Bicester Town - 125 Years down the drain
Bicester Town FC was founded in 1886, when two existing clubs Harriers and Rovers merged. The club first agreed a deal with local farmer Jonas Harris for the use of his field. IN 1899 they moved to the Kings Head on London Road, the same year that the club joined the Oxfordshire League Division One.
Following a stint of paying £5 a year to play on Mr Coles’ field the club moved again, in 1911, to Banbury Road and a field owned by Captain Lawrence. At this time the club HQ also moved to the White Hart on Sheep Street.
Finally, in 1923, the club moved to the Oxford Road Sports Ground a multi-purpose sports facility purchased by the Bicester Sports Association (BSA).
In 1953 the club became founder members of the Hellenic League where they continued to play until their untimely demise in 2011. They were twice Premier League champions, the first time in the 1960/61 season and again
in 79/80.
The modern day Oxford Road features a building housing the clubhouse, function room and bar behind the town end goal. Also at that end of the ground is the changing room and tea bar building. Down the Pingle Field side of the ground is the seated and covered area. The age of this stand is unknown however, as can be seen in the picture of the first match there, it was already standing in some form in 1923.The official figures state that the capacity is 2,000 with 250 seated.
The largest recorded attendance for a football match at Oxford Road came in 1994 when 955 turned up for a friendly against Portsmouth FC.
Sadly, even in a town of 35,000, the club rarely attracted gates into 3 figures.
Bicester Town were wound up before the start of the 2011/12 season, after gaining promotion back into the Premier League. This is not the forum nor is there sufficient space here to go into the reasons behind their demise. Suffice to say that close to 125 years of footballing history was lost when the gates shut for the last time.
I sincerely hope that, one day soon, we will see football return to the town.
Following a stint of paying £5 a year to play on Mr Coles’ field the club moved again, in 1911, to Banbury Road and a field owned by Captain Lawrence. At this time the club HQ also moved to the White Hart on Sheep Street.
Finally, in 1923, the club moved to the Oxford Road Sports Ground a multi-purpose sports facility purchased by the Bicester Sports Association (BSA).
In 1953 the club became founder members of the Hellenic League where they continued to play until their untimely demise in 2011. They were twice Premier League champions, the first time in the 1960/61 season and again
in 79/80.
The modern day Oxford Road features a building housing the clubhouse, function room and bar behind the town end goal. Also at that end of the ground is the changing room and tea bar building. Down the Pingle Field side of the ground is the seated and covered area. The age of this stand is unknown however, as can be seen in the picture of the first match there, it was already standing in some form in 1923.The official figures state that the capacity is 2,000 with 250 seated.
The largest recorded attendance for a football match at Oxford Road came in 1994 when 955 turned up for a friendly against Portsmouth FC.
Sadly, even in a town of 35,000, the club rarely attracted gates into 3 figures.
Bicester Town were wound up before the start of the 2011/12 season, after gaining promotion back into the Premier League. This is not the forum nor is there sufficient space here to go into the reasons behind their demise. Suffice to say that close to 125 years of footballing history was lost when the gates shut for the last time.
I sincerely hope that, one day soon, we will see football return to the town.