Page 32 - Keynsham Town FC v Bitton 260322
P. 32

Bitton AFC was founded in 1892. It plays at the Recreation Ground, which is on the
       outskirts of the village of Bitton, on the A420 between Bath and Bristol. This has
       been their home since the club was formed. There is very little history of the club
       before the Second World War. From 1945 up until the late 1980's they ran teams
       in the Bristol and District Football League with limited success.
       In the 1989/90 season the club 1st team played in the Senior Division of the Bristol
       and District Football League. After winning promotion two years in succession the
       1st team started the 1991/92 season playing in the Premier Division of the Bristol
       Premier  Combination.  Season  1994/95  was  to  prove  one  of  the  club's  most
       memorable, winning the GFA Senior Amateur Cup and finishing Runners-Up in the
       Bristol Premier Combination,  achieving promotion to the Gloucestershire County
       League.
       Season  1996/97  saw  the  club  reach  the  GFA  Challenge  Trophy  Final,  losing
       narrowly  to  Mangotsfield  United.  The  club  also  finished  Runners  Up  in  the
       Gloucestershire County League and were promoted to the Western League First
       Division.
       After 7 seasons in the First Division, the Club achieved its highest position during
       the  2003/04  season,  when  finishing  Runners  Up  and  gaining  promotion  to  the
       Western League Premier Division.
       Upon becoming an established Western League Premier Division Club, Bitton AFC
       were crowned Champions in 2008/09, whilst Winning the GFA Challenge Trophy in
       the same season. Despite winning the league then, and earning Runners Up in
       2010/11, Bitton were unable to gain promotion, as the ground facilities did not
       satisfy Southern League standards.
       Over the last decade the club has matched its playing performance with many off
       the pitch developments. A stand seating 50 was built. Covered accommodation for
       150  was  erected.  In  February  2001  floodlighting  was  installed  which  is  up  to
       Conference  standard.  2004  saw  the  building  of  a  new  dressing  room  block,
       including a kitchen and boardroom and also a floodlight multiple use games area.
       During the summer of 2011 Chairman John Langdon invested significantly into the
       clubs facilities to ensure they met Southern League standards should Bitton qualify
       for promotion in the future. The wooden clubhouse was demolished and a new
       building  erected,  whilst  arrangements  were  made  to  accommodate  turnstiles
       required for the next level. This investment continues to demonstrate the clubs
       drive and ambition to push for promotion to the Southern League.
       The Reserve Team play in the Premier Division of the Bristol Premier Combination
       whilst the 'A' team (3rd's) play in Division 1 of the Bristol and District League. Bitton
       Ladies  were  formed  at  the  start  of  the  2007/2008  season  and  play  in  the
       Gloucestershire County Womens Football League.
       Bitton AFC also run an impressive Youth structure for boys & girls, with teams
       ranging from Under 6's right through to Under 18's.
       Season  2019-20  saw  Bitton  have  a  magnificent  run  in  the  Buildbase  FA  Vase,
       reaching the semi-finals for the first time in the Club’s history. Unfortunately, the
       World Pandemic caused the competition to be truncated somewhat and the semi-
       final against Consett was played as a one-off match instead of the usual two legs,
       consequently denying Bitton the chance to stage a big semi-final tie on their own
       ground. The 1-0 defeat saw them miss out on a trip to Wembley Stadium.
   27   28   29   30   31   32   33   34   35   36