Farnborough Town F.C. are an English football team currently playing in the Nationwide Conference South. Their home ground is known as Cherrywood Road. Royal motto: Dieu et mon droit (French: God and my right) Englands location within the UK Official language English de facto Capital London de facto Largest city London Area  - Total Ranked 1st UK 130,395 km² Population  - Total (2001)  - Density Ranked 1st UK 49,138,831 377/km² Ethnicity... Football is a ball game played between two teams of eleven players, each attempting to win by scoring more goals than their opponent. ...

History

Boro' kick-off with a 7-6 victory

Farnborough Town's progress to the pinnacle of non-league football began on 31st August 1968 in the Surrey Senior League at Queens Road Recreation Ground. The first game, against Surbiton, resulted in a 7-6 victory for the Boro' - a scoreline which established the club's reputation for attractive, attacking football. After four seasons in the Surrey Senior League Boro' were admitted to the Spartan League, a competition they dominated for the next four years, winning the championship on each occasion.

Goodbye to Queens Road; hello to Cherrywood

By the mid-seventies the lack of facilities at Queens Road was preventing any further progress within the non-League pyramid, so a new ground was developed at Cherrywood Road with the help of a local company, Worldwide Carpets.

Boro's application to join the Athenian League was accepted and they immediately topped the Division Two Table in 1976/77. The following season they joined the newly expanded Isthmian League and a year on in 1978/79 the Division Two Championship was secured.

Eighty-seven games unbeaten at home

Whilst competing in the Spartan and Athenian Leagues the club set a formidable home record. Boro' remained unbeaten on their own ground from Monday, 27th August 1973 to Saturday 23rd April 1977, a total of 87 games which spanned almost four seasons.

From park side to the Conference in 21 years

Farnborough Town spent six seasons in Division One of the Isthmian League, always achieving a respectable position until they finally topped the table in 1984/85.

The club soon established themselves in the Premier Division, finishing in the top nine in the first three years. 1988/89 was even more successful as they led the table for several months only to be pipped at the post by Leytonstone/Ilford. However, because of ground grading regulations, the Essex side were not promoted and Boro', as runners up, were invited to join the GM Vauxhall Conference.

The Hampshire side made a healthy start to their first campaign in the top flight of non-league football but by the end of the season they had suffered their first ever relegation. The club bounced back, winning the Southern League Championship at the first time of asking, enabling them to make an immediate return to the Conference. The 1991/92 season saw Boro' attain their highest ever League placing when they finished in an impressive fifth position. A year on and the club again tasted the bitter pill of relegation.

Ted Pearce's reign ends after 23 years

The end of the 1992/93 season saw Ted Pearce stand down as manager after 23 years and the hot seat filled by his assistant, Alan Taylor. The new manager's first season in charge turned to glory as once again Farnborough Town claimed the Southern League Shield and made a quick return to the Conference where they remained for five seasons, which included finishing places of 14th, 10th and 7th.

A new beginning

A very difficult 1998/99 season saw major problems both on and off the pitch. Manager Alan Taylor departed following a twelve year association with the club and his successor, John Harding, left after just one month. Despite the arrival of former player Dean Coney as manager, the club were relegated, this time back to the Isthmian League.

The arrival of Graham Westley as club owner and team manager during the summer of 1999 heralded a new era for Farnborough Town and his investment in new players bore fruit when the club returned to the Conference as Ryman League champions in 2001.

A false dawn

Graham Westley's first season in the Conference saw Farnborough finish an impressive if unexciting 7th in the league. For the second season the signs were set out early that it would be his last and by Christmas amidst the run in the FA Cup the rumours were rife. The high profile game against Arsenal turned out to be his last as he left taking his backroom staff and seven players to Conference rivals Stevenage Borough who were heading for relegation.

Left in a situation where the club's owner managed a rival side Farnborough struggled through to the end of the season with Ian MacDonald as manager, a threadbase squad and thanks to Graham Westley a transfer embargo. He also left the club heavily in debt despite the proceeds from the Arsenal game.

In the summer Graham Westley gave control of the club to ex-Hampton & Richmond Chairman Vic Searle who appointed ex-Leyton Orient manager Tommy Taylor as manager. Tommy failed to deliver and after going for the first 14 games of the season Tommy and his assistant Ian MacDonald were sacked. With a sense of dŽjˆ vu Farnborough fans were left again with an owner playing as manager with experienced player Ken Charlery as his assistant.

Relegation at the end of the 2003/04 season was only avoided when no teams getting relegated thanks to other clubs. Chaos at Farnborough kept going as the club headed towards financial disaster and Vic Searle was forced to step down passing control of the club to Reading businessman Tony Theo. Vic stayed as manager and ex-Spurs defender Dean Austin was appointed as manager. Vic then quit as manager as he didn't receive the board level support he wanted, Dean Austin then replaced him as manager for the 2004/05 season.

