Page 6 - Ashton & Backwell FC

Club History

The dub 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 piay 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, and they first entered the FA Cup
in the 1994-95 season.
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.
Ashton & Backwell Utd was formed in June 2010 when a merger was agreed between Backwell
Utd and the senior and Youth sections of Ashton FC. During Previous seasons (09/10). the
Ashton boy's youth side played at the recreation ground as tenants to enable them to
participate in the Somerset Floodlit Youth League as Ashton FC (Backwell). They enjoyed a
successful first season in the SYFL finishing runners up to Clevedon Town. Then Backwell
Chairman John Mason could see the potential of forming stronger ties with the youth club in
terms of producing future players and benefiting from extra help in the genera! running of the
football club which he had run single handedly for a number of years. From the Ashton FC
perspective the chance to provide a football pathway from Junior to Adult football was the
prime motivator with a firm belief that they could stem the flow of talented players leaving the
fold if they' were able to offer a decent level of football at a ground that had the potential to
allow progression through promotion. A formal merger was agreed and Ashton & Backwell Utd