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Marlow United Football Club Est.1977 Incorporating Marlow United Youth F.C. Members of the Sport Italia Hellenic League & the Reading Football League |
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HISTORY Marlow United were formed in 1977 and entered the Wycombe & District Football League for the 1977/78 season. They began life in the Fifth Division at a time when local Saturday football in the Wycombe area was booming. They had a reasonably successful time finishing second and also losing out in the Subsidiary Cup Final to who are now our ground hosts Flackwell Heath F.C.! The following season saw the team promoted to the Second Division which resulted again in coming second. However along with close neighbours Marlow Rangers United were expelled from the league due to the member clubs voting both Marlow teams out of the league, for Rangers it meant extinction but for United it was a catalyst. With the Wycombe League kicking off the 1979/80 season for the first time in its history without any Marlow clubs in membership, United had applied and successfully joined the Pages East Berks Football League. This particular season proved one of the most successful periods in the clubs history, Manager Geoff Turner had cleverly exploited Marlow Rangers demise and introduced three senior players to bolster what was then a very young team, average age 17. United went on to win the Championship and Berks & Bucks Junior Cup in a thrilling and controversial final at Wallingford, beating Steventon Sports 2-0. That same season United reached two other semi-finals but found 14 matches in 21 days too hot to handle with a limited sized squad. The following 1980/81 season was a dull affair for Marlow as they found it difficult to rise to the previous seasons efforts and a poor mid table spot was all they could muster. Graham Pritchard took the helm midway through the season and finally got the team back on song during the 1981/82 season when they magnificently went through the season unbeaten in the league, but still finished second! albeit on goal difference to a capable Bracknell Boys Cub team (now defunct). They also reached the League Cup Final but went down to a shock extra-time defeat to Cox Green (Also now defunct) at Bracknell Town F.C. United returned to the Wycombe League in 1982/83 and with them they brought a reserve team. During this season they came second in the First Division . Again difficulties with the Wycombe League resulted in United failing to gain promotion and the 1983/84 season saw them appear again in the First Division, but this time they went one better winning the First Division Championship at a canter along with the reserve team who won the Third Division Title. The 1984/85 season saw United promoted directly to the Senior Division, and what a season with Marlow clinching the title with an emphatic last game of the season at Stocklake (Aylesbury) by 6-0. The reserves also won the Third Division Title. The 1985/86 season saw United come within a whisker of retaining their title but fell to third following a final day defeat. Some consolation was gained however winning the League Cup and a first ever Wycombe Senior Cup Final at Loakes Park going down 3-1 to Chesham United. The reserves made an appearance at York Road winning the Maidenhead Junior Cup by 2-0 over East Bracknell (now defunct). A fundamental decision was made during this season and United joined the Premier Division of the then Reading & District Football League for the 1987/88 season. It was also at this time that Graham Pritchard ended his successful spell at the club moving on to Wooburn Athletic F.C. Geoff Turner returned to take the helm at United and a reasonable fourth place was bettered by a tremendous 2-1 Maidenhead Senior Cup Final victory over Wokingham Town (now defunct) at York Road. Marlow achieved runners up spot under Geoff Turner in the Premier Division during the 1989/90 season which enabled promotion to the Senior Division. The Reading & District Football League & Reading Combination amalgamated and in 1990 became known as the Reading Football League with its Senior Division taking on Step 7 status in the FA National League System. Marlow United FC are founder members of this league. United had an insignificant spell between 1990 and 1996 although they did finish 4th in the 93/94 season but then in 95/96 were relegated to the Premier Division where they spent four years before finally winning promotion as Premier Division Champions under the guidance of current manager Kevin Carvell. During the same season they reached the final of the BTC Senior Cup losing out on penalties at the magnificent Madejski Stadium. United however were gaining respect fast as a blend of talented youngsters average age 16 were supported by some seasoned semi-pros and the first whispers of 'young guns' were heard. United spent a couple of seasons adapting to the Senior Division but it was noticeable that they were growing into a force to be reckoned with and they finished third in season 2003/04 before launching themselves at the league in 2004/05 where they went on to become the only side from Bucks to ever win the