Buckingham Town F.C.
Buckingham Town Football Club, known as Milton Keynes Robins for the last year of their existence, was a football club based in Buckingham, Buckinghamshire, England. They were established in 1883 and were one of the founding members of the Hellenic League in 1953. After lasting only four seasons they returned to local football, not re-emerging at a higher level until 1974. Having fallen into financial trouble by 2017 and having been evicted from their ground in 2011, they relocated permanently to Milton Keynes in 2019. The club was merged into Milton Keynes Irish a year later.
History
The club was established as Buckingham Town in 1883, playing their first match against Banbury United. They won the Aylesbury & District League in 1902β03 and 1936β37 and the North Bucks League in 1924β25, 1928β29, 1933β34, 1935β36, 1936β37, 1938β39, 1948β49 and 1949β50. They were founder members of the Hellenic League in 1953, but left after only four seasons. They won the Aylesbury & District League again in 1967β68.Buckingham Town joined Division One of the South Midlands League in 1971, where they played until joining Division Two of the United Counties League in 1974. Their first season in the league saw them finish second, earning promotion to Division One. After finishing as Division One runners-up in 1975β76, the club secured a second successive promotion, moving up to the Premier Division. They were Premier Division champions and Knockout Cup winners in 1983β84, and the following season they reached the first round of the FA Cup for the first time in their history, losing 2β0 at home to Orient.
In 1985β86 Buckingham Town won the Premier Division again and were promoted to the Midland Division of the Southern League. After being transferred to the Southern Division in 1988, they won the division in 1990β91, but were not promoted as their ground failed to meet the standards required. They were moved back to the Midland Division in 1994, but returned to the Southern Division in 1996. However, after finishing bottom of the division in 1996β97, they were relegated back to the Premier Division of the United Counties League. The 2006β07 season saw them finish bottom of the Premier Division, resulting in relegation to Division One. The club announced that they were folding at the end of the 2017β18 season. However, the decision was later reversed.
The club was renamed Milton Keynes Robins in January 2019. In May 2020 the club merged with Unite MK and Milton Keynes Irish Veterans merged to form Milton Keynes Irish.
Ground
Buckingham Town played at Ford Meadow from 1883 until being evicted at the end of the 2010β11 season. The 3.58-acre site included a football pitch, two stands, a clubhouse, changing rooms and a large hard area. After leaving Ford Meadow, the club played at the Winslow Centre in Winslow for the 2011β12 season, before moving to Manor Fields in the Fenny Stratford area of Milton Keynes.Honours
- Southern League
- *Southern Division champions 1990β91
- United Counties League
- *Premier Division champions 1983β84, 1985β86
- *Knockout Cup winners 1983β84
- Aylesbury & District League
- *Champions 1902β03, 1936β37, 1967β68
- North Bucks League
- *Champions 1924β25, 1928β29, 1933β34, 1935β36, 1936β37, 1938β39, 1948β49, 1949β50
Records
- Best FA Cup performance: First round, 1984β85
- Best FA Trophy performance: First qualifying round, 1994β95, 1995β96, 1996β97
- Best FA Vase performance: Quarter-finals, 1990β91, 1992β93
- Record transfer fee received: Β£1,000 from Kettering Town for Terry Stevens
- Record transfer fee paid: Β£7,000 to Wealdstone for Steve Jenkins, 1992