essex
Junior Cup Winners Tommy
Thompson Cup Winners
Ladies
Team Essex
Womens League Div.2 Winners Other
Awards
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