CLUB HISTORY
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Stonham Aspal Football Club was formed in the 1959/60 season
from the Stonham Aspal School Old Pupils Club. The club started out playing
friendlies before being entered in to the IDL Ipswich and District League
(subsequently became SIL Suffolk and Ipswich League) Division 3 in the 1960/61
season. The club was relegated after the first season to Division 4, but
eventually were promoted back to Division 3 in the 1963/64 season.
At the beginning of the 1970/71 season the Reserve team was formed and entered
Division 5.
A restructure of the league in 1971, due to the number of teams joining, saw the
Reserves moved down to Division 7, while the First XI remained in Division 3,
for the 1971/72 season.
In the 1972/73 season the Reserve team were withdrawn from the league only to
reform and re-enter for the 1975/76 season, again joining in Division 7. The
1976/77 season saw the Reserve team promoted to Division 6. The same year the
First XI won Division 3 and were promoted to Division 2.
In the 1978/79 season the Reserves gained promotion to Division 5, and then to
Division 4 in the 1979/80 season, but were relegated to Division 5 in the
1983/84 season.
The 1985/86 season saw the promotion of the First XI to Division 1 and the
Reserve team to Division 4.
The 1988/89 season saw the Reserves promoted to Division 3 to win the league at
their first attempt in 1989/90 season.
A second reshuffle of the league structure at the end of the 1989/90 season
brought about the more familiar Intermediate leagues (for Reserve sides of the
Senior and Division 1 teams only) that are still in place today. The First XI
remained in Division 1, with the Reserve team (hot off the heels of winning
Division 3) were placed in to Intermediate A.
The First XI won promotion to the Senior Division in the 1990/91 season and at
the same time the Reserves were relegated to Intermediate B, only to bounce
straight back to Intermediate A the following season (1991/92).
The 1995/96 season saw the formation of the A team with the view to bringing
younger players to the club. The A Team joined the league in Division 7 and
have progressed through to Division 5 at present.
The Reserves were relegated to Intermediate B in the 1999/2000 season and have
remained there since.
In the 1986/87 season the First XI were finalists in the Suffolk County Primary
Cup and in 1994/95 reached the Suffolk Junior Cup final.
The 1992/93 and 1997/98 seasons saw the club at Portman Road (home of Ipswich
Town Football Club) in the Suffolk Senior Cup Final (click
here for photos), where the First XI lost on
both occasions.
Other club honours include Peel Cup Winners - 1987/88 season, Saul Cup Winners
1989/90 season, Haughley Playing Field Cup Winners 1992/93 season, Omnico Cup
Finalists 1998/99 season and again 2000/2001 season, Churchmans Cup Finalists
1998/99 season and SIL Sportsmanship Cup Winners in 2001/02 and again 2003/04.
The Reserves are also Mann Broadbent Cup Finalists in 1992/93, George Rice Cup
Finalists 1997/98 and Saul Cup Finalists in 1999/00 and 2002/03 seasons.
The A Team were Bob Ward Cup Finalists - 1997/98, Ross Taylor Cup Winners
2000/01 and McNeil Cup Finalists 2002/03.
Russell Parker became club Chairman n 1962 a position he held until his sudden
death in 1987. Chris Buckle took over in 1998/99 season for 9 years and Russell
Parkers son, Paul, took over in 1998/99 a position he holds today.
There are still 4 members within the club today that helped to start the club
back in the 1959/60 season, and today we have sponsors helping the club which
are: Stonham Barns Leisure Complex, DNA Printing Solutions, Mid Suffolk Show
Ground and Lamva Ltd.
Information Provided by Brian Baker
