Slough Town F.C.

Slough Town
Full nameSlough Town Football Club
NicknameThe Rebels
Founded1889; 137 years ago (1889)
GroundArbour Park, Slough
Capacity2,000
ChairmanMike Lightfoot (acting)
ManagerScott Davies
LeagueNational League South
2024–25National League South, 16th of 24
Websitewww.sloughtownfc.net
Current season

Slough Town Football Club is a semi-professional English football club based in Slough, Berkshire. Nicknamed "The Rebels", the team competes in the National League South, at the sixth tier of English football, following promotion from the Southern League at the end of the 2017–18 season.

History

The history of the club began on 10 September 1889 with a meeting in Chalvey 'to consider the advisability of amalgamating the different football clubs in Slough and Chalvey.'[1] Present were members of the Chalvey, Slough Albion and Friendly Society clubs. It was unanimously agreed to amalgamate.[1] A further meeting was held on the 17 September 1889 at the Dolphin Hotel 'with the view of starting definitely a new and stable organisation bearing the name of the town and district'. There was between thirty and forty players present. Mr. Godsal was voted to the chair, Mr. D. P. Hanrahan was appointed secretary, and Mr. F. Parker captain and treasurer. The entrance fee and club colours were decided upon and it was determined the club should enter Uxbridge F.C.'s Henesey Cup competition.[2] On 12 October it was announced that local benefactor Mr. Algernon Gilliat would be Slough's president and that he had donated two guineas to the new club.[3]

The first recorded game of Slough and District F.C. (Shortened to Slough F.C.) was at home against Maidenhead North Town Excelsior on 19 October 1889 resulting in a 6–0 win.[4] On 2 November 1889 the first team played Cookham Dean at the Dolphin Ground winning the game 7–0. The second team played Eton St. John's in Slough's Church Meadow resulting in a 2–2 draw.[5] On 16 November the club played Colnbrook at Poyle Park, winning the game 3–1.[6] On Boxing day 1889 Slough played Marlow at the Dolphin Ground winning 1–0.[7]

After receiving a bye in the first round of the Henesey Challenge Cup, Slough played Darfield F.C. in the second round. After a 1–1 draw in East Acton on 28 December 1889 they lost 1–0 in the replay at the Dolphin Ground on 11 January 1890.[8][9] The Dolphin Ground became Slough's home ground replacing the declining Swifts club there.

Slough joined the new Southern Alliance league in the 1892–3 season alongside the likes of Tottenham Hotspur and Windsor & Eton. In the 1894–5 season the club entered the FA Cup for the first time. They played Marlow in the first qualifying round on 13 October 1894 at the Dolphin Ground, but were defeated 4–1.[10] In the 1901–2 season Slough joined the inaugural Berks & Bucks Senior League.[11] Their first game in the league was against Wycombe Wanderers at Loakes Park on 14 September 1901 resulting in a 2–0 defeat.[11] In the 1905–6 season the club joined the Great Western Suburban League.[12]

During this time, Slough developed its first major rivalry, with Windsor & Eton. The rivalry is still known today as the Thames River Derby and is played between Slough and Windsor & Eton (2023). In 1921, Slough attempted to join the Isthmian League but lost out to Wycombe Wanderers in the voting. Instead Slough chose to join the Spartan League.

In 1928 Slough's Dolphin Ground underwent development with a greyhound track being constructed around the football pitch. In March 1929 the ground was renamed the Dolphin Stadium. After the start of the Second World War in September 1939 the club was forced to vacate the stadium and began playing at Slough's cricket ground. During the weekend of 7–8 October 1939 amateur clubs in the Berks & Bucks area including Slough formed the Great Western Combination League. Slough played in the league in the 1939–40 season.[13] In the 1940–41 to 1942–43 seasons the club played in the Herts and Middlesex League.[14] After having ground-shared with Maidenhead United in the 1941–42 and 1942–43 seasons in July 1943 the club agreed to a merger with Slough Centre F.C. to return to a ground in their home town. The new club took the name Slough United F.C. and continued Slough Centre's membership of the Great Western Combination League for the 1943–44 season.[15][16]

