BILLERICAY TOWN
HISTORY
The Billericay Town Football Club Hall of Fame aims to recognise those individuals that have made an important contribution to the club, whether as a player, staff member or volunteer.
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The F.A. Vase Winners
John Newman
Whilst Billericay Town were members of the Essex Olympian League John Newman was appointed as manager. Prior to his appointment the clubs best finish was 7th in 1967.
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The Blues won the Olympian League title in 1970 and retained their title the following season.
Under Newman’s leadership Town won:
• Essex Olympian League (2)
• Essex Olympian League Senior Division Cup
• Essex Olympian League Challenge Cup (2)
• Essex Senior League Challenge Cup (Senior Section) (3)
• Essex Senior League (3)
• Essex Senior League Cup (2)
• J. T. Clark Memorial Trophy (4)
• F. A. Vase (2)
• Essex Senior Cup
• Athenian League
• Athenian League Cup
• Essex Senior Trophy
Since John Newman’s first spell as manager the club have won 12 more honours. John left to manage Southern League 1 South Chelmsford City in November 1978.
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Mr Newman returned to New Lodge to manage the team with Steve Bone for the 1980-81 season and lead them to promotion to the Isthmian League Premier Division.
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Colin Searle
Searle was a member of the coaching staff for all three of Town’s F.A. Vase wins.
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He was assistant to John Newman for the 1976 and 1977 finals. When Newman left in 1978 Colin was made joint caretaker manager with Arthur Coughlan until January 1979 when he was given the job permanently.
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Searle stayed in the managers job until May 1979 and lead the club to its third F.A. Vase victory as well as a second successive Athenian League title.
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Ken Howells
Howells was part of the coaching squad with the club when they won the 1979 F.A. Vase final.
Ken was employed as the Assistant Superintendent Physiotherapist at Basildon Hospital whilst he was with the club.
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Harry Leslie
Harry was the clubs General Secretary for many years.
He carried out the role during the time The Blues won all three of their F.A. Vases.
Roy Wrenn
Roy was the first team trainer during the F.A. Vase victories.
Wrenn spoke to the Songs of Praise cameras in 1984 as the BBC came to Billericay for an episode of the show. As well as showing the town New Lodge was also visited and the Blues squad were seen training.
Geoff Aslett
Target man Aslett had been capped for England at youth level and played for Hendon, Harwich, Hornchurch and Tilbury before moving to New Lodge.
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His first goals for the club came at New Lodge on 4 November 1972 against Brightlingsea United. Geoff scored twice as The Blues won 3-0.
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Geoff scored the only goal of the 1976 F.A. Vase final, against Stamford. This was just one of the 67 goals he scored for The Blues.
Billy Bingham
Midfielder Bingham joined the club from Borough neighbours Bowers United.
He was part of the Blues side that won the 1979 F.A. Vase final.
Paul Blackaller
Defender Paul joined The Blues for the 1978-79 season having previously played for Barnet and Bishop’s Stortford. He made his debut in Town’s 2-1 away win at Hoddesdon Town on 9 September 1978.
During that first season Blackaller was part of the Town side the beat Almondsbury Greenway in the 1979 F.A. Vase final at Wembley.
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Steve Bone
Converted striker Steve became a rock in the heart of The Blues defence having joined from Ilford. Steve played for Runwell Hospital in the late 1960’s before moving to Town.
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Bone lifted the F.A. Vase with Billericay Town in 1976, 1977 and as captain in 1979.
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He scored 69 goals for the club, making him Billericay’s 9th highest goal scorer on record.
Sadly, Steve passed away in 2011 after a long battle with cancer.
Mark Carrigan
Midfielder Carrigan had played reserve football for West Ham, Spurs and Southend. Carrigan was part of the Town team that won the 1979 F.A. Vase.
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Carrigan had lined up a trial with Chicago Sting in the North American Soccer League but he never played in the N.A.S.L.
Fred Clayden
One of the greatest names in the club’s history Fred Clayden scored 275 goals for Billericay Town F.C.
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Fred joined the club when they were members of the Essex Olympian League under the leadership of John Newman. He spent the 1973-74 season with Leytonstone before returning to the club.
Fred won their F.A. Vases with Town, scoring the equaliser against Sheffield F.C. in 1977 at Wembley.
Clayden scored his second Wembley goal in the 1979 final against Almondsbury Greenway as The Blues won 4-1.
Fred would finish as the clubs top scorer in 1972, 1973, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, joint top scorer in 1979 and in 1983.
Arthur Coughlan
Club legend Coughlan was club captain when they lifted the F.A. Vase in 1976 and 1977.
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Arthur started out at Millwall before moving to Wycombe Wanderers and Ilford.
