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A statistical breakdown of the history of the club |
See link in "useful links" under "more stuff" on left
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The story so far. |
Raunds Town Football Club – The History
1896......
Since the 1896-97 season a number of teams with “Raunds” in their name had played in local football, the Town League and the early United Counties League all with only moderate success.
1946........
In May 1946 at a meeting at the town's Temperance Hall, Raunds Town were formed, separate from any previous club with Raunds in its name. By then the United Counties League had expanded to two Divisions again after 11 seasons as one and the new format allowed Raunds Town to join in Div. 2.
In 1954 The United Counties League changed its format again to a single division and Raunds struggled against the better opposition. The league was reorganised again and Raunds went into the lower division. Even there the club struggled in the lower reaches.
1980......
In 1980 Maurice Murphy was appointed manager and in the 1982-3 season the club won the Northants Junior Cup and were promoted as champions to the Premier Division. The following season they reached the final of the United Counties League Knock Out Cup but ere beaten by champions Buckingham Town .
1984......
In 1984-85 Alan Wright was promoted from first team coach to manager and under his leadership the club still continued to progress from finishing in the upper half of the League tables.
1988......
In the 1988-9 season Raunds Town were runners up in the Daventry Charity Cup and reached semi final of the Northants Senior Cup for the third season in a row. The Reserves completed the double of the Reserve Division One title and the Reserves Knock Out Cup. Alan Wright decided to stand down as club manager at the end of this campaign and was replaced by the successful Reserve Team manager Keith Burt.
In his first season in charge (1989-90) with his assistant Glen Burdett, Keith led the club to the last 32 of the FA Vase, 3rd in the Premier Division and semi finalists in the Northants Senior Cup, the Daventry Charity Cup and the Key Consultants Floodlit Cup. The Reserves were runners up in the Reserve Division One of the United Counties League.
1990's......
The first season of the 1990’s was to be the club’s final season at Berristers, the club's home for 40 years. Two trophies were won - the Northants Senior Cup and the United Counties League Knock Out Cup. A treble was narrowly missed when they lost 0-1 to Eynesbury Rovers in the Hunts Premier Cup. The Reserves were yet again runners up in Reserve Division One.
With brand new facilities at Kiln Park Raunds finished in their highest ever position in the league as runners up. The Reserves were runners up in the Reserve Division One for the 4th time in 5 seasons (being champions in the other season), and won the Northants Junior Cup 10 years after the first team had accomplished it.
1992......
In the 1992-3 season the Reserves retained the Northants Junior Cup with a 4-3 extra time win over Perkins Sports at Kettering 's Rockingham Road .
1993......
In 1993-4 both First and Reserve Teams reached their League Knock Out Cup Finals but were unsuccessful in both.
1994......
The 1994-5 saw the First Team suffer their only away defeat of the season (0-5) to Arlesey Town in the second leg of the F.A. Vase semi-final after leading 3-0 from the first leg. Due to the Vase exploits the club fell well behind in its league fixtures but managed to finish as runners up to Boston Town who took the title only on goal difference. Raunds also lost to Spalding United in the League Knock Out Cup Final on penalties after a 6-6 aggregate extra time score. They however beat St. Neots Town (3-2) in the League Benevolent Cup Final.
1995......
1995-6, however, saw Raunds Town at last fulfil their dreams. After ground improvements had been carried out they were promoted to the Dr. Martens Southern League Midland Division The Reserves, for the second time, won the United Counties League Reserve Division One title to complete a very fine league season for Raunds Town .
1996......
The 1996-7 season saw Raunds Town finish in a mid–table league position, 1st Round Proper of the F.A. Trophy at their first attempt. A run in the KO Cup saw Raunds into the 4th Round with victories over King's Lynn , Corby and Tamworth .
1997......
In 1997-8 the club again reached the FA Trophy 1st Round Proper and also reached the Northants Senior Cup Final however Conference side Kettering Town won by a 2-1 margin. Although finishing in 4th position in the League, Raunds Town much to their surprise were moved to Southern Division for the following campaign. The Reserves finished in runners up position in the United Counties League Reserve Division One.
