Chairman Graham Gennings Manager Justin Gardner Arena/Stadium The Mill Field | Nickname(s) The Millers Ground Capacity 4,000 (400 seated) Founded 1927 | |
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2015–16 Isthmian League Division One North, 12th | ||
Aveley Football Club are a football club based in Aveley, Essex, England. The club are currently members of Division One North of the Isthmian League and play at Mill Field.
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Club history
The club was established in 1927 and played in local leagues until World War II. In 1946 they joined the Thurrock Combination League, and went on to win the Essex Junior Cup in 1948 and 1949.
In 1949 the club joined Division Two of the London League. They finished fourth in their first season, and were promoted to Division One. The following season they won Division One, but were not promoted to the Premier Division. However, despite finishing ninth in 1952–53, they were promoted. After finishing seventh, then third in their first two seasons in the Premier Division, they won the division in 1954–55.
In 1957 the club switched to the Delphian League, finishing as runners-up in their first season. When the league folded in 1963 they joined Division Two of the Athenian League. After finishing second in 1968–69, the club was promoted to Division One. They won the Division One title in 1970–71, earning promotion to the Premier Division.
In 1973 the club joined Division Two of the Isthmian League, which became Division One in 1977. They won the Essex Thameside Trophy in 1979–80 and the Hornchurch Charity Cup in 1982–83. In 1985–86 they finished bottom of the division, and were relegated to Division Two North. After finishing second in 1989–90, a season in which they also became the first club from the bottom division to win the League Cup, the club was promoted back to Division One. Although they finished fourth in their first season back in Division One, the club finished bottom of the division the following season, but were not relegated. However, in 1992–93 they finished bottom again and were relegated to Division Two. In 1994–95 the club were relegated to Division Three, where they remained until 2002, when league reorganisation saw them placed in Division One North.
In 2004 the club were transferred to Division One East of the Southern League, before returning to Division One North of the Isthmian League in 2006. They won the division in 2008–09, and were promoted to the Premier Division. After finishing third in Isthmian League under manager Rod Stringer, the club lost in the promotion play-off semi-finals to eventual winners Boreham Wood. In 2011–12 the club were relegated back to Division One North after finishing third-from-bottom. In their first season in Division One they finished fifth and qualified for the promotion play-offs. They lost 3–1 to Maldon & Tiptree in the semi-finals.
Ground
The club played at Lodge Meadow until moving to Mill Field in the 1951–52 season, at which point they gained the nickname the Millers. The new ground was opened with a local derby match against Grays Athletic.
A 400-seat wooden stand was erected in 1957, with terracing installed on either side from earlier in the 1950s. A covered stand was installed at around the same time, having been bought for £100 from Grays, who had previously used it at their Recreation Ground. Floodlights were installed in 1967, with Grays again the visitors for the first match played under them. The ground currently has a capacity of 4,000, of which 400 is seated and covered. The 2016–17 season will be the last season at Mill Field before Aveley move to a new ground at Belhus.