History and honours

COPLESTONIANS FOOTBALL CLUB 

CLUB HISTORY 

Coplestonians was founded in 1973 and, at the time, membership was restricted to past and present students and staff of Copleston High School in Ipswich. This restriction has since been lifted and the club is open to all. The Club has achieved FA Accredited 3 Star Club Status, the highest designation available to a grassroots club, and is among a small number of Suffolk Clubs which still runs three senior teams.  

The First Team play in Senior League of the Suffolk and Ipswich League and play their home matches at Ipswich Wanderers SEH Sports Ground. The Reserve Team play in the Suffolk and Ipswich League Division 2 and the Development Team are in Suffolk and Ipswich League Division 4, both playing their home games at Copleston High School and Sports Centre in Ipswich. All of these teams have tasted a fair measure of success over the past years and the Honours are listed below. 

In 2011, the Club introduced a Youth Section, starting with two Under 8 and two Under 10 teams and now have over 40 teams from Under 8 to Under 18 playing in the Suffolk Youth Football League, plus pre-minis (4 to 5 years) and minis (6 to 7 years) who learn skills and techniques in a fun environment before joining the Under 8 teams. In 2018, Copleston Ladies and Girls FC, playing in the Suffolk Girls and Ladies League, were amalgamated into Coplestonians. Developing the provision of Girls football, the club are now as designated ‘Wildcats’ centre focussing on skills for girls who would like to try football in a fun and stimulating environment. Wildcats are open to girls up to the age of 11, before they find their way into the age group teams.  As a result, the Club now has thriving Youth and Girls Sections, which continue to go from strength to strength.  

In addition to this, the Club has two veterans Teams playing in the Norfolk and Suffolk Veterans League and has disability football teams, plus a walking football section, which is mixed and open to all ages. Both of whom play friendlies and tournaments with other clubs. 

With effect from 13th April 2022, Coplestonians have become a registered charity, number 1198626.   

CLUB HONOURS:

SIL Junior Club of the Season - 2005/06

First Team 
 

SIL Div 3 Winners – 1975/76 
SIL Div 2 Runners-up – 1976/77 
SIL Div 1 Runners-up - 1977/78 
Suffolk Junior Cup – Finalists – 1978/79 

SIL Div 1 Winners – 1979/80 
SIL Div 1 Runners-up – 1981/82 
McNeil Cup - Finalists -1982/83 

SIL Div 1 Winners 2005/06  

Suffolk Senior Cup – Finalists – 2019/2020 

Reserve Team 
  

SIL Div 5 Winners – 1978/79 
SIL Div 4 Winners – 1979/80 
SIL Intermediate B – Runners-up 1988/89 
SIL Intermediate B – Runners-up 1993/94 
SIL Intermediate B – Runners-up 1995/96 
SIL Intermediate B – Runners-up 1998/99 
Mann Broadbent Cup – Finalists 1980/81 
Mann Broadbent Cup – Finalists 1982/83 
Mann Broadbent Cup – Finalists 1997/98 
Ryan Insurance Cup – Winners – 2001/02 

Suffolk Primary Cup – Winners – 2003/04 

Gipping Press Cup – Runners-Up – 2014/15 

Travel Plus Tours Cup – Winners – 2019/20
 
Development Team 
 

SIL Div 6 Runners-up – 1982/83 
Orwell Cup – Finalists – 1991/92 
Orwell Cup – Finalists – 1995/96 
Orwell Cup – Winners – 2001/02 
McNeil Sports Cup – Winners – 2003/04 
Harper Intersports Cup – Winners – 2004/05 
Harper Intersports Cup - Winners - 2005/06 

Club Colours Cup – Winners – 2010/11 

Club Colours Cup – Winners – 2011/12 

SIL Division B – Runners-Up – 2017/18