After the Second World War Slough United was reluctant to rejoin the Spartan League and led a breakaway movement to form a new league for the 1945–46 season which became the Corinthian League.[17] It was from this that the club derived its nickname of "The Rebels". After the end of the 1946–47 season the two clubs which had merged to form Slough United separated. The former Slough Centre F.C. returned to their original name, joining the Spartan League Division 1 (Western) on 3 July 1947 for the 1947–48 season.[18] The former Slough F.C. club continued in the Corinthian League as Slough United at the start of the 1947–48 season until changing their name to Slough Town F.C. in November 1947.[19]

Slough Town won the Corinthian League in 1950–51 but in 1964 the league folded and Slough, along with many other former Corinthian clubs, joined an expanded Athenian League. The Rebels were champions of this league on three occasions, with the third win earning promotion to the Isthmian League in 1973. During the 1980s, they were league champions on two occasions, the second of which brought promotion to the Football Conference. Slough lasted four seasons at this level, were relegated back to the Isthmian League, bounced back at the first attempt, and then played three more seasons of Conference football. In 1998, the consortium which had bought the club out of receivership seven years earlier decided that they were not prepared to pay for ground improvements required to remain in the Conference, and so the club was demoted back to the Isthmian League despite having finished in 8th place.

Further relegation to the Isthmian League Division One followed in 2000–01 but the club regained its Premier Division status in 2003–04 and remained there until the end of the 2006–07 season, when they finished bottom and conceded over 120 goals. In the 2004–05 season, Slough knocked Walsall of Football League One out of the FA Cup. Highlights of the game were shown on Match of the Day, though because of the team sharing the Stag Meadow ground at the time, the programme showed overhead shots of Windsor instead of Slough when introducing the rarely featured team. Slough transferred over to the Southern Football League Division One South & West for the 2007–08 season, where they finished 21st out of 22 teams. Although initially relegated (for the second year running), they were one of the teams given a provisional reprieve after Halifax Town went into administration.[20]

In the season of 2004–05, Slough Town beat Walsall to reach the 2nd round of the FA Cup however they then lost to Yeading. Slough Town were also the Isthmian League Cup winners in 2004–05 after they beat Hampton & Richmond Borough 3–1 in the final with 2 goals from Ian Hodges and 1 from Josias Carbon to help them secure the win and the silverware.

Over the next two seasons, and now playing in the Southern Football League Division One Midlands,[21] Slough's performance continued to improve. In the 2009–10 season, Slough Town finish 5th in the table, qualifying the team for the promotion play-off matches. Having beaten second-placed Hitchin Town 2–1 in the play-off semi-final, Slough lost 4–0 to Chesham United in the final, meaning they had to remain in the same division for the 2010–11 season. Once again they finished 5th in the 2010–11 season, but lost to Hitchin Town in the play-off semi-final 4–1.

Having come close to promotion to the Premier Division in the last few seasons, including two play-off final defeats, Slough parted company with manager Steve Bateman following the 2012–13 season after four years at the helm, the last of which saw them miss out on the play-offs by a solitary point. The club looked to take a new direction in 2013–14 and appointed Neil Baker and Jon Underwood, the management duo who had taken league rivals Godalming Town to the play-offs in the previous season. With Godalming forced to relocate to the South & West Division following their failure to win the play-offs, the majority of their squad decided to follow Baker and Underwood to Slough. In their very first season, the new management team steered the club to promotion via the play-offs. Slough claimed a 3–0 victory at Rugby Town in the semi-final before winning the play-off final against Kettering Town in front of 2,331 at Kettering's home of Latimer Park on 5 May 2014. Slough trailed 0–2 at half-time before staging a second half comeback. Two goals from Johnnie Dyer brought the Rebels level before James McClurg scored the goal that ultimately returned Slough Town to the third tier of non-league football after several years away.

The 2017–18 season was one of their best for many years. In December, they reached the second round of the FA Cup against Rochdale at home. The game was televised by BT Sport and Slough lost 4–0. With records broken for points attained and goals scored they went on to finish 3rd in the league. Slough were in play off action again. After a home 3–1 win against Kettering Town, they played away to King's Lynn Town in the final. By virtue of an 89th-minute winner from Manny Williams, they won 2–1 and thus secured promotion to the National League South for the forthcoming season.

