Bowers & Pitsea F.C.

Infobox Football club
clubname = Bowers & Pitsea


fullname = Bowers & Pitsea Football Club
nickname =
founded = 1946
ground = Len Salmon Stadium, Pitsea
capacity = 2,000+
chairman = Barry Hubbard
manager = John Doyle
league = Essex Senior League
season = 2007-08
position = Essex Senior League, 7th
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Bowers & Pitsea Football Club is an English football club based in Pitsea, Essex and currently plays in the Essex Senior League.

Bowers United Football Club

The club began life in an old wooden bowls pavilion in 1947 on the site of what is now Pitsea Market. A move to Gun Meadow in Pitsea saw the purchase of a prefabricated building which was used as changing rooms. The building of the new A13 from Canvey to the Five Bells roundabout saw the compulsory purchase of the ground and the club's move to its current home at Crown Avenue, Pitsea. The ground was purchased from Basildon Development Corporation along with a prefabricated building which still serves as the dressing rooms. Bowers United, started in 1946 by Bill Salmon, playing at Gun Meadow, Pitsea, in the Thurrock & Thameside Combination, he was to be joined a few years later by his brother Len Salmon. The biggest tribute Bowers Sport & Social Club could give him was to name the football stadium after him. After winning the League Championship in 1958/59 Bowers United gained admission into the Essex Olympian League. A good record at this level and a reputation as being a well organised club, coupled with the move to Crown Avenue, gave the opportunity to gain Senior status in 1974, which in turn, allowed Bowers to qualify as members of The Essex Senior League. Since membership, in that year, Bowers have established their position within the League's top clubs, gaining several League Trophies, the most recent being under Manager Tony Cross winning the League and Cup double in 1998. The club also added a noteworthy part of club history with a home gate of 1880 against local rivals Billericay Town in the FA Vase.

Pitsea Football Club

Pitsea was formed in 1970 by Mr Peter Feltham and was first known as Pitsea Young Peoples Club. The average age of the players was roughly 15, but as there were very few youth leagues in the area at that time, they went straight into men's football in the third division of the Vange and District Sunday league. After the first season they dropped the "Young Peoples Club" and became known as Pitsea Football Club. The club soon climbed their way through the divisions and progressed to the Basildon Sunday League in 1975/76 season. They remained in this league and at one point had three teams running. They reached the top divisions of this league in 1981/82 season and although at times against the odds they managed to remain in the top flight. Pitsea's determination paid off in the 1994/95 season when "The Bull Public House" became the new sponsor and the then owner, Mr John Jones took the helm, taking Pitsea to their first Senior League Treble. John Jones moved on from "The Bull" and the new owner Mr Chris La-Rocque continued the sponsorship and also became the chairman of the club. The 1995/96 season saw Amin Levitt take over the Managers mantle with help from Dave Chaplin. The success continued with the treble in 1995/96 and with Shaun Scanlon stepping in to help Amin in 1996/97 season, Pitsea settled for the League and Cup double.

Bowers & Pitsea Football Club

The season 2004/05 saw a new name on the footballing map when Bowers United took Pitsea Football clubs name to produce Bowers & Pitsea Football Club, and with a new start and a new team at the helm maybe success is just around the corner because a strong link has been established with the local community and the clubs facilities offer the residence a large Clubhouse, Bar and Function room together with a ground capacity for 2000+ spectators, which includes seating for 180 in a well appointed stand, excellent floodlighting is also an advantage should the club seek to play at a higher level.

Honours

"Bowers United"

Essex Senior League
*Champions: 1980-81, 1998-99
*Runners-Up: 1983-84

Essex Senior League Challenge Cup
*Champions: 1981-82, 1998-99
*Runners-Up: 1976-77, 1977-78, 1982-83

Thurrock & Thameside Combination League
*Champions: 1958-59

External links

* [http://www.freewebs.com/bowersandpitseafootballclub Official website]