Beer Albion Football Club is a football club located in Beer, Devon, England. The club currently have two active teams, a first team and a reserves.

Beer Albion Football Club
Full nameBeer Albion
Nickname(s)The Fisherman
Founded1919
GroundThe Furzebrake, Beer, Devon
Capacity3000
ChairmanJohn Moughton
ManagerMark Rooke
LeagueDevon Football League
Websitehttps://www.beeralbionfc.co.uk

The first team currently play in step 7 of the national league system or level 11 of the English football pyramid in the Devon Football League[1] whilst the reserves are in division 2 of the Devon & Exeter Football League.[2]

History

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Beer Albion was founded on 17 October 1919 and joined the Perry Street Junior League in 1921. Both the first team and the reserves remained in this league until 1952 when they joined the Devon & Exeter Football League.[3] In recent history the first team have experienced success winning the Devon Premier Cup in 2021–22 and earning promotion to the Devon Football League. In their first season they were crowned Double Champions after winning the league and the league cup in 2022–23.[4]

Centenary

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In 2019 Beer Albion celebrated 100 years as a club with a centenary match against Axmimster Town.[5] A match between the two finalists of the first ever Morrison Bell Cup Final. Axminster were to come out eventual 6–1 winners.[6]

Devon Premier Cup - 2021–22

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For the first time in their history Beer Albion made the final of the Devon Premier Cup after beating Exwick Villa 3–1 at Budleigh Salterton AFC.[7] On 28 May 2022 Beer Albion played North Molton at Coach Road, Devon FA Headquarters. In the early stages of the game North Molton found themselves 1–0 up thanks to a goal from Dylan Williams. Beer Albion scored an equaliser before half time through a goal from Charley Skilton. The game ended 1–1 after extra time and went to penalties. The result ended up 5–4 on penalties as Will House scored the winning penalty. Beer Albion became the first Devon & Exeter Football League side to win the competition for 32 years.[8]

Double Winners - 2022–23

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The first team won the Devon Football League North & East and the Devon Football League Cup in 2022–23.[4]

In the league campaign the first team played twenty-two games, winning fifteen, drawing five and losing only two. Beer Albion remained unbeaten until they came up against Topsham Town FC in their 19th game as they lost 4–2 despite going 2–0 up. They then followed this result up with another loss against Thorverton FC losing 2–1 before the title was won due to chasing team North Molton FC dropping points in their title chase meaning Beer Albion could not be caught. On the 1st May 2023 Beer Albion played Exeter University FC and drew 1-1 thanks to a late equaliser from Liam Cox and lifted the league trophy in front of the Beer supporters.[9]

The cup was won on 6 May 2023 at Barnstaple Town facing Mount Gould FC. The first half was full of drama with both teams going down to 10 men and Mount Gould found themselves 2–0 down. But The Fisherman fought back to win the game 4–2 thanks to goals from Taylor Rooke, Finley Rooke and Giles Basson.[10]

Achievements

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  • Devon Football League
    • North & East League Winners: 2022–23
    • League Cup Winners: 2022–23
  • Devon & Exeter Football League
    • Division 1 Champions: 1954–55, 1968–69[11]
    • Division 2 Champions: 1967–68, 1982–83[12]
    • Division 5 Champions: 1981–82[13]
    • Division 7 Champions: 2006–07[14]
    • Division 9 Champions: 1998–99[15]
    • Devon Premier Cup Winners: 2021/22[16]
    • Morrison Bell Cup Winners: 1921–22, 1923–24, 1926–27, 1931–32, 1954–55, 1955–56, 1960–61[17]
    • Golesworthy Cup Winners: 1950–51, 1937–38, 1981–82, 2009–10[18]
    • Seaton Challenge Cup Winners: 1950–51, 1951–52, 1956–57, 1958–59, 1959–60, 1961–62, 1967–68, 1968–69, 1969–70, 1975–76, 1997–98[19]
    • Carlisle Cup Winners: 1998–99[20]
    • Axminster Hospital Cup Winners: 1936–37, 1946–47, 1960–61[21]