Despite being moved to the Dr. Martens Southern League Southern Division the First Team went through the 1998-99 season without losing a home league match. They also reached the 4th Qualifying Round of the F.A.Cup. In the F.A.Trophy they lost to Weston-Super-Mare 0-1(at home) in a 3 rd Round replay. The club yet again reached the final of the Northants Senior Cup but were beaten 2-0 by Rushden & Diamonds.
1999......
1999-2000 saw Keith Burt step down as manager to end his 23 year (11 as manager) association with the club. All the back-room staff and senior players also decided to leave the club This led to Adam Sandy being promoted from Reserve Team manager to First Team manager and fielding a team of 16-20 year olds for the remainder of the season. The club tendered their resignation from the Dr. Martens League. The Reserve Team finished runners up in the U.C.L. Reserve Division One.
2000......
Now with many youngsters at the club for the 2000-2001 campaign Adam intended to build for the future and in his first full season in charge certainly proved this with some of the most entertaining soccer played at Kiln Park for a number of years. Although title challengers for most of the season Raunds, unfortunately slipped up towards the end of the season and finally finished third. The Reserve Team finished 7th in their respective league.
After another season of entertaining football The First Team finished fourth in the league, but picked up some silverware in the League Knockout Cup beating Yaxley 1-0, in the final The Reserves Team finished 8th in the League and reached the semi–finals of the Reserve League Knock Out Cup.
2002......
The 2002-03 season saw the first team again pushing for the Championship until a short fall of finances at the club unfortunately led to some players leaving. Adam Sandy and his assistant also departed from the club, leaving the club to appoint one time coach Adam Sinclair into the hot seat. Unfortunately the first team slipped to 15th in the League, whilst the Reserves who also were Championship material for so long finished third.
Adam Sinclair stepped down as manager in January 2004 and successful reserve team manager Mark Walters was promoted to the first team slot with Joe Smyth taken over the reserve reins. The season was disappointing with the first team finishing third from bottom though the second string finished champions of Reserve Div. 1.
After a disappointing start to the next season with the First Team lingering at the bottom of the table it was decided that a new management was needed. In came Nick Ashby with Les Hornby as his assistant and Mark Walters went back to managing the Reserves Team. Nick managed to put together a stronger team and managed to get the First Team off the bottom of the table finishing 2nd from bottom 3 point above S&L Corby. The reserves finished midway in Reserve Division 1.
The next season was more successful although no silverware was won. The First Team got to the Semi-Final of the Senior Cup losing 3-2 at home to Northampton Spencer and finishing 8th in the league. Nick Ashby decided it was time to move on and Mark Walters decided to call it a day as well,
2006.....
and in came Colin Ridgway as First Team Manager and Andy Mills as the Reserve Team Manager. Started with a good FA Cup and also FA Vase run with a young side.
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Honours so far |
United Counties League Premier Division Champions 1995-6
United Counties League Premier Division Runners-Up 1991-2, 1994-5
United Counties League Division One Champions 1982-3
United Counties League Reserve Division One Champions 1988-9, 1995-6, 2003-4
United Counties League Reserve Division One Runners-Up 1986-7, 1987-8, 1989-90, 1990-1, 1991-2
United Counties League Reserve Division Two Champions 1983-4
United Counties League Knock-Out Cup Winners 1990-1
United Counties League Knock-Out Cup Runners Up 1983-4, 1993-4, 1994-5
United Counties League Reserve Knock-Out Cup Winners 1984-5, 1988-9
United Counties League Reserve Knock-Out Cup Runners Up 1993-4
United Counties League Benevolent Cup Winners 1994-5
Northants Senior Cup Winners 1990-1
Northants Senior Cup Runners Up 1997-8, 1998-9, 2004-5
Northants Junior Cup Winners 1982-3, 1991-2, 1992-3
Northants Junior Cup Runners Up 1984-5
Daventry Charity Cup Runners Up 1988-9
Hunts Premier Cup Runners Up 1990-1
FA Cup Best Season 4th Qualifying Round 1998-9 (lost away to Enfield 2 - 0)
FA Trophy Best Season 3rd Round 1998-9 (lost 1 - 0 to Weston-S-Mare after 2 - 2 away draw)
FA Vase Best Season Semi Final 1994-5 (lost 5 - 3 on agg to Arlesey Town)
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