Bishop's Stortford Football Club is a football club based in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire, England. They are currently members of the and play at Woodside Park.
The club was established at the Chequers Hotel on 28 January 1874.[1] In 1885 they were founders of the Hertfordshire County Football Association, and subsequently started playing in local leagues in the 1890s.[1] In 1929 they joined the new Division Two East of the Spartan League, which they went on to win in 1931–32, earning promotion to Division One.[2]
Following World War II, the league resumed in 1945, with Bishop's Stortford in the Eastern Division. Despite finishing in last place in 1945–46, they were placed in the Premier Division the following season.[3] However, after finishing bottom of the Premier Division in 1948–49,[4] they were relegated to Division One. In 1951 the club were founder members of the Delphian League.
Key to league record
Key to cup records
Year | League | Cup competitions | Manager | ||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division | Lvl | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Position | Leading league scorer | Average[5] attendance | FA Cup[6] | FA Trophy | |||||
Name | Goals | Res | Rec | Res | Rec | ||||||||||||||
1951–52 | Delphian League | 26 | 10 | 3 | 13 | 55 | 80 | -25 | 23 | 10th of 14 | – | – | |||||||
1952–53 | 30 | 6 | 5 | 19 | 47 | 94 | -47 | 17 | 15th of 16 | ||||||||||
1953–54 | 28 | 12 | 4 | 12 | 64 | 56 | 8 | 28 | 6th of 15 | ||||||||||
1954–55 | 28 | 22 | 3 | 3 | 98 | 39 | 59 | 47 | 1st of 15 | PR | 0-0-1 | ||||||||
1955–56 | 28 | 16 | 5 | 7 | 84 | 43 | 41 | 37 | 4th of 15 | PR | 0-0-1 | ||||||||
1956–57 | 26 | 13 | 3 | 10 | 70 | 56 | 14 | 29 | 5th of 14 | QR2 | 2-0-1 | ||||||||
1957–58 | 28 | 12 | 6 | 10 | 62 | 54 | 8 | 30 | 8th of 15 | PR | 0-0-1 | ||||||||
1958–59 | 28 | 15 | 5 | 8 | 64 | 50 | 14 | 35 | 5th of 15 | PR | 0-0-1 | ||||||||
1959–60 | 24 | 14 | 3 | 7 | 52 | 35 | 17 | 31 | 4th of 13 | QR2 | 0-0-1 | ||||||||
1960–61 | 28 | 14 | 2 | 12 | 67 | 63 | 4 | 30 | 5th of 15 | QR3 | 2-0-1 | ||||||||
1961–62 | 26 | 14 | 6 | 6 | 62 | 36 | 26 | 34 | 3rd of 14 | QR1 | 0-0-1 | ||||||||
1962–63 | 17 | 9 | 5 | 3 | 38 | 29 | 9 | 23 | 2nd of 16 | QR2 | 1-0-1 | ||||||||
The season was abandoned due to bad weather | |||||||||||||||||||
The league disbanded, club joined the Athenian League | |||||||||||||||||||
1963–64 | Athenian League Division Two | 28 | 14 | 3 | 11 | 67 | 40 | 27 | 31 | 7th of 15 | QR1 | 0-0-1 | – | ||||||
