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Club History |
Brief History of Basildon United Football Club
Originally nicknamed "United" and "Dons" and then the "Bees" after their distinctive team-shirts, Basildon United FC came into being in 1967, changing their name from Armada, a junior club who were founded 4 years earlier.
In 1967 Basildon United joined the Thurrock Thames-side Combination before being accepted into the Greater London League the following season.
The first major step was in 1970 when the Essex County F.A. granted the club Senior status and they became one of the founder members of the Essex Senior League.
It was not long before Basildon United were amongst the honours and when they applied for promotion to the Athenian League in 1980, they could look back on four consecutive championships from 1977-1980 which still stands as a league record. In addition they also finished runners-up in 1973 & 1975. The League Cup was won in 1978 to complete that season's double. The following year Basildon United carried off the Essex Senior Trophy.
Basildon United finished runners-up in their first season in the Athenian League and were promoted to the Isthmian League Division Two. Also this season (1980-81) Basildon United progressed to the quarter-finals of the F.A. Vase befor losing out in an epic replay 6-4 to Irthlingborough Diamonds.
After 3 seasons in Isthmian Division Two, Basildon United were promoted as Champions in 1984, beating St Albans City by one point on the last day of the season. They were also runners-up in the Essex Senior Trophy and the Eastern Floodlight Competition.
In 1989, the Bees were relegated back to Division Two. In 1991 the Isthmian League de-regionalised, also there were the first rumours that the club would have to relocate as their ground was wanted for development.It became financially unviable to remain in the Isthmian League and so the club moved to The Essex Senior League, where they are still members.
The club quickly re-grouped both on and off the pitch and it wasn't long befor the Senior League successes of the seventies were being emulated, in reaching the League Cup Final in 1992. Then in 1993-94 Basildon United again won the Essex Senior Championship andthe League Cup double. The Championship being won for a record fifth time.
In 1997-98 Basildon United equalled Brentwood's record of 3 League Cup wins by beating Burnham Ramblers 1-0 in the final. That year the Bees also finished runners-up in the League Championship race to Concord Rangers.
The club's future has been in doubt since re-joining the Senior League because of the development plans which are still ongoing. The partners of the club, John Moran, who signed for Armada Sports in 1966 and saw the forming of Basildon United FC. David Cusack formerly of Sheffield Wednesday, Southend United and Millwall are determined to secure a club for the future with facilities to match and in doing so make the club, the best development club in the area.
Honours
Isthmian League, Division Three
Champions: 1983–84
Athenian League
Runners-Up: 1980–81
Essex Senior League
Champions: 1976–77, 1977–78, 1978–79, 1979–80, 1993–94
Runners-Up: 1972–73, 1974–75, 1997–98
Essex Senior League Challenge Cup
Champions: 1977–78, 1993–94, 1997–98
Runners-Up: 1975–76, 1979–80, 1991–92
Essex Senior Trophy
Champions: 1977–78
Runners-Up: 1983–84
Eastern Floodlight Competition
Runners-Up: 1983–84
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