Banbury United F.C.

The club was established in 1931 as Spencer Sports Club, a works team of the Spencer Corsets factory. They initially played friendly matches, with their first match against St John's of the Oxfordshire Junior League played on 29 August 1931 and resulting in an 8–2 win for St John's. In 1933 they joined the Banbury division of the Oxfordshire Junior League, at which point they were renamed Spencer Villa. they were elected to the Birmingham Combination, also entering a team into the Central Amateur League for the 1935–36 season. After World War II the club turned professional. The 1947–48 season saw them finish as runners-up in the Combination and reach the first round of the FA Cup for the first time, where they lost 2–1 at Colchester United. When Division One was split into two divisions in 1971, the club was placed in Division One North. In 2014–15 Banbury won the Oxfordshire Senior Cup for a sixth time defeating North Leigh 4–3 on penalties in the final. However, they were also relegated to Division One South and West at the end of the season. In August 2015, a supporter-led Community Benefit Society took formal control of the club. Their first season in Division One South and West saw them finish as runners-up and qualify for the promotion play-offs. they defeated Taunton Town 2–0 in the final to earn promotion back to the Premier Division. The club were placed in the Premier Central division at the end of the 2017–18 season as part of the restructuring of the non-League pyramid. The 2020–21 season saw Banbury reach the first round of the FA Cup for the fifth time, going on to lose 2–1 at home to Canvey Island. They reached the first round again the following season, where they were beaten 4–0 at home by Barrow; the season also saw them win the Southern Premier Division Central title, earning promotion to the National League North. However, they were relegated back to the Premier Division Central of the Southern League at the end of the 2023–24 season after finishing third-from-bottom of the National League North. ==Ground==

The club has played at the Spencer Stadium (currently known as the Banbury Plant Hire Community Stadium for sponsorship purposes) on Station Approach since the start of the 1934–35 season, having originally played at Middleton Road. Financial problems led to the ground deteriorating, and the main stand was closed in 1985 before being demolished in 1990. ==Honours==

• Southern League • Premier Division Central champions 2021–22 • Hellenic League • Premier Division champions 1999–2000 • Oxfordshire Senior League • Champions 1934–35 • Oxfordshire Junior League • Banbury Division champions 1933–34 • Oxfordshire Senior Cup • Winners 1978–79, 1987–88, 2003–04, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2014–15 • Buckingham Charity Cup • Winners 2001–02, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2015–16 ==Records==

• Best FA Cup performance: First round 1947–48, 1961–62, 1972–73, 1973–74, 2020–21, 2021–22 • Best FA Trophy performance: Fourth round, 2022–23 • Best FA Vase performance: Second round, 1999–2000 • Biggest win: 12–0 vs RNAS Culham, Oxfordshire Senior Cup, 1945–46 • Heaviest defeat: 11–2 vs West Bromwich Albion 'A', Birmingham Combination, 1938–39 • Record attendance: 7,160 vs Oxford City, FA Cup third qualifying round, 30 October 1948 • Most goals: Dick Pike, 222 (1935–48); Tony Jacques, 222 (1965–76) • Most appearances: Jody McKay, 576 • Most goals scored in a season: Tony Jacques, 62 in 1967–68 • Record transfer fee paid: £2,000 to Oxford United for Phil Emsden • Record transfer fee received: £20,000 from Derby County for Kevin Wilson, 1979 ==See also==