 |
BOGNOR
REGIS TOWN FC
was founded in 1883 and their early years were mainly spent playing
friendly matches until they joined the West Sussex League in 1896.
They enjoyed a certain amount of success at this level which included
winning the league five years in succession in the early twenties.
As a result they joined the Brighton & Hove District League
in 1926, however, their stay was short as the following season they
applied to join the Sussex County League where they remained until
1972. |
The club enjoyed
mixed fortunes in this league, winning the Division One Championship
in the 1948/49 season. Relegation to Division Two in 1969 was to start
a new era for the dub. Winning their way back to the First Division
at the first attempt, they went on next season to win the Championship.
This prompted them to apply to join the Southern League, which meant
they had played in three different leagues in three successive seasons.
Known as the `Rocks', Bognor
took their time to settle at the higher level and in the 1981/82 season
were runners-up in both the League and the League Cup, they also won
the Merit Cup for the most goals scored in a season. The following season
saw Bognor playing in yet another league, The Isthmian, they were elected
to Division One, and their first season saw them promoted as runners-up
to the Premier Division.
|
Bognor's
highest Premier League placing was fifth in 1986/87 and their
lowest 21st seven seasons ago when they avoided the drop due to
Dagenham leaving the league and no Conference side being relegated
to the Isthmian League. They were however relegated the following
season and are now in their seventh season in Division One.
After winning
the Sussex Senior Cup for the first time in 1955 , Bognor went
on to create a competition record by winning it in five consecutive
years from 1980 to 1984.
|
|
They have won the
Sussex County League on four occasions and in 1986/87 season beat Hendon
to win the AC Delco Cup. This was the first cup success for a Sussex
side outside its own County.
The Rocks have reached
the Second Round Proper of the FA. Cup on four occasions, the first
time being in 1984.
After holding Swansea
to a 1-1 draw at the Vetch Field in the First round, they won the replay
3-1 before a record crowd at Nyewood Lane, only to lose to Reading at
Elm Park in the Second Round. The following season they reached the
same stage only to lose away to Gillingham.
The 1988/89 season again
found Bognor beating League opposition, this time Exeter City 2-1, but
their hopes of reaching the third round for the first time were dashed
when they lost 1-0 at home to Cambridge United. The Rocks last appearance
at this stage was in season 1995/96 when they again failed to reach
the third round. Losing 4-0 at Peterborough's London Road ground.
In addition, the
club have reached the First Round Proper on three occasions, the first
being 1972/72 followed by 1986/87 and 1987/88. Bognor enjoyed their
best ever run in the Umbra FA Trophy in the 95/96 season, just to reach
the last sixteen, losing 3-1 at home to Radcliffe Borough.
 |
For the
past four seasons, Bognor have just failed to gain a promotion
place; in the 1995/96 season playing 22 Cup games and a growing
injury list were the main factors.
In the 1996/97
season, a poor start in the League saw The Rocks concede points
which left them with a lot of leeway to make up and despite a
ten match unbeaten run from March until May, the Rocks were still
four points adrift and had to be content with sixth place. The
following season saw a similar pattern, winning out of the last
7 games; but again it was not enough.
|
In the 1998/99 season
saw The Rocks lose at the first hurdle in all the six cup competitions
entered, this created a new, albeit, unwanted record for the club. However
this left the way open to concentrate on promotion and by Christmas
the team had built up a commanding 13 points lead Unfortunately this
could rot be sustained in the second part of the season, picking up
just 25 points from 25 games, and finishing in sixth Place.
The 1999/2000 season saw
us exit form the F.A cup at the 4th Qualifying Round and with a number
of players coming and going did not help the side play consistently.
This resulted in the club involved in a relegation battle for the most
of the season .Our usual end of season rally saw us climb to 17th position.
Season 2000/2001 saw the
club finish in a disappointing 16th position. However, they did reach
the final of the Sussex Senior Cup, losing to Lewes and also reached
the 3rd Round of the FA Trophy.
2001/2001 season saw the
club just missed out on promotion finishing in 4th place, this after
being unbeaten in the first fifteen league games. Bashley became a real
thorn in the clubs side, knocking us out of the FA Cup and then the
FA Trophy. After the disappointment of missing out on promotion last
season the club will be going all out for success in this seasons newly
formed Division One South.
2002/3 saw the club finish
in 2nd place and gain promotion to the Premier League. This was achieved
despite a long list of injuries, which at times devastated the squad.
Promotion gave the whole club a huge lift and everyone is looking forward
to the coming season.
On their return
to the Premier League, the club finished in a respectable 10th position
and with it qualification to the new Conference South division where
the club finished a creditable 9th position in there first season .
2005/6 and 2006/7 seasons saw the club finish 12th in the Conference South league.
Michael Birmingham, Pearce's assistant manager took over as player manager in October 2007 and managed to save the club from relegation with an 18th place finish.
He stepped down at the end of the season in May 2008 and was succeeded by ex Havant & Waterlooville and Dorchester Town manager Mick Jenkins and his assistant Andy Awford in June 2008.
After a run of adverse results they resigned on 3 January 2009.
Darin Killpatrick took over as caretaker manager with assistant Kevin Braybrook. Within days the club were deducted 7 points for playing an unregistered player. Despite an improvement in results under Kilpatrick, Bognor were officially relegated on 4 April 2009 following a 4-1 defeat to Welling United.
This ended a remarkable season which saw a financial crisis, a player exodus, an arsonist burn the clubhouse down, Jack Pearce fighting cancer, a 7 point deduction, 3 managers and over 54 players. Braybrook has since left the club
On 1st June 2009 Darin Killpatrick was confirmed as manager with former Rock Jamie Howells as his assistant.