The History of Leighton Town Football Club

Leighton Town, who were known as Leighton United between 1922 and 1963, were formed in 1885. They were mainly involved in local leagues until the outbreak of the Great War, and were winners of the Leighton and District League on several occasions.

Leighton were one of the original members of the South Midland League in 1922 – which at the time was known as the Bedfordshire County League. They were also members of the Spartan League between 1922/23 and 1951/52, but their only successes being the Spartan League Division 2 title in 1923/24 and 1927/28. They were Bedfordshire Senior Cup winners in 1926/27.

In 1952, they became founder member of the Hellenic League, but after two disappointing seasons, moved to the South Midlands League. In 1965/66, Leighton finished bottom in the South Midlands League Premier Division, but were re-elected. The following season however, the Premier Championship sat in the Leighton Town boardroom. The club then rejoined the Spartan League in 1967/68.

Leighton proceeded to consolidate their League success by winning the Bedfordshire Senior Cup for three successive seasons in 1968, 1969 and 1970. Unfortunately, some of the successful players moved onto other clubs, and Leighton’s fortunes again declined. A move to the United Counties League proved disastrous and, after just two seasons, the club rejoined the South Midlands League. During the ‘70’s and ‘80’s, Leighton were unable to capture the success of the ‘60’s, with their only wins being the South Midlands Reserve Division 2 Champions in 1976/77 and Reserve Division 1 Champions in 1987/88.

The mould of infrequent success was again broken when the Reserve side won the Bedfordshire Intermediate Cup for the first time in April 1991. Less than one month later, the First Team won the South Midlands League Challenge Trophy and the O’Brien Premier Division One Cup, both for the first time in the club’s history.

The 1991/2 season was one of the club’s best ever. The South Midlands Premier Division title, which had eluded the club for so long, was won, and with it a place in the Isthmian League. The Reserves won the South Midlands Reserve Division 1 title, and the newly formed Youth Team won the Under 18’s County Cup.


1992/3 saw the club’s success continue when they won the Bedfordshire Senior Cup for the first time since 1970. The club missed out on promotion in its first season by just a single point. The Youth Team retained the Under 18’s County Cup.

The 1993/4 season was disappointing for the First Team, but the Reserves won the Minerva Football Challenge Trophy and the Under 18’s Youth Team won the Chiltern Youth League Cup.

The First Team won the Buckingham Charity Cup in 1994/5, whilst the Reserves claimed the South Midlands Reserve Division 1 title, retained the Challenge Trophy and completed the treble with the Floodlit Cup. The Under 18’s won the Chiltern Youth League title and the E.A.S.Y. Cup for the first time, as well as the Beds Youth Cup.

1995/6 saw the First Team win promotion to Division 2 of the Isthmian League, whilst at the same time retaining the Buckingham Charity Cup. The Under 18’s moved up to the Southern Counties Floodlit Youth League.
In the 1996/7 season, the First Team clinched the Isthmian League Associated Members Trophy for the first time, and the Under 18’s picked up the Brian Hitchin’s Challenge Cup and the Colwyn Minor Cup.

1998/99 saw the return of the Associated Members Trophy and the Buckingham Charity Cup, and was followed up in 1999/00 by the Reserves gaining promotion to the Suburban Premier and the Under 18’s both winning the Corinthian Youth League and the Colwyn Minor Cup.

In December 2001, manager Paul Burgess returned to the Club. The Under 18’s won the Corinthian Division in the Southern Counties Floodlit Youth League without losing a single game.

In season 2002/2003, the First Team finished sixth in the Ryman League Division 2, and the Reserves finished fourth in the Suburban League.

Season 2003/04 was arguably the club’s best ever, with the First Team winning the Isthmian Second Division title. The team was also named Ryman Division Two Team of the Year, and Paul Burgess was awarded Manager of the Year. They also reached the Fifth round of the FA Vase, and the final of the Beds Senior Cup, losing to Andover and Arlesey respectively. The Reserves finished sixth in the Suburban League North Division and the Under 18’s reached no less than three cup semi-finals.

The 2004-05 season saw the club placed in The Southern League East Division and finished in tenth place. They also won the Buckinghamshire Charity Cup beating Wootton Blue Cross. The Reserves won the Bedfordshire Intermediate Cup and the U18’s won the League Shield.

The 05-06 season saw the Club progress again, improving on the year before, finishing 8th in The Southern League West Division. After a poor start, league results improved and the side only suffered four defeats from the start of November until the end of March. A play-off place just eluded them but the side still finished in the highest ever league position in the history of the club. Wins against Rugby, Burnham and Eastleigh in the F.A. Trophy were highlights, eventually losing to semi-finalists Boreham Wood. A place in the Beds Senior Cup Final was also achieved but a 1-0 defeat to Biggleswade Utd left them as runners-up.

The Club were re-located to the Southern League Midland Division for 06-07 season but only one league win in the first six games and early exists in two major cups cost Paul Burgess his job in September. He was replaced by former Wycombe, Stoke and Norwich professional Keith Scott and his task was to keep the club in the Southern League. Results did improve but it was a tough season with few highlights. Winning the Bucks Charity Cup was a boost and beating Champions Brackley was another positive result.

Last season started brightly with the first league defeat not coming until mid-October and wins against Ashford Town (Middx), Kirkley and Pakefield and Boreham Wood in the FA Cup seeing the Club reach the 4th Qualifying Round for the first time in it’s history. A 3-0 defeat to Conference South Havant and Waterlooville ended the run. Keith Scott departed in December to join Windsor and Eton and in January 2008 Assistant Manager Sean Downey was appointed First Team Manager and the Club ended the season in 9th place, winning the Bucks Charity Cup and were Runners Up in the Beds Senior Cup.