Current squad

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As of 22 October 2023
(GK) Elliot Driver
(GK) Shaun Denslow
(GK) Leo Gribble
(DF) Joe Adkin 
(DF) Charlie Ledger
(DF) Liam Cox 
(DF) Matthew Berry
(DF) George Richards
(DF) Cody Bowditch
(DF) Will House
(DF) George Harwood
(DF) Ashley Driver 
(DF) Fraser Beament
(DF) Jack Prior
(DF) James Hill
(DF) Kieran Love
(DF) Joshua Moughton
(DF) Jamie Walker
(DF) Andrew Foster
(DF) Ollie Binion
(DF) Corey Pritchard
(MF) Jacob Rowe
(MF) Finley Rooke
(MF) Charley Skilton
(MF) Joshua Lund
(MF) Chris Long
(MF) Simon Smith
(MF) Alex Paget
(MF) Sam Walker
(MF) Reece Hales
(MF) Ryan King
(MF) Kyle Gould
(MF) Alfie Matthews
(MF) Billy Long
(MF) James Melville
(MF) Pedro Fontes
(MF) Brooklyn Wilkins
(MF) Jacob Clode
(MF) Daniel Jeeves
(MF) Mark Rooke
(MF) Jamie Bond
(FW) Taylor Rooke
(FW) Josh French
(FW) Aaron Daniels
(FW) Tony Pinder
(FW) Richard Walker
(FW) Max Richardson
(FW) Barnaby Down
(FW) Harry Lawrence
(FW) Adam Clinch
(FW) Taylor Russel
(FW) Jacob Hale
(FW) Jay Catley
(FW) Reece Best

Ground

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Beer Albion FC have played at their home The Furzebrake since 1936 after previously playing at White Cliff in Beer.[3]

Supporters

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Frequently referred to as "Ye Old Farts" the Beer Albion fans are known to be boisterous and intimidating at home games and are known to be extremely loyal. They can often be heard singing "You are my Albion" at the Furzebrake.

Noted managers

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Listed according to when they became managers for Beer Albion FC

2015-2019: Richard Walker

2019-Current: Mark Rooke[22]

Records

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  • League victory: 8-3 v St Martins - 1 February 1986

References

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  1. ^ "Devon Football League: Official Website of the DFL". The DFL. Retrieved 2023-09-05.
  2. ^ "Stitch2Print Devon & Exeter Football League - Proudly sponsored by Stitch2Print". Stitch2Print Devon & Exeter Football League. Retrieved 2023-09-05.
  3. ^ a b "Beer Albion Football Club". BeerAlbionFC. Retrieved 2023-09-05.
  4. ^ a b "Beer Albion seal amazing League and Cup double". Midweek Herald. 2023-05-09. Retrieved 2023-09-05.
  5. ^ "Beer Albion Football Club marks centenary with special Axminster match". East Devon News. 2019-07-14. Retrieved 2023-09-05.
  6. ^ "Beer Albion Centenary game draws big crowd". Sidmouth Herald. 2019-07-23. Retrieved 2023-09-05.
  7. ^ Evans, Philip (2022-03-24). "Beer Albion make history by reaching final of Devon Premier Cup". Seaton Nub News. Retrieved 2023-09-05.
  8. ^ "Beer Albion are the champions of Devon". Midweek Herald. 2022-05-30. Retrieved 2023-09-05.
  9. ^ "Beer Albion win Devon Football League". Midweek Herald. 2023-05-02. Retrieved 2023-09-05.
  10. ^ paul88798 (2023-05-09). "Beer Albion 1st's 4-2 Mount Gold 1st's". BeerAlbionFC. Retrieved 2023-09-05.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  11. ^ "Division 1 (Senior 1, Senior 1A)". Stitch2Print Devon & Exeter Football League. Retrieved 2023-09-05.
  12. ^ "Division 2 (Senior 2, Senior 1B)". Stitch2Print Devon & Exeter Football League. Retrieved 2023-09-05.
  13. ^ "Division 5 (Junior 1 West, Inter 1 West)". Stitch2Print Devon & Exeter Football League. Retrieved 2023-09-05.
  14. ^ "Division 7 (Junior 3, 3A, Inter 3 East, 3)". Stitch2Print Devon & Exeter Football League. Retrieved 2023-09-05.
  15. ^ "Division 9 (Intermediate 5)". Stitch2Print Devon & Exeter Football League. Retrieved 2023-09-05.
  16. ^ "Devon Premier". Stitch2Print Devon & Exeter Football League. Retrieved 2023-09-05.
  17. ^ "Morrison Bell". Stitch2Print Devon & Exeter Football League. Retrieved 2023-09-05.
  18. ^ "Golesworthy". Stitch2Print Devon & Exeter Football League. Retrieved 2023-09-05.
  19. ^ "Seaton Challenge - Stitch2Print Devon & Exeter Football League". Stitch2Print Devon & Exeter Football League. Retrieved 2023-09-05.
  20. ^ "Carlisle". Stitch2Print Devon & Exeter Football League. Retrieved 2023-09-05.
  21. ^ "Axminster Hospital". Stitch2Print Devon & Exeter Football League. Retrieved 2023-09-05.
  22. ^ "Beer Albion appoint new management duo as Fishermen prepare for Saturday's big kick-off". Sidmouth Herald. 2019-08-13. Retrieved 2023-09-05.
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