Planet Swans ArchivesSo then, what do we know about our FA Cup opponents. I guess that hardly any Swans fans would have known anything about them when John Hollins decided to pull us out of the hat (bowl) straight after them this afternoon.
So, we thought we would use that wonderful thing they call the internet and see what we can find out about them and present for you,
The first thing we found out was how did they get themselves into this stage of the FA Cup? Well, it has been quite a journey for them. It started back on September 16 when they put an incredible eight goals past Welwyn Garden City on their own patch. Striker Joe Flack was in there with a five minute second half hat-trick to help the rout along. That was the 1st qualifying round of the competition and it earned them a home tie against former league side Maidstone. Flack was again the striker on form with two goals as they brushed aside their opponents to earn a tie away to Heybridge Swifts. Flack yet again found himself on target in a 2-2 draw before Billericay triumphed in the replay 2-0 giving them the chance in today’s fourth qualifying. And guess what. Flack scored both goals in their away tie at Folkestone. 8 goals so far for Flack in their FA cup campaign.
The Billericay website refers to Flack as follows “Joe joined Billericay in February after being released by Conference outfit Stevenage Borough. A pacey forward, Joe has also had a spell at Havant and Waterlooville on loan from the Conference outfit. In his first full season, Flack finished as top scorer with 20 goals.”
Billericay Town were formed in 1880 – the 11th oldest club in Essex – they joined the Romford & District league in 1890 and remained there until the outbreak of World War I. Once that ended they joined the mid Essex league until 1947, joining the Southern Essex Combination until 1966 when they became founder members of the Essex Olympian League. Five years later, Billericay Town became founder-members of the Essex Senior League and the club`s six-year stay in that competition saw them win the Championship three times and were Runners-Up twice (and third the other season). The League Cup was won four times and they were Finalists once. In addition they won the League Challenge Cup the only time that it was competed for.
They won the Athenian League championship and cup in 1977/78 and the league again in 78/79 before being elected to the Isthmian League in 79. They are the only side to have won the FA Vase three times (76, 77 and 79) when they defeated Stamford, Sheffield and Almondsbury Greenway respectively. The last final saw their striker Doug Young grab a hat-trick at Wembley – the first in a Cup Final there since a certain Geoff Hurst 13 years earlier!
Their impact in the Isthmian League was immediate – winning the division 2 title at the first attempt, scoring 100 goals into the bargain, before securing another promotion 12 months later – the first side in the league’s history to win two successive promotions upon entry into the league. Five seasons in the Premier League followed before two relegations in three seasons moved them back down the ladder. Promotion though wasn’t far behind and a place in the Premier League was sealed again in 1998. Former Spurs star Justin Edinburgh was their manager for a time although they have so far missed out on a place in the Nationwide South division being beaten play off contenders last time around
Billericay Town also became the first Non-League club to win the Rothmans Merit Award in 1978 for “having made a worth-while contribution to the wide spectrum of the game in 1977/78” – the only club previously to have won this Award was Liverpool, the previous season, when they were the European Champions.
The capacity of their New Lodge ground is approximately 3500 with less than 500 seats although the ground has attracted much work in recent years. As recently as 2005 the clubhouse bar was enlarged and the clubhouse itself now also includes new ladies and disabled toilets.
There is some car-parking available in the lower carpark, though this tends to fill up rapidly on match-days. If full then there is plenty of space to park in the roads at the top of Blunts Wall Road, though we do ask all supporters to show consideration for our neighbours.
And so whilst the guide isn’t comprehensive I hope it gives you some insight into the world of Billericay Town.
Full details of the tie, date, time, tickets and travel will be known by Wednesday at the latest.
For more information on Billericay Town please visit their unofficial fans website here
