History
A.F.C. Sudbury was formed on 1 June 1999 by the amalgamation of the town's two previous clubs, Sudbury Town (founded 1885) and Sudbury Wanderers (founded 1958).
The club's relatively short history has seen Sudbury win several league and cup titles. In their debut season, 1999–2000, Sudbury finished in third place in the Eastern Counties League Premier Division. The following five seasons all resulted in Sudbury winning the same league's title – a league record. Sudbury did not take promotion at any of these opportunities, despite being entitled to. The financial constraints of owning two grounds led the board not to apply for promotion until the beginning of the 2005–06 season. After finishing third in 2005–06, and passing the necessary ground inspection, Sudbury were invited to take promotion into a resurrected Isthmian League Division One North, following the re-structuring of the National League System. Potential legal action from the Northern Premier League nearly scuppered this move, but Sudbury started 2006–07 in the new division. The management team of Gary Harvey and Michael Cheetham, who took the team up, both resigned before the season could begin, citing work and family commitments, respectively. New manager Mark Morsley was appointed in May 2006, signed from Needham Market. Sudbury's first season at this level saw the club finish in fifth place, qualifying them for the promotion play-offs. After beating Enfield Town in the semi-final, Sudbury lost to Harlow Town in a penalty shoot-out. Sudbury again qualified for the play-offs in 2007–08, finishing second in the table, but were defeated in the semi-final by eventual winners Canvey Island. In the close-season manager Morsley resigned and was replaced by his assistant, Nicky Smith. Sudbury were moved into the Southern Football League Division One Midlands for 2008–09 following a restructuring of the English football pyramid. After two seasons of mid-table finishes the club was moved back to the Isthmian League Division One North for 2010–11. Smith resigned in September 2011 and was replaced by his assistant Chris Tracey.
Sudbury have enjoyed several successful runs in the national cup competitions. In 2000–01 the club reached the first round of the FA Cup before being comprehensively defeated at Darlington. Sudbury have mostly made a name for themselves nationally in the FA Vase. In 2001–02 the club reached the competition's semi-finals, before being knocked out by Tiptree United. The following three seasons saw Sudbury reaching the final each year (a Vase record), but being defeated every time, by Brigg Town, Winchester City and Didcot Town, respectively. Sudbury have also won the Suffolk Premier Cup three times, in 2001–02, 2002–03 and 2003–04, and the Eastern Counties League Cup in 2005–06.
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