Saturday’s visitors to the Sports Ground are Slimbridge in the Evo-Stik League South, West Division.

Bideford vs Slimbridge
Evo-Stik League South West
Saturday 28th October 2017
3:00pm kick off
Sports Ground, Bideford

A Brief History of Slimbridge AFC
Slimbridge AFC were founded back in 1902 and played local level football throughout the 1900s mostly in the Stroud & District League. Slimbridge joined the Gloucestershire County League for the 2001/02 season and finished as runners-up. They were promoted to Hellenic League Division One West and were champions in their first season. A step up to the Hellenic Premier Division followed in 2003/04 and after three top five finishes The Swans were crowned Hellenic League champions in 2006/07. However due to internal problems in the club they could not join the Southern League as planned and were forced to resign from their position in the Hellenic League. Slimbridge took the place of their reserve team in the Gloucestershire Northern Senior League. Successive promotions saw The Swans back in Hellenic League Division One West in 2009/10 which they won for a second time at the first time of asking. After three top six finishes in the Hellenic Premier, Slimbridge transferred to the Western League Premier Division in 2013/14 but finished 16th. A season later they were promoted to the Southern League after finishing 3rd. In their first season in Division One South & West Slimbridge finished 18th and then 20th in 2016/17.

Slimbridge AFC
Web: http://www.slimbridgeafc.co.uk
Twitter: @slimbridgeafc

Form Guide
Slimbridge are in their third season at Southern League level and after struggling in their first two campaigns have made a decent start this time. The Swans are in 9th position (W5 D3 L4), level on points with Bideford having played three games more. Four of their five wins have come on the road, most recently a 3-0 success at Barnstaple Town. Their other win was at home to high flying Bristol Manor Farm. Last time out Slimbridge were only denied a big win over league leaders Taunton Town by a last minute equaliser.

Slimbridge’s last six (WLLLWD)
25/10/17 Slimbridge 2 Taunton Town 2 (League)
21/10/17 Barnstaple Town 0 Slimbridge 3 (League)
14/10/17 Slimbridge 2 Salisbury 5 (League)
07/10/17 Slimbridge 0 Hartley Wintney 1 (FA Trophy PR)
03/10/17 Cinderford Town 3 Slimbridge 2 (League Cup R1)
30/09/17 Mangotsfield United 1 Slimbridge 2 (League)

Putting their recent cup defeats behind them, Bideford have won three league games on the bounce against Cirencester Town, Bishop’s Cleeve and most recently Bristol Manor Farm on Tuesday night. The Robins are up to 8th in the division (W6 D0 L3) and have games in hand on the teams around them. Ben Seymour is available again as is Sean Downing who was an unused substitute on Tuesday night. Craig Veal remains suspended while Max Smallcombe and Stephen Reed are still not close to returning to action.

Bideford's last six (LDLWWW)
24/10/17 Bideford 3 Bristol Manor Farm 1 (League)
17/10/17 Bishop’s Cleeve 1 Bideford 2 (League)
14/10/17 Bideford 3 Cirencester Town 0 (League)
07/10/17 Moneyfields 4 Bideford 2 (FA Trophy PR)
03/10/17 Bideford 2 Taunton Town 2 (League Cup R1) *Taunton won on pens
30/09/17 Haringey Borough 4 Bideford 1 (FA Cup Q3)

Previous meetings
08/04/17 Slimbridge 2 Bideford 0 (Southern Div 1 S&W)
14/01/17 Bideford 1 Slimbridge 0 (Southern Div 1 S&W)

It was honours even last season between the clubs as Bideford won the first encounter at the Sports Ground through a Billy Tucker goal. Slimbridge then returned the favour at Thornhill Park winning 2-0 with goals from Lee Smith and Marley Thomas.