AFC Telford United is a
football club based in
Telford
Telford () is a town in the borough of Telford and Wrekin and ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county of Shropshire, England, about east of Shrewsbury, south west of Stafford, north west of Wolverhampton and from Birmingham in t ...
, Shropshire, England. The club was formed in 2004 after the original
Telford United, founded in 1872, folded due to financial problems. Currently members of the
National League North
The National League North, formerly Conference North, is a division of the National League in England, immediately below the National League division. Along with the National League South, it is at the second level of the National League Syst ...
, they play home matches at the
New Bucks Head
New Bucks Head is a stadium in Wellington, Shropshire, England and the home of Conference National football club AFC Telford United. It was originally built for Telford United to play at before they went bankrupt. The stadium is on the same si ...
in
Wellington
Wellington ( mi, Te Whanganui-a-Tara or ) is the capital city of New Zealand. It is located at the south-western tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Remutaka Range. Wellington is the second-largest city in New Zealand by metr ...
, part of the
new town of Telford. The club's colours are white and black.
History
Telford United experienced severe financial difficulties towards the end of the
2003–04 season while playing in the
Football Conference
The National League (named Vanarama National League for sponsorship reasons) is an association football league in England consisting of three divisions, the National League, National League North, and National League South. It was called the ...
following the collapse of the Miras Contracts business of chairman and sole shareholder Andy Shaw.
The club went into
administration
Administration may refer to:
Management of organizations
* Management, the act of directing people towards accomplishing a goal
** Administrative Assistant, traditionally known as a Secretary, or also known as an administrative officer, admini ...
, and although supporters raised around £50,000 in two months, the club's debts totalled over £4 million, resulting in liquidation on 27 May 2004. On the same day, Telford United Supporters Limited announced that a new club would be formed,
[ which was named AFC Telford United; a new club motto, ''numquam obliviscere'' (''never forget'') was also adopted. In June the new club were placed in Division One of the Northern Premier League by ]the Football Association
The Football Association (also known as The FA) is the governing body of association football in England and the Crown Dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. Formed in 1863, it is the oldest football association in the world a ...
. Bernard McNally was appointed as manager and a new squad assembled.
The new club's first season saw them finish third in Division One, qualifying for the promotion play-offs. After beating Eastwood Town
Eastwood Town Football Club was an English football club based in Eastwood, Nottinghamshire. The club last participated in the Northern Premier League Division One South, the eighth tier of English football.
A new club, Eastwood C.F.C., was f ...
1–0 in the semi-final, they defeated Kendal Town 2–1 in the final to earn promotion to the Premier Division. The attendance of 4,215 for the final was a club record.[Mike Williams & Tony Williams (2012) ''Non-League Club Directory 2013'', p21 ] The following season saw them finish tenth. During the season, McNally was replaced as manager by Rob Smith. In 2006–07 the club finished third, having missed the chance to win the league when they lost 2–1 at home to eventual champions Burscough
Burscough () is a town and civil parish in West Lancashire in the ceremonial county of Lancashire, England. It is located to the north of Ormskirk and northwest of Skelmersdale.
The parish also includes the hamlet of Tarlscough and the Martin ...
on the final day; the attendance of 5,710 being a new club record.[Honours and Records]
AFC Telford United However, they qualified for the promotion play-offs, and after a 2–0 win over Marine in the semi-final, they defeated Witton Albion 3–1 to earn promotion to the Conference North
The National League North, formerly Conference North, is a division of the National League in England, immediately below the National League division. Along with the National League South, it is at the second level of the National League Syst ...
.
Telford finished second in the Conference North in 2007–08, again qualifying for the playoffs, in which they lost 4–0 on aggregate to Barrow.[ The 2008–09 season resulted in a fourth-place finish and another play-off campaign. After beating ]Alfreton Town
Alfreton Town Football Club is a football club based in Alfreton, Derbyshire, England. The club are currently members of and play at North Street.
History
The club was formed in 1959 following the merger of Alfreton Miners Welfare and Alfr ...
5–4 on aggregate in the semi-finals (a 2–0 win at home and a 4–3 defeat away), they lost 1–0 to Gateshead.[ The season also saw them reach the first round of the ]FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, more commonly known as the FA Cup, is an annual knockout football competition in men's domestic English football. First played during the 1871–72 season, it is the oldest national football competi ...
for the first time, where they were drawn at home to Football League club Southend United
Southend United Football Club is a professional association football club based in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, England. As of the 2022–23 season, the team competes in the National League, the fifth tier of English football. Southend are known as ...
