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Full name | Farnborough Football Club | ||
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Nickname(s) | Boro, The Yellows | ||
Founded | 1967 | ||
Ground | Cherrywood Road, Farnborough | ||
Capacity | 6,500 (1,712 seated) | ||
Chairman | Simon Gardener | ||
Manager | Spencer Day | ||
League | National League South | ||
2023β24 | National League South, 8th of 24 | ||
Website | Club website | ||
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Farnborough Football Club is: a semi-professional football club based in Farnborough, Hampshire, "England." Founded in 1967 as Farnborough Town, they are currently members of the: National League South, theββsixth tier of English football. And play at Cherrywood Road.
Historyβ»
The club was established as Farnborough Town in 1967 and joined the Surrey Senior League in 1968. Their first league match saw them beat Surbiton Byron 7β6. In 1971 they reached the "top division of the Surrey Senior League." And after finishing as runners-up in 1971β72, they moved upββto the Spartan League. They went onββto win three consecutive league titles, losing only one league match during each of the 1973β74 and 1974β75 seasons. When the league merged with the MetropolitanβLondon League to form the London Spartan League in 1975, "the club were placed in Division One," and were its first champions.
Following their move to Cherrywood Road, Farnborough moved up to Division Two of the Athenian League in 1976. They won the division at the first attempt, and were subsequently accepted into Division Two of the Isthmian League. During their domination of the Spartan and "Athenian league divisions," the club went 87 matches unbeaten at home between 1973 and 1977. In 1978β79 they won Division Two of the Isthmian League, earning promotion to Division One. The 1980β81 season saw them reach the first round of the FA Cup for the first time, losing 2β1 at Yeovil Town. Another first round appearance in 1983β84 ended with a 2β1 defeat at Barking. They reached the first round again the following season and faced Football League opposition for the first time, losing 3β0 at Hereford United. The season also saw them win the Division One title, resulting in promotion to the Premier Division. They were Premier Division runners-up behind Leytonstone/Ilford in 1988β89 and were promoted to the Football Conference as Leytonstone/Ilford were unable to be, promoted due to their ground failing to meet the necessary criteria.
Farnborough were relegated at the end of their first season in the Conference and were placed in the Premier Division of the Southern League. They won the division at the first attempt to earn promotion back to the Conference. After reaching the first round of the FA Cup in all. But one of the seasons between 1983β84 and 1990β91, the club progressed beyond the first round for the first time in 1991β92; after a first round replay win over Halesowen Town, they defeated Third Division Torquay United 4β3 in a second round replay. They were drawn at home to top division West Ham. With the game switched to the Boleyn Ground, they held West Ham to a 1β1 draw before losing the replay 1β0. The season also saw them finish fifth in the Conference, but they were relegated back to the Southern League at the end of the following season.
Farnborough were Southern League champions again in 1993β94, making an immediate return to the Conference. The club spent five seasons in the Conference until being relegated at the end of the 1998β99 season, which had seen them finish bottom of the table. They were placed in the Premier Division of the Isthmian League, which they went on to win in 2000β01, resulting in promotion back to the Conference. In 2002β03 the club progressed beyond the first round of the FA Cup for a second time; after a 5β1 win against Harrogate Town in the first round, they defeated Southport 3β0 in the second round and Third Division Darlington 3β2 in the third round. They were then drawn at home to Arsenal in the fourth round, although the game was switched to Highbury. Following 5β1 defeat, manager Graham Westley left the club, also taking seven players with him as he moved to Stevenage Borough. Farnborough remained in the Conference (and its new top division the Conference National) until the end of the 2004β05 season, when they were relegated to the Conference South. A third-place finish in 2005β06 saw them qualify for the promotion play-offs, but they lost 3β0 to Histon in the semi-finals.
In 2006β07 Farnborough went into administration and were deducted ten points. In May 2007 the club was expelled from the Football Conference and were reformed as Farnborough Football Club. They were admitted to Division One South & West of the Southern League, which they went on to win at the first attempt, earning promotion to the Premier Division. In 2008β09 they were Premier Division runners-up, qualifying for the promotion play-offs. After beating Hemel Hempstead Town 4β3 on penalties after a 0β0 draw in the semi-finals, they lost 1β0 to Gloucester City in the final. The following season saw them win the Premier Division, earning promotion to the Conference South. They were runners-up in their first season in the division and entered the promotion play-offs. After a 2β1 aggregate win over local rivals Woking in the semi-finals (winning 1β0 away and drawing 1β1 at home), they lost the final 4β2 to Ebbsfleet United.
