 |
|
Full name |
Bamber
Bridge Football
Club |
|
Nickname |
The Brig |
|
Founded |
1974 |
|
Ground |
 QED
Stadium, Bamber
Bridge
(Capacity:
2,264) |
|
Chairman |
Terry Gammans |
|
Manager |
Tony Greenwood |
|
League |
Northern
Premier League
Division One
North |
|
2009-10 |
Northern
Premier League
Division One
North, 14th |
|
|
|
|
The club can
trace its
origins to the
late 19th
century. The
club were
re-formed in
1952 as a junior
club in the
Preston and
District League.
The current club
was formed in
1974 following
an amalgamation
with
neighbouring
Walton-le-Dale
F.C.[2] They won
the Lytham Medal
Competition in
1975-76 and the
Lancastrian
Brigade Cup in
1976-77. The
following season
they were losing
finalists in the
Preston and
District League
Guildhall Cup,
and in the
1978-79 season
they were
Premier Division
runners-up and
won the
Guildhall Cup,
their first
major trophy. In
1979-80 they
were losing
finalists again
in the Guildhall
Cup. In 1980-81
they were
Premier Division
champions and
also won the
Guildhall Cup
for a second
time as well as
being losing
finalists in the
Lancashire FA
Amateur Shield.
They won the
Lancashire FA
Amateur Shield
in 1981-82. In
1982-83 they
were Premier
Division
runners-up then
in 1983-84 they
were Premier
Division Ward
Shield losing
finalists. They
were runners-up
in the Premier
Division once
again in 1984-85
and won the
Guildhall Cup
for a third
time. The
following season
they were
crowned Premier
Division
champions for a
second time and
won the league
for a third time
in 1986-87. They
were losing
finalists again
in 1987-88. In
1989-90 they
were Premier
Division
champion for a
fourth and final
time and also
won the Guldhall
Cup, the
Lancastrian
Brigade Cup and
were losing
finalists in the
Lancashire FA
Amateur Shield. |
|
In the 1990-91 season the club joined the North West Counties Football
League in Division Two. Their also won the Lancastrian Brigade Cup for a third
time. The following season they were promoted to Division One as champions and
also reached the semi-finals of the FA Vase as well as reaching the final of the
North West Counties Football League Floodlit Trophy. In 1992-93 they were
runners-up in Division One on goal difference winning a second successive
promotion, this time to the Northern Premier League First Division. In 1993-94
they were losing finalists in the First Division Cup. They were Division One
runners-up in 1994-95 and promoted to the Premier Division. They also won the
Northern Premier League Challenge Cup and the Lancashire FA Challenge Trophy.
Managed by former player Tony Greenwood, they won the Northern Premier League
championship at the first attempt in 1995-96 as well as being losing finalists
in both the Northern Premier League Challenge Shield and the Lancashire FA
Challenge Trophy. However, they were ineligible for promotion to the Football
Conference, because of ground grading issues, and Greenwood departed. The
following season they were once again losing finalists in the Northern Premier
League Challenge Shield. In 1999-2000 they were again losing finalists in the
Lancashire FA Challenge Trophy. However, the highlight of the season was
reaching the second round of the FA Cup for the first time where they lost 1-0
to Cambridge United who at the time were in the Football League Second Division.
Cambridge claimed a close win with a disputed penalty. Once again the club were
managed by Greenwood, who had returned in 1999. They were relegated to the First
Division in 2001-02 after the play-offs in which they beat Radcliffe Borough 3-2
in the semi-finals, before losing to Ashton United 2-1 in the final. They were
promoted back to the Premier Division in 2003-04 following the 2004 Conference
expansion. Their stay though was short-lived and the club were relegated back to
the First Division once more in the 2004-05 season. However, they did win the
Northern Premier League President's Cup. In the 2007-08 season, following a
restructuring of the Northern Premier League they joined the new Northern
Premier League Division One North. In 2007-08 they finished in fifth position in
a season which also saw a crowd of 1,435 for the home league game against FC
United of Manchester on 17 November 2007. On 9 April 2008, Bamber Bridge
conceded two goals in the first 47 seconds of their 0-3 defeat by Newcastle Blue
Star, which is believed to be a world record. In the promotion Play-Offs they
were beaten 3-2 in the semi-finals on 30 April 2008 by FC United of Manchester.
Bamber Bridge play their home games at the QED Stadium. The ground was
previously known as Irongate, before the new name was adopted in a sponsorhip
deal. The club bought the land in 1983 and spent the next four years developing
it into a football pitch, naming it Irongate after the local area. The first
game was played in August 1987 and since then the stadium has seen a number of
developments. Floodlights were installed in the early 1990s.
In 1996 the Czech Republic national team beat Bamber Bridge 9-1 in a warm up
game for the 1996 European Championships in front of a record crowd of 2,300. As
well as the home games of Bamber Bridge, the stadium also hosts the home games
of Preston North End reserve team.
Bamber Bridge End: Behind the other goal is the Bamber Bridge End which has a
covered terrace running the width of the pitch.
Gerry Lawson Stand: The Gerry Lawson Stand is situated at one side of the pitch.
It houses 500 spectators with the letters BBFC imprited in white lettering on
the seats which are mostly black. The stand is currently sponsored by Travelwise
and it was built with money from both the Football League Trust and the club's
1999-2000 FA Cup run. |