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Coughlan was caretaker manager with Colin Searle for three months prior to Searle being given the job and leading Town to the 1979 F.A. Vase, with Arthur Coughlan as his assistant.
Lester Foreman
Right back Lester came through the ranks at Crystal Palace before joining Southend United.
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Foreman moved to Chelmsford City before the end of the 1970’s, but not before helping The Blues to their first two F.A. Vase victories.
John Geddes
Geddes was an experienced midfielder having played for Enfield, Ilford and Dagenham prior to joining Billericay Town.
John was 32 years old and working as a surveyor when he won an F.A. Vase with the club in 1976.
Steve Griffiths
Goal Keeper Griffiths was part of the clubs F.A. Vase winning team whilst members of the Essex Senior League.
Despite his small stature (5’9”) he was considered to be one of the most reliable keepers in the league.
Griffiths missed the 1979 F.A. Vase final through injury. He broke his leg during October 1978.
Charlie Knott
Striker Knott had been with Dagenham during the 1977 season and had played in the Northern League with Durham City.
By 1979 Charlie was living in Billericay and working as an accountant. He was part of the Blues squad that lifted the 1979 F.A. Vase.
Ricky McQueen
McQueen was in his third period with the club when he was part of the 1977 F.A. Vase winning club. He scored a hat-trick in The Blues second leg 6-0 victory against Farnborough Town to book their place in the final.
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McQueen had also played for Tilbury, Basildon United and Grays Athletic.
Paul Norris
Billericay-born Norris was 20 years old when he stepped in to fill Steve Griffiths place as first choice keeper after Griffiths broke his leg during October 1978.
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Paul Norris was working as a landscape gardener when he was part of the Blues squad that won the 1979 F.A. Vase.
Prior to playing for Town he had represented Southend United, Canvey Island and Chelmsford City.
Mick Payne
Payne joined the club in 1969 having previously played for Portsmouth, Romford and Tilbury.
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Mick played in midfield for the club during the 1976 F.A. Vase final that ended as a 1-1 draw with Sheffield F.C. at Wembley and the reply at Nottingham Forest four days later.
John Pullin
John Pullin played for The Blues youth set-up prior to making the step into the first team in 1969.
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Left back John was a resident of Billericay during his playing years and worked as a computer programmer and systems engineer.
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Pullin made 418 appearances for the club, more than any other player during its senior history. He scored 5 goals in that time, the last coming in 1984.
Whilst with Billericay Town John won the Essex Olympian League, Essex Senior League, Essex Senior Cup, Athenian League, Isthmian League Division Two but most notable are the three F.A. Vase victories he was part of.
Jamie Reeves
Striker Reeves was signed from Basildon United in October 1978.
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Jamie was working as an economics teacher when he helped The Blues to their F.A. Vase triumph in 1979.
Jamie later joined Stansted and lifted the 1984 F.A. Vase with them, beating Stamford 3-2.
After retiring from football Reeves moved to Singapore and started commentating on TV for ESPN.
Alan Russ
Defender Russ had been playing for Brentwood, Herongate and Tilbury prior to playing for Billericay Town.
Alan was part of the Blues side that won the 1979 F.A. Vase final.
Paul Scott
Midfielder Scott was part of the Blues side that won the 1976 and 1977 F.A. Vase.
Prior to joining Town Scott had played for Bishop’s Stortford and represented them from the bench in the last F.A. Amateur Cup final in 1974, which Stortford won 4-1.
Scott had retired from playing but returned to the club in late 1978 and helped Town to their third F.A. Vase victory.
Gary Smith
Smith was a speedy winger that had played youth football for Fulham, West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur.
Smith was part of The Blues squad that travelled to Nottingham Forest for the F.A. Vase replay against Sheffield F.C.
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Tony Wakefield
Wakefield was a product of the Basildon Boys Club and was part of Southend United’s youth set-up prior to joining The Blues.
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Tony was known as a creative midfielder and was only 19 when he was part of the Billericay side that lifted the F.A. Vase in 1976, coming on as a substitute.
The day after Town’s draw in the 1977 F.A. Vase final some of the players represented the club in the 6-a-side Philips Electrical Floodlight tournament at the Crystal Palace National Sports Centre.
Wakefield scored a hat-trick in the final against Friar Lane Old Boys to win £7,500 worth of floodlights for New Lodge. It was the installation of the lights that allowed Billericay Town to enter the F.A. Cup.
Phil Whettell
Midfielder Whettell was captain at Brentwood before moving to Billericay for the 1976-77 season and had previously played for Barking.
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In his first season with the club he Essex Senior League Cup and the F.A. Vase.
