Page 11 - Bath City v Chippenham Town - Saturday 2 January 2021 - VNLS

TODAY’S VISITORS

We welcome to Twerton Park...

CHIPPENHAM TOWN

1873 – Chippenham Town were returning to the Wiltshire League for a to Huddersfield Town.
formed. couple of years, before five seasons in 2010 – A fourth play-off failure in six
1904 – The club joined the Western the Hellenic. seasons appeared to knock the stuffing
League, but after a poor record 1981 – Now back in the Western out of the Wiltshire side, who spent the
decided to rejoin the Wiltshire League, League, the Bluebirds won Division next six seasons meandering around
resulting in title successes in 1908 and One, their last title success until 2017. mid-table in the Southern Premier.
1909. 1998 – Tommy Saunders took over as 2017 – The Southern League Premier
1919 – Hardenhuish Park became manager, leading Chippenham to third Division’s only representatives since the
the club’s home, where they remain to in the Western Premier, their highest divisional reorganisation finally found
this day. placing for 40 years. a way out, clinching the title with three
1929 – Having swept up trophies in 2004 – Despite impressing the season matches to spare and accumulating a
the Wiltshire League, Town returned to before, Town failed to build on it and record breaking 103 points. They also
the Western. finished 21st in the Southern League, equalled their record-breaking win,
hitting Moneyfields for nine in an FA
1948 – Local businessman George which failed to earn them a place in Cup tie, in a near-faultless campaign
Flower became involved at the club, the newly formed Conference South. under Mark Collier.
changing their colours from black 2006 – Having lost in the play-off final
and white to their current attire – blue the year before under Steve White, 2019 – Collier led the club to the
and white. He also turned the club new boss Darren Perrin suffered the FA Cup 1st Round in November
professional. same fate with Bedford winning 3-2 where they were beaten 3-0 at home
to Northampton Town, before he
1951 – The FA Cup 1st Round was at Hardenhuish Park. The campaign departed two months later. Mike
reached for the first time, with Town also saw the 1st Round of the FA Cup Cook oversaw a rise away from the
losing 3-0 at Leyton. reached for only the second time, lower reaches of the table before the
with Town losing to Worcester after a
1965 – Chippenham felt the effects replay, denying a televised tie at home Covid-19 pandemic cut the season
of decline in grass roots football, short.
Golden Era they finished a remarkable fifth in their first Bathonian Charlie Griffin looked to have
season. rescued a point for Chippenham in injury
2000-2003 time before Dean Birkby’s last gasp strike.
Under Tommy Saunders, Chippenham A couple of titanic clashes with the Romans The other two matches in this era ended
reached their first, and the last ever FA Vase took place between these years. The first all-square with Martin Paul netting in 1-1 and
Final at the old Wembley, where they were was in August 2002 at Hardenhuish Park, a 2-2 draws at Twerton for the Bluebirds. Paul
beaten 1-0 by Deal Town. This was followed 2-1 win for City in dramatic circumstances scored 115 in four spells with Bath. Former
by back-to-back promotions from the Western which saw a perimeter wall collapse on Chippenham forward Steve Tweddle scored
League into the Southern Premier, where Jamie Gosling following a goal celebration. for City in the 2-2.

Ashmead BATH & KEYNSHAM
0117 986 0600
Roofing Supplies Ltd www.ashmeadroofingsupplies.co.uk

11