Page 20 - V Ashton & Backwell

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The club was established in 1911 as Backwell United and played in various
local leagues, although activities were suspended during both World Wars.
They moved to their current home in 1947, the Backwell Recreation Ground,
on land given by local benefactor Theodore Robinson for the benefit of the
residents of Backwell, although this is now leased from the local recreation
ground trust, whose land was given to the community by the Robinson family
in the 1920s.
At this time they played in the Bristol Church of England League, progressing
to the Bristol and Suburban League in the 1950s. The Club's true senior
football aspirations got under way with their promotion to the Somerset
Senior Football League in 1970 when that League formed a First Division, the
club finishing in third position. It was in the late 1970s that the club really
progressed, ending up League Champions for the 1977–78 season and again
League Champions from 1979 to 1983, equalling a record set by Paulton
Rovers of four League Championships on the trot and also setting up a new
League record of five Championships in six years.
A reserve team was formed in 1981, joining Division Three of the Somerset
Senior League, and an 'A' team was formed in 1986 to play in the Bristol and
Avon League, subsequently moving to the Weston super Mare and District
League.
The 1983–84 season saw the first team elected to the Western League
Division One, where steady progress was made with the club gaining the
runners-up position for the 1989–90 season which entitled them to
promotion to the Premier Division. This was denied, however, owing to the
local authority's refusal to grant planning permission for floodlights to be
erected. The club went to appeal, which they won, and floodlights were in
place for the 1993–94 season, allowing the club to progress to Premier
Division football.
Performance has been steady over the years and the first team reached the
5th round of the FA Vase in the 2004–05 season. For the 2005–06 season a
change of manager and an exodus of experienced players resulted in a last-
place finish and thus the club was relegated to Division One.
They first entered the FA Cup in the 1994–95 season.
During 2010 Backwell United merged with youth football giants Ashton Boys
to create 'Ashton & Backwell United' for the start of the 2010-11 season, and
promotion back to the western league was achieved in the 2012-12 season
after finishing 3rd in the Somerset County Premier Division.