BUFC History

2004 - British Cup Winners
After the success the previous year, BUFC's 1st team struggles throughout the year in the 1st division. Up against former professionals and very well established division 1 opponents, many defeats are by the only goal and our lads still do us proud. Highlight of the year is a 2-0 win at Brussels British followed by a 1-1 draw at Nekker, resulting in British United becoming the inaugural winners of the newly established British Cup.
Elsewhere, it was a struggle with the 2nd team and 1st Vets avoiding relegation late in the season. The Ladies have their best ever season, winning 5 games, and the 2nds Vets have a weather-aided 13 week unbeaten streak.

Players Of
The Season

Golden Boot Winners

2003 - 1st Division At Last
British United 1st team finally wins the 2nd division championship. Glyn Davies leads the 1sts to their best-ever season, unbeaten at home throughout, and in all matches after Nov. 9th. British United 1sts scored 98 goals - the most in ABSSA this season.
The 2nd team snatches safety from the jaws of relegation on the last day of the season. having completed their matches, they watched two relegation rivals play out a 0-0 draw which sent both those other teams down.
Stronger seasons for the other four mens' teams and another learning year for the Ladies. However, all plaudits go the Glyn and the 1sts.
Frank Brady takes over as Chairman.

2002 - 30 Years On & Going Strong
British United celebrates 30 years. A strong 3rd place for the 1st team, and the 1st Vets win their season-long battle against relegation.
For the new season, the seven teams will finally play together for the first time. A new kit means all seven teams will also play in identical colours. Kit-sponsorship deals with Stonemanor and Paperloop.
Sadly, two 2nd team players, Unesh Maisuria and Rafael Sanz are both killed in accidents.

2001 - Oh So Close
The 1st team come so close, finishing in 2nd place under Gerry Cain. Only the top side can be promoted to division 1. The 3rds also equal their best ever 4th place finish and the 4ths are inspired to 5th. The Ladies continue BUFC's tradition of not finishing last in their inaugural season.
Ground improvements at Nekker mean that the Club's six teams are split, with the 3rds and 4ths playing their home games at Nossegem.

2000 - Vets 2 Relegation
Danny Bunch leads his players to the promised land as the 2nd Vets are relegated to Vets division 3. Solid season for all the other teams.
Letitia Rawlings convinces the Club to form a Ladies team, making British United the largest amateur club in Belgium.

1999 - 1st Team Survival
At Xmas, the 1st team looked dead and buried in last place, but over the last few games pulled themselves back to mid-table. The 1st Vets, under Mark Thomas and Keith Veitch, just miss out on promotion back to division 1. Otherwise, a relatively quiet season on the football front.
Mark Thomas takes over as Chairman.

1998 - Champions Again
Nathan Knight leads the 2nds to their best start to a season (7 wins out of 7) and the championship in style. The 1st team finishes 3rd, tying their highest-ever finish. Of note, the new 2nd Vets avoid last place.

1997 - Reality & Relegation
The 1st and 2nd teams have solid seasons, both finishing 4th. The 3rds, now captained by Andy Woollin find division 4 too tough and are relegated. Robby Paltiel's Vets find the top flight way too hard to handle and are also relegated. Mark Reilly's 4ths avoid finishing bottom in their inaugural season.
Vince Fuller, at work again, forms the 2nd Vets. Steve Price wins his 5th Golden Boot! The Club goes to Barcelona on tour.

1996 - Champions & Promotion Times Three!
British United's best-ever season. Willy Swartjes leads the 1sts back to division 2, with the help of coach John Hall, Tony Reynolds takes the 3rds into division 4, and Fran Thomas's Vets win the Vets division 2 championship in style. The mood at BUFC is high and is captured in the awards dinner video by Jessie Dixson. Mark Thomas's 2nds are relegated after three years of struggle in division 3.
Tony Reynolds takes over as Chairman and the 4th team are born. The Club goes to Prague on tour.
The Club's awful candy stripes are replaced.

1995 - Disaster For The 1st team
The 1st team are relegated on the last day of the season. Needing only a draw in their last game, SYB score the winner in the last 10 minutes. Spirit is low and on that last day several 1st teamers are missing, including captain Marcel Miesen. The Vets just miss out on promotion. Chapman is reinstated as Chairman. The Club goes on tour to Cork.

1994 - A Struggle
Life in division 3 is hard for the 2nds and this affects the main side too - both teams struggle. The 3rds and the Vets both continue to make progress.
The last real AGM election-fight see Andy Fisk defeat Robby Paltiel to replace Chapman as Chairman, and Marcel Miesen defeats Gerry Cain for the 1st team captaincy.

