BILLINGHAM TOWN FOOTBALL CLUB
BILLINGHAM TOWN was originally known as Billingham Social Club and was founded in 1967 by Tom Donnelly and Robbie Cushley. Tom, who played in Town’s first game back in 1968, has been secretary for Billingham Town since its conception until 2000 when he relinquished this post to become chairman of the club. Tom has since retired from this post with local businessman Jon-Jo Dixon-Barker taking over the post of chairman.
In 1968 Town joined the Second Division of the Stockton & District League and won the league title at the first attempt, playing at Mill Lane and the legendary slope – to top of the corner flag was level with the crossbar. Town stayed in the Stockton League until 1973 and won the Division A League title three times and the League Cup twice and also winning the Stockton Charity Cup twice.
In 1974 Town were admitted into the Teesside League and remained members for eight years. During this time they won the League twice (1978-79 and 1981-82) and were runners-up once. In 1975 they were beaten finalists in the Durham Amateur Cup Final, but won the competition in 1976 and 1982.
In 1982 the club took the golden opportunity of joining the newly formed Second Division of the Drybroughs Northern League and changed its name to Billingham Town. After three years in the Second Division Town gained promotion into the First Division but were immediately relegated back to the Second Division in 1986. However, they bounced straight back in 1987 and lost to neighbours Synthonia in the final of the Durham Challenge Cup a year later. Another relegation followed in 1991-92 but they regained their place in the top flight in 1997-98 and have remained there since.
After being runners-up in the Durham Challenge Cup in 1988-89 and 2001-02 Town eventually won the cup in season 2003-04 when manager Alan Robinson led them to a 3-1 victory over then UniBond side Bishop Auckland.
Since 1981, ground improvements at the Bedford Terrace ground have resulted in new dressing rooms, a cantilever stand, hard terracing behind one goal, hard terracing and covered accommodation opposite the main stand, a refreshment room and a re-turfed pitch surrounded by an 8ft boundary fence around 5.5 acres of land.
Town is now recognised as having one of the most attractive non-league grounds in the North-East. Floodlights were installed in the 1992-93 season with the official switch-on match against Middlesbrough F.C. After severe gales blew down one of the pylons Town installed new floodlights in 2003.
In the summer of 2007 Hartlepool United spent ?180,000 in a makeover of Bedford Terrace. Around ?130,000 of the expenditure has been on completely relaying the pitch to a depth of several feet and now has exactly the same measurements at Pool’s Victoria Park. The remainder has gone on a total facelift behind the scenes, particularly the dressings rooms which have been gutted and rebuilt with new showers and central heating throughout. Hartlepool also signed a 15-year deal, which sees all Pool’s Reserve games being played at Bedford Terrace.
Since the formation of the club and as a result of an extremely successfully youth policy, town have produced a number of professional players. Anthony Barrett (York City and Hartlepool United), Gerry Forrest (Southampton), Mark Hines (Grimsby and Peterborough), Dave Robinson (Halifax Town), Tony Hall (Middlesbrough) and recently Town old-boy Neal Bishop signed for Barnet. Most notable of course is Gary Pallister who was a player with both Town’s junior and senior teams, before moving on to Middlesbrough, Manchester United and England, before moving back to Middlesbrough until his retirement due to a back injury.
After long delays over planning and hitting methane gas, Town finally built their clubhouse. The clubhouse provides changing accommodation plus a social club for after match hospitality and for the local community to use. The work will not stop there as Town hope to provide better facilities for the community, both on the playing field and in the social and sporting facilities.
Town’s Junior second was awarded the FA Chartermark and were also awarded the TJFA Club of the Year Award for 2005-06.
Town finished last season in 10th position and went on to win the League Cup, beating Shildon 2-1 at Seaham’s ground. The following week all the players and management team walked out after Town hit financial problems.
Peter Mulcaster was appointed manager and he hastily formed a team of youngster to get the season underway with a tough fixture against Durham in the Cleator Cup.
Since the start of the season Peter has appointed Dean Coates as his assistant and Steve Todd as coach.
Web site: www.billinghamtownfc.co.uk/seniors
BILLINGHAM TOWN F.C. CLUB HONOURS
Norothern League Cup winners: 2007-08
Northern League Division One runners-up: 2006-07
Division Two runners-up: 1996-97
Durham Amateur Cup: 1976-77, 1977-78
Teesside League Champions: 1977-78, 1981-82
Durham Challenge Cup: 2003-04, Runners-up: 1988-89, 2001-02
North Riding Senior Cup: Runners-up: 1976-77, 81-82
Stockton & District Champions: (x3)
OVER THE YEARS several played who had their start at Billingham Town went on to careers in the full time game. Pride of place must go to the only one who went on to win international caps, Gary Pallister, who did in fact win almost every honour in the game. He joined Middlesbrough in November 1984 from Billingham Town and went on to play 189 games for them, plus seven for Darlington, where he had a loan spell a year after joining Boro. In August 1989 he was sold to Manchester United for ?2.3m and over the next nine years, along with Steve Bruce, formed a vital part of the United side that won virtually everything! In the summer of 1998, after 437 games for United, he was sold back to Middlesbrough for a ?200,000 profit. Though he did play 61 games back at Boro, injuries where taking their toll and it was no surprise when he retired in the summer of 2001.
Mark Hine played for both Billingham Town and Whitby Town before being signed by Grimsby in October 1983. Over the next 10 years Mark played 252 league games for Grimsby, Darlington, Peterborough, Scunthorpe and Doncaster. Since leaving the full time game, he played with Gateshead, Stalybridge Celtic, Spennymoor and Whitby among others, picking England Semi-Pro Caps up along the way.
Dave Robinson left Billingham to start his league career at Hartlepool in August 1983, and over the next three years played 66 league games for them before being transferred to Halifax Town. Again he had three years with the club, adding 72 league games to his total. His next move took him to Peterborough where he played 95 league games in what had become his usual three-year stay. His league career ended at Notts County where he played just three games in two years.
Two Football League clubs actually signed Tony Barrett from Billingham town. Grimsby signed him first but released him after he had played 28 games for them. He rejoined Billingham, however after a few months Hartlepool United paid ?1,000 for his services and he rewarded them with 116 games before moving to York City in March 1989. He went on to play 166 times for York but sadly his last season there was marred by a serious groin injury and he was released in the summer of 1995.
Not quite making the grade was another Billingham Town ‘old boy’, Tony Hall. As an 18-year-old he left Billingham Town for Tranmere Rovers where he made just one appearance as a sub. Two months later he was at Hartlepool and during his time there he again made just one appearance as sub, and that unfortunately was the end of his Football League career.
Ironically two players, Graeme Hall and Gerry Forrest, who left Billingham to go to bigger clubs than most of the others features, never tasted league football. Graeme was signed by Arsenal and though he was signed on pro forms in 1994, he was freed a year later without a first team game. He then spent a season with Barnet, but again failed to make an appearance. It was a similar story for Gerry Forest, who was signed by Southampton but again he never made the breakthrough to first team football.
Neal Bishop played for Town for a number of years before moving to UniBond sides Gateshead, Whitby Town and Spennymoor. He then played Conference football with Scarborough before moving to York City were he was instrumental in the Minstermen’s campaign in 2006-07, helping them towards the Play-offs with some impressive midfield displays. He eventually won the ‘Players Player of the Year’ and the ‘Supporters Player of the Year’. After being out of contract with York City in June 2007 he signed for Barnet and immediately stamped his authority on the Barnet midfield with his displays being a central feature of the Bees good start to the season. Neal won England C honours last season.