Sifil A.F.C.
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| Full name | Sifil Football Club | ||
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| Nickname(s) | The Civil | ||
| Founded | 1963 | ||
| Ground | Newport Civil Service Sports Ground, Bettws | ||
| Chairman | Frank Jenkins | ||
| Manager | Ben Burrows | ||
| League | Gwent County League Premier Division | ||
| 2023–24 | Gwent County League Premier Division, 12th of 16 | ||
| Website | https://newportcivilserviceafc.co.uk/ | ||
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Sifil Football Club is an association football club based in the Bettws area of the city of Newport, South Wales. The team currently play in the Gwent County League Premier Division. Founded in 1963 as Newport Civil Service F.C.,[1] the club merged with Malpas United to form Malpas Civil Service in 2017.[2]
History
[edit]Newport Civil Service were founded in 1963. Initially they worked their way through the Newport and District League system before achieving Gwent County League status. They made an impact at that level in the 1980s, winning Division 3 in 1987–88 and Division 2 the following season. In Civil's first season in Division 1 (1989–90) they swept to 2nd in the League and captured the Gwent Challenge Cup for the first time. After coming 3rd in the 1990–91 season they spent several years in mid-table,(though winning the Gwent Amateur Cup in 1995) and even ended in last position in the 1996–97 season, escaping relegation due to Chepstow Town's promotion to the Welsh League. This escape must have come as a warning, for Civil got things together again in the 1997–98 season to finish 4th.
In the 1998–99 season Civil were on for the treble, until disaster struck with the loss of 9 points for unknowingly fielding a player suspended in Sunday Football. They then lost Gwent Amateur Cup Final to local rivals Newport Corinthians and at the end only had the Gwent Challenge Cup to show for a season that promised so much – Civil attaining a 1–0 win over Pill, another Newport side. In the next couples of seasons Civil finished mid-table.
In the 2001–02 season Civil Service struggled for quality players all year round which ended in relegation to the Gwent County Second Division. With a new Manager in place they finished 4th in their first season in the Second Division then 3rd in the seasons 2003–04 and 2004–05, just missing promotion on the last few matches.
Things Changed once again for Civil when in the 2005–06 Season Civil finished in 2nd position to Monmouth Town, with both teams being promoted.
Once again Civil's management team changed for the new season in the first Division but they won the first Division. However, they failed to be promoted to the Welsh league due to the Civil Service Sports club being taken over by Play football(Football complex). Hence Monmouth Town, who had finished second behind Civil were promoted to the Welsh League.
Civil finally attained promotion to the Welsh Football League in the 2007–08 season. Newport Civil Service had a fantastic season, and were unbeaten for nearly a whole season, although local Malpas Rivals Albion Rovers beat them first game of the season, but it was Cwmffrwdoer Sports who put a stop to the unbeaten run. Civil applied again to be promoted to Welsh league only to be rejected twice by the Welsh League. After a lot more hard work Civil applied one last time and were accepted.
Newport Civil Service F.C are currently running three teams.
Current squad
[edit]Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Staff and board members
[edit]- Vice-Chairman:
Ken Hendy - Secretary : Tony Burrows
Honours
[edit]- Gwent Senior Cup – Runners-up: 2017–18
References
[edit]- ^ "WE ARE STILL AFC". Sifil AFC. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
- ^ Jones, Jordan (15 July 2017). "Gwent County League clubs Malpas United and Newport Civil Service to merge". Y CLWB PÊL-DROED. Retrieved 20 July 2024.