Danbury United F.C.
 Club crest | |
| Full name | Danbury United Football Club |
|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Danbury United |
| Founded | 17 February 2021 |
| Ground | Old Cormorant Grounds, Greater Danbury (Capacity: ~100) |
| Owner | Jack D |
| Manager | Jack D |
| League | EssexiAir Premier League |
| 2022 | Rank 1 - 2022 EPL Champions |
| Website | Club home page |
Danbury United Football Club (commonly referred to as Danbury United F.C, Danbury United or Danbury F.C.) is an Essexian professional football team based in Greater Danbury. They are the current EssexiAir Premier League Champions, after winning the 2022 season with 6 points.
History
The club was set up on the 17th February 2021 by Essexian MP Jack D. He envisioned a football league held domestically, and saw that clubs would need to be formed prior to any such event taking place. Named after the province that Jack resides in, Danbury United F.C. was Essexia's first non-international football club, and the first of any of Essexia's sports teams to have a custom uniform design.
The team was formed the following day on the 18th February 2021, and included 3 ex-Essexia FC players. The club was the second to reach the minimum required players, after Great Baddow Rovers F.C., on the 18th February 2021.
In mid 2021, a pitchero website was setup so that team news, photos and fixtures could be shared with fans as well as the league as a whole.
A non-profit merchandise shop was setup on the 8th December 2021 to allow fans to show support, but also so that the team could procure teamwear for affordable pricing.[1]
In early June 2022, the club sought to rebrand so as to have a more originally-sourced logo, and more links to the local community. After much discussion, a new roundel logo was created with a local church and oak tree in the centre, and the club shifted its colours from red, black and white to claret, blue and white.[2][3]
2022 EPL Season
DUFC won both of its games in the 2022 EssexiAir Premier League season, coming away with 6 points and subsequently being crowned EPL Champions. Attacking midfielder Matt G won the Golden Boot Award (League) for scoring 4 goals in the league games, and both him and fellow attacking midfielder Elliot B won the Golden Boot Award (All Comps) for both scoring 4 goals across all competitions in the season. Goalee and defensive midfielder Will F won the Best Manager award for his choosing and management of Team 2 in the EPL Cup game, and Elliot B won the Best Player award for his performance across all games of the 2022 season.[4]
2023 EPL Season
The club adopted a new home kit for the 2023 season, but allowed continuing players to use the previous year's home kits with a new sleeve patch applied. The team also adopted a special-edition 'Champions' club crest.
Culture
The club shares a local rivalry with Danbury Village A.F.C. due to their close geographical proximity. They also hold a historic rivalry with Great Baddow Rovers F.C., who were formed around the same time immediately after United.
During the 2022 season, the United players sung several chants of contempt at both Village and the Rovers.
Players
There are currently 4 players; Will F, who previously played midfield for Essexia FC's second game; Ben S, who previously played Midfield/Defence in Essexia FC's second game; James H; and Elliot B, who previously played Midfield/Defence for Essexia FC's first and second games. Elliot, who is often referred to as 'Steve', is considered Danbury's prized player for his long service in Essexia FC's international matches.
| Name | Position | Joined | Previously |
|---|---|---|---|
| Will F | Goalee | 18/02/2021 | Essexia FC, Midfield |
| Ben S | Attacking Midfield | 18/02/2021 | Essexia FC, Midfield/Defence |
| Matt G | Defensive Midfield | 18/02/2021 | None |
| Elliot B | Attacking Midfield | 18/02/2021 | Essexia FC, Midfield/Defence |
| Jack D | Defensive Midfield | 29/08/2921 | None |
Staff
The club employs a small team of professionals to ensure the team are best prepared and mentally ready for every match.
| Name | Position | Joined | Previously |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jack D | Manager | 17/02/2021 | Essexia FC, Manager |
Kit
History
The first kit was designed on the 17th February 2021, and featured sleek lines and curves. The home kit was mainly red, with black shorts and some white trimming on the inside of the shorts. The away kit was the same but in inverted colours.
The second kit was designed on the 6th December 2021 and was much simpler in comparison. The simplification was to allow for cheaper and simpler production costs. This would ensure all players could access the kit for an affordable price. The home kit was mainly white, with mid-length red sleeves. The away kit was black with short sleeves. The third kit (the first third kit ever designed for any Essexian football team) was red with short sleeves. Each shirt cost between £15-20, with the Away shirts costing more due to their being a dedicated active shirt material.
The third kit, designated the 2022 kit, coincided with the club's rebranding. The home shirt was now an Umbro Spartan claret and blue teamwear shirt, with a transfer-applied club logo as well as an embroidered shirt-maker logo. This greatly increased the quality, durability and presentation of the kit. However, due to the higher costs involved with producing this new kit, there was no third shirt. For this kit, the club also adopted a black and white captain's armband over the left arm, produced by Adidas.
