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Bridgwater Sports Football Club 70th Anniversary 1936 – 2006.
1930’s Formed in 1936 with the opening of the British Cellophane factory in Bath Road. British Cellophane AFC was open only to factory employees who registered then, as they do now, to play in the Taunton and District Saturday Football League.
1940’s Directly following the war years the club celebrated its first cup success by winning the Somerset Intermediate Cup in 1946.
1950’s The late 1950’s saw the start of a family involvement in the club, which continues through to today, when Wilf Saunders became the team manager.
1960’s The first of the clubs league successes began in the 60’s with the Division 4 and Division 3 titles. However, the most significant club event of the 60’s is not measured in league or cup success but in the formation of long term ties, which ensured the future stability of the club, when Barry Saunders (son of Wilf) and Terry Depledge, the current club chairman, began their association which still continues.
1970’s A management team of Colin Gardener, Carl Netto, Mike Rossiter and Terry Deplege guided the club through the 70’s. A decade in which the clubs principles of fair play were recognised with Noel Dyer winning the leagues club linesman award in 1974 and again in 1979 – a year in which the Division 3 title was also won.
1980’s With a dwindling number of factory employees eligible to play, the club opened its doors for non employees to join the football club. In 1986 Barry Saunders returned as first team manager and he brought with him a group of 16 year olds, from Victoria Park Rangers and other local youth teams, including his son – Wilf’s grandson – Ian, which allowed the club to field a third Colts side. The seeds had been sawn and the Division 3 title and Seward Cup success in 1988 followed by promotion for the first time into Division 1 in 1989 heralded the dawn of a new and successful era at the club.
1990’s Further cup success continued in 1990, by winning both the Gardener and the Rowbarton Cups. However, in 1991 the club achieved it most notable success to date when after 54 years and for the first time, it was crowned Division 1 champions. This was given further credit when Barry Saunders as manager was also recognised by the league as its club linesman of the year. During the 1990’s the Club amassed an impressive eleven league and cup titles and in 1995 by winning the Somerset Junior Cup it became, and continues to be, the only Bridgwater club to have won this county cup competition. In 1997, Barry Saunders stepped down as the clubs most successful team manager handing over to Ian Haste.
2000’s A change in name, to Bridgwater Sports FC, signified a period of upheaval at both the factory and the football club. The club became a victim of its own success with a significant number of players leaving to pursue new challenges at other clubs and in other leagues. Paul 'Dosser' Warren, having played for the club throughout the 90’s, was now working hard as secretary and treasurer to keep the club affiliated to the league and along with Gary Howes, who had stepped up to player/manager, steadied the club and enabled it to achieve relative success with both league and cup honours. In 2003 the current first team manager, Jason Bale, took over and in a similar way to Barry Saunders, he has made a quick, significant and successful impact on the club. In 2005 the club again won both the Division 1 title and the Rowbarton Cup, and in 2006 the Rowbarton cup was retained. Also in 2006, the club won the League Knock-out Cup and in doing so, as it entered its 70th anniversary year, the club could proudly proclaim to have achieved success in every one of the leagues cup competitions.
Currently The facilities continue to be amongst the best in the league and credit must go to Duncan Smith as licensee and current club president. The first team continue to mount a strong challenge for the Division 1 title. The reserves are again forming a strong squad, under the management of Neil Hope, and will be looking to achieve their own success this season, whilst providing able to support the first team.
Addendum Details from the 1930’s have been difficult to find, but as it stands today the club is a well run, well supported and proud club with talented and committed members throughout. In recent seasons Mark O’Brian, Garry Howes, Derren Deppledge, along with current players Steve Redman and Andrew Farkas, have all completed 20 years of playing for the club. Another popular member was Alan Mortan who played throughout the 80’s and 90’s, up until he sadly passed away aged 49. These are examples the epitomise the ethos of the club, which can be identified by the fact that very few members ever decide to leave and play for the many other local teams, other than those players we have been proud to pass on into senior leagues.
All the success in the history of the club is dedicated to everyone who has ever been associated to the club since 1936 and the club would sincerely like to thank all members, past and present, who have all contributed towards the clubs continued presence in the league.
For further information or if anyone can contribute any further details towards the history of Bridgwater Sports FC, please contact: Andrew Farkas, tel. 01278 683577, email farkas302@tiscali.co.uk
Bridgwater Sports Football Club has had a long and distinguished
presence within both the local league and cup competitions.
Below is a list of some of the honours the club has achieved
over the years:
DIV 1: 1990-91, 2004-05
DIV 2:
DIV 3: 1960-61, 1978-79, 1987-88, 1992-93, 1998-99,
DIV 4: 1963-64, 2001-02
DIV 5:
JUNIOR CUP: 1995-96
INTERMEDIATE CUP: 1946-47
K.O CUP: 2005-06
SEWARD CUP: 1987-88, 1998-99,
GARDENER CUP: 1989-90, 1992-93,
ROSE BOWL: 1996-97
ROWBARTON CUP: 1989-90, 1997-98, 2004-05, 2005-06
CLIFFORD PRICE CUP: 1990-91
CLUB LINESMAN AWARD: 1973-74, 1978-79, 1990-91,
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