Norwich CEYMS F.C.

English foot ball club based in Swardeston, Norfolk
Football club
Norwich CEYMS
Full nameNorwich CEYMS Football Club
Nickname(s)Church
Founded22 August 1888
GroundHilltops Sports Ground, Swardeston
LeagueAnglian Combination Premier Division
2023–24Anglian Combination Premier Division, 10th of 16
Home colours
Away colours

Norwich Church of England Young Men's Society Football Club, commonly called Norwich CEYMS, is a football club based in Swardeston, near Norwich, in Norfolk, England. They are currently members of the Anglian Combination Premier Division, having previously played in the Eastern Counties League. It has been suggested that the world's oldest football song, "On The Ball, City", was used for CEYMS before being adopted by Norwich City.[1]

The club is affiliated to the Norfolk County FA.

History

Formed by the local branch of the Church of England Young Men's Society on 22 August 1888,[2] the club was known locally as "Churches". They won the Norfolk Senior Cup in 1891–92 and 1896–97. In 1897 they were founder members of the Norfolk & Suffolk League, winning it in 1899–1900, losing only a single match.[3] They then won the Senior Cup three times in a row between 1900 and 1902. Frustrated by a perceived lack of ambition,[2] in 1902 the team's captain (Robert Webster) and vice-captain (Joseph Cowper Nutchey) left to form a new club, Norwich City, which also joined the Norfolk & Suffolk League. City finished above CEYMS in their first season,[4] and although CEYMS won the league again in 1906–07 and 1910–11, Norwich City went on to become the dominant team in Norwich.

The club won the Norfolk & Suffolk League again in 1935–36,[5] and joined the Eastern Counties League in 1937 and finished eighth in 1937–38 and twelfth in 1938–39. The 1939–40 season was abandoned due to the outbreak of World War II, and due to the high travelling costs the club left the league before it resumed in 1946, rejoining the Norfolk & Suffolk League.[2] They were invited to rejoin the Eastern Counties League in 1963, but after initially accepting the offer, it was later turned down. When the Norfolk & Suffolk League merged into the Anglian Combination in 1964 they were placed in the Premier Division, but were relegated to Division One at the end of the 1969–70 season, and to Division Two at the end of 1973–74. They were promoted back to Division One in 1984–85, but were relegated at the end of the following season.

In 2005–06 CEYMS finished as runners-up in Division Three and were promoted to Division Two. However, they were relegated the following season. In 2007–08 they won Division Three to make an immediate return to Division Two. CEYMS gained promotion to Division One at the end of the 2010–11 season. In 2012–13 the club won Division One with a record points total, earning promotion to the Premier Division.

Grounds

The club initially played at "The Rec" on Earlham Road, a ground which also reportedly included the best cycle track in England.[2] After World War II they moved to Norwich City's old Newmarket Road ground, now owned by Town Close School. They remained at the site until the school required the ground for its own use, at which point they moved to another ground on Newmarket Road known as the Civil Service Ground. In 1988 they relocated to their current site in Swardeston.

Honours

  • Norfolk & Suffolk League
    • Champions 1899–1900, 1906–07, 1910–11, 1935–36
  • Norfolk Senior Cup
    • Winners 1891–92, 1896–97, 1899–1900, 1901–02, 1903–04
  • East Anglian Cup
    • Winners 1984–85
  • Anglian Combination
    • Division One champions 2012–13
    • Division Two champions 1985–86, 2010–11
    • Division Three champions 2007–08

Records

  • Best FA Cup performance: Fourth qualifying round, 1906–07[6]

References

  1. ^ Club history Norwich City FC
  2. ^ a b c d Blakeman, M (2010) The Official History of the Eastern Counties Football League 1935-2010, Volume II ISBN 978-1-908037-02-2
  3. ^ 1899-00 Pride of Anglia
  4. ^ 1902-03 Pride of Anglia
  5. ^ Norfolk & Suffolk League 1897–1939 Non-League Matters
  6. ^ Norwich CEYMS at the Football Club History Database

External links

  • Norwich CEYMS at the Football Club History Database
  • v
  • t
  • e
Premier Division
  • Acle United
  • Aylsham
  • Beccles Town
  • Blofield United
  • East Harling
  • Easton
  • Gorleston Reserves
  • Long Stratton
  • Mundford
  • Norwich CEYMS
  • Scole United
  • Sprowston
  • University of East Anglia
  • Waveney
  • Wroxham Reserves
  • Yelverton
Division One
Division Two
  • Attleborough Town
  • Beccles Caxton
  • Beccles Town Reserves
  • Buxton
  • Dersingham Rovers
  • Gayton United
  • Martham
  • Mutford & Wrentham
  • North Walsham Town
  • Morton Athletic
  • Reepham Town
  • Stalham Town
  • SWFC Lingwood
Division Three
  • Caister Reserves
  • Costessey Sports
  • Dussindale & Hellesdon Rovers Reserves
  • East Harling Reserves
  • Great Yarmouth Town Reserves
  • Hempnall
  • Horsford United
  • Long Stratton Reserves
  • Norwich CEYMS Reserves
  • Scole United Reserves
  • Swaffham Town Reserves
  • Tacolneston
  • University of East Anglia Reserves
  • Waveney Reserves
Division Four
  • AFC Lynn
  • Aylsham Reserves
  • Belton
  • Briston
  • Carlton Colville Town
  • Easton Reserves
  • Feltwell United
  • Hemsby
  • KLSC
  • Mulbarton Wanderers Reserves
  • Watlington SSC
  • Wells Town Reserves
  • Yelverton Reserves
Division Five North
  • Bradenham & Mattishall Reserves
  • Dussindale & Hellesdon Rovers A
  • Gayton United Reserves
  • Holt United Reserves
  • Ingoldisthorpe
  • Marshland Saints
  • Martham Reserves
  • North Walsham Town Reserves
  • Reepham Town Reserves
  • Sprowston Reserves
  • Thorpe Village
Division Five South
  • AC Mill Lane
  • Attleborough Town Reserves
  • Blofield United Reserves
  • Earsham Reserves
  • FC Steamers
  • Harleston Town Reserves
  • Loddon United Reserves
  • Norwich Eagles
  • Prostar Windows
  • Shrublands
  • Sprowston A
  • Wymondham Town Reserves

52°34′59.48″N 1°15′13.12″E / 52.5831889°N 1.2536444°E / 52.5831889; 1.2536444