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Basildon Town Brief History GENERAL Basildon Town, not to be confused with near neighbours Basildon United, were in their time a thriving senior club and during their chequered existence they have played at a number of different grounds, almost all of which have now disappeared. 1946 to 1960 Basildon Town's golden era was undoubtedly the 1950's. Following success in the Thurrock Combination and the Parthenon League in 1955, they stepped up to join the London League, roughly equivalent in status to today's Spartan League. They were based at Stacey's Corner, Timberlog Lane, a venue more than adequate for their needs, with a small shelter running alongside the pitch. Unfortunately their short lease with Basildon Development Corporation ran out in 1959 and they were forced to leave both Timberlog Lane and the London League. It had been the clubs intention to move into the sports stadium that the local council were planning to build at Gloucester Park. Somewhat optimistically Basildon Council announced that this new stadium would hold 21,000 spectators, with cover for 9,000 and terracing for a further 12,000. By 1959 however, these plans were still very much on the drawing board and Basildon Town instead took out a lease on what was intended to be a temporary ground at Burnt Mills Lane During the summer of 1959 club helpers transported the dressing rooms, clubhouse and all other fixtures and fittings from Timberlog Lane to the new ground and miraculously by August the ground was ready to stage Parthenon League football. Cripplingly high rent charges, £230.00 per annum as opposed to £25.00 per annum at Timberlog Lane, soon brought the club to its knees, and in January 1960 they pulled out of the Parthenon League ready to return to Junior Football 1960 to 1971 In 1964 they decided to join forces with local rivals Pitsea United, who had themselves briefly been members of the London League during the 1950's. Pitsea United played at Gun Meadow, Bowers Gifford, a well appointed ground with a railed off pitch and a section of covered stand, tucked away behind the Gun Inn. This venue served the new Basildon and Pitsea team well and in 1966 they became founder members of the newly formed Essex Olympian Football League In 1969 the clubs split up into two once more with Pitsea United opting to play Sunday Football and Basildon Town carrying on in the Essex Olympian League. The club suffered an almost mortal blow in the summer of 1971 when, out of the blue, they were summarily evicted from Gun Meadow, apparently because of their failure to keep the ground neat and tidy. The club were therefore forced to pull out of the Essex Olympian Football League at the end of the 1970-71 season 1980 to 1999 It was not until the start of the 1981-82 season, and with a pitch at Eversley Road Pitsea, that Basildon Town returned to the Essex Olympian Football League. They now play at G.E.C. Avionics ground in Gardiners Way where they moved at the start of the 1995-96 season 2000 to 2008 During the years following 2000, Basildon Town began to improve its youth programme. We had alot of success with the U16s and U18s sides in the Chelmsford Youth League. In 2009 Basildon Town began talks with a local youth club called Signet United. Signet wished to amalgamate their club into a Charter Standard Football Club for the 2009/2010 season. 2009/2010 Season The 2009/10 season saw a change in management with Jason Emery coming in as First Team Manager after Brian Smith-Shaw had decided to step down as Manager at the End of last Season, Jason was appointed by the Committee to run the senior sides. Jason brought in Rob Pudney as First Team Coach, Steve Hickey as Fitness Coach, Tim Dollard as Reserve Team Manager and Steve Reader as Reserve Team Assistant. The Committee remained the same with Steve Brown as Chairman, Dave Lovell as Secretary and Jason Potter as Treasurer. Also on the Committee was Terry Saggers and Alan Davies. Basildon Town first team was playing in the Essex Olympian Division Three after being Relegated the season before. Towns Reserves side was playing in the Essex Olympian Reserve Divsion Three. Basildon Town youth football for the 2009/2010 season had had 5 youth teams all competing in the Southend Junior League, these sides featured an Under 15's (SJL Prem Div Managed by Jason Emery), Under 14's (SJL Div B Managed by Mark Cubitt), Under 13's (SJL Div A Managed by Joe Corey) and 2 Under 12's teams ('A' SJL Prem Div Managed by Jason Emery and 'B' SJL Div B Managed by Stuart Murray). Town did not have an U18s after the side folded the previous season. Due to this Town's Reserve side was far younger and with this came a new influx of younger players the first team and reserve team had a lot of new young blood and on many occasion had 6 or 7 players under the age of 20 playing regularly. In November Steve Brown resigned as Chairman of the Football Club and Bob Moorcroft took over as Acting Chairman for the Remainder of the Season. The First team finished 7th in the EOL Div 3 and the Reserves came 6th in EOL Res Div 3. The 15s came 3rd in the SJL Prem Div, the U14's came 6th in the SJL Div B, the U12s 'B' came 5th in the SJL Div B and the U12s 'A' finished 5th in the SJL Prem Div. Town did have good success with it's under 12s reached the Southend Junior League Cup Final at Roots Hall only to be defeated on pens and Town's Under 13s won the Southend Junior League Division A. Towns youth sides also had a good end of season finish also with the U12's coming Runners-up in the Clacton Tournament but winning the Beech United Tournament and the U13's coming Runners-Up in the Beech United Tournament. 2010/2011 Season So far this season, a new committee was selected. Alan Davies became club chairman, with Jason Potter remaining as Secretary and Dave Lovell as Secretary. Sadly during pre-season Steve Reader left his position as Reserve Team Assistant. The Committee had a new look with Terry Saggers, Brian Smith-Shaw and Bob Moorcroft alongside Parent Reps and Child Welfare Officers. Basildon Town first team continued to play in the Essex Olympian Division Three after finishing 7th the season before. Towns Reserves side was playing in the Essex Olympian Reserve Divsion Three after finishing 6th the season before. Basildon Town youth football for the 2010/2011 season had had 5 youth teams all competing in the Southend Junior League, these sides featured an Under 16's (SJL Prem Div Managed by Jason Emery), Under 15's (SJL Div B Managed by Rob Barnes), Under 14's (SJL Prem Div Managed by Joe Corey) and 2 Under 13's teams ('A' SJL Prem Div Managed by Jason Emery and 'B' SJL Div B Managed by Tim Dollard). Town still dont have an U18s. Due to this Town's Reserve side is very young. Manager Jason Emery has brought in some new players too boost the squad ahead of the season. Town U13's have had a good start by winning two pre-season tournaments, one was the Trinity Youth Tournament and the other the Ref's Tournament both won on the firsst weekend of September. Basildon Town FC Chairmans
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