Bideford are back on the road on Saturday as they face a tough test at in-form Slimbridge in the Southern League Division One South. The Swans have won their last four games in the league including an impressive win at then leaders Frome Town. Slimbridge also won at Mangotsfield in the FA Trophy last Saturday. In contrast Bideford’s form has not been good losing five of the last six games. The Robins did pick up an important win in the league last weekend against AFC Totton which ended a run of four straight defeats in all competitions. Both Bideford and Slimbridge went out of the Southern League Cup in mid-week to higher league opposition in the form of Taunton Town and Yate Town respectively. Bideford will be hoping to pick up their first ever points at Thornhill Park on Saturday having been beaten in all three of their visits so far.

Form Guide

Slimbridge's last six: (LWWWWL) Pos 7th W4 D0 L3 Pts 12
02/10/19 Slimbridge 1 Yate Town 2 (League Cup R1)
28/09/19 Mangotsfield United 1 Slimbridge 2 (FA Trophy EP)
24/09/19 Frome Town 1 Slimbridge 2 (League)
21/09/19 Slimbridge 4 Mangotsfield United 1 (League)
14/09/19 Barnstaple Town 0 Slimbridge 3 (League)
10/09/19 Slimbridge 1 Cheltenham Town XI 2 (Glos Senior Cup)

Bideford’s last six (LLLLWL) Pos 11th W3 D1 L3 Pts 10
01/10/19 Bideford 2 Taunton Town 5 (League Cup R1)
28/09/19 Bideford 2 AFC Totton 1 (League)
18/09/19 Plymouth Parkway 4 Bideford 3 (St Luke’s Cup R1)
14/09/19 Thatcham Town 4 Bideford 3 (League)
07/09/19 Cinderford Town 5 Bideford 3 (FA Cup Q1)
03/09/19 Bideford 1 Paulton Rovers 3 (League)

A Brief History of Slimbridge AFC
Slimbridge AFC were founded back in 1902 and played local level football throughout the 1900s mostly in the Stroud & District League. Slimbridge joined the Gloucestershire County League for the 2001/02 season and finished as runners-up. They were promoted to Hellenic League Division One West and were champions in their first season. A step up to the Hellenic Premier Division followed in 2003/04 and after three top five finishes The Swans were crowned Hellenic League champions in 2006/07. However due to internal problems in the club they could not join the Southern League as planned and were forced to resign from their position in the Hellenic League. Slimbridge took the place of their reserve team in the Gloucestershire Northern Senior League. Successive promotions saw The Swans back in Hellenic League Division One West in 2009/10 which they won for a second time at the first time of asking. After three top six finishes in the Hellenic Premier, Slimbridge transferred to the Western League Premier Division in 2013/14 but finished 16th. A season later they were promoted to the Southern League after finishing 3rd. In their first season in Division One South & West Slimbridge finished 18th, then 20th in 2016/17 and 2017/18. Last season The Swans improved slightly to 18th.

Slimbridge AFC
Thornhill Park
Wisloe Road
Cambridge
Gloucestershire
GL2 7AF
Tel: 07702 070229
Web: http://www.slimbridgeafc.co.uk
Twitter: @slimbridgeafc

Previous meetings:
20/04/19 Bideford 2 Slimbridge 0 (Southern Div 1 South)
01/09/18 Slimbridge 3 Bideford 2 (Southern Div 1 South)
21/04/18 Slimbridge 4 Bideford 3 (Southern Div 1 West)
28/10/17 Bideford 3 Slimbridge 1 (Southern Div 1 West)
08/04/17 Slimbridge 2 Bideford 0 (Southern Div 1 S&W)
14/01/17 Bideford 1 Slimbridge 0 (Southern Div 1 S&W)