Brentwood Town F.C.

History

A Brentwood Football Club was established in the 19th century, and played in the FA Cup several times, reaching the quarter-finals in 1885–86, when they were beaten 3–1 by eventual winners Blackburn Rovers. They were also briefly members of Division One of the South Essex League for the 1896–97 season, but left after finishing bottom of the division. The club were later replaced as the town's main club by amateur club Brentwood & Warley. Brentwood & Warley joined Division One A of the South Essex League in 1921 and were runners-up in their first season in the league. They finished bottom of Division One in 1926–27, but were runners-up the following season, after which they joined Division One East of the Spartan League.

League reorganisation at the end of the 1928–29 season saw Brentwood & Warley placed in the Premier Division, where they remained until leaving the league at the end of the 1933–34 season. In 1951 they were founder members of the Delphian League and were its inaugural champions. The club went on to win the league again in 1958–59 and 1959–60. In 1963 they joined Division Two of the Athenian League in 1963 after the Delphian League was disbanded.

In 1965 the club turned professional and became Brentwood Town.

Modern club

After Brentwood Town were dissolved, Manor Athletic changed their name to Brentwood Athletic. Manor Athletic had been established in 1954, and joined the Essex Olympian League in 1967, winning the League Cup in their first season. In 1974 the club was renamed again, becoming simply Brentwood, and joined the Essex Senior League. They went on to win the League Cup in 1975–76, 1978–79, 1990–91

In 2000–01 the club won their first Essex Senior League title, although they finished third from bottom of the league the following season. After winning the Essex Senior League for the second time in 2006–07, and also winning the League Cup, the club was promoted to Division One North of the Isthmian League. They qualified for the play-offs again after a fourth-place finish in 2014–15, and after beating AFC Sudbury on penalties in the semi-final, they defeated Thurrock 5–0 in the final to earn promotion to the Premier Division. However, the following season saw them finish in the relegation zone, resulting in relegation back to Division One North.

In 2021–22 Brentwood finished third in the North Division. In the promotion play-offs they defeated Stowmarket Town 2–1 in the semi-finals, before losing on penalties to Canvey Island in the final. They qualified for the play-offs again in 2023–24 with a fifth placed-finish. After beating Bury Town 3–1 in the semi-finals, the club lost the final on penalties again, this time to Bowers & Pitsea. In 2024–25 season they were North Division champions, earning promotion to the Premier Division.

Ground

Manor Athletic played at King George's Playing Fields until moving to Larkin's Playing Field in 1957. In 1992 they were required to leave the ground in order to maintain senior status, and groundshared at East Thurrock United's Rookery Hill. Floodlights were installed in 1999. A new record of 1,323 was set in December 2024 for an FA Trophy match against Southend United. This was bettered when 1,467 spectators attended a 21 April 2025 title-deciding match against Basildon United. Another new record was set on 20 September 2025 when 1,574 watched an Isthmian League Premier Division match against local rivals Billericay Town.

Coaching staff

List of managers

Honours

• Isthmian League
  • North Division champions 2024–25
• Essex Senior League
  • Champions 2000–01, 2006–07
  • League Cup winners 1975–76, 1978–79, 1990–91, 2006–07
• Gordon Brasted Memorial Trophy
  • Winners 2006–07
• Harry Fisher Memorial Trophy
  • Winners 1995–96
• Essex Olympian League
  • League Cup Winners 1967–68

Records

• Best FA Cup performance: Third round, 1969–70
• Best FA Trophy performance: Third round, 2024–25
• Best FA Vase performance: First round, 2004–05, 2006–07
• Record attendance:
  • Original club: 4,000 vs Northampton Town, FA Cup third round, 12 January 1970
  • Modern club: 1,574 vs Billericay Town, Isthmian League Premier Division, 20 September 2025

References

References

1. (5 December 2024). "Southend United (H) sold out".
2. {{fchd
3. [http://www.brentwoodtownfc.co.uk/about/history Club History] {{Webarchive. link. (4 February 2018 Brentwood Town F.C.)
4. [http://www.nonleaguematters.co.uk/nlmnet/Regs1Df2/Asp07.html Spartan League 1907–1934] Non-League Matters
5. They rejoined the league in 1948, and were runners-up in 1948–49.[http://www.nonleaguematters.co.uk/nlmnet/Regs1Df2/Asp34.html Spartan League 1934–1955] Non-League Matters
6. {{fchd
7. Playing at the Hive on Ongar Road, the renamed club left the amateur Athenian League to join the [[Metropolitan League]]. After two third-place finishes and a League Cup win in 1966–67, the club moved up to Division One of the [[Southern Football League. Southern League]] in 1967. In [[1968–69 Southern Football League. 1968–69]] they won Division One, and were promoted to the Premier Division. In [[1968–69 FA Cup. the same season]] the club also reached the second round of the [[FA Cup]], where they lost 10–1 at [[Southend United F.C.. Southend United]]. The [[1969–70 FA Cup. following season]] the club reached the third round of the cup; they beat [[The Football League. Football League]] club [[Reading F.C.. Reading]] 1–0 in the first round, before defeating [[Hendon F.C.. Hendon]] 2–0 in the second round. The third round saw them drawn at home against [[Northampton Town F.C.
8. {{fchd
9. [https://web.archive.org/web/20130113043000/http://www.brentwoodtownfc.co.uk/about-the-club# About BTFC] Brentwood Town Football Club
10. {{fchd
11. {{fchd
12. In 2004 the club adopted its current name.{{fchd|id=BRENTWOT|name=Brentwood Town}}
13. In [[2008–09 Isthmian League. 2008–09]] they finished third and qualified for the promotion play-offs, but lost 4–1 at home to [[Waltham Abbey F.C.. Waltham Abbey]]. In [[2010–11 Isthmian League. 2010–11]] the club finished fifth and qualified for the play-offs again. After defeating [[Needham Market F.C.. Needham Market]] 3–1 in the semi-finals, they lost 3–2 to [[Wingate & Finchley F.C.. Wingate & Finchley]] in the final.[https://www.fchd.info/lghist/isth2011.htm 2010–11 Isthmian League] FCHD
14. [http://www.pyramidpassion.co.uk/html/brentwood_town.html Brentwood Town] Pyramid Passion
15. The following year they moved to the Brentwood Centre, with the opening match played on 9 October 1993. Initially the only spectator facilities was a covered area adjacent to the clubhouse; seats were later installed in one half of the stand.Jon Weaver (2005) ''The Football Grounds of Rural Essex'', p11
16. (8 December 2024). "Record attendance".
17. (22 April 2025). "Brentwood Town are Isthmian League North Champions!".
18. (24 September 2025). "Brentwood enjoy derby success over Billericay".