Frome Town F.C.

{{short description|English football club}} {{Use British English|date=June 2018}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2018}} {{Infobox football club | clubname = Frome Town | image = Frome Town FC crest.svg | upright = 0.75 | fullname = Frome Town Football Club | nickname = The Robins, The Dodge | founded = 1904 | ground = Badgers Hill, [[Frome]] | stadium = Badgers Hill | capacity = 3,000 (500 seated) | chrtitle = Chair | chairman = Courtney Fong | manager = [[Danny Greaves (footballer)|Danny Greaves]] | league = {{English football updater|FromeTow}} | season = {{English football updater|FromeTow2}} | position = {{English football updater|FromeTow3}} | website = {{URL|https://frometownfc.com/}} | pattern_la1 = _upperwhite | pattern_b1 = _whitecollar | pattern_ra1 = _upperwhite | pattern_sh1 = _whitebottom | pattern_so1 = _whitetop | leftarm1 = FF0000 | body1 = FF0000 | rightarm1 = FF0000 | shorts1 = FF0000 | socks1 = FF0000 | pattern_la2 = _upperwhite | pattern_b2 = _whitecollar | pattern_ra2 = _upperwhite | pattern_sh2 = _whitebottom | pattern_so2 = _whitetop | leftarm2 = 0000FF | body2 = 0000FF | rightarm2 = 0000FF | shorts2 = 0000FF | socks2 = 0000FF| }} '''Frome Town Football Club''' is an English [[Association football|football]] club based in [[Frome]], [[Somerset]]. They play in the {{English football updater|FromeTow}}. The club's nickname is the Robins and they play in a predominantly red kit.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.southern-football-league.co.uk/directory/club-directory.asp?league=premier&team=premier\frome_town.htm&section=club-directory |title=Evostik League Southern – Club Directory |publisher=Southern-football-league.co.uk |access-date=5 August 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017072918/http://www.southern-football-league.co.uk/directory/club-directory.asp?league=premier&team=premier%5Cfrome_town.htm&section=club-directory |archive-date=17 October 2012 }}</ref>

==History==

The club was founded in 1904, and started playing in the Wiltshire Premier League at their home ground of Badgers Hill<ref>{{cite web|title=Frome Town : History 1975 to date|url=http://www.statto.com/football/teams/frome-town/history/modern|publisher=Statto Corporation|access-date=17 August 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121018125112/http://www.statto.com/football/teams/frome-town/history/modern|archive-date=18 October 2012}}</ref><ref name="passion">{{cite web|title=Frome Town|url=http://www.pyramidpassion.co.uk/html/frome_town.html|publisher=Pyramid Passion|access-date=7 May 2011|archive-date=28 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120328031454/http://www.pyramidpassion.co.uk/html/frome_town.html|url-status=live}}</ref> A few seasons later, the club experienced success when they won the Somerset Senior League Championship in the 1906–07 season, followed by two more in 1908–09 and 1910–11 as well as winning the Wiltshire League Championship in the 1909–10 season.<ref name="hist">{{cite web |url=http://www.frometownfc.co.uk/history.htm |title=Overview | History |publisher=Frome Town FC |access-date=5 August 2012 |archive-date=24 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924015654/http://www.frometownfc.co.uk/history.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="hons">{{cite web |url=http://www.frometownfc.co.uk/trophies.htm |title=Trophies | History |publisher=Frome Town FC |access-date=5 August 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120602215132/http://www.frometownfc.co.uk/trophies.htm |archive-date=2 June 2012 }}</ref> After the league successes, the club made its debut in the FA Cup in the 1911–12 season, reaching the fifth qualifying round before losing 4–1 to [[Southport F.C.|Southport Central]].<ref name="fchd">{{fchd|name=FROME TOWN|id=FROMET}}</ref>

The club then joined the Western league in the 1919–20 season starting in Division two, where they won the division at their first attempt.<ref name="hist"/> However, they did not gain promotion and stayed in the league for a further two seasons before leaving, only to return to Division two for another three seasons at the beginning of the 1924–25 season.<ref name="fchd"/> The club returned to the Western league in the 1931–32 season and stayed there for eight seasons, never leaving Division two.<ref name="fchd"/> During this time, the club had success in the Somerset Senior FA Cup, winning it in the 1932–22 and 1933–34 seasons.<ref name="hist"/>

