Spilsby Town F.C.

Spilsby Town
Full nameSpilsby Town Football Club
Nickname(s)The Magpies
Founded1881
GroundAncaster Avenue Playing Field, Spilsby
ManagerEddie Rich & Roy Kelly
LeagueBoston & District League Premier Division
2022-23Boston & District League, 1st

Spilsby Town F.C. is an English football club based in Spilsby, Lincolnshire. They play in the Boston & District League Premier Division, outside the English football league system.

History

Formed as simply Spilsby, the club's foundation date is stated as 1881.[1] However, the Charles W. Alcock football yearbooks record the club's foundation date as 1870, with the club originally playing at the cricket ground and wearing red and black jerseys and socks.[2] The club entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1880-81 and lost 0–7 to Stafford Road of Wolverhampton.[3] The match had to be played at Trent Bridge as Spilsby's ground was flooded; however, as Notts County were playing a prestigious friendly against Queen's Park at the Castle Ground at the same time, the attendance was about a dozen.[4]

The club continued to compete in the FA Cup until 1884, but failed to win a single game. The highest scoring game in Sheffield Wednesday's history came against Spilsby in 1882 when the Sheffielders won 12–2 in the First Round.[5] They did however find success in the Lincolnshire Senior Cup, winning the first three competitions from 1882 to 1884.[6]

Since the 1880s, the club has changed name to Spilsby Town and featured in more local competitions, winning the Boston & District League on numerous occasions. The club did enter the Lincolnshire Football League during the 1990s, but left halfway through the 1995–96 season, and rejoined the Boston league.[7]

In 2011 the club played a match against a team from Staveley to commemorate what was thought to be their first ever game in the FA Cup.[8] The 2018–19 season saw the club win the Boston Premier League title.[9]

Ground

Spilsby Town FC

The club play their home games at the Ancaster Avenue Playing Fields.[10]

Honours

  • Boston & District League[11]
    • Premier Division Champions (4) 1947–48, 1963–64, 2001–02, 2018–19, 2022–23
    • Division One Champions (1) 1962–63
    • Sports Cup Winners (6) 1961–62, 1963–64, 1969–70, 1999–00, 2002–03, 2018–19, 2022–23
    • The Willoughby Cup Winners (5) 1953–54, 1989–90, 2001–02, 2011–12, 2015–16, 2022–23
  • Lincolnshire Senior Cup[8]
    • Winners (3) 1881–82, 1882–83, 1883–84

Records

  • Best FA Cup performance: 1st round

References

  1. ^ Property Prices By Road in Spilsby, Lincolnshire: Property Prices By Road in Spilsby, Lincolnshire, accessdate: February 3, 2020
  2. ^ Alcock, Charles (1880). Football Annual. p. 161.
  3. ^ "Football Club History Database – F.A. Cup 1880–81". fchd.info. Retrieved 11 September 2015.
  4. ^ "report". Nottingham Evening Post: 4. 8 November 1880.
  5. ^ "Football Club History Database – F.A. Cup 1882–83". fchd.info. Retrieved 11 September 2015.
  6. ^ Lincolnshire FA | News | 2007 | July | Historic Trophy Returns To Lincoln: Lincolnshire FA | News | 2007 | July | Historic Trophy Returns To Lincoln, accessdate: February 3, 2020
  7. ^ SPILSBY TOWN at the Football Club History Database
  8. ^ a b "Spilsby Town FC replay 1881 match to mark anniversary". BBC News. Retrieved 11 September 2015.
  9. ^ Sleaford Standard: Boston Saturday League: Champions crowned at Ruskington – Sleaford Standard, accessdate: February 3, 2020
  10. ^ Spilsby Town FC, Spilsby, Lincolnshire: Spilsby Town FC, Spilsby, Lincolnshire, accessdate: February 3, 2020
  11. ^ Roll of Honour: Roll of Honour, accessdate: February 3, 2020