Beer Albion Football Club is a football club located in Beer, Devon, England. The club currently have two active teams, a first team and a reserves.
The first team currently play in step 7 of the national league system or level 11 of the English football pyramid in the Devon Football League[1] whilst the reserves are in division 2 of the Devon & Exeter Football League.[2]
Beer Albion was founded on 17 October 1919 and joined the Perry Street Junior League in 1921. Both the first team and the reserves remained in this league until 1952 when they joined the Devon & Exeter Football League.[3] In recent history the first team have experienced success winning the Devon Premier Cup in 2021 - 22 and earning promotion to the Devon Football League. In their first season they were crowned Double Champions after winning the league and the league cup in 2022 - 23.[4]
In 2019 Beer Albion celebrated 100 years as a club with a centenary match against Axmimster Town.[5] A match between the two finalists of the first ever Morrison Bell Cup Final. Axminster were to come out eventual 6 - 1 winners.[6]
For the first time in their history Beer Albion made the final of the Devon Premier Cup after beating Exwick Villa 3–1 at Budleigh Salterton AFC.[7] On 28 May 2022 Beer Albion played North Molton at Coach Road, Devon FA Headquarters. In the early stages of the game North Molton found themselves 1–0 up thanks to a goal from Dylan Williams. Beer Albion scored an equaliser before half time through a goal from Charley Skilton. The game ended 1–1 after extra time and went to penalties. The result ended up 5 - 4 on penalties as Will House scored the winning penalty. Beer Albion became the first Devon & Exeter Football League side to win the competition for 32 years.[8]
The first team won the Devon Football League North & East and the Devon Football League Cup in 2022 - 23.
In the league campaign the first team played twenty-two games, winning fifteen, drawing five and losing only two. Beer Albion remained unbeaten until they came up against Topsham Town FC in their 19th game as they lost 4 - 2 despite going 2 - 0 up. They then followed this result up with another loss against Thorverton FC losing 2 - 1 before the title was won due to chasing team North Molton FC dropping points in their title chase meaning Beer Albion could not be caught. On the 1st May 2023 Beer Albion played Exeter University FC and drew 1-1 thanks to a late equaliser from Liam Cox and lifted the league trophy in front of the Beer supporters.[9]
The cup was won on 6 May 2023 at Barnstaple Town facing Mount Gould FC. The first half was full of drama with both teams going down to 10 men and Mount Gould found themselves 2 - 0 down. But The Fisherman fought back to win the game 4 - 2 thanks to goals from Taylor Rooke, Finley Rooke and Giles Basson.[10]
| (GK) Elliot Driver (GK) Shaun Denslow (GK) Leo Gribble (DF) Joe Adkin (DF) Charlie Ledger (DF) Liam Cox (DF) Matthew Berry (DF) George Richards (DF) Cody Bowditch (DF) Will House (DF) George Harwood (DF) Ashley Driver (DF) Fraser Beament (DF) Jack Prior (DF) James Hill (DF) Kieran Love (DF) Joshua Moughton (DF) Jamie Walker (DF) Andrew Foster (DF) Ollie Binion (DF) Corey Pritchard | (MF) Jacob Rowe (MF) Finley Rooke (MF) Charley Skilton (MF) Joshua Lund (MF) Chris Long (MF) Simon Smith (MF) Alex Paget (MF) Sam Walker (MF) Reece Hales (MF) Ryan King (MF) Kyle Gould (MF) Alfie Matthews (MF) Billy Long (MF) James Melville (MF) Pedro Fontes (MF) Brooklyn Wilkins (MF) Jacob Clode (MF) Daniel Jeeves (MF) Mark Rooke (MF) Jamie Bond (FW) Taylor Rooke (FW) Josh French (FW) Aaron Daniels (FW) Tony Pinder (FW) Richard Walker (FW) Max Richardson (FW) Barnaby Down (FW) Harry Lawrence (FW) Adam Clinch (FW) Taylor Russel (FW) Jacob Hale (FW) Jay Catley (FW) Reece Best |
Beer Albion FC have played at their home The Furzebrake since 1936 after previously playing at White Cliff in Beer.
Frequently referred to as "Ye Old Farts" the Beer Albion fans are known to be boisterous and intimidating at home games and are known to be extremely loyal. They can often be heard singing "You are my Albion" at the Furzebrake.
Listed according to when they became managers for Beer Albion FC
2015-2019: Richard Walker
2019-Current: Mark Rooke[22]