Brigg Town

Brigg Town FC, known as the Zebras, are the oldest surviving club in Lincolnshire, and one of the oldest clubs in England, having been formed in 1864. In the nonleague world only Sheffield (1857), Harefield Utd (1858), Hallam (1860) and Cray Wanderers (1860) are older.
Brigg football was said in early 1870 to have become a recognised institution in the town, and members were practising hard to take part in some important matches at Lincoln, Hull etc. From 1875 to 1888 Brigg Town was a strong and resourceful side, and at the end of 1883 it was reported that for two seasons Brigg had been runners up for the Lincolnshire Challenge Cup, in actual fact, losing to Spilsby in the final of the first County Cup competition. Brigg thereby gained the reputation of being the premier club in North Lincolnshire, scoring victory over Grimsby Town, Hull Town and Lincoln City - a few years later Grimsby Town and Lincoln City were in the Football League second division.
Thus the town of Brigg was one of the main centres of football in the latter part of the 19th century, with the club secretary, Harry Storm, being a leading light in the formation of the Lincolnshire FA. Of the original 16 clubs in the association no less than four of them were from Brigg itself.
The club played for many years in the Lindsey League, using the Old Manor House Convent playing field in Station Road. The club had many glory days at the Brocklesby Ox,where a record ground attendance of 2000 was noted, before moving to their present ground in Hawthorn Avenue.
In 1948 Brigg Town became founder members of the Lincolnshire League. In season 1949/50 the Zebras won their first League title and this was to be repeated a further seven times, before the team was elected to the Midland Counties League in 1976.
At the end of the first season in the Midland League the club finished in third place and took the title in the following season, losing only one game in the process.
At the formation of the Northern Counties East Football League in 1982, Brigg were placed in Division One, as their ground did not meet the grading requirements of the Premier Division, but did gain promotion in 1985. It has taken time, on many people's part, to accomplish what has been achieved in the last few years. New floodlights were installed during 1989/90 to ensure Premier Division status was maintained. Ground improvements have continued to attain Grade "A" status in the NCEFL, and the ground and facilities now meet the requirements of the Unibond League.
From 1996, Brigg finished fourth twice, third and second in the NCEFL Premier Division. In season 2000-2001 however, the Zebras went one better to win the title by a massive ten points. Unfortunately promotion to the Unibond was denied, because the necessary ground improvements were not complete by the due date, despite major efforts by all concerned. Last season Brigg again finished in runners-up spot, but the season was also memorable for FA Cup and Vase runs
The 1995/96 season was the best in the clubs long history, when the Zebras lifted the coveted FA Vase, beating Clitheroe 3-0 in the final at Wembley Stadium. Brigg Town are now well known for their exploits in national FA Competitions reaching the 6th Round of the Vase in 2000/01, and last season losing in the 5th Round after a replay to eventual winners Whitley Bay. Last season however Brigg put themselves firmly on the map when they reached the 1st Round Proper of the FA Cup, for the first time, a feat which ranked alongside the FA Vase Final win. After starting in the Extra Preliminary Round, and beating Unibond opposition in subsequent rounds, Brigg visited Conference Champions Boston United, in the 4th Qualifying Round and came away with a famous 1-0 victory. This set up the trip to 2nd Division Tranmere Rovers, where despite losing 4-1, Brigg won many plaudits for the quality of their football. For this tremendous run Brigg were awarded the title of FA Cup Non-League performers of the season from the sponsors AXA.