Ground

Arbour Park in 2017

Slough Town's home ground is the Arbour Park Stadium, Stoke Road, Slough, SL2 5AY.

The club started the 2016–17 season playing their early home games at Holloways Park, Windsor Road, Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire. They moved back into the borough of Slough for the first time in over a decade on 29 August 2016 when they played their first game at the new ground, Arbour Park, against Hayes and Yeading United, winning 2–1.[22][23]

The pitch at Arbour Park is 3G and has been approved by FIFA, one of only 24 to be so in the UK.[24][25]

Ground History

From its foundation in 1889 until 1939, the club played at the Dolphin Ground which became known as the Dolphin Stadium in 1929.[26] It was located just to the east of the town centre. The club left the Dolphin Stadium in 1939–40 season initially playing at the Slough Cricket Club Ground.[27] In the 1941–42 and 1942–43 seasons Slough played home games at Maidenhead United's York Road ground.[28] With the amalgamation with Slough Centre F.C. to form Slough United in July 1943 the club moved to Social Centre Stadium.[29] As Slough United the club returned to the Dolphin Stadium for most of the 1946–47 season.[30] On 12 April 1947 the club played their first match at the new £5000 Belfast Avenue Stadium at the Social Centre, defeating Bedford Avenue F.C. 6–0.[31] After the demerger from Slough Centre in the summer of 1947 the club returned to the Dolphin Stadium in 1947–48 season and stayed at the ground until the end of the 1973–74 season.

From the 1974–75 season Slough Town played at the Wexham Park Stadium.[32] At the end of the 2002–03 season, financial disagreements with the stadium's owners led to the club's eviction. The Stadium is still in existence, but has since fallen into a state of serious disrepair. During the next four seasons (2003–04 to 2006–07) the club was based in Windsor, ground-sharing with Windsor & Eton at their Stag Meadow ground. In the summer of 2007, the club agreed a three-year ground-share with Beaconsfield SYCOB. This was extended to cover the 2010–11 season,[33] and continued until Slough moved into their new ground, Arbour Park, on 29 August 2016.[34]

In June 2009, Slough Town made a proposal that was submitted to Slough Borough Council for permission to build a new stadium within the Borough of Slough. The proposed location for the development was the Arbour Vale school site on Stoke Road, to the north of the town. In addition to a state-of-the-art stadium, the plans included affordable housing and sports fields.[35][36] An artist's impression of the new ground was released in March 2012.[37] In 2018, after opening two years prior, Arbour Park hosted a number of games in the 2018 CONIFA World Football Cup.[38]

Players

Current squad

Updated 11 March 2026[39]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
2 DF  ENG Tarik Gidaree
4 MF  KEN Henry Ochieng (captain)
5 DF  ENG Kiki Oshilaja
6 DF  GUY Reiss Greenidge
7 MF  ENG Tyrique Clarke
8 MF  ENG Jaiden Drakes-Thomas
10 MF  ENG Johnny Goddard
11 FW  POL Wiktor Makowski
12 DF  ENG Aaron White (dual-registered with Langley)
14 MF  IRL Scott Davies (player-manager)
15 MF  ENG Brian Nelson
16 MF  ENG Dan Roth
17 DF  JAM Tyrese Dyce
18 FW  ENG Nnaemeka Anyanwu (dual-registered with Beaconsfield Town)
No. Pos. Nation Player
20 DF  ENG Balu Makumbi
22 MF  NZL Jacob Borgnis (on loan from Reading)
23 FW  ENG Jared Myers
24 FW  ENG Ruben Shakpoke
25 MF  ENG Harvey Walker
29 FW  ENG Luke Holness
30 FW  MLT Basil Tuma (on loan from Reading)
— GK  ENG Carl Dennison (dual-registered with Langley)
— GK  ENG Alfie Marriott (on loan from Watford)
— DF  IRL John Clarke (on loan from Reading)
— DF  ENG Noah Hay (dual-registered with Hayes & Yeading United)
— DF  ALB Erion Zabeli
— FW  ENG Jack Timberlake (dual-registered with Hanworth Villa)

Elite development squad

  • Players to have at least one first-team appearance for Slough Town.
As of 11 March 2026

