Full name | Staines Town Football Club |
---|---|
Nickname(s) | "The Swans", "The Massive" |
Founded | 1892 |
Ground | Wheatsheaf Park, Staines-upon-Thames |
Capacity | 3,009 (300 seated & 800 covered) |
Chairman | Matthew Boon |
Manager | Johnson Hippolyte |
League | Isthmian League Premier Division |
2016–17 | Isthmian League Premier Division, 12/24 |
Website | Club home page |
Staines Town Football Club is an English football club based in Staines-upon-Thames. They will contest the 2015/16 season in the Isthmian League Premier Division. The team's nickname is 'The Swans'. Staines Town's rivals include Ashford Town, Egham Town and Hampton & Richmond Borough.
Staines Town FC was founded in 1892 and was known under various names including Staines F.C.,Staines Albany F.C., 'Staines Lagonda F.C.', and 'Staines Town F.C.', until it folded in 1935. However prior to World War II the club re-formed as Staines Vale.
In 1953 Staines Town were founder members of the Hellenic League, where they finished runners-up in 1956. In 1958 they joined the Spartan League and won the title two years later. After finishing second in 1971, Staines Town advanced to the Athenian League, where they won the Second Division title at the first attempt, amassing a record number of points.
The club were elected to the new Isthmian League Division One in 1973. In their second season, the club finished top and were promoted to the Premier Division. In a nine-year stay, the club's best finish was fourth. However, a ground grading ruling meant that the club were demoted in 1984. The club bounced back five years later only for its Premier Division status to be lost again in 1993 when the club were relegated for the first time in 63 years. Again the club were promoted in 1996 and again it was quickly lost, with the club returning to Division One after only a year.
Having lobbied Spelthorne Council on and off for 20 years, planning permission for a £6.5m Conference and health facility was granted in April 2000 and finalised a year later. During construction, Staines groundshared with Walton & Hersham and Egham Town before the return to Wheatsheaf Lane (now shared with the Thames Club) on 22 February 2003.