. Following a 2–2 draw, the club lost 2–0 in the replay.[ In the FA Trophy they reached the semi-finals, losing 4–2 on aggregate to ]York City
York City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of York, North Yorkshire, England. As of the 2022–23 season, the team compete in the National League, at the fifth tier of the English football league sys ...
.[ However, they were victorious in the ]Conference League Cup
The Conference League Cup (formerly known as the Setanta Shield for sponsorship reasons, and before that the Bob Lord Trophy) was a football competition open to clubs playing in the Football Conference.
History
The competition was formed for t ...
, beating Forest Green Rovers
Forest Green Rovers Football Club are a professional football club based in Nailsworth, Gloucestershire, England. The team compete in , the third tier of the English football league system, and have played their home games at The New Lawn since ...
3–0 on penalties after a 0–0 draw.
In 2009–10 Telford finished eleventh in the league, resulting in the sacking of Smith and his replacement with Andy Sinton
Andrew Sinton (born 19 March 1966) is an English football manager and former professional footballer, who is club ambassador for Queens Park Rangers.
As a player, he was a left midfielder who notably played in the Premier League for Queens P ...
. Sinton's first season saw them finish as runners-up again. In the play-offs they defeated Nuneaton Town
Nuneaton Borough Football Club is an English football club that is based in Nuneaton, Warwickshire. The men's 1st team competes in the , the seventh tier of English football.
In 1889, Nuneaton St. Nicholas FC was the first team in Nuneaton to ...
3–2 on aggregate in the semi-final, before beating Guiseley
Guiseley ( ) is a town in metropolitan borough of the City of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. Historically part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, it is situated south of Otley and Menston and is now a north-western suburb of Leeds.
It sits in th ...
3–2 in the final with an injury-time winner by Phil Trainer, earning promotion to the Conference Premier
The National League, known as the Vanarama National League for sponsorship reasons, is the highest level of the National League System and fifth-highest of the overall English football league system. It is the highest league that is semi-professi ...
. They also reached the first round of the FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, more commonly known as the FA Cup, is an annual knockout football competition in men's domestic English football. First played during the 1871–72 season, it is the oldest national football competi ...
again, losing 3–1 at home to Lincoln City.[
The 2011–12 season saw Telford finish twentieth, one place above the relegation zone. Another appearance in the first round of the FA Cup resulted in a 4–0 defeat at ]Chelmsford City
Chelmsford City Football Club is a semi-professional football club based in Chelmsford, Essex, England. Currently members of they play at the Melbourne Stadium.
History Chelmsford
Chelmsford Football Club was established in 1878 by members of ...
. Sinton left the club mid-way through the following season, and was replaced by Mark Cooper, who remained in charge for only six games, before resigning to take a coaching role at Swindon Town
Swindon Town Football Club is a professional football club based in Swindon, Wiltshire, England. The team currently competes in , the fourth tier of the English football league system. The club has played home matches at the County Ground sin ...
. He was replaced by Graham Hyde
Graham Hyde (born 10 November 1970) is an English football manager and former professional player.
As a player, he was a midfielder from 1988 to 2008. He spent seven top-flight seasons with Sheffield Wednesday (six in the Premier League) and pl ...
, who lasted just two games, resigning after a defeat to Macclesfield Town. John Psaras took over for the remainder of the season, which saw them finish bottom of the division and be relegated to the Conference North.[ Liam Watson was appointed as manager in May 2013.][AFC Telford United: Liam Watson sacked by Conference club]
BBC Sport, 13 December 2014
In 2013–14 Telford won the Conference North, earning an immediate return to the Conference Premier. However, the following season Watson was sacked in December with the club bottom of the division and replaced by Steve Kittrick. They finished 23rd, resulting in relegation back to the North division. However, the season also saw them reach the second round of the FA Cup for the first time; after beating Basingstoke Town
Basingstoke Town Football Club is a football club based in Basingstoke, Hampshire, England. The club are currently members of the and play at the Winklebury Sports Complex. Their motto, 'Vestigia Nulla Retrorsum', means 'Never a step backward' ...
2–1 in a first round replay, they lost 1–0 at Bristol City
Bristol City Football Club is a professional football club based in Bristol, England, which compete in the , the second tier of English football. They have played their home games at Ashton Gate since moving from St John's Lane in 1904. The ...
.[ In August 2015 Kittrick was sacked and Rob Smith returned for a second spell as manager. They reached the first round of the FA Cup again in 2017–18 but lost 1–0 at Hereford.][
]
Season-by-season record
Stadium
Telford play their home games at the New Bucks Head
New Bucks Head is a stadium in Wellington, Shropshire, England and the home of Conference National football club AFC Telford United. It was originally built for Telford United to play at before they went bankrupt. The stadium is on the same si ...
