Brightlingsea Regent Football Club, nicknamed “The Rs,” is a non-league football club based in Colchester, 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 North Road their home ground.
History
Brightlingsea’s football legacy began in the Essex & Suffolk League, with Brightlingsea Town winning the 2nd Division in 1908/09. The town’s passion for football in the 1920s led to multiple local teams, with matches initially played at Bell Green and later at Regent Road’s recreation ground. In the 1920s, Brightlingsea United moved to North Road, while “The Tics” continued at the recreation ground.
The club enjoyed moderate success in the 1950s and 60s in the Essex & Suffolk League and stepped up to the Essex Senior League in 1971. The 70s and 80s were successful under the management of Jackie Parkinson and Steve Dowman, winning championships and league cups.
A major transition occurred in 1990 with the move to the Jewson Eastern Counties League, though financial difficulties posed challenges. In 2002, the club returned to the Essex & Suffolk Border League, and in 2005/06, Brightlingsea United and Regent Park Rangers amalgamated to form Brightlingsea Regent Football Club.
Under James Webster’s management from 2009, the club achieved notable successes, including winning the league in 2010/11 and promotion in the 2012/13 season. The 2016/17 season marked a high point, with Brightlingsea Regent winning the Isthmian North Division and ascending to the Bostik Premier League. The departure of long-standing manager James Webster in October 2017 brought a new chapter with Tom Rothery’s appointment.