1964–65 | 30 | 20 | 8 | 2 | 71 | 35 | 36 | 48 | 2nd of 16 Promoted | QR2 | 1-0-1 | ||||||||
1965–66 | Athenian League Division One | 30 | 24 | 3 | 3 | 84 | 33 | 51 | 51 | 1st of 16 Promoted | QR1 | 0-1-1 | |||||||
1966–67 | Athenian League Premier Division | 30 | 19 | 5 | 6 | 56 | 33 | 23 | 43 | 2nd of 16 | QR2 | 1-0-1 | |||||||
1967–68 | 30 | 18 | 3 | 9 | 75 | 38 | 37 | 39 | 3rd of 16 | QR3 | 2-0-1 | ||||||||
1968–69 | 30 | 14 | 6 | 10 | 57 | 44 | 13 | 34 | 6th of 16 | QR3 | 2-0-1 | ||||||||
1969–70 | 30 | 20 | 5 | 5 | 72 | 33 | 39 | 45 | 1st of 16 | QR1 | 0-0-1 | ||||||||
1970–71 | 30 | 11 | 4 | 15 | 45 | 61 | -16 | 26 | 12th of 16 | R1 | 4-1-1 | ||||||||
Club joined the Isthmian League | |||||||||||||||||||
1971–72 | Isthmian League | 5 | 40 | 24 | 5 | 11 | 61 | 37 | 24 | 53 | 5th of 21 | QR3 | 2-2-1 | – | |||||
1972–73 | 42 | 18 | 12 | 12 | 58 | 51 | 7 | 48 | 10th of 22 | R2 | 5-3-1 | ||||||||
Athenian League was absorbed into the league as Division Two | |||||||||||||||||||
1973–74 | Isthmian League Division One | 5 | 42 | 26 | 9 | 7 | 78 | 26 | 52 | 87 | 3rd of 22 | QR4 | 0-1-1 | – | |||||
1974–75 | 42 | 17 | 6 | 19 | 56 | 64 | -8 | 57 | 11th of 22 | R1 | 0-1-1 | R1 | 1-2-1 | ||||||
1975–76 | 42 | 15 | 12 | 15 | 51 | 47 | 4 | 57 | 12th of 22 | R2 | 2-0-1 | R2 | 2-4-1 | ||||||
1976–77 | 42 | 11 | 11 | 20 | 51 | 71 | -20 | 44 | 20th of 22 | QR4 | 0-0-1 | R1 | 1-0-1 | ||||||
The Division renamed | |||||||||||||||||||
1977–78 | Isthmian League Premier Division | 5 | 42 | 7 | 8 | 27 | 36 | 83 | -47 | 29 | 22nd of 22 Relegated | QR4 | 0-0-1 | QR3 | 0-0-1 | ||||
1978–79 | Isthmian League Division One | 6 | 42 | 22 | 11 | 9 | 68 | 40 | 28 | 77 | 4th of 22 | QR1 | 0-0-1 | QR3 | 0-0-1 | ||||
Alliance Premier League created, The Isthmian League clubs refused to join the new league | |||||||||||||||||||
1979–80 | Isthmian League Division One | 7 | 42 | 24 | 8 | 10 | 74 | 47 | 27 | 80 | 4th of 22 | QR1 | 0-0-1 | QR1 | 0-0-1 | ||||
1980–81 | 42 | 30 | 6 | 6 | 84 | 28 | 56 | 96 | 1st of 22 Promoted | QR1 | 0-0-1 | W | 10-3-0 | ||||||
1981–82 | Isthmian League Premier Division | 6 | 42 | 15 | 5 | 22 | 50 | 70 | -20 | 50 | 15th of 22 | R1 | 0-1-1 | QF | 3-1-1 | ||||
1982–83 | 42 | 17 | 9 | 16 | 61 | 58 | 3 | 60 | 13th of 22 | R3 | 3-2-1 | R1 | 0-0-1 | ||||||
1983–84 | 42 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 56 | 57 | -1 | 58 | 11th of 22 | QR4 | 0-0-1 | R1 | 0-0-1 | ||||||
1984–85 | 42 | 12 | 12 | 18 | 48 | 67 | -19 | 48 | 16th of 22 | R1 | 1-0-1 | R1 | 1-2-1 | ||||||