After the Second World War, the club again joined the Western League again for the beginning of the 1946–47 season starting in Division One, but being relegated back to Division Two at the end of the season. The club also played its first FA Cup game for 35 years in the same season. The 1954–55 season saw the club reach the first round of the FA Cup, where they were defeated by [[Football League]] side [[Leyton Orient F.C.|Leyton Orient]] in front of a record crowd of 8,000.<ref name="hist"/> The same season also saw the club gain promotion to Division one, when they finished as Runners-up in Division two. The club, however, was relegated back to Division two four seasons later and left the Western league, at the end of their first season back in Division two to join the Wiltshire League.<ref name="hist"/><ref name="fchd"/>

The club once again joined the Western league in the 1963–64 season and joined the top division. The club spent the next 32 seasons in the top division during which time they went on to become champions once during the 1978–79 season.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nonleaguematters.co.uk/nonleaguetables/lt1978-1979.html#WL0 |title=Non League Tables for 1978–1979 |publisher=NonLeagueMatters |access-date=5 August 2012 |archive-date=6 July 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120706225310/http://www.nonleaguematters.co.uk/nonleaguetables/lt1978-1979.html#WL0 |url-status=live }}</ref> The club also experienced cup success during their time in the Western Premier Division, winning the Somerset Premier Cup three times in the 1966–67, 1968–69, and 1982–83 seasons, as well as winning the Western League Cup twice and the Western counties floodlit cup once.<ref name="hist"/> At the end of the 1995–96 season, the club was relegated to Division One.<ref name="fchd"/>

At the end of the 1999–00 season, the club finished bottom of Division one but were spared relegation as the league was restructured that season. Two seasons later, at the end of the 2001–02 campaign, the club were Division One champions, and promoted back to the Premier Division. In the 2003–04 campaign, the club gained media attention when they asked local [[white witch]] Titania Hardie, to help improve their home form as they struggled at Badgers Hill.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/somerset/3394643.stm |title=UK | Witch helps unlucky football team |work=BBC News |date=13 January 2004 |access-date=5 August 2012 |archive-date=9 July 2004 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040709223924/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/somerset/3394643.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> The witch blamed the Decor of the changing rooms, and once the club changed them the team won eight of their nine remaining home games.<ref name="passion"/>

At the end of the 2008–09 season, the club finished as runners-up in the Premier Division and this was enough to secure promotion to the [[Southern Football League]] in Division One South & West, as champions [[Bitton A.F.C.|Bitton]] did not apply for promotion as their ground would not have passed the Southern League ground grading committee's standards.<ref>{{cite web|title=Bitton AFC|url=https://www.clubwebsite.co.uk/bittonafc/History|publisher=Club Website|access-date=10 February 2018|archive-date=23 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140323173331/http://www.clubwebsite.co.uk/bittonafc/History|url-status=live}}</ref> The club also achieved cup success that season when they beat Paulton Rovers 3–1 to win the Somerset Premier Cup.<ref>{{cite news|title=Frome Town lift Somerset Premier Cup|url=http://www.wiltshiretimes.co.uk/sport/generalsport/4353440.Frome_Town_lift_Somerset_Premier_Cup/|access-date=10 February 2018|work=Wiltshire Times|date=8 May 2009|archive-date=11 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180211071647/http://www.wiltshiretimes.co.uk/sport/generalsport/4353440.Frome_Town_lift_Somerset_Premier_Cup/|url-status=live}}</ref> In their second season in Division One South and West, the club gained promotion to the Premier Division when they beat [[Sholing F.C.|Sholing]] 1–0 in the play-off final, under the management of Darren Perrin.<ref>{{cite web |last=Barnes |first=Dan |url=http://www.thisiswiltshire.co.uk/sport/9003243.ZAMARETTO_LEAGUE_DIVISION_ONE_WEST_PLAY_OFF_FINAL__Frome_are_up/ |title=Zamaretto League Division One West Play-off Final: Frome are up (From This Is Wiltshire) |publisher=Thisiswiltshire.co.uk |date=2 May 2011 |access-date=5 August 2012 |archive-date=5 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005004802/http://www.thisiswiltshire.co.uk/sport/9003243.ZAMARETTO_LEAGUE_DIVISION_ONE_WEST_PLAY_OFF_FINAL__Frome_are_up/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The club has since remained in the Premier Division of the [[Southern Football League]].

In 2019, When reviewing the current club crest, Frome Town FC agreed that the design was too detailed and didn't display well on colour and image backgrounds with digital files no longer accessible, and changed logo.

In the 2023–24 season, they reached the 3rd round of the [[FA Trophy]] the furthest they have gone in the competition after beating [[Worthing F.C.|Worthing]] 4–3 on penalties after a 2–2 draw at Badgers Hill.

