Billingham Synthonia F.C.

Football club infobox
clubname = Billingham Synthonia


fullname = Billingham Synthonia Football Club
nickname = The Synners
founded = 1923
ground = The PTS Stadium, Central Avenue, Billingham
capacity = 4,200
chairman = Stuart Coleby
manager = Bobby Scaife
league = Northern League Division One
season = 2007-08
position = Northern League Division One, 9th
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Billingham Synthonia F.C. is a football club based in Billingham, England. They were established in 1923, playing first in the Teesside League, and joining the Northern League in 1945. In the 1993-94 season, they reached the Quarter-Finals of the FA Trophy, in a run which included victories over Conference sides Kettering Town and Macclesfield Town. They are currently members of the Northern League Division One. Their nickname is "The Synners" and they play a derby match against Billingham Town.

They are known for being the only club in England to be named after an agricultural fertiliser (Synthonia being a contraction of "synthetic ammonia", a product manufactured by ICI, with whom the club originally had a close connection), and being the only club to go an entire season (1950-51) in the Northern League without conceding a goal at home, a last minute penalty save in the final game by goalkeeper Harry Armstrong preserving this record.

Frank Cook (MP for Stockton North) is the club's president. Stuart Coleby, manager from 1990-2007, is the chairman, a role he has held since 1997.

Grounds

Synthonia play at The PTS Stadium, Central Avenue (formerly Central Avenue Stadium until August 2007 when the club secured a ground sponsor). Their ground is also used by the Billingham Athletics club. The stadium was opened on 6 September 1958 by Lord Derby, with the first game ending in a 2-2 draw against Bishop Auckland. In the same year, the stadium was used for an England 'B' international athletics meeting. The stadium's 2,000 capacity cantilever stand was the longest in the country at the time. Previously, the team had played at Belasis Lane, a ground they left in 1958 to make way for a new ICI office block. The Belasis Lane ground saw the first floodlit game in the North of England and the first amateur team to play under lights, when Billingham Synthonia defeated an RAF team 8-4 before an attendance of 3,000. The club's record attendance was 4,200 against Bishop Auckland in 1958. During the 2006-07 season, the club's average home attendance was 110. Some Middlesbrough reserve matches are played at Central Avenue.

Successes

Synthonia most recently won the Northern League Division One in the 1995-96 season (having finished 2nd in 1994-95, as they did in 1996-97 and 1997-98) with other successes occurring in 1956-57, 1988-89 and 1989-90. They also won the Northern League Cup in 1951-52, 1987-88 and 1989-90. In 2005-06 they finished 7th in the league and were Durham Challenge Cup runners-up. In the 2006-07 season, they were knocked out in the semi-final of the FA Vase, beaten by AFC Totton 5-4 on penalties.

Honours

*Northern League Division One winners: 1956-57, 1988-89, 1989-90 and 1995-96.
*Northern League Division One runners-up: 1949-50, 1950-51, 1951-52, 1992-93, 1994-95, 1996-97 and 1997-98.
*Northern League Division Two winners: 1986-87.
*Northern League Cup winners: 1951-52, 1987-88 and 1989-90.
*Northern League Cup runners-up: 1996-97 and 2002-03.
*Durham Challenge Cup winners: 1988-89 and 1990-91.
*Durham Challenge Cup runners-up: 2002-03 and 2005-06.

Famous players

The most famous ex-Synner is Brian Clough, who appeared for the club before he went on National Service. Others include Aidan Davison, a goalkeeper capped 3 times by Northern Ireland, who played for Synthonia during the 1987-88 season, and Northern Ireland winger Terry Cochrane. Bernie Slaven, ex-Middlesbrough and Republic of Ireland striker, played for the club after his retirement from professional football. Another ex-Middlesbrough and Republic of Ireland player, Curtis Fleming, played for Synthonia in 2006-07 season before entering into management with Livingston of the Scottish league.

2006-07 Season

Synthonia experienced a poor league campaign finishing in 14th place, their worst position for over twenty years. However, they achieved a notable success in the FA Vase, reaching the Semi-Finals, losing 5-4 on penalties to AFC Totton (after extra time the match had finished 3-3). The second leg saw an attendance of almost 2,500 at Central Avenue. The close season has seen Stuart Coleby step down as manager, a role he has held since the 1990-91 season, to concentrate solely on his role as chairman. Bobby Scaife has been named as manager for the 2007-08 season, assisted by Chris Rooney and Barney Malone, both ex-Synners players.

2007/08 Season

In their first season with new manager Bobby Scaife, Synners achieved a 9th place finish in the Northern League Division One. Several long-serving players left during the course of the season, meaning it was very much a period of transition. There was no repeat of the previous season's heroics in the FA Vase, with an exit in the 3rd Round.

ources

* [http://www.northernleague.org/league/view_club_details.php?type=36&submit=Go%21 Billingham Synthonia on Northern League Website]
* [http://www.northernleagueclub.co.uk Billingham Synthonia on Northern League Club Website]
*Billingham Synthonia matchday programme
*fchd|name=Billingham Synthonia|id=BILLISYN

External links

* [http://www.northernleagueclub.co.uk Northern League Club Website]
* [http://www.synners.co.uk/ Official Club Website]