Reading Football League Championship. just three days earlier they had lost in yet another BTC Senior Cup Final at Madejski Stadium. United held on to their championship until the final 15 minutes of the 2005/06 season before finally relinquishing it albeit on goal difference. Yet another final appearance at the Madejski Stadium ended in heartbreak as they went down in the Reading Evening Post Senior Cup Final. But while United suffered they still attained the crowning glory of achieving promotion to Division One East of the Sport Italia Hellenic League, which was made possible two years previous when they embarked on a ground share agreement with Flackwell Heath FC which meant leaving their spiritual home of Gossmore Lane probably never to return. The 2006/07 season kicked off in bright sunshine as United took their place at Step 6 of the FA National League System, Prestwood FC were their first ever opposition at this level and Marlow ended up with an emphatic 3-0 victory with Aaron Clarke scoring their first ever goal at this level, which will undoubtedly form one of the questions in future years in the towns pub quizzes. United created yet another first in the club's history when they took the field in the blazing heat at Wilks Park on Sunday 16 September as they made a historic first ever appearance in the FA Vase, a thrilling match saw them triumph over Wessex League Premier team Bournemouth FC by 2-1 in front of a crowd of 161. Although United were to lose 2-1 in the next round they still earned the accolade of 'FA Vase team of the round' for their giant killing exploits over Bournemouth FC. Due to various cup exploits United were destined to play catch up in the league and much of the season was spent in the lower regions, however an agonising semi-final defeat in the Berks & Bucks Intermediate Cup Semi-Final kick started a surge up the table as Marlow exploited there games in hand to good effect, eventually finishing a creditable 7th in the league. However yet more heartache was awaiting at the Madejski Stadium as United made their fourth appearance and crashed to defeat yet again in a second consecutive Reading Senior Cup Final. During the close season United, excitingly, inherited a youth team hereafter known as Marlow United Youth which is a great stride for both the senior and youth teams. The 2007-08 season kicked off with much excitement as United made a famous first ever appearance in the FA Cup being the smallest club ever to appear in the competition. A narrow 2-1 defeat to Cove at Wilks Park could not hide the pride that was evident as United stepped on to the pitch with there youth team counterparts. This was followed by a first ever victory in the FA Vase as United overcame Buckingham Athletic to progress to the 1st Round, yet another first in the clubs history. The match against Lymington Town however was one of frustration as United were held 1-1 in a game they should have won. The replay was different affair however as Marlow were blown away in a second half flurry by 5-1. United league season however was progressing nicely and while this form was not transferred to the Reading Senior Cup significantly United progressed in this competition however unconvincingly. Christmas saw United head Division One East although Chalfont Wasps had many games in hands but the honour of Christmas number one went to Marlow. Alarmingly however United went on a run against the lower placed teams and points were dropped and it appeared that any aspirations United had of league honours were unfounded. A quarter final place in both the Reading Senior Cup and HL Supplementary Cup were secured and United's league form improved and Easter was to prove the turning point in their season as challengers Holyport and Englefield Green Rovers were blown away in the space of 48 hours to put United firmly in second spot. The visit of champions Chalfont Wasps was the defining moment as a hard earned 2-0 victory clinched promotion the Hellenic League Premier Division. A stuttering 4-2 defeat at Ardley United saw Marlow exit the Supplementary Cup but an equally stuttering 2-1 victory over Woodcote saw United progress to a fifth consecutive Reading Senior Cup Semi-Final appearance where they staggered past RFL Premier Division outfit Frilsham on penalties. A few days later United came up against newly crowned Reading Football League Champions Westwood where an 85th minute Lewis Brown winner saw United at last lay to rest the Madejski jinx by 1-0. With United's reserves winning the Reading Junior Cup and climbing to runners up spot in the RFL Premier Division it ended a wonderful season with the Youth team also winning the Bucks Free Press Junior League 4th Division. The topping on the cake came with the news that United will be appearing in the Berks & Bucks Senior Trophy next season Yet another first for the flying blues.............to be continued. |
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Marlow
United F.C. Marlow Utd. Reserves
& 'A' Gossmore Lane |
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Created By: Adam Turner |
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| © 2007 Marlow United Football Club, all rights reserved | ||||||||