Billy Woodhouse
Billy joined The Blues from Witham Town for the 1976-77 season having scored a hat-trick against them the previous season.
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Woodhouse scored the winning goal for Town in the reply of the 1977 F.A. Vase final at Nottingham Forest F.C. against Sheffield F.C.
Doug Young
Young joined The Blues from Brentwood during the 1977-78 season and formed a formidable partnership with Fred Clayden.
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Doug scored a hat trick in the 1979 final as The Blues beat Almondsbury Greenway 4-1. It was the first hat-trick scored at Wembley since Geoff Hurst’s for England in the 1966 World Cup Final against West Germany.
Young scored 104 goals in his time with Billericay Town. Only three other players have scored more goals for the club.
Doug is a regular visitor to the club.
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Other Entrants
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Joe Baker
Fans favourite Joe Baker joined Town from Sutton United in January 2000 having previously been with Leyton Orient.
He ended the 2000-01 as top scorer and was immortalised in t-shirt form by admiring supporters.
Nathan Elder
Striker Nathan Elder joined the club in 2004 from Aveley.
He ended both the 2004-05 and 2005-06 season as the clubs top goal scorer before moving to Brighton & Hove Albion for a reported £10k in January 2007.
Leon Gutzmore
Record breaking forward Leon Gutzmore was top scorer for three seasons with Billericay Town.
During the 1997-98 season he scored 51 goals in all competitions, including 34 league goals. Both club records that were beaten by Jake Robinson during the 2017-18 season.
Leon moved to Aldershot Town for £11,000.
John Kendall
For ten years, from 1989 until 1999, Billericay Town were managed by John Kendall. Kendall led his team to a third-place finish in the Third Division North in 1990-91, the league was then restructured and another third place finish the following season saw Town promoted.
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John managed The Blues to another promotion by ending the 1997-98 as Isthmian League Division One runners-up. He also led the club to the FA Cup First Round in the same season, losing out to Wisbech Town. The club won the Essex Thameside Trophy in 1991-92 under Kendall's tutelage and made three Essex Senior Cup Final appearances between 1994 and 1996.
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Twenty years after Kendall left Blues fans still sing about him.
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Steve Jones
Cult hero Steve Jones was the clubs top scorer for 1991-92, and 1992-93 having joined from neighbours Basildon United.
He joined West Ham United for £22,500. He went on to play for Bournemouth, West Ham again, Charlton, Bristol City and Southend United.
He ended his career, as many have, at Hornchurch.
Rob Swaine
Centre-back Rob Swaine captained the club to promotion in to the Conference South. He left to join Bromley and was soon promoted in to the Conference National. Swainey scored the equaliser at Margate in April 2012 which secured the Isthmian League title.
He left to join Bromley who he captained to success before rejoining Billericay in January 2017.
He would end the 2017-18 season with an Essex Senior Cup winners medal and another Isthmian League title to his name.
Joyce and Ron Symes
Having originally joined the club as a player in 1959 Ron Symes has been volunteering with the club for over 50 years. He briefly played for the reserves before picking up an injury. He soon got involved in the fund-raising side of things with the supporters club.
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The FA website stated, in 2014, that Ron 'has run the supporters' club, been vice-chairman, kit man, chief fundraiser, organised fans’ travel, run the bar and even helped dig a coach out of a ditch – all as a volunteer for the club he loves.'
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Described as 'Billericay Town Royalty' both Joyce and Ron are extremely popular with everyone involved with the club. There have now been 4 generations of the Symes family at matches.
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Sadly Joyce passed away on 7 February 2020.
Danny Westwood
Inside forward Danny Westwood was Blues top scorer for the 1973-74 season, scoring 49 goals. Danny left to join QPR in 1974, making one appearance and scoring one goal.
He joined Gillingham in 1975, finishing as their top scorer for the 1978-79 season.
Westwood rejoined Town for the 1983-84 season before moving to Grays, Canterbury and Aveley.
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2018 Entrants
With the initial list being written up 2018 was the first year that new names were put forward for inclusion.
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Nigel Harris
Little Nige, as he was known by many that knew him, first watched The Blues in 1968, when he was 8 years old. One of his neighbours at the time played for the club and he went along to watch.
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He would start watching Town regularly during the 1970’s and went to Wembley with them on all three occasions.
He had started working part time for the club either selling programmes or escorting the club mascot around the ground. Nige was a regular member of The Blues travelling support and had a great knowledge of the club’s history from the last 50 years, recalling incidents and players going back to the 1970’s.
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As fans were preparing to travel to Burgess Hill Town on 23 December 2017 they became aware that Nigel had passed away in his sleep that night. He wasn’t just known to Billericay Town fans but could often be seen in Billericay High Street.