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
33 FW  USA Wyatt Marin
34 MF  ENG Pedro Sami (dual-registered with Langley)
41 DF  ENG Bryce Gough (dual-registered with Langley)
No. Pos. Nation Player
— GK  ENG Henry Upstell (dual-registered with Flackwell Heath)
— MF  ENG Jaye Long (dual-registered with Langley)
— FW  ENG Kian Berry (dual-registered with Langley)
Slough Town vs Hampton & Richmond Borough in the Isthmian League Cup final in 2005

Club staff

Position Name
Manager Scott Davies
Assistant Manager Tony Fontenelle[40]
Coach Alex Tokarczyk
Goalkeeper coach Alex Wines
Physio Chiko Mvula
Physio Alex Moore
Sources:[41]

Club records

  • Record league win: 17–0 v Railway Clearing House, 4 March 1922[42]
  • Record cup win: 16–0 v Wolverton, 7 December 1935[43]
  • Record league defeat: 9–0 v Aylesbury United, 20 April 1929[44] and 9–0 v AFC Wimbledon, Saturday, 31 March 2007[45]
  • Record cup defeat: 11–1 v Chesham Town 5 February 1910[46]
  • Record transfer fee paid: £18,000 for Colin Fielder from Farnborough Town in 1991
  • Record transfer fee received: £25,000 for Lloyd Owusu from Brentford in 1998
  • Best Berks & Bucks Senior Cup run: Winners 11 times (1902–03, 1919–20, 1923–24, 1926–27, 1935–36, 1954–55, 1970–71, 1971–72, 1976–77, 1980–81, 2018–19)
  • Best FA Cup run: Second round proper 9 times (1970–71, 1979–80, 1982–83, 1985–86, 1986–87, 2004–05, 2017–18, 2018–19 and 2025–26)
  • Best FA Trophy run: Semi-finalists (1976–77 and 1997–98)
  • Best FA Amateur Cup run: Finalists (1972–73)
  • Youngest ever player in a match day squad: Oliver Spicer, 16 years 11 months (12 August 2023 vs Dover Athletic)[citation needed]

