AFC Dunstable

Association football club in England

Football club
AFC Dunstable
Full nameAssociation Football Club
Dunstable
Nickname(s)The OD's[1]
Founded1981 (as Old Dunstablians)
GroundCreasey Park, Dunstable
Capacity3,065[2]
OwnerVarsity Nine
ChairmanDan Bedi
ManagerJoe Oxley
LeagueSouthern League Division One Central
2023–24Southern League Division One Central, 3rd of 19
Home colours
Away colours

AFC Dunstable are a football club based in Dunstable, Bedfordshire, England. The club are members of Division One Central of the Southern League, and are affiliated to the Bedfordshire County Football Association. They play at Creasey Park.

History

The club was established in 1981 as Old Dunstablians, named after a club for former pupils of Dunstable Grammar School.[1] The new club played at Manshead School, which had succeeded the grammar school. They initially played in the Dunstable Alliance Football League, before joining the Luton District and South Befordshire League in 1983. In 1989–90 the club won the Bedfordshire Junior Cup.[1]

In 1994 the club moved to Totternhoe, when Dunstable Town Cricket Club opened a new sports facility in the village.[1] The new ground allowed the club to join Division One of the South Midlands League in 1995.[1] In 1997 the league merged with the Spartan League to form the Spartan South Midlands League, with the club placed in Division One North. In 2001–02 they won the Division One Cup, and in 2003–04 were champions of the renamed Division Two. However, failure to achieve the ground grading regulations meant that the club was unable to take promotion.[1]

In 2004 the club changed their name to AFC Dunstable,[3] although reference to the former name was retained in the club's nickname of the OD's.[1] After winning Division Two again in 2006–07, a season in which they also won the Division Two Cup and the Bedfordshire Senior Trophy the club were again refused promotion. They won the Senior Trophy for a second time in 2007–08, and after finishing third in Division Two 2008–09 and moving to Creasey Park, they were promoted to Division One. In 2010–11 AFC Dunstable finished as runners-up in Division One and won the Division One Cup, earning promotion to the Premier Division.[3] In 2015–16 they won the Premier Division and were promoted to Division One Central of the Southern League. In 2016–17 the club won the Bedfordshire Senior Cup, defeating Dunstable Town 2–0 in the final,[4] going on to defeat Luton Town by the same scoreline in the Bedfordshire Premier Cup.[5]

The 2017–18 season saw Dunstable finish fifth in the renamed East Division, qualifying for the promotion play-offs. However, they were beaten 2–0 in the semi-finals by Hartley Wintney.

League history

Season Division Position Significant events
1981–82 Dunstable Alliance
1982–83 Dunstable Alliance
1983–84 Luton & District League Division One
1984–85 Luton & District League Division One
1985–86 Luton & District League Division One 2
1986–87
1987–88
1988–89
1989–90
1990–91
1991–92
1992–93 Luton & District League Division One 2
1993–94
1994–95
1995–96 South Midlands League Division One 14/17
1996–97 South Midlands League Division One 13/18 League reorganised after merger with Spartan League
1997–98 Spartan South Midlands League Division One North 12/16 League reorganisation creates Division One
1998–99 Spartan South Midlands League Division One 9/17
1999–2000 Spartan South Midlands League Division One 7/17
2000–01 Spartan South Midlands League Division One 6/18 Division One renamed Division Two
2001–02 Spartan South Midlands League Division Two 4/16
2002–03 Spartan South Midlands League Division Two 2/15
2003–04 Spartan South Midlands League Division Two 1/17 Champions
2004–05 Spartan South Midlands League Division Two 6/16
2005–06 Spartan South Midlands League Division Two 2/18
2006–07 Spartan South Midlands League Division Two 1/16 Champions
2007–08 Spartan South Midlands League Division Two 4/15
2008–09 Spartan South Midlands League Division Two 3/17 Promoted
2009–10 Spartan South Midlands League Division One 5/21
2010–11 Spartan South Midlands League Division One 2/21 Promoted
2011–12 Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division 3/22
2012–13 Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division 8/22
2013–14 Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division 9/22
2014–15 Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division 3/22
2015–16 Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division 1/22 Promoted
2016–17 Southern League Division One Central 7/22
2017–18 Southern League East Division 5/22
2018–19 Southern League Division One Central 10/20
2019–20 Southern League Division One Central Season abandoned

Honours

  • Spartan South Midlands League
    • Premier Division champions 2015–16
    • Division Two champions 2003–04, 2006–07
    • Division One Cup winners 2001–02, 2010–11
    • Division Two Cup winners, 2006–07
  • Bedfordshire Senior Cup
    • Winners 2016–17
  • Bedfordshire Premier Cup
    • Winners 2016–17
  • Bedfordshire Senior Trophy
    • Winners 2006–07, 2007–08[6]
  • Bedfordshire Junior Cup
    • Winners 1989–90[7]

Records

  • Best FA Cup performance: Third qualifying round 2020–21[3]
  • Best FA Trophy performance: First round, 2022–23[3]
  • Best FA Vase performance: Fourth round 2015–16[3]
  • Most appearances: BJ Christie (2008–present)[8]
  • Most goals: BJ Christie (2008–present)[9]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g "AFC Dunstable – Club History" Harefield United programme, 27 February 2016
  2. ^ AFC Dunstable Southern League
  3. ^ a b c d e AFC Dunstable at the Football Club History Database
  4. ^ Christie scores twice as AFC lift Beds Senior Cup Luton Town, 5 April 2017
  5. ^ Hatters beaten by AFC in Premier Cup final Luton Today, 29 July 2017
  6. ^ Senior Trophy finals 2002–2013 Bedfordshire FA
  7. ^ Junior Challenge Cup finals 1938–2015 Bedfordshire FA
  8. ^ AFC Dunstable Player Profiles Dunstable Town F.C.
  9. ^ Cashman is named new AFC skipper Luton Today, 24 May 2018

External links

  • Official website
  • v
  • t
  • e
2023–24
clubs
Premier
Central
Premier
South
Central
South
Seasons

51°53′34.429″N 0°32′20.951″W / 51.89289694°N 0.53915306°W / 51.89289694; -0.53915306