1993 - Champions Again
Once more, success is with the 2nd team. Nigel Griffiths leads them to the 4th division championship on the last day of the season. The 1st team is a solid 6th, but the golden boot winner, Fran Thomas, comes from the much improving Vets.
In a lively AGM, and subsequent EGM, the Club rejects a bf 400,000 sponsorship deal from Phillip Morris Int'l.

1992
A solid year. The 1st team finishes fourth and the other teams are winning consistently.

1991
Another year of consolidation for the top two teams. The 3rds, finally, and the Vets finish bottom of their leagues.

1990 - .....And Up Once More
Mark O'Donovan leads the 2nds to promotion back to division 4 at the first attempt. This inspires the 1st team to 3rd in division 2, their highest position ever. The 3rds still avoid last place! The BUFC Vets are formed at the instigation of.....Vince Fuller, and the Club moves to its current home at Nekkersport, Mechelen.

1989 - .....Back Down Again.....
The 2nds struggle, and under Neil MacDonald last only one season in division 4. The 1sts settle back into mid-table. Vince's 3rds miss the bottom of division 6 by one place - it's a long way up. Steve Price wins his 3rd consecutive Golden Boot and is rewarded by being elected 1st team captain. Dave Chapman starts his long Chairmanship.

1988 - Champions.....
British United's first success for five years as the 2nds, led by Frank Brady, are division 5 champions. The 1sts reach their best ever position of 4th in division 2. This success leads Vince to start up a 3rd team.

1987
An uninspiring year on the field. Eric Whitby takes over as Chairman off it. The Club tours in Ofia.

1986
Paul Brennan fails to inspire the 1sts out of their mid-table malaise. The 2nds continue to struggle in the 5th division. The Golden Boot Award is introduced - Dave Chapman is the first ever winner. The Club goes on tour to Nice.

1985
Another mid-table season. Alex Temple-Young takes over the reins. The Club are now playing at Perk Park.

1984 - We Won The Cup
British United wins the ABSSA Cup under Dave Chapman. Although they actually lose the final, ASUB play an unregistered player and are subsequently disqualified. BUFC never receive the cup, nor the medals. In the league, both teams struggle. The 1sts finish 2nd bottom but, somehow, aren't relegated. The 2nds go one better and have to win a test match to avoid the drop.

1983 - 2nds Promoted
The 1sts struggle to beat relegation but this is the year the 2nds bounce back. They finish 5th in their division and are somehow promoted back to division 5.

1982
Solid mid-table season. Chapman is on the Committee for the first of many years, Pierre Blackman is ABSSA secretary.

1981 - Financial Crisis
Again, no promotion or relegation excitement. The Club is in financial difficulties and Phil Walker takes over as Chairman.

1980
Dave Chapman is leading out the 1st team, but this season sees mid-table finishes for both British United teams. By now, the Club is playing its home games in Ottenburg. British United tours California in the Summer.

1979 - Champions Again
Finally, the 1st team win the promotion they have deserved, and in style. 16 wins in 22 games takes them into division 2, where they'll play for 16 consecutive seasons. To offset the euphoria, the 2nds finish bottom and are relegated to division 6. Don McCulley takes over the Chairmanship.

1978
The 1st team continues seeking promotion. Another 3rd place is still not enough. The 2nds gain respectability by finishing mid-table. Vince is at work again, this time persuading the Club to introduce Player-of-the-Season awards. G. Jarret wins the 1st team award and V. Fuller (!!) wins it for the 2nds.

1977
4th place for the 1st team. Vince manages to take the 2nds off the bottom in division 5. Len Oddie defeats Harry in Chairman election at the AGM.

1976 - Consolidation
Another great season for the 1st team, 3rd place and just missing out on promotion. The 2nds struggle and finish bottom in division 5, but the spirit is there.

1975 - Consolidation
9th place in the division 3. The Club is growing in strength and, not for the last time, Vince Fuller convinces a sceptical membership to form a 2nd team.

1974 - Champions
In only their 2nd season, British United are division 4 champions and promoted once again, winning 18 and losing only once.

1973 - Promotion
British United completes its first season in ABSSA division 5. They win 14 out of 22 games and finish 2nd behind Tombeek, still good enough for promotion. Alan Aspinall is captain.

1972 - First Steps
On a Spring evening, eleven guys meet to discuss breaking away from Brussels British. They decide to do so and Danny Oddie suggests the name British United. Harry Schildknecht becomes first Chairman, Len Oddie his Vice-Chairman. Ian Horspool, who still plays for the Vets, is given financial responsibilities. The fledgling Club is accepted as the 132nd member of ABBSA and will play its home games in Tombeek.