The [[2025–26 Southern Football League#Division One South|2025–26 season]] saw Frome Town promoted back to the Southern League Premier Division South as Division One South champions.<ref name="25/26 Champions"> {{cite web|url=https://southern-football-league.co.uk/news/137899/THE-ROUND-UP-EASTER-MONDAY-ACTION|title=THE ROUND UP {{!}} EASTER MONDAY ACTION|website=southern-football-league.co.uk|date=6 April 2026|accessdate=7 April 2026}}</ref>

==Players==

===Current squad (2024-25)===

{{Fs start}} {{Fs player|no=1|nat=|pos=GK|name=Kyle Phillips}} {{Fs player|no=2|nat=|pos=DF|name=Matt Wood}} {{Fs player|no=3|nat=|pos=MF|name=Sam Heal}} {{Fs player|no=4|nat=|pos=DF|name=Sam Teale}} {{Fs player|no=5|nat=|pos=DF|name=Pierce Michell}} {{Fs player|no=6|nat=|pos=MF|name=Joe Budd}} {{Fs player|no=7|nat=|pos=FW|name=Jon Davies}} {{Fs player|no=8|nat=|pos=DF|name=George Rigg}} {{Fs player|no=9|nat=|pos=FW|name=Curtis Hutson}} {{Fs player|no=10|nat=|pos=MF|name=Zak Drew}} {{Fs player|no=11|nat=|pos=FW|name=Albie Hopkins}} {{Fs mid}} {{Fs player|no=12|nat=|pos=FW|name=Marcus Day}} {{Fs player|no=13|nat=|pos=GK|name=Tom Roberts}} {{Fs player|no=14|nat=|pos=DF|name=Warren Maidment}} {{Fs player|no=15|nat=|pos=MF|name=Ethan Vaughan}} {{Fs player|no=16|nat=|pos=FW|name=Evra Yao}} {{Fs player|no=17|nat=|pos=DF|name=Alex Monks}} {{Fs player|no=18|nat=|pos=DF|name=James Ollis}} {{Fs player|no=19|nat=|pos=MF|name=Joe O’Loughlin}} {{Fs player|no=20|nat=|pos=MF|name=Matt Smith}} {{Fs player|no=21|nat=|pos=GK|name=Sebastian Tylek}} {{Fs player|no=22|nat=|pos=MF|name=Reece Rusher}} {{Fs end}}

==Management team==

{| class="wikitable" |- ! Position !! Name |- |align="left"|'''Manager''' |align="left"|Danny Greaves |- |align="left"|'''Assistant Manager''' |align="left"|Neil Simons |- |align="left"|'''Head Coach''' |align="left"|Craig Loxton |- |align="left"|'''First Team Coach''' |align="left"|Matt Lewton |- |align="left"|'''Goalkeeping Coach''' |align="left"|TBC |- |align="left"|'''Kit Man''' |align="left"|Shaun Baker |- |'''Analytics''' |Fin Hopkins |- |'''Sports Therapist''' |Tom Dalby |}

==Ground== [[File:Frome Town F.C.JPG|thumb|Frome Town F.C.]] Frome Town play their games at Badgers Hill, Berkley Road, Frome, BA11 2EH.

In 2012, the club added a new 250-seater stand to the stadium, so that their ground would meet the requirements set out for the [[Southern Football League]] Premier Division.<ref>{{cite web|title=Frome Town FC|url=http://www.westcountryfootball.co.uk/teams/frome.html|publisher=West Country Football|access-date=10 February 2018|archive-date=11 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180211071748/http://www.westcountryfootball.co.uk/teams/frome.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.footballfoundation.org.uk/media-centre/news-archive/frome-town/ |title=Frome Town FC secure FSIF grant towards a new stand / Football Foundation |publisher=Footballfoundation.org.uk |access-date=6 August 2012 |archive-date=17 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120617165900/http://www.footballfoundation.org.uk/media-centre/news-archive/frome-town/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The stadium is under ownership of Frome Town Council with a lease to Badgers Hill Ltd. At an extraordinary meeting of Frome Town Council on 10 December 2025, councillors voted to remove the exclusive right of current tenants Badgers Hill Ltd (BHL) to lease or buy the site.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-07-03 |title=Frome Town FC: 'Celebrations' as new leader takes over stadium |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c9qxy9v2vdpo |access-date=2025-07-29 |website=www.bbc.com |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-12-10 |title=From the Chamber – the future of Badgers Hill |url=https://www.frometowncouncil.gov.uk/from-the-chamber-the-future-of-badgers-hill/ |access-date=2026-03-20 |website=www.frometowncouncil.gov.uk |language=en-GB}}</ref>