Keith Riley
Another lifelong Blues fan, Keith Riley, has been watching Billericay Town for decades and carried out a number of voluntary roles. This season alone he has been acting Matchday Secretary and has sold 50/50 tickets, a job he has done for the last few seasons. By the end of the 2017-18 season he had raised over £15,000 for the club.
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Keith had been involved in the production of a fanzine, 'Cowshed Blues' named after the covered terrace he had help rebuild several years ago.
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It has also been through Keith's help that this website has so many results that would otherwise have been lost.
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2019 Entrants
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Kim Coster
Kim came to Billericay Town for the 2002-03 season. Prior to this she had played for for Spurs Ladies, Biggleswade, Harlow, Chelmsford and Tesco Country before retiring due to injury aged 36. She also represented Brent County, scoring a penalty for them at Wembley.
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Kim was approached by Rod Moore, then club chairman, and asked if she would take over the running of the ladies team. Kim would then go on to gain a UEFA B coaching badges.
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With Kim being made redundant from her full time job the club moved quickly and appointed her as their Operations Manager.
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During the 2018-19 season Kim lead the Ladies team to a second place finish in the FA Women's National League Division 1 South East, the Ladies highest ever league finish. The Ladies also reached the third round of the Women's FA Cup for the first time and then lifted the Essex Women's Cup, also for the first time. This would be the twelfth honour Kim would bring to the club.
Ulises Saucedo
Born in Bolivia on 3 March 1896 Ulises Saucedo travelled to England to study in London. It also appears that he studied coaching techniques with Herbert Chapman. Ulises lived in Billericay and played for the club from around October 1928 until February 1930.
His first recorded goals for the club came in March 1929 when he scored four against Hoffmans Athletic in the Chelmsford & District League Division 2. His last goal came in January 1930 during a 4-0 home win against Writtle.
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Saucedo travelled by ship to Montevideo, Uruguay where he took up his role of Head Coach of the Bolivian football team for the 1930 World Cup. Bolivia lost both their matches, against Brazil and Yugoslavia 4-0.
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Ulises also acted as a match official during the tournament. He refereed during Argentina's 6-3 victory against Mexico, awarding 3 penalties. During the World Cup Final, which Uruguay won, Saucedo was used as a linesman.
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Ulises Saucedo died on 21 November 1967.
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2020 Entrants
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Billy Bricknell
Born in July 1988 Billy had spent time at Tottenham before he progressed in to the first team at Billericay Town as a 17-year old and playing his debut in a 1-0 away win a Maidstone United. Billy scored the only goal of the match.
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Bill ended the following season as the clubs top scorer, with 21 goals in all competitions. He ended the 2009-10 season as top scorer again, this time with 16 goals before making the switch to Chelmsford City.
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He later moved to Dover Athletic and Gravesend & Northfleet, eventually returning to New Lodge in 2016. He again ended the season as the clubs top goal scorer, but scored 34 goals the season after, finishing second behind Jake Robinson.
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On 26 March 2018 Billy scored a penalty in a 3-1 away win at Wingate & Finchley. This was his 100th goal for The Blues. His last goals for the club came in the Isthmian League Cup Final at Aveley against Met Police. Billy’s hat-trick took Town in to extra time and then helped them retain the title.
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Billy was released at the end of the season and has scored 105 goals for Billericay Town.
Jake Robinson
When Jake joined the club in April 2018 for £24,000 from Hemel Hempstead Town he was the club’s record signing. He scored on his debut during Town’s 3-0 away win against Dulwich.
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During the 2017-18 season Jake scored 57 league and cup goals for Town, breaking Leon Gutzmore’s record, which had stood since 1998.
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Jake was transferred to Maidstone the following season but returned to New Lodge and carried on scoring goals. In December 2019 Jake scored the only goal in a 1-0 win at Basildon United in the Essex Senior Cup. This was his 100th goal for Billericay Town.
When the 2019-20 season came to a halt due to the outbreak of the Coronavirus Jake had scored 110 goals in his Blues career, leaving him behind Fred Clayden and Leon Gutzmore in the club’s record goal scorers list.
Jake left to join Dartford in the summer of 2021. He had finished his time with the club having scored 123 goals.
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2022 Entrants
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Lisa Robins
Lisa has been with the club for over 25 years and is currently the Women's Club Secretary as well as playing for the Development Team.
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Much of Lisa's playing career was spent in the Women's First Team. Though the records are far from complete there are enough from 1999 until 2015 to show that Lisa has scored at least 113 goals for the club.
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Anyone scoring 100 goals for the club automatically gains a place in the Hall of Fame.
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Estimates suggest Lisa has scored more than 300 goals for Billericay Town. This includes 47 during the 2001-02.
