Shaftesbury Crusade FC

Shaftesbury Crusade started in the late fifties in the Church League, with the late president wilf barrett and Reg Bull prominent in the clubs running. The club then joined the Bristol & District league in the early sixties, where Steve Bull, Phil Barrett and the Watts brothers, Maurice, Barry and John were the strong players of that time. During the seventies and eighties the club progressed via the pyramid system from the Bristol & District league to the as it was then Avon Premier combination. Managers in the seventies and eighties include Roy Pit, Alan Walsh, Glyn Grainger, Johnny Box, Alex Bostrom, Dave Bryant & Malcolm Southern. Shaftesbury’s first team success during that time included winning the Bristol & District league division two and G.F.A Intermediate double in 1973/1974.Runners up followed later in the Avon Premier Combination in 1982/1983 behind Hambrook reserves. The reserves only honours was G.F.A Minor cup runners up in the 1987/88 final under the management of Dave Bryant. Players who gave good service during that time include Paul Watts, Ian Findley, Bob Marshall, Clive Graham, Terry Saunders, Dave Starr, Paul Winters and two sets of brothers, Mike and Les Hanham, Mike and Dave Peters. Top marksmen during that period were Burly Keith “Woody” Woodland and Timmy Lush. It was during the nineties that the club enjoyed their most successful time. After a fairly successful time with the reserves, Jimmy Nutt and Billy Down took over from Dave Bryant as player/managers. In their first season they won the first division of the Avon Premier combination in the 1991/92 season, narrowly beating Nicholas wanderers and Sun Life to the title. His team also won the Premier Cup in 1993/94, with Nigel Whitehead and Andy Jefferson scoring extra time goals over Frampton. Jimmy’s team also lost out in the G.F.A Senior Amateur semi-final to Stoke Gifford in 1993/94. The team was based on a rock solid defence, where Timmy Lush, Andy Bryant, Kevin “chopper” Harris, Lee Martin, Martin Beard and former “Evening Post Winner” Dean Britton were very strong. Just as important was the attacking play of wingers Adrian Iles, Mickey Starr, Nigel Hale and “Evening Post Winner” Lee Bryan.Great shot stoppers that graced the club include Graham “Herbie” Newman, Tony Lewis, Michael “Jimmy” Walker, Martin Gregory, Simon “The Cat” Reville and Stevie Dean.In 1995/96, after four seasons at the helm Jimmy Nutt relinquished his first team job to just play. Nigel Whitehead took over first team duties, it was then there was a dip in the club success. After a moderate first season, the second season was much harder and the team were relegated.The 1997/98 season was an upturn in the clubs success. Nigel’s first team finished runner up to Hillfields in the Bristol Premier one, and achieved promotion back to the premier division. In the same year his team lost a close Premier Cup final to Highridge 1-0. Players who featured in that successful year were Symon O’Reilly, Adrian Iles, Charlie Sumner, Scott Panschuck, Mike Steele, Savy Mastromarno, Frank Holbrook and Mike Lydon.A special mention must go to Johnny Box, who not only played and managed for the club, but gave up his time training the club through the eighties and nineties. Recent success has been achieved under the management of andre kirby with simon oriley as assistant. Shaftesbury reached the combination cup final in the 2010-11 season losing 1.0 to a strong mendip side who won the treble that year. The following year the shaz won the Bristol combination division league in convincing style only losing two games all season. Season 2012-13 saw the departure of andre ans Simon. Player manager david Bamforth to the reign and had successful season finishing mid table in a difficult league. 2013-14 season is looking promising with the appointment of pat marsh, a successful season is expected.

Shaftesbury Crusade FC squad

Freddy Stephenson

Andrew Parry

Jordan Stone

David Chinnick

Ian Pople

Tom Kilbane

The Shaftesbury Crusade FC Home Pitch

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