Slimbridge are the visitors to the Sports Ground on Saturday in Southern League Division One South. The Swans are currently having their best ever Southern League season having never finished higher than 18th place which they surely will this time. They are currently in 7th position on 35 points which is five points more than they managed in total last season. Slimbridge are just three points off the play-off zone and come into Saturday’s game off the back of a comfortable 4-0 win over Barnstaple Town. Since their disappointing defeat at Bristol Manor Farm, Bideford have responded well by taking a point from league leaders Thatcham Town and picking up their first away win of the season on Tuesday night at play-off chasing Cinderford Town. The Cinderford result was even more impressive considering several key players were injured/unavailable which gives Sean Joyce a nice selection dilemma ahead of Saturday with the likes of Sean Downing, Charlie Lawrence and Niall Heeney available once again. Captain Ben Carter is doubtful due to a shoulder injury picked up against Thatcham last Saturday.

Form Guide

Slimbridge’s last six (WWLLDW) Pos 7st W11 D2 L10 Pts 35
25/01/20 Slimbridge 4 Barnstaple Town 0 (League)
18/01/20 Mangotsfield United 3 Slimbridge 3 (League)
11/01/20 Slimbridge 2 Melksham Town 4 (League)
04/01/20 Highworth Town 2 Slimbridge 0 (League)
01/01/20 Slimbridge 5 Evesham United 2 (League)
26/12/19 Cinderford Town 1 Slimbridge 2 (League)

Bideford’s last six (LWDLDW) Pos 14th W7 D5 L11 Pts 26
28/01/20 Cinderford Town 1 Bideford 2 (League)
25/01/20 Bideford 1 Thatcham Town 1 (League)
18/01/20 Bristol Manor Farm 2 Bideford 1 (League)
11/01/20 Moneyfields 0 Bideford 0 (League)
04/01/20 Bideford 2 Frome Town 1 (League)
01/01/20 Willand Rovers 3 Bideford 2 (League)

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, then 20th in 2016/17 and 2017/18. Last season The Swans improved slightly to 18th.

Slimbridge AFC
Thornhill Park
Wisloe Road
Cambridge
Gloucestershire
GL2 7AF
Tel: 07702 070229
Web: http://www.slimbridgeafc.co.uk
Twitter: @slimbridgeafc

Previous meetings:
05/10/19 Slimbridge 2 Bideford 1 (Southern Div 1 South)
20/04/19 Bideford 2 Slimbridge 0 (Southern Div 1 South)
01/09/18 Slimbridge 3 Bideford 2 (Southern Div 1 South)
21/04/18 Slimbridge 4 Bideford 3 (Southern Div 1 West)
28/10/17 Bideford 3 Slimbridge 1 (Southern Div 1 West)
08/04/17 Slimbridge 2 Bideford 0 (Southern Div 1 S&W)
14/01/17 Bideford 1 Slimbridge 0 (Southern Div 1 S&W)