Sandbach United F.C.

Sandbach United Football Club is an English football club based in Sandbach, Cheshire. They play in the North West Counties League Division One South, at level 10 of the English football league system. The club is a FA Charter Standard Club affiliated to the Cheshire Football Association.[1]

Sandbach United (First Team)
Founded2004
GroundSandbach Community Football Centre, Sandbach
ChairmanPeter Colclough
ManagerAndy Hockenhull
LeagueNorth West Counties League Division One South
2019–20North West Counties League Division One South (season abandoned)

History

The club was formed in 2004 following the merger of Sandbach Albion and Sandbach Ramblers.[2] They initially competed in the Staffordshire County League, but in 2011 they joined the Cheshire League.[3] They were promoted to the competition's top flight in 2014, and in 2016 they were admitted to the North West Counties Football League Division One, at level 10 of the English football league system.[3][4]

In the first season in the North West Counties Football League they finished in 6th position, missing out on promotion, and they reached the final of the Reusch First Division Challenge Cup.[5]

In 2017/18 they entered the FA Vase for the first time, but were beaten 2–0 at home by AFC Emley.[3] Also in 2017/18 they beat Tranmere Rovers 2–1 in the Cheshire Senior Cup preliminary round.[6]

The 2018/19 season provided the club with its first trophy since joining The North West Counties Football League as they defeated Avro FC 4–2 to lift The First Division Challenge Cup.[7] The club also made their debut in the FA Cup, joining the competition in the extra preliminary round, but got knocked out by Parkgate in this round.[3]

The 2019/20 season was very different indeed, Sandbach United were unable to replicate the high league position for most of the season and struggled with many player changes which disrupted the team. However they did continue to impress in the challenge cup as holders it gave the team hope of some success. Sadly the season was curtailed and declared null and void due to COVID 19, this ironically was to be a blessing a it gave the team chance to regroup and when the league decided to play out the remaining rounds of the cup in September 2020 Sandbach took the chance and went on to retain the cup in an exciting game against AFC Liverpool. The game finished 2-2 with Sandbach coming from behind twice, the cup was ultimately decided on penalties with sandbach the victors with a 4-3 shootout score. A further piece of luck sees Sandbach get another shot at promotion after the null and void season meant it was 4 to be promoted again in the 2020/21 season.

Ground

The club play their home games at the Sandbach Community Football Centre.[8] The ground is equipped with floodlights.[8]

Honours
  • NWCFL First Division Challenge Cup[9]
    • Runners Up 2016/17
    • Winners 2018/19
    • Winners 2019/20
  • Crewe and District Cup[10]
    • Winners (1) 2015–16

League Position
Season P W D L F A GD PTS POSITION
2016/2017 NWCFL DIV 1 42 25 06 11 81 51 30 81 6/22
2017/2018 NWCFL DIV 1 42 27 03 12 90 57 33 84 5/22
2018/2019 NWCFL DIV 1 SOUTH 38 19 10 09 88 54 34 67 7/20
2019/2020 NWCFL DIV 1 SOUTH NULL & VOID COVID 19

Players

Current squad
As of 14 September 2020

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
— GK  ENG Danny Hamlett
— GK  ENG Ryan Moss
— GK  ENG Elliot Lane
— DF  ENG Adam Clayton
— DF  ENG Matthew Pearson
— DF  ENG Declan O'Riordan
— DF  ENG Kieran O'Connell
— DF  ENG Kris Stockton
— DF  ENG Bradley Cooper
— DF  ENG Connor Courtnell
No. Pos. Nation Player
— DF  ENG Harry Walker
— MF  ENG Christopher Rowntree
— MF  ENG Keilahn Annikey
— MF  ENG Sean Moscrop
— MF  ENG Aron McGrath
— MF  ENG Jack Hart
— MF  ENG Connor Sutton
— MF  ENG Callum Evans
— MF  FRA Ilyas Kemiri
— MF  ENG Soloman Richards
— MF  ENG Lucas Baker
— FW  EIR Stephen Jones
No. Pos. Nation Player
— FW  ENG Josh Lane
— FW  ENG Bobbie McDonnell
— FW  ENG Thomas Wakefield
— FW  ENG Robbie Hatton
— FW  ENG Dereece Gardner
— FW  ENG Scott Evans
— FW  ENG Thomas Davies
— FW  ENG Kieran Garner-Knapper
— FW  ENG Daniel Bartle

References
  1. Sandbach FA Fulltime Club info
  2. Sandbach United Club Information Page: NWCFL | Sandbach United Club Information Page, accessdate: March 10, 2020
  3. Sandbach United at the Football Club History Database
  4. NWCFL Constitution – Season 2016–17 North West Counties League, 12 May 2016
  5. North West Counties League 2016–17: Football Club History Database – North West Counties League 2016–17, accessdate: March 10, 2020
  6. Cheshire FA: Results – Cheshire FA, accessdate: March 10, 2020
  7. First Division Cup triumph for Sandbach United: NWCFL | First Division Cup triumph for Sandbach United, accessdate: March 10, 2020
  8. The Guardian: Meet the blind groundhopper who has visited 1,640 non-league football grounds | Football | The Guardian, accessdate: March 10, 2020
  9. League Honours 1982–2019: NWCFL | League Honours 1982–2019, accessdate: March 10, 2020
  10. Sandbach United Club Information Page: NWCFL | Sandbach United Club Information Page, accessdate: March 10, 2020

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