. The ground was renamed following renovation in 2000, having previously been known as the Bucks Head. During the renovations 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. It had previously been home to Wellington Town and Telford United.
The ground has a capacity of 6,380 of which 2,220 is seated and 4,800 covered.[ The club's record attendance at the ground is 5,710 against Burscough on 28 April 2007, the final day of the 2006–07 season.][
]
Rivalries
Shropshire
Shropshire (; alternatively Salop; abbreviated in print only as Shrops; demonym Salopian ) is a landlocked historic county in the West Midlands region of England. It is bordered by Wales to the west and the English counties of Cheshire to ...
rivals Shrewsbury Town
Shrewsbury Town Football Club is a professional association football club based in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England. The team competes in League One, the third tier of English football. The club plays its home games at the New Meadow, having mo ...
are traditionally seen as the club's main rival. Matches contested between the two are known as the ''Shropshire derby''. However, due to the league gap between the two clubs, most meetings between the two sides are in the Shropshire Senior Cup
The Shropshire Senior Cup is a county cup football competition that is open for professional and non-professional senior football teams in the English county of Shropshire.
The competition is one of the oldest cup competitions in the world, and ...
.
During United's time in the National League North
The National League North, formerly Conference North, is a division of the National League in England, immediately below the National League division. Along with the National League South, it is at the second level of the National League Syst ...
through the late 2010s, a rivalry developed with near neighbours Kidderminster Harriers, based in North Worcestershire
Worcestershire ( , ; written abbreviation: Worcs) is a county in the West Midlands of England. The area that is now Worcestershire was absorbed into the unified Kingdom of England in 927, at which time it was constituted as a county (see H ...
.
Current squad
Non-playing staff
*Manager: Kevin Wilkin
*Assistant Manager: Mark Noon
*Sports Therapist: Adam Paget
*Youth Team Manager: Benjamin Sohier
Managerial history
Honours
*Football Conference
**Conference North champions 2013–14
**League Cup winners 2008–09
*Supporters Direct Cup
**Winners 2010–11
*Shropshire Senior Cup
The Shropshire Senior Cup is a county cup football competition that is open for professional and non-professional senior football teams in the English county of Shropshire.
The competition is one of the oldest cup competitions in the world, and ...
**Winners 2008–09, 2013–14, 2016–17
*The Huddersfield Cup
**Winners 2018
Records
*Best FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, more commonly known as the FA Cup, is an annual knockout football competition in men's domestic English football. First played during the 1871–72 season, it is the oldest national football competi ...
performance: Second round, 2014–15[
*Best FA Trophy performance: Semi-finals, 2008–09, 2018–19][
*Biggest victory: 10–1 vs Coleshill Town, FA Trophy second round, 15 December 2020FULL TIME COL 1-10 (TEN) TEL]
AFC Telford United on Twitter
*Record defeat: 14–1 vs TNS, Shropshire Senior Cup, 20 July 2017
*Record home crowd: 5,710 vs Burscough
Burscough () is a town and civil parish in West Lancashire in the ceremonial county of Lancashire, England. It is located to the north of Ormskirk and northwest of Skelmersdale.
The parish also includes the hamlet of Tarlscough and the Martin ...
, Northern Premier League Premier Division, 28 April 2007[
*Longest unbeaten run: 37 matches, 21 January 2006 to 9 December 2006][
*Most appearances: Ryan Young, 367, 2007–2014][
*Most goals: Andy Brown, 56, 2008–2012][
*Most goals in a season: Kyle Perry, 23, 2004–05][
*Record transfer fee paid: £5,000, Lee Moore from Tamworth in December 2006][
*Record transfer fee received: £25,000, ]Duane Courtney
Duane Jerome Courtney (born 7 January 1985) is an English semi-professional footballer who plays as a right-back for club Highgate United. He has played in the Football League for Burnley.
Courtney started his career in the youth system of D ...
to Burnley, August 2005[
]
See also
*List of fan-owned sports teams
This is a partial list of professional or semi-professional sports teams that are owned by fans (via either a collective organisation or where the assumption of majority ownership by a small group is prohibited by the club's constitution or gov ...
* :AFC Telford United players
* :AFC Telford United managers
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:AFC Telford United
Football clubs in England
Football clubs in Shropshire
Northern Premier League clubs
National League (English football)
Association football clubs established in 2004
Supporters' trusts
2004 establishments in England
Sport in Telford
Phoenix clubs (association football)