AFC Dunstable are a football

Football (soccer)

Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...

 club based in Dunstable

Dunstable

Dunstable is a market town and civil parish located in Bedfordshire, England. It lies on the eastward tail spurs of the Chiltern Hills, 30 miles north of London. These geographical features form several steep chalk escarpments most noticeable when approaching Dunstable from the north.-Etymology:In...

, Bedfordshire

Bedfordshire

Bedfordshire is a ceremonial county of historic origin in England that forms part of the East of England region.It borders Cambridgeshire to the north-east, Northamptonshire to the north, Buckinghamshire to the west and Hertfordshire to the south-east....

, England

England

England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...

. The club is affiliated to the Bedfordshire County Football Association

Bedfordshire County Football Association

The Bedfordshire County Football Association, also simply known as Bedfordshire FA, is the governing body of football in the county of Bedfordshire, England...

.

History

The club was established in 1981 as Old Dunstablians, and were a team for old boys of the defunct Dunstable Grammar School. They joined the South Midlands League

South Midlands League

The South Midlands League was an English football league covering Bedfordshire and some adjoining counties.The league was formed in 1922 as the Bedfordshire County League, changed its name to the Bedfordshire & District County League in 1924 before adopting the South Midlands League title in 1929...

 Division One in 1995, and then when that league merged with the Spartan League

Spartan League

The Spartan League was an English football league covering London and adjacent counties.Formed in 1907, the league was along with the Isthmian League and the Athenian League, one of the strong amateur competitions in the South, with three clubs reaching the FA Amateur Cup semi-finals...

 to form the Spartan South Midlands League

Spartan South Midlands Football League

The Spartan South Midlands Football League is an English football league covering Hertfordshire, northwestern Greater London, central Buckinghamshire and southern Bedfordshire...

 two years later, the club became founder members of the new organisation.

In 2004, the club changed their name to AFC Dunstable. After winning the Spartan South Midlands League Division Two in 2006-07, the club were not promoted and continued as members of the same division for 2008-09. With the club moving to Creasey Park for the start of the 2009-10 season and ahead of the ground being developed up to Step 3 standard, the opportunity came to apply for promotion which was successful and saw the first team playing in Division One. A further promotion to the Premier Division happened in 2011.

AFC Dunstable are an FA Charter Standard Community Club and will be running 24 teams for season 2011-12. The age groups run from 6 year olds right through to adults. The club also cater for disabled, girls & veteran footballers. The club also runs a junior football academy.

AFC Dunstable 1st Team entered the FA Vase for the first time in season 2010-11 and progressed through 3 rounds but went out in the 2nd Round proper.
For season 2011-12 the 1st Team will enter the FA Cup for the first time, as well as competing in the FA Vase again.

Honours

• 1985-86 Runners Up Luton & District Division One
• 1989-90 Winners Bedfordshire Junior Cup
• 1992-93 Runners Up Luton & District Division One
• 1994-95 Runners Up Luton & District William Pease Jubilee Trophy
• 2001-02 Winners Spartan South Midlands Division Two Cup
• 2002-03 Runners Up Spartan South Midlands Division Two
• 2003-04 Winners Spartan South Midlands Division Two
• 2003-04 Runners Up Spartan South Midlands Division Two Cup
• 2005-06 Winners Spartan South Midlands Division Two Cup
• 2006-07 Winners Spartan South Midlands Division Two
• 2006-07 Winners Bedfordshire FA Senior Trophy
• 2006-07 Runners Up Spartan South Midlands Division Two Cup
• 2007-08 Winners Bedfordshire FA Senior Trophy
• 2010-11 Winners Spartan South Midlands Division One Cup
• 2010-11 Runners Up Spartan South Midlands Division One (Promoted)

