Cornard United F.C.

Cornard United

Full name	Cornard United Football Club
Nickname(s)	The Ards
Founded	1964
Ground	Blackhouse Lane, Great Cornard (Capacity: 2,000 (250 seated))
Chairman	Neil Cottrell
Manager	Mark Sansom
League	Eastern Counties League Division One
2010–11	Eastern Counties League Division One, 17th
Home colours Away colours

Cornard United F.C. is an English football club based in Great Cornard, near Sudbury, Suffolk. The club are currently members of Eastern Counties League Division One and play at Blackhouse Lane.

History

The club was formed in 1964, and initially played in the Sudbury Sunday League, before joining Division Three of the Bury and District League in 1966.^[1] They were promoted to Division Two at the end of their first season, and were promoted again the next. In 1970 they transferred to Division Six of the Colchester & East Essex League. In 1971–72 they won the division, and were promoted to Division Five. The following season they won all 26 matches and were promoted again. The next two seasons also saw the club promoted as champions, reaching Division Two in 1975.^[1]

In 1976 the club switched leagues again, this time to Division One of the Essex and Suffolk Border League.^[1] Although they were placed in Division Two after restructuring in 1978, they were promoted to Division One in 1982–83. In 1985–86 they were promoted to the Premier Division, and in the 1988–89 season they won the league, the league cup and the Suffolk Senior Cup. At the end of the season they were promoted to Division One of the Eastern Counties League.

They won the division at the first attempt, and were promoted to the Premier Division, where they remained until 1996, when they finished bottom and were relegated.^[2] Im 2001 the club attempted to change their name to Sudbury Borough, but it was rejected by the parish council.^[1]

Ground

The club initially played at the Great Cornard Recreation Ground, before moving to Great Cornard Upper School in 1975. In 1982 they moved to their current ground on Blackhouse Lane, although they continued to use the changing facilities at the school until the start of the 1983–84 season.^[1] When the club joined the ECL in 1990 the pitch was moved to the top end of Blackhouse Lane.

Honours

• Eastern Counties League
  • Division One Champions 1989–90
• Essex & Suffolk Border League
  • Champions 1988–89
  • League Cup Winners 1988–89
• Colchester & East Essex League
  • Division Three champions 1974–75
  • Division Four champions 1973–74
  • Division Five champions 1972–73
  • Division Six champions 1971–72
• Eastern Floodlight Cup
  • Winners 2002
• Suffolk Senior Cup
  • Winners 1988–89

Records

• Attendance: 400 vs West Ham United in a friendly match, 2001–02
• FA Cup - best performance: First qualifying round (four times - 1993–94, 1994–95, 2004–05, 2008–09)
• FA Vase - best performance: First round (twice - 1993–94, 2002–03)

Notable players

Several former professional footballers have played for Cornard United, including:

• Mark Falco
• Garry Brooke
• Robbie Devereux
• Tom English
• Peter Coffill

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e} Blakeman, M (2010) The Official History of the Eastern Counties Football League 1935-2010, Volume II ISBN 9781908037022
2. ^ Cornard United at the Football Club History Database

External links

• Club website

Coordinates: 52°01′18.73″N 0°45′13.14″E / 52.0218694°N 0.75365°E / 52.0218694; 0.75365