Basildon FC is a fairly recent addition to the Essex football club list. They were founded in 1963 and currently play their home games at Gardiners Close. They moved there in 1970 opening the stadium with a friendly match against West Ham United and have enjoyed considerable success in their relatively short history having been Essex Senior League champions five times.
Prior to this, they played at Gloucester Park, a ground they called home until the move. They set their current attendance record there in a friendly match also against West Ham United in 1967 – a whopping 4,999.
The current ground capacity is around 2000 but if you do fancy a game you should get in ok. We will caveat that though if they are playing a friendly match against one of the big London teams or they reach the FA Cup proper. If so buy a ticket in advance otherwise you should be able to pay at the gate.
Anyway below is a bit of trivia, a short chronology and some contact details if you fancy watching a game next time you are in town.
Brief History
Basildon United began as a junior team in 1963 called Armada Sports. They remained as such until 1967-68 when they became Basildon United and in 1970 the Essex County FA granted them Senior status allowing them access to higher-level football.
Prior to this, they had played in various reserve leagues (with some success) but in 1971-2 they became a founder member of the Essex Senior League (ESL). They finished as runners-up in 1972–73 and won the league in 1976–77.
The club then went on to win that division for four seasons running, as well as winning the League Cup in 1977–78. Basildon then had a brief spell in the Athenian League, commencing in 1980. Basildon finished second that season and was promoted to Division Two of the Isthmian League for the 1981–82 season. They won the division in 1983–84 and moved up to Division One. however, they struggled to progress at this higher level. Their best finish was 7th and by the end of the 1988–89 season, they were back in the Division Two North.
In 1991 Basildon decided to quit the Isthmian League and rejoined the Essex Senior League. They went on to win the Essex League and Cup double in 1993–94 but did not take promotion back to the Isthmian League. However, they did return to the Isthmian League’s North Division in 2018-19, but the last two seasons have been suspended due to Covid 19.
Did You Know!
That in their nine seasons in the ESL they only finished outside the top 5 once and were winners or runners up six times!
Basildon only missed out on making it five titles in a row by a point. They ended up second behind Windsor & Eton in their solo season in the Athenian League.
In 1980-1 they drew 0-0 with Irthlingborough Diamonds in the first meeting in the FA Vase quarter-final. They provided more entertainment in the replay losing 6-4!
Basildon FC has been involved in two cup competition penalty shootouts to date. Beating Barkingside 4-2 in an FA Cup qualifier in 1998-99 and losing 4-3 to Northwood in the FA Trophy in 20-21
They got Floodlights at the Gardiners Close ground in 1979 which were first used for a friendly against Crystal Palace
Basildon United FC Chronology
1971-72 Founder members of Essex Senior League
1974-75 Played their first FA Vase game
1976-77 First Essex Senior League Title
1979-80 Essex Senior League Champions (4th successive season) Played their 1st ever FA Cup Game
1980-81 Joined Athenian League – Finished runner-up
1981-82 Joined Isthmian League Division Two
1983-84 Isthmian League Division Two Champions
1984-85 First season in the Isthmian League Division One. Entered the FA Trophy for the first time
1987-88 Highest League Finish to Date 7th In Isthmian League Div One
1988-89 Relegated to Division Two North
1991-92 Rejoined Essex Senior League
1993-94 Essex Senior League Champions (5th Title) Turned down the promotion.
2017-18 Essex Senior League runner-up Promoted back to the Isthmian League’s North Division
2019-20 & 20-21 Seasons Postponed
Honours
Isthmian League
Division Two champions 1983–84
Essex Senior League
Champions 1976–77, 1977–78, 1978–79, 1979–80, 1993–94
Challenge Cup winners 1977–78, 1993–94, 1997–98
Essex Senior Trophy
Winners 1978–79
Essex Senior League Cup
Winners 2016–2017
Records
Best FA Cup performance: Third qualifying round, 1983–84, 1998–99
Best FA Trophy performance: Second qualifying round, 1985–86
Longest FA Vase Cup Run: Quarter-finals, 1980–81, 1994-95
Record attendance as Basildon United: 4,000 vs West Ham United, August 11th 1970 Stadium Opener.
Basildon United Club Details
The information below will come in useful if you are planning to take in a game or just want to keep abreast of their performances.
Address
The Core Refurbishments Stadium
Gardiners Close
Basildon
Essex
SS14 3AW
Tel: 01268 288311
Basildon United FC On Social Media
So there you have it our quick guide to the club. If you want to see who else plays in the area check out our pages on Essex Football Clubs. Or for more information on the town itself, why not have a look at our Basildon visitor guide.