League history

Season	Division	Position	Significant Events
As Old Dunstablians
Joined the Dunstable Alliance
1981-1982 1981-82 in English football The 1981–82 season was the 102nd season of competitive football in England.It was also the first season that the Three points for a win system was introduced.- First Division :Three points for a win was introduced for the first time in England...	Dunstable Alliance
1982-1983 1982-83 in English football The 1982–83 season was the 103rd season of competitive football in England.- First Division :Bob Paisley's last season as Liverpool manager ended on a high as they topped the First Division with a comfortable lead. Bob Paisley retired as Liverpool manager with a record 21 prizes in nine years. His...	Dunstable Alliance
Joined the Luton & District Division One
1983-1984 1983-84 in English football The 1983–84 season was the 104th season of competitive football in England.- First Division :Liverpool had a great first season under the management of Joe Fagan as they wrapped up their third successive league title and the 15th in their history...	Luton & District Division One
1984-1985 1984-85 in English football The 1984–85 season was the 105th season of competitive football in England.-Bradford City disaster:56 spectators died and more than 200 were injured when a fire ripped through the Main Stand at Valley Parade during Bradford City's Third Division fixture with Lincoln City on 11 May...	Luton & District Division One
1985-1986 1985-86 in English football The 1985–86 season was the 106th season of competitive football in England.- First Division :The championship crown went to Liverpool for the 16th time in their history at the end of their first season under the management of Kenny Dalglish, but they had to fight off some very stiff competition to...	Luton & District Division One	2	Runners Up
1986-1987 1986-87 in English football The 1986–87 season was the 107th season of competitive football in England.- First Division :The First Division championship went to Everton in their final season under the management of Howard Kendall before his departure to Athletic Bilbao. His side overcame a spate of injuries to fight off...
1987-1988 1987-88 in English football The 1987–88 season was the 120th season of competitive football in England.- First Division :Liverpool won the league title with a comfortable nine-point margin and just two defeats all season....
1988-1989 1988-89 in English football The 1988–89 season was the 109th season of competitive football in England.-Hillsborough disaster:On 15 April, a crowd crush at the FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest at Hillsborough killed 94 people and injured more than 300. A 95th Liverpool supporter died in hospital...
1989-1990 1989-90 in English football -European competitions:English clubs were still banned from competing in European competitions following the Heysel Stadium disaster.- First Division :...
1990-1991 1990-91 in English football The 1990–91 season was the 111th season of competitive football in England.- First Division :Arsenal won the league. Runners-up spot was achieved by Liverpool, who had led the table for much of the first half of the season but had been shell-shocked in February by the sudden resignation of manager...
1991-1992 1991-92 in English football - First Division :The last-ever league championship before the creation of the Premier League was won by Leeds United who overhauled Manchester United thanks to the efforts of, among others, Gordon Strachan, Lee Chapman, David Batty, Gary Speed and Gary McAllister...
1992-1993 1992-93 in English football The 1992–1993 season was the 113th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:This season saw the birth of the FA Premier League. This meant a break-up of the 104-year-old Football League that had operated until then with four divisions....	Luton & District Division One	2	Runners Up
1993-1994 1993-94 in English football The 1993-1994 season was the 114th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:From the start of this season, the FA Premier League would be sponsored by Carling Breweries - an association which would last for eight years...
1994-1995 1994-95 in English football -Premiership:Blackburn Rovers ended their 81-year wait for the league title thanks to the strike partnership of Alan Shearer and Chris Sutton which scored a total of more than 50 league goals. Manchester United would have made it three league titles in a row if they had been able to turn a 1-1 draw...
Joined South Midlands League Division One
1995-1996 1995-96 in English football - Premiership :Newcastle United were 12 points clear at the top of Manchester United, but Alex Ferguson's relatively young and inexperienced side overhauled them during the second half of the season to win the title....	South Midlands League Division One	14	–
1996-1997 1996-97 in English football The 1996–1997 season was the 117th season of competitive football in England.Arrival into the league and exit out of the league returns in the fourth tier for the first time after its 3 season absence with only 1 relegation spot.- Premier League :...	South Midlands League Division One	13	–
Placed in Spartan South Midlands Football League Spartan South Midlands Football League The Spartan South Midlands Football League is an English football league covering Hertfordshire, northwestern Greater London, central Buckinghamshire and southern Bedfordshire...  Division One North upon merger between Spartan Spartan League The Spartan League was an English football league covering London and adjacent counties.Formed in 1907, the league was along with the Isthmian League and the Athenian League, one of the strong amateur competitions in the South, with three clubs reaching the FA Amateur Cup semi-finals...  & South Midlands South Midlands League The South Midlands League was an English football league covering Bedfordshire and some adjoining counties.The league was formed in 1922 as the Bedfordshire County League, changed its name to the Bedfordshire & District County League in 1924 before adopting the South Midlands League title in 1929...  football leagues
1997-1998 1997-98 in English football The 1997-1998 season was the 118th season of competitive football in England.-Premier League:Arsenal overhauled Manchester United's lead during the final weeks of the season to win the Premiership title...	Spartan South Midlands Spartan South Midlands Football League The Spartan South Midlands Football League is an English football league covering Hertfordshire, northwestern Greater London, central Buckinghamshire and southern Bedfordshire...  Division One North	11	–
