Full name Marlow Football Club Ground Capacity 3,000 (250 seated) Founded 1870 | Nickname(s) The Blues Chairman Terry Staines Manager Mark Bartley | |
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2015–16 Southern League Division One South & West, 13th (transferred) League Southern Football League Division One Midlands Arena/Stadium Alfred Davis Memorial Ground | ||
Marlow Football Club is an English football club based in Marlow, Buckinghamshire. The club are currently members of the Southern Football League and play at the Alfred Davis Memorial Ground. They are the only football club in England to have applied for entry into the FA Cup every season since its inception in 1871. Their current manager is former Reading Town boss Mark Bartley who took over following the side's relegation from the Southern Football League in 2012. He was assisted by Marcus Richardson and is now assisted by Neville Roach.
Contents
History
The club was formed at a meeting at the Compleat Angler Hotel on 22 November 1870. Cuthbert Ottaway, the first captain of England, played for "The Blues" at the beginning of its history. In 1871–72 the club competed in the first-ever FA Cup, losing 2–0 to Maidenhead. In 1881–82 they reached the semi-finals, losing 5–0 to Old Etonians. During the 1890s the club was also known as Great Marlow, and in 1894 they turned down the opportunity to join the Southern League in order to remain amateur, allowing Tottenham Hotspur to take their place. Instead, they joined the Spartan League in 1908, but resigned midway through their third season in the league.
In 1919 the club left its Crown Meadow ground to move to Star Meadow, resulting in them leaving the Great Western Suburban League and dropping into the Reading League. In 1928 they moved to a new ground, which was named after their long-serving secretary, Alfred Davis. They rejoined the Spartan League in 1928, winning Division Two West in 1929–30. In 1965 they joined Division Two of the Athenian League, and were promoted to Division One after finishing third in 1970–71. When the league disbanded in 1984 they joined Division Two North of the Isthmian League. They were transferred to Division Two South the following season, and in 1986–87 they finished second and were promoted to Division One. The following season they won Division One and were promoted to the Premier Division.
In 1991–92 the club reached the first round of the FA Cup for the first time since 1892, but lost 6–0 to West Bromwich Albion. The following season Marlow reached the third round of the FA Cup. They were drawn at home to Tottenham, but the match was switched to White Hart Lane, where they lost 5–1. Two seasons later they reached the third round again, defeating Oxford United in the first round, before losing 2–0 at Swindon Town in the third. They remained in the Premier Division until being relegated at the end of the 1994–95 season. Two seasons later they were relegated again. In 2004 they were transferred to Division One West of the Southern League, and were later transferred to Division One Central.
The 2011–12 season saw the club finish bottom of Division One Central of the Southern League and the club was relegated to the Premier Division of the Hellenic Football League. The club managed to gain promotion a season later back to the Southern League, under manager Mark Bartley, when they finished as Champions of the Hellenic League.
After two seasons in the Southern League Division One Central, Marlow were shuffled over to the Southern League Division One South & West ahead of the 2015–16 season.
Stadium
Marlow play their home games at the Alfred Davis Memorial Ground, Oak Tree Road, Marlow, Buckinghamshire, SL7 3ED.
Honours
Club records
Former players
1. Players that have played/managed in the Football League or any foreign equivalent to this level (i.e. fully professional league).
2. Players with full international caps.
3. Players that hold a club record.