==Honours==

===League honours=== *'''[[Southern Football League|Southern League Division One South]]''' **Winners (1): [[2025–26 Southern Football League#Division One South|2025–26]] *'''[[Western Football League|Western League Premier Division]]''':<ref name="fchd"/> **Winners (1): 1978–79 **Runners-up (2): 1982–83, 2008–09 *'''[[Western Football League|Western League Division One]]''':<ref name="fchd"/> **Winners (1): 2001–02 *'''[[Western Football League|Western League Division Two]]''':<ref name="fchd"/> **Winners (1): 1919–20 **Runners-up (1): 1954–55 *'''[[Wiltshire Football League]] Premier Division''':<ref name="hist"/><ref name="hons"/> **Winners (2): 1909–10, 1962–63 *'''[[Somerset County Football League]] Premier Division''':<ref name="hons"/> **Winners (3): 1906–07, 1908–09, 1910–11

===Cup honours=== *'''[[Somerset Premier Cup]]''':<ref name="hons"/> **Winners (5): 1966–67, 1968–69 (Joint), 1982–83, 2008–09, 2025–26

*'''Somerset Senior Cup''':<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.somersetfa.com/somerset-fa/previous-winners/senior-cup?db=masterc=1 |title=Senior Cup |publisher=SomersetFA |date=19 April 2012 |access-date=4 April 2013 |archive-date=30 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170730075835/http://www.somersetfa.com/somerset-fa/previous-winners/senior-cup?db=masterc=1 |url-status=live }}</ref> **Winners (3): 1932–33, 1933–34, 1950–51 *'''[[Southern Football League]] Cup''':<ref>{{cite web |last=Barnes |first=Dan |url=http://www.wiltshiretimes.co.uk/sport/10343492.RED_INSURE_CUP_FINAL_SECOND_LEG__Frome_Town_1_Arlesey_Town_1__Arlesey_Town_win_2_1_on_aggregate_/ |title=RED INSURE CUP FINAL SECOND LEG: Frome Town 1 Arlesey Town 1 (Arlesey Town win 2–1 on aggregate) (From Wiltshire Times) |publisher=Wiltshiretimes.co.uk |date=9 April 2013 |access-date=22 June 2013 |archive-date=5 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305011335/http://www.wiltshiretimes.co.uk/sport/10343492.RED_INSURE_CUP_FINAL_SECOND_LEG__Frome_Town_1_Arlesey_Town_1__Arlesey_Town_win_2_1_on_aggregate_/ |url-status=live }}</ref> **Runners up (1): 2012–13 *'''[[Western Football League]] Cup''':<ref>{{cite web|title=History|url=http://www.toolstationleague.com/history.php|publisher=Western League|access-date=12 February 2017|archive-date=25 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170825004624/http://www.toolstationleague.com/history.php|url-status=live}}</ref> **Winners (2): 1979–80, 1982–83 **Runners-up (3): 1954–55, 1974-75, 2001–02 *'''Western League Alan Young Cup''':<ref>{{cite web|title=History and Honours|url=http://www.frometownfc.co.uk/history.htm|publisher=Frome Town FC|access-date=12 February 2017|archive-date=24 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924015654/http://www.frometownfc.co.uk/history.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> **Winners (1): 1979–80 *'''Western Countied Floodlit Cup''':<ref name="hons"/> **Winners (1): 1983–84

==Records==

*'''Highest League Position''':<ref name="fchd"/> 8th in Southern League premier Division 2016–17 *'''[[FA Cup]] best performance''':<ref name="fchd"/> First round 1954–55 *'''[[FA Trophy]] best performance''':<ref name="fchd"/> Third round 2023–24 *'''[[FA Vase]] best performance''':<ref name="fchd"/> Quarter-Final 2004–05 *'''Highest Attendance''':<ref name="hist"/> 8,000 vs [[Leyton Orient F.C.|Leyton Orient]] 1954–55 Season

==Former players== :{{further|:Category:Frome Town F.C. players}}

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *{{Official website|https://www.weareba11.com/}}

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[[Category:Association football clubs established in 1904]] [[Category:1904 establishments in England]] [[Category:Frome]] [[Category:Men's football clubs in England]] [[Category:Football clubs in Somerset]] [[Category:Southern Football League clubs]] [[Category:Somerset County League]]