History
During a period of sixteen years since Bridgend United in its previous incarnation folded there had been more than a few thoughts of forming a new football club, especially since 1999 when Bridgend & District Golf Club opened the doors of its terrific Clubhouse.
In late 2005, the subject was again raised during conversation in the Golf Club’s Haughburn Bar. Like so many conversations on a typical Sunday afternoon in the village, it could have easily been forgotten. That is, if it hadn’t immediately caught the imagination of those involved...
Although it had been a while, there were many with fond memories of spending a Sunday afternoon watching Bridgend United at the Top Park compete in – and ultimately win – the now defunct Maybury Sunday League.
There was always a large crowd at South side of the park - traditionally the Bridgend team's touchline - and it was hoped that with little else in the way of social activity in the village, that this could be replicated to some extent.
The serious work of planning and funding the Club, not to mention sourcing a squad, then began...
Fundraising events and player trials were planned and most importantly the new club’s first management team was put together. Former United players Derek O’Neill & Roddy MacDonald agreed to become co-managers as we began our adventure.
Many names were considered for the new Club, for example Champfleurie and Bridgend Thistle – both teams of the past - along with the simple Bridgend AFC, but in the end we plumped for Bridgend United Football Club, as there were still many local people who could identify with this Club and had happy memories of watching, and maybe playing alongside, those in the colours of claret and blue.
With no football specific changing facilities in the village, Bridgend & District Golf Club agreed to allow the Club use of their changing rooms so that we could play home matches at Auldhill Park, but this arrangement could only come into place out side of the golf season due to the club rooms being too busy with golfers.
The exception to this was on Sunday 6 August 2006 when Bridgend played their first Home friendly match, fittingly against a Bridgend XI containing several former United players. A large crowd attended, partly to see what all the fuss was about and also to see some of their favourites from days gone by in action one more time.
Two weeks later, on Saturday 19 August 2006, the Brigenders played their first competitive match. This was against Redhall Star at their home on the South West side of Edinburgh. A heavy 8 – 0 loss ensued and there would be no shortage of people who thought we may have bit off a little more than we could chew.
As games came along, performances improved, as did the squad, which by the time we were able to play our first match at Auldhill Park with the arrangement with the golf club kicking in – we had played our home matches up to this point at Niddry Park in neighbouring Winchburgh – the squad was barely recognisable.
That first match back at our natural home was, perhaps most fittingly of all, against Linlithgow Thistle. Our local rivals raced into a two goal lead but with a crowd of around eighty in attendance, home pride always looked likely to come to the fore with United levelling and then being extremely unlucky not to go on to win the match.
Looking back, that day – Saturday 4 November - seems to have been a turning point in the short history of the Club.
United went on to clinch promotion to the Lothian West Division at the first attempt after embarking on a run of ten league wins in a row, a terrific return for the young side’s debut season.
In the club's second season, 2007/08, Derek O'Neill moved from the position of co-manager to Club President and John Ross joined the club to replace him in the role of Co-Manager. The season did not disappoint and United more than consolidated in the higher division, running Armadale Athletic and Granton Vale all the way before finishing in third place.
The next again season the side improved further and although it finally proved fruitless in terms of silverware, United lost out on promotion only after the heartbreak of an extra time loss in a league playoff against Granton Vale after finishing tied on points for first place.
Although 2009/10 has been our greatest in terms of form, we hope that the successes of the past few seasons can be continued and, with time, that the Club will establish itself as a force in regional, and hopefully national, Amateur football.
In late 2005, the subject was again raised during conversation in the Golf Club’s Haughburn Bar. Like so many conversations on a typical Sunday afternoon in the village, it could have easily been forgotten. That is, if it hadn’t immediately caught the imagination of those involved...
Although it had been a while, there were many with fond memories of spending a Sunday afternoon watching Bridgend United at the Top Park compete in – and ultimately win – the now defunct Maybury Sunday League.
There was always a large crowd at South side of the park - traditionally the Bridgend team's touchline - and it was hoped that with little else in the way of social activity in the village, that this could be replicated to some extent.
The serious work of planning and funding the Club, not to mention sourcing a squad, then began...
Fundraising events and player trials were planned and most importantly the new club’s first management team was put together. Former United players Derek O’Neill & Roddy MacDonald agreed to become co-managers as we began our adventure.
Many names were considered for the new Club, for example Champfleurie and Bridgend Thistle – both teams of the past - along with the simple Bridgend AFC, but in the end we plumped for Bridgend United Football Club, as there were still many local people who could identify with this Club and had happy memories of watching, and maybe playing alongside, those in the colours of claret and blue.
With no football specific changing facilities in the village, Bridgend & District Golf Club agreed to allow the Club use of their changing rooms so that we could play home matches at Auldhill Park, but this arrangement could only come into place out side of the golf season due to the club rooms being too busy with golfers.
The exception to this was on Sunday 6 August 2006 when Bridgend played their first Home friendly match, fittingly against a Bridgend XI containing several former United players. A large crowd attended, partly to see what all the fuss was about and also to see some of their favourites from days gone by in action one more time.
Two weeks later, on Saturday 19 August 2006, the Brigenders played their first competitive match. This was against Redhall Star at their home on the South West side of Edinburgh. A heavy 8 – 0 loss ensued and there would be no shortage of people who thought we may have bit off a little more than we could chew.
As games came along, performances improved, as did the squad, which by the time we were able to play our first match at Auldhill Park with the arrangement with the golf club kicking in – we had played our home matches up to this point at Niddry Park in neighbouring Winchburgh – the squad was barely recognisable.
That first match back at our natural home was, perhaps most fittingly of all, against Linlithgow Thistle. Our local rivals raced into a two goal lead but with a crowd of around eighty in attendance, home pride always looked likely to come to the fore with United levelling and then being extremely unlucky not to go on to win the match.
Looking back, that day – Saturday 4 November - seems to have been a turning point in the short history of the Club.
United went on to clinch promotion to the Lothian West Division at the first attempt after embarking on a run of ten league wins in a row, a terrific return for the young side’s debut season.
In the club's second season, 2007/08, Derek O'Neill moved from the position of co-manager to Club President and John Ross joined the club to replace him in the role of Co-Manager. The season did not disappoint and United more than consolidated in the higher division, running Armadale Athletic and Granton Vale all the way before finishing in third place.
The next again season the side improved further and although it finally proved fruitless in terms of silverware, United lost out on promotion only after the heartbreak of an extra time loss in a league playoff against Granton Vale after finishing tied on points for first place.
Although 2009/10 has been our greatest in terms of form, we hope that the successes of the past few seasons can be continued and, with time, that the Club will establish itself as a force in regional, and hopefully national, Amateur football.
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