Needham Market Football Club is an English football club based in Needham Market, Suffolk. The club are currently members of the Isthmian League Premier Division as of the 2016-17 season and play at Bloomfields.
History
Although records show the existence of a Needham Market Football Club during the late 1890s, the modern club was officially established in 1919, initially playing at Young's Meadow. They later moved to Crowley Park, and joined the Suffolk & Ipswich League, winning Division Two in 1946â€"47 and Division One in 1952â€"53. They won the League Cup in 1978 and again in 1980. The Suffolk Junior Cup was won in 1985, and the Suffolk Senior Cup in 1990.
In 1995â€"96 the club won the Senior Division, and were promoted to Division One of the Eastern Counties League. In the same year, the club bought its current ground, after a former player, Arthur Rodwell, died and left the club money, which together with a grant from the National Lottery, was enough to purchase the site and build the necessary facilities.
The club finished runners-up in 2004â€"05 and were promoted to the Premier Division, winning the Senior Cup in the same season. A new record crowd of 750 was set for a Suffolk Premier Cup match against Ipswich Town reserves during the 2006â€"07 season, in which they also won the East Anglian Cup. The following season the club won the Suffolk Premier Cup and the League Cup, as well as reaching the semi-finals of the FA Vase, losing 4â€"2 on aggregate to Kirkham & Wesham. A new record attendance of 1,375 was set during the home leg.
In 2009â€"10 the club won the Premier Division of the Eastern Counties League and the League Cup, earning promotion to Division One North of the Isthmian League. In their first season in Division One, Needham finished as runners-up, but lost 3â€"1 at home to Brentwood Town in the play-off semi-finals. The following season the club finished third and reached the play-off final, but lost 1â€"0 to Enfield Town.
In 2014-15, they won Division One North and were promoted to the Isthmian League Premier Division for the first time.
Reserve team
In 2013 the club's reserve team joined Division One of the Eastern Counties League.
Honours
- Isthmian League
- Division One North champions 2014â€"15
- Eastern Counties League
- Premier Division champions 2009â€"10
- League Cup winners 2007â€"08, 2009â€"10
- Suffolk Premier Cup
- Winners 2007â€"08
- Suffolk Senior Cup
- Winners 1989â€"90, 2004â€"05
- Suffolk & Ipswich League
- Senior Division champions 1995â€"96
- Division One champions 1952â€"53
- Division Two champions 1946â€"47
- League Cup winners 1977â€"78, 1979â€"80
- Suffolk Junior Cup
- Winners 1984â€"85
- East Anglian Cup
- Winners 2006â€"07
Club records
- Highest league position: 1st in Isthmian Division One North, 2014â€"15
- Best FA Cup performance: Fourth qualifying round, 2013â€"14
- Best FA Trophy performance: First qualifying round, 2010â€"11, 2011â€"12
- Best FA Vase performance: Semi-finals, 2007â€"08
- Highest attendance: 1,784 vs Cambridge United, FA Cup Fourth qualifying round, 26 October 2013
- Biggest win: 10â€"1 vs Ipswich Wanderers
Notable former players
Former professionals that have played for Needham Market include:
- Simon Betts
- Danny Gay
- Kem Izzet
- Jamie Guy
- Ian Westlake
- James Shea
- Chris Hogg
References
External links
- Club website
- Needham Market at the Football Club History Database