Former players

Further information: Category:Slough Town F.C. players

Sources

References

  1. ^ a b "Football". Windsor and Eton Express. 14 September 1889. p. 2.
  2. ^ "Football Amalgamation". Windsor and Eton Express. 21 September 1889. p. 2.
  3. ^ "The Slough Football Club". Windsor and Eton Express. 12 October 1889. p. 2.
  4. ^ "Fooball. Slough v. North Town Excelsior". The Berkshire Chronicle. 26 October 1889. p. 2.
  5. ^ "Football". Buckinghamshire Advertiser, Uxbridge, Harrow and Watford Journal. 9 November 1889. p. 5.
  6. ^ "Football Slough v. Colnbrook". Windsor and Eton Express. 23 November 1889. p. 3.
  7. ^ "Football. Slough v. Marlow (Seniors)". Windsor and Eton Express. 4 January 1890. p. 3.
  8. ^ "Football. Hennessey Challenge Cup". Berkshire Chronicle. 4 January 1890. p. 7.
  9. ^ "Henesy Challenge Cup. Second Round. Darfield v. Slough". The Sportsman. 15 January 1890. p. 6.
  10. ^ "Football Association Cup. Qualifying Competition. First Round. Marlow v. Slough". The South Bucks Standard. 19 October 1894. p. 7.
  11. ^ a b "Football. The New Berks and Bucks League. Wycombe Wanderers Defeat Slough". The South Bucks Standard. 20 September 1901. p. 8.
  12. ^ "Great Western Suburban League 1904-1931". nonleaguematters.co.uk.
  13. ^ "New Amateur Soccer League. Berks and Bucks Clubs get together". The Evening News (London). 10 October 1939. p. 8.
  14. ^ "Sports Gossip". Middlesex Chronicle. 8 May 1943. p. 7.
  15. ^ "Plan for Slough United Football Club". The Bucks Herald. 2 July 1943. p. 2.
  16. ^ "Great Western Combination 1939-1964". www.nonleaguematters.co.uk.
  17. ^ "Corinthian League 1945-1963". www.nonleaguematters.co.uk.
  18. ^ "Football. Yiewsley's bid fails". The Buckinghamshire Advertiser and County Gazette. 4 July 1947. p. 7.
  19. ^ "Last Kicks". The Bucks Advertiser and Aylesbury News. 21 November 1947. p. 12.
  20. ^ Corlett, Patrick (15 May 2008). "Slough receive initial reprieve". Slough & Langley Observer. Archived from the original on 7 June 2008. Retrieved 15 May 2008.
  21. ^ The divisions at this level are arranged geographically. After the promotions/relegations have been determined, the league has to ensure that the teams are in the most appropriate division, which can mean some changing between 'South and West' and 'Midland', or vice versa, to balance numbers.
  22. ^ "Slough Town's new home almost ready for kick-off – Photo 1 of 1 – Slough Express". Archived from the original on 20 August 2016. Retrieved 10 August 2016.
  23. ^ "Slough Town: Rebels not fazed by pressure of victory". 2 September 2016. Archived from the original on 13 September 2016. Retrieved 3 September 2016.
  24. ^ "Slough Town's new home almost ready for kick-off – Photo 1 of 1 – Slough Express". Archived from the original on 20 August 2016. Retrieved 10 August 2016.
  25. ^ "Arbour Park to join FIFA elite of pitches". 24 June 2016. Archived from the original on 11 August 2016. Retrieved 10 August 2016.
  26. ^ "Slough. Greyhound Racing". The Buckinghamshire Advertiser and County Gazette. 15 March 1929. p. 6.
  27. ^ "Getting Discouraged". The Bucks Herald. 26 January 1940. p. 2.
  28. ^ "Slough to use Maidenhead's Ground". Bucks Examiner. 12 September 1941. p. 5.
  29. ^ "Plan for Slough United Football Club". The Bucks Herald. 2 July 1943. p. 2.
  30. ^ "Lyons lose to Slough". Middlesex County Times and West Middlesex Gazette. 28 September 1946. p. 6.
  31. ^ "Forward Lacked Finesse. Avenue Attack must be Strengthened". Bedford Record and Circular. 15 April 1947. p. 12.
  32. ^ "Review of Soccer Scene in the area". Buckingham Advertiser. 8 November 1974. p. 9.
  33. ^ Slough Extend SYCOB stay (accessed 27 May 2010) Archived 20 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  34. ^ "Slough Town's new home almost ready for kick-off – Photo 1 of 1 – Slough Express". Archived from the original on 20 August 2016. Retrieved 10 August 2016.
  35. ^ Corlett, Patrick (18 June 2009). "Slough Town to submit proposals". Slough & Langley Observer. Archived from the original on 3 October 2011. Retrieved 22 June 2009.
  36. ^ Mayo, Nick (20 November 2010). "Slough stadium proposal to bring football home". Maidenhead Advertiser. Archived from the original on 22 July 2011. Retrieved 28 January 2011.
  37. ^ Pattinson, Terry (1 March 2012). "Arbour Park: What the stadium and estate will look like". Slough & South Bucks Express. Archived from the original on 11 January 2016. Retrieved 5 February 2013.
  38. ^ "WFC 2018 Tickets". CONIFA. Archived from the original on 24 March 2019. Retrieved 25 March 2019.
  39. ^ "Slough Town FC Mens". Slough Town FC. Retrieved 3 May 2025.
  40. ^ "Scott Davies signs contract to remain as manager".
  41. ^ "Slough Town FC Mens | the Official website of Slough Town FC – latest news, photos and videos". Slough Town AFC. 24 November 2022. Archived from the original on 3 May 2021. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
  42. ^ "| the Official website of Slough Town FC – latest news, photos and videos". 4 March 1922.
  43. ^ "| the Official website of Slough Town FC – latest news, photos and videos". 7 December 1935.
  44. ^ "| the Official website of Slough Town FC – latest news, photos and videos". 20 April 1929.
  45. ^ "Rebels demolished at AFC Wimbledon". 31 March 2007.
  46. ^ "| the Official website of Slough Town FC – latest news, photos and videos". 5 February 1910.

Official site

51°31′11″N 0°35′17″W / 51.51972°N 0.58806°W / 51.51972; -0.58806

allikas: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slough_Town_F._C.