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Braintree and Bocking United F.C From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation, search This article is about the English football club. Full name Braintree and Boocking United Football Club Nickname(s) Bocking Founded 15 March 1958 Ground Stadium of Light Chairman Tony Child Caretaker Manager David Morgan League Mid Essex Premier League 2010–11 Premier League, 2nd Website Club home page http://www.clubwebsite.co.uk/braintreeandbockingunitedfc Home colours Away colours Third colours Current season

Braintree and Bocking United Football Club is an English Mid Essex Premier League football club based in Braintree, Essex. Braintree and Bocking has won two League titles, as well as ... Dave Strachan Cups and ... League Cups.

Braintree and Bocking United has long-standing rivalries with neighbours Silver End and with Scotia Billericay. The team has played in a blue and white home strip since 1970.

HistoryMain article: History of Braintree and Bocking United F.C. Braintree & Bocking United started life in 1958 as Braintree United who plied their trade in the Mid Essex Combination. The 1960's were largely uneventful but 1970 was significant for two reasons. The Mid Essex Combination amalgamated with the Mid Essex League and Braintree United enjoyed an influx of players with new signings, led by RALPH BOREIN, KEN WATLING, JOHN GUNN, ROGER HART and TONY CHILD. Added to existing stalwarts JIMMY THISTLETHWAITE, DAVE RICHARDSON and ALAN PITT, United were a formidable force and enjoyed instant success including league championships in 1970/71 and 1971/72. Thereafter, League success was elusive in the 1970s and 1980s but United gained a reputation for cup success although having to make do with runners up medals, more than once, in the Mid Essex League Cup. The 80s saw United gain promotion to the Mid Essex Premier Division for the first time. At this juncture United were invited to join Bocking Sports Club on the demise of AFC Bocking as a Saturday side, an invitation which was accepted. With the move to the Stadium of Light at Bocking came a change of name to Braintree & Bocking United. By this time United had a reserve team in operation which shared its senior counterparts penchant for cup success but lacked the consistency to achieve league success. In 1989/90 United won the Premier Division League Cup for the first team, beating Galleywood on penalties after a replay. Other cup success followed and in 1995/96 United were Premier Division runners up. The following season saw United beat hot favourites Weir House to win again the Premier Division League Cup, star striker JOHN MORGAN scoring twice including the winning goal four minutes from time. That season United were runners up in the Strachan League Cup losing to a "handball" goal. The Bocking boys added to that success by winning the Mid Essex League trophy for the first time in 1996/97. The early years of the millennium saw United at its lowest ebb with successive relegations from the top flight and from Division 1. Even then Braintree maintained their record for cup success with ASHLEY VICKERS, now player manager of Dorchester Town, heading the winner in injury time at the end of extra time. But since 2006 United have enjoyed the most successful period in their history. Under the guidance of PAUL DISBURY; United romped to the Division 2 title in 2006/07, a fitting record for long serving players such as GARY ROLFE, and JAMES LOCK. New signings SIMON TURNNIDGE, NEIL BLICK and NICK HART (both returning to the United colours) JASON GUY, RICKY McDONALD, GAVIN POULTER and RUSS NEWMAN were at the heart of a successful team. United won three trophies in 2006/07 and, in 2007 were again successful in the Mid Essex League trophy. But United suffered heartbreak in their first every County Cup semi final losing on penalties after extra time. For 2007/08 DAVE MORGAN took over as player manager part way through the season and United regained their Premier Division status with victory on the final day of the season, with added success in the Tiptree and Braintree Cups. The Reserve team enjoyed league cup success. 2008/09 saw United back in the Premier Division. With the introduction of current captain GEORGE HARLE, brother SAM HARLE (now joined by FREDDIE HARLE), PETER MORGAN, JAMES GILL, SEAN ROBINS, STUART CRUMPEN, BRAD TEMPERLEY JON HEWITT and ALEX SHORT United were a force to be reckoned with and won the Premier Division title on the final day of the season. Two cup trophies were secured. The Reserve team won their first ever league title. United continued to enjoy success in 2009/10 winning the Mid Essex League trophy, retaining the Premiership title by some margin and completing two other cup successes including the Premier Cup. Centre Half, GRANT O'DONNELL, a top class defender, proved an excellent acquisition as have ADAM ARKLEY and TOM WRIGHT. 2010/11 saw goalkeeper SIMON TURNNIDGE, a major figure in United's rise from Division 2 to Premier Division champions, take over the managerial reins. Under his guidance, at the time of writing, United have achieved 13 straight wins. In addition to reaching the County Cup final, United are challenging for the league title and face four other cup semi finals. It will be seen from the new faces among the player profiles that Bocking have continued to strengthen their squad in search of further honours.

PlayersCurrent squadAs of 1 January 2012.[93] Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player 1  GK Simon Turnnidge 2  DF Tom Nial 3  DF Andrew Meech 4  FW David Morgan 5  DF Neil Blick (retired) 6  DF Sam Harle 7  MF Paul Ansell 9  FW Adam Arkley 10 FW Fred Harle 11 FW Peter Morgan 12 MF Kurtis Mitchell 13 DF Jay Dale 14 FW George Harle 16 MF James Lock 17 MF Sean Robins 18 DF Louis Townsend 19 MF Rob Flatt 20 DF Jon Sparks No. Position Player 22 GK Stuart Crumpen 23 DF Grant O'Donnell 24 MF Adam Madgett 29 MF Chris Dickson —

Out on loanNote: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player

Reserve squad For more details on the reserve and academy squads, see Braintree and Bocking United Reserves.

Honorary Life President: Principal owner: Chairman: Tony Child Vice-chairman: Managing director: Chief financial officer: Braintree and Bocking United FC Directors: Director of football: Club secretary: Simon Turnnidge Operations director: Chief groundsman: Press officer: James Lock Coaching and medical staff[95] Manager: David Morgan First team coach: Vacant Goalkeeping coach: Vacant Head of fitness and conditioning: Reserve team coach: Keiron Thoroughgood

Honours:

to be completed

Most Appearences