1985–86 | 42 | 17 | 10 | 15 | 55 | 61 | -6 | 61 | 7th of 22 | R1 | 1-1-1 | R3 | 3-1-1 | ||||||
1986–87 | 42 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 62 | 57 | 5 | 60 | 10th of 22 | R1 | 1-1-1 | R2 | 1-0-1 | Pat Ferry | |||||
1987–88 | 42 | 15 | 10 | 17 | 55 | 58 | -3 | 55 | 13th of 22 | QR4 | 0-0-1 | R2 | 1-0-1 | John Radford | |||||
1988–89 | 42 | 20 | 6 | 16 | 70 | 56 | 14 | 66 | 7th of 22 | QR3 | 2-0-1 | QR3 | 0-1-1 | ||||||
1989–90 | 42 | 19 | 6 | 17 | 60 | 59 | 1 | 63 | 9th of 22 | QR1 | 0-0-1 | QR1 | 0-1-1 | ||||||
1990–91 | 42 | 14 | 12 | 16 | 54 | 49 | 5 | 54 | 13th of 22 | QR4 | 3-0-1 | QR1 | 1-0-1 | ||||||
1991–92 | 42 | 7 | 12 | 23 | 41 | 68 | -27 | 33 | 22nd of 22 Relegated | QR1 | 0-1-1 | QR1 | 1-0-1 | ||||||
1992–93 | Isthmian League Division One | 7 | 40 | 19 | 10 | 11 | 63 | 42 | 21 | 67 | 5th of 21 | QR1 | 1-0-1 | QR1 | 0-0-1 | ||||
1993–94 | 42 | 24 | 13 | 5 | 83 | 31 | 52 | 85 | 1th of 22 Promoted | QR3 | 3-0-1 | QR2 | 1-0-1 | ||||||
1994–95 | Isthmian League Premier Division | 6 | 42 | 12 | 11 | 19 | 53 | 76 | -23 | 47 | 19th of 22 | QR1 | 0-1-1 | QR1 | 0-0-1 | ||||
1995–96 | 42 | 16 | 9 | 17 | 61 | 62 | -1 | 57 | 12th of 22 | QR1 | 0-1-1 | QR2 | 1-1-1 | ||||||
1996–97 | 42 | 10 | 13 | 19 | 43 | 64 | -21 | 43 | 19th of 22 | QR2 | 1-0-1 | QR2 | 1-0-1 | ||||||
1997–98 | 42 | 14 | 5 | 23 | 53 | 69 | -16 | 47 | 19th of 22 | QR1 | 0-0-1 | QR3 | 1-0-1 | ||||||
1998–99 | 42 | 9 | 10 | 23 | 49 | 90 | -41 | 37 | 21st of 22 Relegated | QR2 | 0-0-1 | R1 | 0-0-1 | ||||||
1999–2000 | Isthmian League Division One | 7 | 42 | 16 | 10 | 16 | 57 | 62 | -5 | 58 | 11th of 22 | QR2 | 1-3-1 | R1 | 0-0-1 | ||||
2000–01 | 42 | 24 | 6 | 12 | 103 | 76 | 27 | 78 | 4th of 22 | QR3 | 3-0-1 | R1 | 0-0-1 | ||||||
2001–02 | 42 | 26 | 9 | 7 | 104 | 51 | 53 | 87 | 2nd of 22 Promoted | 358 | PR | 0-1-1 | R2 | 1-2-1 | |||||
2002–03 | Isthmian League Premier Division | 6 | 46 | 16 | 11 | 19 | 74 | 72 | 2 | 59 | 13th of 24 | 389 | QR4 | 2-1-1 | R2 | 2-2-0 | |||
2003–04 | 46 | 20 | 9 | 17 | 78 | 61 | 17 | 69 | 11th of 24 | 358 | R1 | 2-3-1 | R3 | 2-1-1 | |||||
Conference South, a new sixth tier league created, club qualified to join it | |||||||||||||||||||
2004–05 | Conference South | 6 | 42 | 17 | 8 | 17 | 70 | 66 | 4 | 59 | 10th of 22 | 352 | QR2 | 0-0-1 | SF | 6-2-2 | |||
2005–06 | 42 | 11 | 15 | 16 | 55 | 63 | -8 | 48 | 15th of 22 | 357 | QR3 | 1-0-1 | R1 | 1-1-1 | |||||
2006–07 | 42 | 21 | 10 | 11 | 72 | 61 | 11 | 73 | 5th of 22 | 500 | QR2 | 1-1-1 | R2 | 2-0-1 | |||||