Pinky & Perky!?!

Bitter at losing his manager's job Vic Searle then stabbed Tony Theo and the fans in the back by agreeing to sell his shares to local businessman Ron Higgins and director wannabe Tony Turberville. This was despite not having paid for the shares, repeatedly stating he held them in trust for the fans and agreeing to give them to Tony Theo. "Uncle Vic" went from being hero to zero in a matter of weeks.

Tony Theo refused to give up control of the club and with the backing of the fans fought his position for weeks in a bitter and high profile battle. Higgins and Turberville eventually won after the probable legal costs and damage to the club became too much and a compromise was reached which saw Tony Theo remain as Managing Director.

Boro's FA Cup runs capture the headlines

Farnborough Town can also claim a great deal of success in cup competition. They captured the nation's attention with their superb FA Cup run during the 1991/92 season. A 4-0 replay victory in the first round over Halesowen Town saw the side make their first ever appearance in the second round. The reward was a visit to Torquay United where a late equaliser denied Boro' a famous win. However, at Cherrywood Road, with SKY broadcasting the match live, a thrilling 4-3 victory ensured that history was made as Boro' claimed their first Football League scalp in the FA Cup.

The third round produced a dream draw at home to West Ham United. On police advice the tie was switched to Upton Park. A heroic performance in front of over 23,000 fans saw Boro' gain a well deserved draw and it was only an 89th minute goal which gave the Hammers a 1-0 victory in the replay. 1995/96 saw the SKY cameras once again at Cherrywood Road, for a first round replay against Brentford. Although the result went against them, the tie generated Boro's record home attendance of 3,581.

In 2002/03 Boro' went one stage further when they eventually went out 5-1 to Arsenal in a Fourth Round tie that had been switched to Highbury amidst much controversy.

Boro' come so close to Wembley, yet so far

Boro' have been one step away from Wembley twice in their history. 1975/76 and 1976/77 saw the Hampshire side reach the semi-final stage of the F.A. Vase only to lose out both times to Billericay Town.

Hampshire Cup successes

In County competition the club have lifted the Hampshire Senior Cup six times, the most recent occasion being 2003/04 when Farnborough Town beat Farnham Town 2-1 at Southamptons St Mary's Stadium.

Club Honours

• 1975-76 - F.A. Vase semi-finalists
• 1976-77 - Joined Athenian League Division Two. Athenian League Division Two Champions. F.A. Vase semi-finalists
• 1977-78 - Joined Isthmian League Division Two
• 1978-79 - Isthmian League Division Two Champions; promoted to Division One
• 1984-85 - Isthmian League Division One Champions; promoted to Premier Division
• 1988-89 - Isthmian League runner-up; promoted to Conference
• 1989-90 - Finished second bottom in Conference; relegated to Southern League Premier Division
• 1990-91 - Southern League Champions; promoted back to Conference
• 1992-93 - Finished second bottom in Conference (again); relegated back to Southern League Premier Division
• 1993-94 - Southern League Champions (2nd time); promoted to Conference
• 1998-99 - Finished bottom in Conference; relegated Isthmian League Premier Division
• 2000-01 - Isthmian League Champions; promoted back to Conference

• Best league position: 5th in Conference (level 5), 1991-92
• Best FA Cup performance: 4th round 2003-04
• Best FA Trophy performance: quarter-final, 1991-92 and 2002-03
• Best FA Vase performance: Semi-finals, 1975-76 and 1976-77

WEBISTES 1975 was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1975 calendar). ... 1976 is a leap year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1977 was a common year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1977 calendar). ... 1978 was a common year starting on Sunday (the link is to a full 1978 calendar). ... 1984 is a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1988 is a leap year starting on a Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1989 is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1990 is a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1992 is a leap year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1993 is a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar and marked the Beginning of the International Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (1993-2003). ... 1998 is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year of the Ocean. ... This article is about the year 2000. ... The term conference can be used to describe any meeting of people that confer about a certain topic. ... 1991 is a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The FA Cups trophy is also known as the FA Cup. ... 2003 is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The FA Trophy is an English football competition for clubs playing in the Football Conference,Southern League,Isthmian League,and Northern Premier League. ... 1991 is a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2002 is a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... FA Vase - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... 1975 was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1975 calendar). ... 1976 is a leap year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar). ...

• http://boro.boo.pl - Unofficial Farnborough Town FC Website by Michał Sznerch (English & Polish language)

Source: Football Club History Database