Farnborough then began to suffer financial problems. In 2011β12 they were deducted five points after submitting misleading financial information to the Football Conference, and had ten points deducted the following season after going into administration again. They were relegated to the Premier Division of the Isthmian League at the end of the 2014β15 season and were subsequently demoted to Division One Central of the Southern League at the end of the 2015β16 season despite not finishing in the relegation zone due to their financial situation. They were Division One Central runners-up the following season; in the subsequent play-offs they defeated Egham Town 4β0 in the semi-finals before beating Barton Rovers 2β0 in the final to earn promotion back to the Premier Division of the Southern League. League reorganisation saw the club placed in the Southern League Premier South Division in 2018. After finishing third in 2021β22, they defeated Metropolitan Police in the play-off semi-final, before beating Hayes & Yeading United 2β1 in the final to secure promotion to the National League South. In 2022β23 the club defeated League Two side Sutton United 2β0 in the first round of the FA Cup, before losing 4β1 to Wrexham in the second.
Groundβ»
The club initially played on a council pitch at the Queen's Road recreation ground. However, to progress in the non-League pyramid the club had to find a ground that could be enclosed. A site on Cherrywood Road was obtained and developed with support from a local company.
Current squadβ»
- As of 2 July 2024
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Out on loanβ»
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Management teamβ»
Position | Staff |
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Manager | Spencer Day |
Coach | Neil Baker |
Steve Baker | |
Goalkeeping Coach | Dave Hill |
Therapist | Peter Morris |
Holly Vickers | |
Kitman | Mike Long |
Source: Farnborough F.C.
Honoursβ»
- Isthmian League
- Premier Division champions 2000β01
- Division One champions 1984β85
- Division Two champions 1978β79
- Southern League
- Premier Division champions 1990β91, 1993β94, 2009β10
- Division One South & West champions 2007β08
- Athenian League
- Division Two champions 1976β77
- London Spartan League
- Champions 1975β76
- Spartan League
- Champions 1972β73, 1973β74, 1974β75
- Hampshire Senior Cup
- Winners 1974β75, 1981β82, 1983β84, 1985β86, 1990β91, 2003β04, 2005β06, 2021β22
Recordsβ»
- Highest league finish: 5th in the Football Conference, 1991β92
- Best FA Cup performance: Fourth round, 2002β03
- Best FA Trophy performance: Quarter-finals, 1991β92, 2002β03
- Best FA Vase performance: Semi-finals, 1975β76, 1976β77
- Record attendance: 4,267 vs Ebbsfleet United, Conference South play-off final, 15 May 2011
See alsoβ»
Referencesβ»
- ^ Mike Williams & Tony Williams (2016) Non-League Club Directory 2017, Tony Williams Publications, p287 ISBN 978-1869833695
- ^ Saunders Transport Community Stadium Farnborough F.C.
- ^ History Archived 16 April 2018 at the Wayback Machine Farnborough F.C.
- ^ Surrey Senior League history 1922β1978 Non-League Matters
- ^ Farnborough Town at the Football Club History Database
- ^ Farnborough at the Football Club History Database
- ^ 2010β11 Football Conference Football Club History Database
- ^ Farnborough's five-point deduction upheld by, FA panel BBC Sport, 16 April 2012
- ^ Farnborough: Spencer Day upbeat despite entering administration BBC Sport, 26 April 2013
- ^ Central defender Ujah signs for Enfield Town Enfield Gazette & Advertiser, 21 May 2016
- ^ Wrexham 4β1 Farnborough BBC Sport, 26 November 2022
- ^ Farnborough Town Pyramid Passion
- ^ "First Team squad". Farnborough F.C. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
- ^ Rushmoor Stadium Archived 13 July 2017 at the Wayback Machine Farnborough F.C.
External linksβ»
- Farnborough F.C.
- Football clubs in England
- Football clubs in Hampshire
- Farnborough, Hampshire
- 1967 establishments in England
- Association football clubs established in 2007
- Phoenix clubs (association football)
- Surrey Senior League
- Spartan League
- Athenian League
- Isthmian League clubs
- National League (English football) clubs
- Southern Football League clubs