2007–08 | 42 | 18 | 10 | 14 | 72 | 60 | 12 | 64 | 10th of 22 | 456 | QR3 | 1-0-1 | R2 | 2-1-1 | |||||
2008–09 | 42 | 17 | 8 | 17 | 60 | 60 | 0 | 59 | 9th of 22 | 454 | QR4 | 2-0-1 | QR3 | 0-1-1 | |||||
2009–10 | 42 | 12 | 11 | 19 | 48 | 59 | -9 | 47 | 18th of 22 | 422 | QR2 | 0-0-1 | R1 | 1-0-1 | |||||
2010–11 | 42 | 13 | 6 | 23 | 48 | 79 | -31 | 45 | 16th of 22 Transferred | 413 | QR2 | 0-1-1 | QR3 | 0-0-1 | |||||
2011–12 | Conference North | 6 | 42 | 17 | 7 | 18 | 70 | 70 | -5 | 58 | 10th of 22 | 421 | QR4 | 2-0-1 | R1 | 1-1-1 | Ian Walker | ||
2012–13 | 42 | 12 | 13 | 17 | 58 | 74 | -16 | 49 | 17th of 22 Transferred | 405 | R1 | 3-1-1 | R1 | 1-0-1 | |||||
2013–14 | Conference South | 6 | 42 | 13 | 13 | 16 | 63 | 68 | -5 | 52 | 15th of 22 | 388 | R1 | 3-0-1 | QR3 | 0-0-1 | |||
2014–15 | 40 | 12 | 10 | 18 | 55 | 69 | -14 | 46 | 16th of 21 | 389 | QR2 | 0-1-1 | R1 | 1-0-1 | |||||
Fifth and sixth tier divisions renamed | |||||||||||||||||||
2015–16 | National League South | 6 | 42 | 15 | 10 | 17 | 56 | 63 | -7 | 55 | 11th of 22 | 379 | QR2 | 0-0-1 | QR3 | 0-0-1 | |||
2016–17 | 42 | 8 | 3 | 31 | 29 | 104 | -75 | 27 | 21st of 22 Relegated | 355 | QR2 | 0-0-1 | QR3 | 0-0-1 | |||||
2017–18 | Southern Football League Premier Division | 7 | 46 | 14 | 10 | 22 | 74 | 79 | -5 | 52 | 18th of 24 Transferred | 298 | QR1 | 0-0-1 | QR2 | 1-0-1 | Kevin Watson | ||
2018–19 | Isthmian League Premier Division | 7 | 42 | 20 | 7 | 15 | 70 | 57 | 13 | 67 | 7th of 22 | Jamie Cureton | 22 | 335 | QR1 | 0-0-1 | QR2 | 1-0-1 | Jamie Cureton |
2019–20 | 32 | 8 | 4 | 20 | 37 | 63 | -26 | 28 | 17th of 22 | Jamie Cureton | 16 | 253 | QR2 | 1-0-1 | QR1 | 0-1-1 | |||
The season was declared null and void due to COVID-19 | |||||||||||||||||||
2020–21 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 13 | 5 | 8 | 14 | 7th of 22 | Thomas Richardson Peter Merrifield | 5 | – [7] | R1 | 3-2-0 | R1 | 1-0-1 | Steve Smith | ||
The season was declared null and void due to COVID-19 | |||||||||||||||||||
2021–22 | 42 | 25 | 12 | 5 | 89 | 33 | 56 | 87 | 2nd of 22 | Jake Cass Peter Merrifield | 19 | 434 | QR2 | 1-0-1 | R3 | 3-1-0 | |||
Lost in the play-off semi-final. | |||||||||||||||||||
2022–23 | 42 | 27 | 7 | 8 | 75 | 33 | 42 | 88 | 1st of 22 Promoted | 485 | QR1 | 0-0-1 | R2 | 2-0-1 | |||||
2023–24 | National League North | 6 | 46 | 6 | 3 | 37 | 35 | 112 | -77 | 21 | 24th of 24 Relegated | Tosin Olufemi Ryan Charles | 5 | 491 | QR2 | 0-1-1 | R5 | 2-1-1 | Steve Smith Steve Castle |
2024–25 | Southern Football League Premier Division Central | 7 | 0-0-0 | 0-0-0 |