Capel Plough F.C.

Capel Plough F.C. is an English association football club based in Capel St. Mary, Suffolk currently competing in the Suffolk and Ipswich Football League.[2] The club is one of the fastest growing clubs in the county.[3] Since May 2023 it has been an official affiliate of Ipswich Town FC and is an FA Charter Standard club.[4][5]

Capel Plough F.C.
Full nameCapel Plough Football Club
Founded1969
GroundCapel St. Mary's Playing Field
Capacity500
ChairmanGareth Millar
ManagerArron Hall[1]
LeagueSuffolk and Ipswich Football League Division One
2021–22Suffolk and Ipswich Football League Senior Division, 15th (Relegated)
WebsiteClub website

Facilities

The club plays its home matches at the Capel St. Mary's Playing Field. The club's pavilion was built in the early 1970s and underwent a significant reconstruction beginning in 2021.[6] The previous year, the Babergh District Council approved plans to demolish the center to construct a new, modern sports and social hub which would have included a new 3G artificial turf football pitch.[7] As of May 2023, there are still plans to install the modern turf pitch at the grounds.[8]

History

Capel Plough F.C. was founded in 1969. In May 2023, it was announced that the club had become an official affiliate of Ipswich Town FC. The partnership would see Capel Plough players participating in the Ipswich Town academy system as a possible pathway to the senior club.[5] Capel Plough had already been working together on different initiatives with the Ipswich Town Foundation for a number of years.[8]

Male

The club's senior team began the 2018/2019 season with six consecutive victories in the Suffolk and Ipswich Football League. Those victories included a 5–2 win over title holders Achilles F.C. thanks to a hat-trick by Daniel Alderson.[9] In late 2021, the club entered into a partnership with the academy of Needham Market. As part of the agreement, Needham Market academy coach Arron Hall took over as the manager of Capel Plough's men's first team, replacing outgoing manager Pat Tynan. The deal would give Capel Plough access to some of the best facilities in Suffolk.[10]

Female

In 2016, Capel Plough organized female teams for the first time.[11] Soon thereafter a girls side was runners-up in the Suffolk FA Cup and third in the Suffolk League.[12][13] In 2017, the club hosted nearby Colchester United F.C. players Eoin McKeown and Ryan Clampin as part of a training for its girls teams.[14] In 2018, the club opened a new Wildcat Centre in Capel St. Mary along with MP James Cartlidge. The facility was designed specifically for young female players between the ages of five and eleven.[15] The following year, Adrian Goodwin, the central figure in creating the women and girl's football program at Capel Plough, was headhunted to become first-ever Director of Women's and Girls' Football for A.F.C. Sudbury. Goodwin was brought in to recreate the structures and success of Capel Plough and have a Sudbury women's team at every level in Suffolk.[16] The club formed a senior women's team for the first time in 2023.[17] In its first year of existence, the club was defeated 2–3 in the first round of the Suffolk Women’s County Cup by Brantham Athletic Ladies Development.[18]

Notable former players

References
  1. "Mens First Team Contact". Capel Plough FC. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  2. "The FA profile". The Football Association. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  3. Howlettq, Adam. "Capel Plough FC pick rescued greyhound Ivor as first club mascot". The Ipswich Star. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  4. "WASP-Capel Plough". Wiltshire and Swindon Sport. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
  5. "Foundation and Capel Plough announce new partnership". Ipswich Town FC. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  6. "Capel Pavillion Work is Well Underway". Suffolk FA. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  7. Jefford, Will. "Demolition of 50-year-old pavilion for new sports centre and 3G pitches approved". The East Anglican Daily Times. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  8. "Foundation Weekly Round Up". Ipswich Town FC. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  9. "Capel Plough FC". In Touch Magazine. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  10. "FOOTBALL AND EDUCATION PATHWAY FOR CAPEL PLOUGH FC". Needham Mark Academy. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  11. Howlett, Adam. "Capel Plough FC toasts its success at biggest sporting event in club's history". East Anglian Daily Times. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  12. Goodwin, Megan. "Capel Plough FC are the first girl football club to attend Ipswich FC first game of the season against Birmingham City". The Ipswich Star. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  13. "TICKET OFFER LEADS TO NEW GIRLS JOINING". Suffolk FA. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  14. Plummer, Matt. "Colchester United duo pass on top tips to girls at Capel Plough YFC". Essex County Daily Gazette Standard. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  15. Howlett, Adam. "MP cuts ribbon to open FA Girls' Wildcat Centre in Capel St Mary". The East Anglican Daily Times. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  16. Claydon, Russell. "Director of women's and girls' football Adrian Goodwin wants AFC Sudbury to be at the top of the female football league in Suffolk". Suffolk News. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  17. Frith, Wilf. "Women's & girls' summer 2023 open training / trials listings". She Kicks Magazine. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  18. "Suffolk Women's County Cup 2023/24". Women's Football East. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  19. "Jacobbi Tugman-FA Profile". The English FA. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
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