Spartan South Midlands Football League Spartan South Midlands Football League The Spartan South Midlands Football League is an English football league covering Hertfordshire, northwestern Greater London, central Buckinghamshire and southern Bedfordshire...  Division One North becomes Division One upon league re-organisation
1998-1999 1998-99 in English football -Premier League:Manchester United overcame close competition from Arsenal, Aston Villa and Chelsea to win their fifth Premiership title in seven seasons thanks to the comeback of Roy Keane after his long-term injury and a transfer raid totalling nearly £30 million which netted Aston Villa striker...	Spartan South Midlands Spartan South Midlands Football League The Spartan South Midlands Football League is an English football league covering Hertfordshire, northwestern Greater London, central Buckinghamshire and southern Bedfordshire...  Division One	9	–
1999-2000	Spartan South Midlands Spartan South Midlands Football League The Spartan South Midlands Football League is an English football league covering Hertfordshire, northwestern Greater London, central Buckinghamshire and southern Bedfordshire...  Division One	7	–
2000-2001 2000-01 in English football The 2000–01 season was the 121st season of competitive football in England.-Overview:Manchester United secured their 3rd Premiership title in succession and their 7th title in just nine seasons...	Spartan South Midlands Spartan South Midlands Football League The Spartan South Midlands Football League is an English football league covering Hertfordshire, northwestern Greater London, central Buckinghamshire and southern Bedfordshire...  Division One	6	–
Spartan South Midlands Football League Spartan South Midlands Football League The Spartan South Midlands Football League is an English football league covering Hertfordshire, northwestern Greater London, central Buckinghamshire and southern Bedfordshire...  Division One is re-named Division Two
2001-2002 2001-02 in English football The 2001-02 season was the 122nd season of competitive football in England.-Arsenal cruise to title glory:In what had earlier been one of the most closely fought Premiership title races for years, Arsenal won the championship by seven points. Their crown was won in the penultimate game of the...	Spartan South Midlands Spartan South Midlands Football League The Spartan South Midlands Football League is an English football league covering Hertfordshire, northwestern Greater London, central Buckinghamshire and southern Bedfordshire...  Division Two	4	–
2002-2003 2002-03 in English football The 2002-03 season was the 123rd season of competitive football in England.-Most Memorable rise:*Wigan Athletic marked their 25th season of Football League membership by winning the Division Two championship and reaching the league's second tier for the very first time.-Most Memorable...	Spartan South Midlands Spartan South Midlands Football League The Spartan South Midlands Football League is an English football league covering Hertfordshire, northwestern Greater London, central Buckinghamshire and southern Bedfordshire...  Division Two	2	Runners Up
2003-2004 2003-04 in English football The 2003-04 season was the 124th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:Arsenal completed the entire campaign without losing a single league game....	Spartan South Midlands Spartan South Midlands Football League The Spartan South Midlands Football League is an English football league covering Hertfordshire, northwestern Greater London, central Buckinghamshire and southern Bedfordshire...  Division Two	1	Champions
As A.F.C. Dunstable
2004-2005 2004-05 in English football The 2004–05 season was the 125th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:*2004–05 was the first season to feature the rebranded Football League. The First Division, Second Division and Third Division were renamed the Football League Championship, Football League One and Football League...	Spartan South Midlands Spartan South Midlands Football League The Spartan South Midlands Football League is an English football league covering Hertfordshire, northwestern Greater London, central Buckinghamshire and southern Bedfordshire...  Division Two	6	–
2005-2006 2005-06 in English football The 2005–06 season was the 126th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:*The rebuilt Wembley Stadium was due to open in time for the FA Cup final in May. However, in August 2005, The Football Association reserved the Millennium Stadium as a backup, as there was some doubt whether...	Spartan South Midlands Spartan South Midlands Football League The Spartan South Midlands Football League is an English football league covering Hertfordshire, northwestern Greater London, central Buckinghamshire and southern Bedfordshire...  Division Two	2	Runners Up
2006-2007 2006-07 in English football The 2006–07 season was the 127th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:* The number of divisions at Level 8 of the English football league system increased from four to five...	Spartan South Midlands Spartan South Midlands Football League The Spartan South Midlands Football League is an English football league covering Hertfordshire, northwestern Greater London, central Buckinghamshire and southern Bedfordshire...  Division Two	1	Champions
2007-2008 2007-08 in English football The 2007–08 season was the 128th season of competitive football in England.-European competitions:In October 2007 Arsenal equalled the UEFA Champions League record victory with a 7–0 win over Slavia Prague at the Emirates Stadium. The record was broken the following month when Liverpool...	Spartan South Midlands Spartan South Midlands Football League The Spartan South Midlands Football League is an English football league covering Hertfordshire, northwestern Greater London, central Buckinghamshire and southern Bedfordshire...  Division Two	4	–
2008-2009	Spartan South Midlands Spartan South Midlands Football League The Spartan South Midlands Football League is an English football league covering Hertfordshire, northwestern Greater London, central Buckinghamshire and southern Bedfordshire...  Division Two	3	Promoted
2009-2010	Spartan South Midlands Spartan South Midlands Football League The Spartan South Midlands Football League is an English football league covering Hertfordshire, northwestern Greater London, central Buckinghamshire and southern Bedfordshire... Division One	5	–

Source:
2010-11

External links

• Official Site of AFC Dunstable