A Brief History of Cinderford Town AFC
Founded in 1922, Cinderford Town played in the Gloucestershire Northern Senior League, winning the league title in 1938/39. Following World War II Cinderford joined Western League Division Two and remained there until winning the division title in 1956/57 and promotion to Division One. However after two seasons the club pulled out of the Western League. A return to the Gloucestershire Northern Senior League was next and a second league title in 1960/61. More moves would follow as they joined the Warwickshire Combination Western Division (champions in 1964/65 and promotion to the Premier Division), the Gloucestershire County League in 1969 and the Midland Combination League in 1974. Cinderford returned to the Gloucestershire County League in 1984 before moving to the Hellenic League in 1990/91 where they became champions of Division One. Promotion to the Premier Division followed and in 1994/95 Cinderford were crowned Hellenic League champions. In 1995/96 they began playing in the second tier of the Southern League and would remain at that level until becoming champions of Division One South & West in 2015/16. Their time in the Premier Division was a difficult one and the club finished bottom of the league meaning a return to Division One for 2017/18.

Cinderford Town FC
Website: http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/cinderfordtown
Twitter: @Cinderford_Town

Form Guide
Cinderford Town’s return to the Southern League’s second tier has brought them mixed results so far as they sit in 15th position (W4 D2 L6). Included in their four league wins was a tremendous 7-1 victory over Didcot Town and more recently good wins over AFC Totton and Wimborne Town. However they are without a win in their last three outings with defeats to Bristol Manor Farm, Cirencester Town and a draw against Winchester City. Like us, Cinderford reached the 3rd Qualifying Round of the FA Cup beating Slimbridge, Moneyfields and Hartley Wintney before succumbing to Hampton & Richmond Borough.

Cinderford Town’s last six (LWWLLD)
04/11/17 Cinderford Town 2 Winchester City 2 (League)
24/10/17 Cinderford Town 2 Cirencester Town 3 (League)
21/10/17 Bristol Manor Farm 4 Cinderford Town 2 (League)
17/10/17 Wimborne Town 0 Cinderford Town 1 (League)
14/10/17 Cinderford Town 1 AFC Totton 0 (League)
07/10/17 Bristol Manor Farm 4 Cinderford Town 1 (FA Trophy PR)

Bideford’s good run came to an end last week with a second half collapse at North Leigh that saw The Robins go down 4-3. The mid-week Devon St Luke’s Bowl tie against Stoke Gabriel was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch. Craig Duff made his return to action at North Leigh and Ryan Turner will be available again this weekend after serving a one match suspension. Max Smallcombe and Stephen Reed remain long term absentees as does Liam Gregory who suffered a broken leg at Mangotsfield. Bideford are 5th in the division (W7 D1 L4).

Bideford's last six (WWWWDL)
04/11/17 North Leigh 4 Bideford 3 (League)
31/10/17 Mangotsfield United 1 Bideford 1 (League)
28/10/17 Bideford 3 Slimbridge 1 (League)
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)

Previous meetings:
03/03/12 Bideford 4 Cinderford Town 0 (Southern Div1 S&W)
15/11/11 Cinderford Town 0 Bideford 1 (Southern Div1 S&W)
14/04/11 Cinderford Town 0 Bideford 3 (Southern Div1 S&W)
05/02/11 Bideford 0 Cinderford Town 3 (Southern Div1 S&W)
2001/02 Cinderford Town 1 Bideford 3 (FA Cup PRr)
2001/02 Bideford 1 Cinderford Town 1 (FA Cup PR)

Bideford have a good record against Cinderford Town although the clubs have not met since 2012. On that occasion Ian Sampson, Richard Groves (2) and Sean Downing were on target as The Robins ran out 4-0 winners at the Sports Ground.