BrackleyTown•ClubHistory
BrackleyTownFCwas formed in 1890 and were initially a prominent sideinthearea,butfellaway,withmostoftheperiodbeforeWorldWarIIbeingspentintheOxfordshireSeniorFootballLeague,beforeaswitchtotheNorthBucksandDistrictLeagueinthepostwaryears.In1968theytookastepdowntheladderbyjoiningtheBanburyDistrictLeague.In1974theymovedbacktotheNorthBucksLeagueandalsomovedtotheircurrentStJamesParkgroundinChurchillWay.Asmallclubhouseandchangingroomswerebuiltandby1977theclubhadsteppeduptotheHellenicLeague.
TheystayedinDivisionOneuntil1983whentheyswitchedtotheUnitedCountiesLeague,wheretheywontheDivisionOnetitleatthefirstattempt.AlthoughtheywerePremierDivisionrunners-upin1988–89theirtimeinthedivisionwasgenerallyspentnearthefootofthetable,withthreeconsecutivelast-placefinishesbetween1992and1994.In1994theclubmovedbacktotheHellenicLeague.Afteramediocrefirstseason,PhilLinestookoverasmanagerandledthemtothePremierDivisiontitlein1997andwithitpromotiontotheSouthernLeague.However,theyonlymanagedtwoseasonsatthatlevelduringwhich,withfinancesatfullstretch,theclubwasforcedintoliquidationinFebruary1999withdebtsofover£100,000.Theclubwassavedfrom extinctionbutdemotedbackinto the HellenicLeague.
DespiteaspeedyturnoverofmanagerstheyconsistentlyfinishedintheHellenicLeague'stop10andwerepromotedbacktotheSouthernLeagueafterwinningthetitlein2004.PhilLinesreturnedinFebruary2006andguidedtheclubtoathirdplacefinish,culminatingindefeatinthelastfewminutesoftheplay-offfinalforpromotiontotheSouthernLeaguePremierDivision.In2006–07,BrackleyfinishedtopoftheSouthernLeagueDivisionOneMidlands.Inthe2007–08season,they competed in the Southern League Premier Division. Manager Phil Lines,however,becamedirectoroffootball,andRogerAshbybecamethenewmanagerforthenewseason.AshbywassoonsackedbytheclubreplacedbyformerplayerDavidOldfieldinaplayer/managerrole.OldfielddepartedBrackleyTownattheendoftheseasontojoinPeterboroughUnited,afterwhichPhilLinescamebackasmanager.Duringthe2006–07season,BrackleyreachedthefourthqualifyingroundoftheFACup(theroundimmediatelypriortothefirstroundproper),upuntilthentheirbestachievementinthatcompetition,butwereknockedoutatthatstagebyHavantWaterlooville.TwoseasonslaterBrackleysurpassedthisbybeatingHamptonRichmondBoroughinthefourthqualifying roundtoreachthefirstroundproperforthefirsttime.Theywentontolose2–1toEastwoodTownatCoronationPark.PhilLineshandedinhisresigna-tioninApril2009afterarunofbadresultsendedTown'schancesofaplay-offplace.MidfielderJonBradywasgiventhecaretaker'sjobwhilethejobwasadvertised.Eventually,Bradywasappointedaspermanentmanagerforthe2009–10season.Theclubfinishedin5thplace,theirhighest ever finish in the nonleague pyramid,butlostin theplay-offsemi-finalto NuneatonTown.
The2011–12seasonsawBrackleyreachtheFootballConferenceafterwinningtheSouthernLeaguePremierDivisiontitleby8points.Brackleywenttopofthetableafter20gamesandneverrelinquishedtheirtoppositionfortheremainderoftheseason.Ontopoftheleaguetitletheclubretainedthe NorthamptonshireHillier Senior Cup,beatingConferenceNorth club CorbyTowninthefinalatNenePark.TheycompletedatreblebyalsoclaimingtheMaunsellCupforthefirsttimeintheirhistoryaftertheydefeatedNorthampton Town1–0inagameplayedduringpre-sea-son.TheclubretainedtheMaunsellCupinJuly2012,beatingayouthfulPeterboroughUnitedside3–0atStJamesPark.TheclubhasalsoaddedtheSouthernLeagueChampionsCuptotheirtrophycabinet in2012–13 season, beatingClevedonTown2–1.