Redbridge F.C.

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Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use British English Template:Infobox football club

Redbridge Football Club is an English association football club based in Barkingside in the London Borough of Redbridge. Prior to July 2004 the club was known as Ford United F.C. The change of name was chosen to help associate the club within the local area and attract a larger support.

They should not be confused with the former Redbridge Forest, a predecessor of the current Dagenham & Redbridge, though both come from the borough of Redbridge in Greater London.

History

Redbridge Football Club’s proud roots lie in East London and Essex’s rich car manufacturing heritage, tracing back to the iconic Ford Motors factory in Dagenham. The club’s story began in 1959, when Ford Sports (Dagenham) merged with Briggs Sports (originally Briggs Motor Bodies), both established in 1934, to form Ford United.

Success followed in the Aetolian League, with multiple title wins. But in 1995, the withdrawal of Ford’s sponsorship threatened the club’s existence. A rescue came in the form of a new sponsorship deal led by vice-chairman George Adams and backed by Sky Sports.

In 2001, the club secured a permanent home at Oakside Stadium by purchasing the lease from Barkingside FC, allowing for substantial ground improvements under Chairman Jimmy Chapman. To reflect its local identity and broaden appeal, the club was rebranded as Redbridge FC in 2004.

After a brief spell in the Conference South, the club faced back-to-back relegations but remained competitive in the Isthmian League Division One North. Under the stewardship of former professional Dean Holdsworth, Redbridge narrowly missed out on promotion in 2007–08.

The 2011–12 season proved to be one of the most memorable in club history. Redbridge reached the Second Round of the FA Cup, beating Ebbsfleet United and Oxford City, before falling to Crawley Town. That cup run captured national attention and marked a high point for the club on the big stage.

Despite moments of promise, financial challenges and changes in management led to a difficult period, and in 2015, Redbridge were relegated to the Essex Senior League for the first time in 19 years. Efforts to bounce back began under a joint management team of Ricky Eaton and Joey May, with the club consistently competing for promotion.

Like all clubs, Redbridge were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, which curtailed two consecutive seasons. But the team came back strong under manager George Christou, finishing 3rd in 2021–22 and securing promotion back to the Isthmian League the following season via an Inter-League Playoff Final victory over Haywards Heath Town.

In 2023–24, Redbridge achieved a historic milestone by lifting the Essex Senior Cup for the first time, beating EFL side Colchester United in a dramatic penalty shoot-out – a moment that will live long in the memory of every Motormen supporter.

Following the departure of George Christou in October 2024, Chris Taylor took over as manager, joining from Basildon United.

Ground

Redbridge play their home games at the Techsoc.com Stadium , Barkingside, Ilford, Essex, IG6 1NB. From the start of the 2024-25 season a brand new 3G playing surface was laid.

Current squad

As of NOV 25<ref>1st Team » The Team Template:Webarchive Redbridge FC</ref>

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Honours

(includes Ford United)

Cups

(includes Ford United)

Club records

  • Record Home Attendance: 1374 v Port Vale, FA Cup 1st Round Replay 19.11.03
  • Record Victory: 10–0 v St Margaretsbury(a), Essex Senior League 27.04.19
  • Record Defeat: 0–11 v Heybridge Swifts(a), Isthmian League Division One North 29.12.12
  • Best league performance: 22nd in Conference South, 2004–05<ref name="fchd">Template:Cite web</ref>
  • Best FA Cup performance: 2nd Round Proper, 2011–12
  • Best FA Trophy performance: 3rd Round, 2003–04<ref name="fchd 2">Template:Cite web</ref> and 2004–05<ref name="fchd" />
  • Best FA Vase performance: 5th Round, 1998–99<ref name="fchd 2" />

League history

As Redbridge F.C.

Season Division Position Top League Goalscorer Manager(s) Extra Information
2004–05 Conference South 22nd Julian Edwards 9 Jim Stannard Relegated
2005–06 Isthmian League Premier 22nd Ian Luck 9 Jim Stannard, Alan Fenn Relegated
2006–07 Isthmian Division One North 16th Mitch Hahn 10 Alan Fenn
2007–08 Isthmian Division One North 3rd Stephen Butterworth & Jeff Hammond 10 Dean Holdsworth Lost in Playoff Final
2008–09 Isthmian Division One North 8th Hakeem Araba 17 Jay Devereux
2009–10 Isthmian Division One North 18th Leon Diaczuk 13 Jay Devereux, Dave Ross
2010–11 Isthmian Division One North 16th Kevin McLeod 12 Dave Ross, Kris Taylor, Jody Brown
2011–12 Isthmian Division One North 6th Joe Gardner 13 Terry Spillane
2012–13 Isthmian Division One North 20th Jacob Cleaver 16 Del Robinson & Steve Portway
2013–14 Isthmian Division One North 14th Daniel Charge 20 Dave Ross & Ricky Eaton
2014–15 Isthmian Division One North 23rd Chinedu McKenzie 13 Dave Ross & Ricky Eaton Reprieved
2015–16 Isthmian Division One North 24th Jay Knight 11 Dave Ross & Ricky Eaton Relegated
2016–17 Essex Senior Football League 14th Jacob Dingli 30 Dave Ross & Ricky Eaton
2017–18 Essex Senior Football League 4th Brian Moses 33 Joey May & Ricky Eaton
2018–19 Essex Senior Football League 12th Daniel Gilchrist 18 Joey May & Ricky Eaton/Micky Wetherall
2019–20 Essex Senior Football League season expunged due to COVID-19 Micky Wetherall
2020–21 Essex Senior Football League season curtailed due to COVID-19 Micky Wetherall/George Christou + Jack Toghli
2021–22 Essex Senior Football League 3rd Ibrahim Kehinde 24 George Christou + Jack Toghli
2022–23 Essex Senior Football League 2nd Tony Martin 13 George Christou + Jack Toghli won Inter League Play Off Final- Promoted
2023–24 Isthmian League 13th Louie Johnson 10, Solomon Ogunwomoju 10 George Christou + Jack Toghli
2024–25 Isthmian League 12th Tendi Quamina 13 George Christou + Jack Toghli, Joey May + Ricky Eaton, Chris Taylor

References

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