The fourth kit, the 2023 kit, occurred following the implementation of sleeve patches for the EPL teams. The home kit features an Umbro Vier claret and blue teamwear shirt, with a transfer-applied special 'Champions' edition club logo as well as an embroidered shirt-maker logo. In addition, a 'EPL Champions 2022' sleeve patch is applied to the right sleeve. The away kit was kept the same (and still not utilised), whilst the 2022 home shirt with the 'EPL Champions 2022' sleeve patch on the right was designated as the third kit. This was to ensure players who didn't purchase the new home shirt could still play in a DUFC kit.
United remain the only team to have utilised a kit in the EPL.
Description
Prior to the club's rebranding, the home kit would usually feature the colour red, whilst the away kit would feature black, as the main colours. After the rebranding, the home kit would be mostly claret, with sky blue accents. The away kit would be reversed. Any third kit would mostly feature white. The goalie has always worn the same kit as the team wears during matches.
| Kit | Example | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | ||
| Home | 
|
A white baseball shirt, with red mid-length sleeves and shoulders.
The crest is placed over the left-breast. |
| Away | 
|
A black active t-shirt with short sleeves.
The crest is placed over the left-breast. |
| Third | 
|
A red t-shirt with short sleeves.
The crest is placed over the left-breast. |
| 2022 | ||
| Home | 
|
A claret sports shirt, with sky blue accents on the cuffs, back of the collar, on the sides of the torso and over the shoulder.
The crest is placed over the left breast, whilst the shirt-maker logo is placed over the right breast. Both short sleeve and long sleeve versions of the shirt are available, depending on the player's preference. The team captain wears a black armband with the letter C in white over the left arm. |
| Away | 
|
A sky blue sports shirt, with claret accents on the cuffs, back of the collar, on the sides of the torso and over the shoulder.
The crest is placed over the left breast, whilst the shirt-maker logo is placed over the right breast. Both short sleeve and long sleeve versions of the shirt are available, depending on the player's preference. The team captain wears a black armband with the letter C in white over the left arm. |
| Third | The club opted not to designate a third kit for 2022. | |
| 2023 | ||
| Home |  |
A claret football shirt, with blue sleeves and a blue accent on the round collar. A triangle pattern is spread across the upper-torso.
A special-edition crest is placed over the left breast, whilst the shirt-maker logo is placed over the right breast. The crest is placed over the left breast, whilst the shirt-maker logo is placed over the right breast. The 'EPL Champions 2022' patch is worn over the sleeve. The team captain wears a black armband with the letter C in white over the left arm. |
| Away |
|
A sky blue sports shirt, with claret accents on the cuffs, back of the collar, on the sides of the torso and over the shoulder.
The crest is placed over the left breast, whilst the shirt-maker logo is placed over the right breast. The team captain wears a black armband with the letter C in white over the left arm. |
| Third |  |
A claret sports shirt, with sky blue accents on the cuffs, back of the collar, on the sides of the torso and over the shoulder.
The home kit from the previous season, with the addition of the Champions sleeve badge. For players who didn't get the 2023 season's home kit. The crest is placed over the left breast, whilst the shirt-maker logo is placed over the right breast. The 'EPL Champions 2022' patch is worn over the sleeve. The team captain wears a black armband with the letter C in white over the left arm. |
Sponsors
Danbury United is sponsored by Essexia's largest defence contractors, CAe Systems and Paddocks Boat Co. These were gained due to the local area's links to these companies. The joint sponsorship was announced on the 21 February 2021.
Honours
Team Honours
EssexiAir Premier League Champions Award:
- 2022 Champions
Player Honours
Golden Boot Award (League):
- 2022 - Matt G, 4 goals
Golden Boot Award (All Comps):
- 2022 - Matt G, 4 goals
- 2022 - Elliot B, 4 goals
Best Manager Award:
- 2022 - Will F (EPL Cup Team 2)
Best Player Award:
- 2022 - Elliot B
| Award | No. | Years |
|---|---|---|
| EPL Champions | 1 | 2022 |
| Golden Boots | 2 | 2022 |
| Best Manager | 1 | 2022 |
| Best Player | 1 | 2022 |
Trivia
- DUFC were the first non-national football team to be formed in Essexian history.
- The club also has the highest number of Essexia FC players.
- Their claret and blue home kit remains the only team kit to have been worn in the EssexiAir Premier League.
- They hold the most honours of any EPL team.
References
- ↑ Danbury United. "DANBURY UNITED F.C. SETS-UP NON-PROFIT MERCHANDISE SHOP". Archived from the original on 18 June 2022.
- ↑ Danbury United. "CLUB REBRAND". Archived from the original on 18 June 2022.
- ↑ The Essexian. "Danbury United rebrands club colours". Archived from the original on 18 June 2022.
- ↑ The Essexian Post. "2022 EssexiAir Premier League results – Danbury United crowned Champions". Archived from the original on 13 August 2022.
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| Government and politics |
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| Founding Fathers | Rt. Hon. Terry MP • Rt. Hon. Jack Esq. MP (KG FC) • Rt. Hon. Matthew MP • Earl Finn • Queen Becky • Earl Jamie • The Honourable Jacob • Crown Minister Summers | ||||||||||||||
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| History of Essexia | |||||||||||||||
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| Čechsexia |
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