Basildon United Football Club, nicknamed “The Bees,” is a non-league football club based in Basildon, Essex.
Established in 1970, they currently compete in the Pitching In Isthmian League North Division, which is part of the eighth tier of English football. The team calls The Hive their home ground.
History
Basildon United, established in 1963 as Armada Sports, evolved from a junior to an adult club, adopting its current name in 1967. They began their journey in the Thurrock Thames-side Combination League in 1967-68, moving to the Greater London League a year later. Success came quickly, with a promotion to Reserves Division One in 1970 after a runner-up finish.
In 1971, Basildon became founding members of the Essex Senior League (ESL), where they soon made their mark. They secured the runner-up spot in 1972-73 and clinched their first league title in 1976-77. This victory sparked a period of dominance, as they won the ESL for three consecutive seasons and added the League Cup in 1977-78.
The club’s aspirations grew, leading to a move to the Athenian League in 1980. They made an immediate impact, finishing second in their debut season. By 1981-82, Basildon stepped up to the Isthmian League Division Two, where they won the division in 1983-84, earning promotion to Division One. However, their stay in Division One ended in 1989 with relegation to Division Two North.
Returning to the Essex Senior League in 1991, Basildon experienced mixed fortunes until a league and League Cup double win in 1993-94. However, they chose not to seek promotion. Years later, in 2016/17, they won the League Cup again. A significant achievement came in 2017-18, when they finished as ESL runners-up and earned promotion to the Isthmian League’s North Division, marking their return to this level after 27 years.
Alumni
Former players and managers elsewhere in the non-league pyramid