Aveley F.C.

Football club infobox
clubname = Aveley


fullname = Aveley Football Club
nickname = The Millers
founded = 1927
ground = The Mill Field,
Aveley
capacity = 1,100
chairman = Graham Gennings
manager = Rod Stringer
general secretary - Craig Johnson
league = Isthmian League
First Division North
season = 2007-08
position = Isthmian League
First Division North, 11th
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Aveley F.C. are a football club who are members of the Isthmian League First Division North. Aveley is situated on the borders of Greater London and Essex near to the Dartford River Crossing.

Aveley are members of the Football Association and are affiliated to the Essex County F.A.

Club history

Aveley Football Club was formed in 1927 and played in local leagues until 1939. Club activities were then suspended during the Second World War. In 1946 the club was reformed and joined the Thurrock Combination League. Aveley twice won the Essex Junior Cup, firstly in 1948, and retaining it the following year.

Aveley gained Senior League status in season 1949-50 and were elected into the London League, Division One. They were Division Champions in the 1951-52 season. In the same season they moved from Lodge Meadow to their present ground, Mill Field, and were promptly nicknamed The Millers. In season 1954-55 they were Division Champions once again which was followed by election to The Delphian League in 1955-56. They competed in this league until 1962-63 with little success.

1963-64 saw Millers join the Athenian League. Full membership of the Football Association was granted in 1964-65. Season 1970-71 was probably the clubs most successful one. The first round proper of the FA Cup was reached along with the FA Amateur Cup quarter-finals, they were also Champions of the Athenian League.

Aveley were elected to the Isthmian League in season 1973/74. Here they competed without success in Division One until they were relegated to Division Two North at the end of the 1985-86 season. The Millers did however achieve two cup successes during this time - The Essex Thameside Trophy in 1979-80 and the Hornchurch Charity Cup in 1982-83.

The 1989-90 campaign was a memorable one for The Millers. Promotion back to Division One was gained with a tremendous end of season run-in to finish second to Heybridge Swifts by two points. This was followed by a 3-0 victory over Premier Division St. Albans in the final of the A.C.Delco (League) Cup. This made Aveley the first team from the lowest division to win this competition. After this the club slipped down to Division Three and cup successes were limited to appearances in the finals of both the East Anglian Cup and the The Essex Thames-Side Challenge Trophy in 1997-98.

The 1999-2000 season started well with Aveley being un-beaten in the League at Christmas. However a turn in fortunes saw them slip and eventually finish 9th. This was followed by 6th place in season 2000-01. A roller-coaster season 2001-02 saw the club finish third behind A.F.C. Hornchurch and champions Croydon Athletic and gain promotion to Division 1 North.An excellent season for the Millers in 2002-03. Good runs in the FA Cup and Bryco Cup were capped by an appearance in the Essex Senior Cup Final. This did not go Millers way however with Chelmsford City winning 5-0. The Third Qualifying Round of the FA Cup was reached, eventually losing out to Canvey Island 2-0. A good run-in saw Millers finish in sixth place in the League.

A change of manager a few weeks into the season meant a slow start to the 2003-04 campaign. A climb up the table saw the club eventually finish in 14th place. Millers matched the previous seasons performance and reached the final of the Essex Senior Cup. This time a much improved display saw them go down 3-1 to local rivals Thurrock. The final game of the season was another cup final. This time in the East Anglian Cup, and a visit to Spalding United. After taking an early lead this too finished in a 3-1 defeat for the Millers.

2004/05 was a disappointing one for Millers first season in the Southern League, the club finishing in 15th place. Compensation however, came in the form of the Essex Thames-Side Challenge Trophy. Romford were beaten 1-0 in the final at The Mill Field. Simon Thomas scoring the only goal of the game. Another difficult season followed, on and off the pitch. Millers ended the season with their third manager steering them just clear of the relegation places. Steve Browne had taken over from Keith Day who had succeeded Amin Levitt.

Honours

London League
*Champions - 1951-52, 1954-55

Athenian League
*Champions - 1970-71

Essex Thames-Side Challenge Trophy
*Winners - 1979-80, 2004-05, 2006-2007

Isthmian League Division 2 North
*Runners-up - 1989-90

"'Isthmian League Division 3
*3rd - 2001-02

AC Delco (League) Cup
*Winners - 1989-90

External links

* [http://www.aveleyfc.net/ Club website]
* [http://www.aveleyyouth.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/ Club's Youth website]