- Sittingbourne F.C.
Infobox Football club
clubname = Sittingbourne
fullname = Sittingbourne Football Club
nickname = The Brickies
founded =1886
ground = Bourne Park
Central Park ComplexSittingbourne ,Kent
capacity = 3,000
chairman = Andy Spice
mgrtitle = Manager
manager = Gary Abbott
league = Isthmian League
Division One South
season = 2007-08
position = Isthmian League Division
One South, 9th fchd|name=Sittingbourne|id=SITTINGB]
pattern_la1=_black_stripes|pattern_b1=_blackstripes|pattern_ra1=_black_stripes|leftarm1=FF0000|body1=FF0000|rightarm1=FF0000|shorts1=000000|socks1=000000
pattern_la2=|pattern_b2=_unknown|pattern_ra2=|leftarm2=FFFFFF|body2=FFFFFF|rightarm2=FFFFFF|shorts2=FFFFFF|socks2=FFFFFFSittingbourne F.C. are a football club based in
Sittingbourne ,Kent ,England . They were established in1886 and were founder members of theKent League . They have reached the 2nd round of theFA Cup at least twice in their history. They are currently playing in theIsthmian League Division One South .History
Although an earlier Sittingbourne United club had been playing since as early as 1881, Sittingbourne F.C. traces its lineage to 1886 when the club was reorganised under the new name. The club moved to a field behind the Bull
pub in 1892, where they were to remain for nearly 100 years. Senior status was acquired in 1893, and the following year the club joined the first incarnation of theKent League . They were league champions on at least one occasion, [ [http://www.pittsfamily.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/history.htm The club's own website] says they won the league in 1897-98, however [http://www.fchd.info/SITTINGB.HTM The Football Club History Database] and [http://www.rsssf.com/tablese/engkenthist.html RSSSF] both say they came third.] before withdrawing to enter the South Eastern League in 1905.After
World War I the club rejoined the Kent League, where they played until 1927 when they joined the Southern League. In 1930 they left this league and it is unclear where they played next. AfterWorld War II the Brickies rejoined the Kent League once again, where they were champions in 1957-58 and 1958-59. After the second title win they rejoined the Southern League, but after a promising start their performances declined and in 1966-67, after finishing bottom, they dropped out to join the newly-formed Kent Premier League (a successor to the original Kent League, which had folded, and soon to be renamed the Kent League itself).Sittingbourne were Kent League champions in 1975-76, 1983-84 and 1990-91, the third title win earning them a place back in the Southern League. In 1992-93, by now playing at the new Central Park ground, they won promotion to the
Southern League Premier Division , however a financial crisis led to relegation two years later. Although the team bounced back, winning the Southern Division title at the first attempt, they were relegated again in 1998 as the club hovered on the brink of being wound up completely. A move out of Central Park and a drastic reduction in the playing budget saw the Brickies through their troubles, but they flirted with relegation back to the Kent League for a number of years, only finishing in the top half of the table on one occasion in the next eight seasons.In 2006 a re-organisation of the
English football league system saw Sittingbourne moved into theIsthmian League , starting in Division One South.Club records
*Best league performance: 8th in
Southern League Premier Division "(then Step 2)", 1993-94 and 1996-97
*BestFA Cup performance: 2nd round proper, 1925-26 and 1928-29
*BestFA Trophy performance: 2nd round proper, 1998-99
*BestFA Vase performance: 4th round, 1992-93Ground
Infobox Stadium
stadium_name = Bourne Park
nickname =
caption = puic|log=2008_July_10
fullname = Bourne Park
location = Church Road, Sittingbourne, Kent
coordinates =
broke_ground =
built = 2002
opened = 2002
renovated =
expanded =
closed =
demolished =
owner =Sittingbourne F.C.
operator =Sittingbourne F.C.
surface = Grass
construction_cost =
architect =
structural engineer=
services engineer =
general_contractor =
project_manager =
main_contractors =
former_names =
tenants =Maidstone United F.C.
seating_capacity = 3000 (200 seated)
dimensions = Sittingbourne currently play at Bourne Park, where they groundshare with Maidstone United while they wait on the construction of theirJames Whatman Way ground. The club played at The Bull Ground until 1990 when they sold the site for £4.5 million and built a new state of the art stadium on the outskirts of the town. However, chronic overspending on the new ground caused the club financial difficulties and they were forced to sell the ground to the local council and lease it back. The ground was eventually leased to a company which rangreyhound racing events, who allowed the football club to sign a seven-year lease (a requirement of the Southern League). Unfortunately, the club found it hard to guarantee the availability of the stadium due to the racing [http://www.pittsfamily.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/history.htm History page from the club's official website] ] and agreed to start playing their games on a purpose build ground where the club used to train. Built in 2002, the ground has slowly been built up on a small budget and now reaches the standard to host step 3 non-league football.References
External links
* [http://www.sittingbournefc.co.uk/ Official website]
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