BRISTOL CHURCHES FA This site was last updated 11-Aug-2009 15:50
	BSXI		BACKGROUND INFORMATION BELOW
	Manager:	Jim Tickner - 07878 280431
	Coach:	Tays - 0117 9852084
	E-mail:	jimlougabs@hotmail.co.uk
	Website:
	Formed:	1999
	Highest league finish:	1st Div 1 2006/07 2007/08
	Highest cup finish:	Finalists 2008 Shield winners 2007
	Home Ground:	Little Stoke playing fields, little stoke lane.
	Linked Church
	Church Website
	Honours	GFA Minor winners 2008, GFA Primary Winners 2006, BCFA Div 1 Champs 2007 2008, Shield winners 2006, Div 2 Champs 2003

Background:  It was the turn of the millennium when Bristol sanctuary X1 came into existence and took their place in the Bristol Churches 2^nd division.  Consisting of players drawn from several churches and a handful of friends they began their competitive life  as the ‘mighty yellows’. The Brothers’ Tickner; namely Marc, Jim and David, formed the heart of a side that also featured former St Matthews striker Will Durman and stalwart defender Rob Davies. It took the side some months to settle as a unit and it wasn’t until December 2000 that they earned their first point with a 2-2 draw against Nailsea.  Buoyed by the arrival of club legend Roy Clark the Little Stoke based outfit thoroughly enjoyed their first season in the BCFA, finishing a creditable eighth. In season 2001-2 the team was able to recruit a new strike partnership in the form of Craig Tickner (no relation!) and the speedy Eddie Hall.  The yellows began to slowly improve and managed a very respectable 4^th place finish in Div 2. With the demise of rivals ‘key to life’ the ever-astute management team saw an opportunity to recruit new players.  A bit of wheeling and dealing saw the acquisition of keeper Jim Holman and his brother Sam, a whole-hearted centre-half. With the team shaping up nicely season 2002/3 saw the club emerge as a force in the ever-improving Bristol Churches footballing fraternity.  Keen to test themselves against the likes of Hanham Baptist and St Matthews, the dominant church sides for a decade, the Sanctuary boys worked hard on their fitness and skill levels and saw an instant dividend with a flying start to the season. Pushed all the way by Spartak Lackham and Christchurch Clifton, the men from little stoke finally clinched the title in April of 2003. Proudly clutching their silverware they then began a delightful arrangement with Portreath FC in Cornwall who have kindly hosted them every year from 2003 for their end of season tour.  This has always been great fun and has served to bond the players as a unit. Faced with a tough baptism at the start of 2003/4 the yellows opened their Div 1 campaign against champions St Matthews. BSX1 netted with a great strike from Marc Tickner but soon found themselves 2-1 down at half-time.  Undeterred, they stuck to their principles of pass and move and a wonderful hat trick from young striker Dave Franklin sealed a fantastic 4-2 win. As is so often the case with a prospering team, new players were happy to join in the fun, very often from rival teams. With the likes of Andy Mead, Chris Spittles and Matt Frost bolstering the squad, they completed the season a close fourth. The ever-improving BCFA provided an excellent forum for the team to enjoy football, both those players within and without the church.  Whilst not always perfect, the atmosphere and mentality is more often than not both competitive and good-natured.  Indeed it was in the following season that BSX1 were able to demonstrate the strength of church football by reaching the Primary Cup Final (as had Christchurch the year before).  In an epic encounter, vs. Eden Grove, the newly attired BSX1 twice equalised only to lose 3-2 in extra-time. This encounter gave the team a taste for cup success and lifted by the recruitment of some great young talent in the shape of Chris Stout, Darren Fitzgerald and Jamie Khosravi the BSX1 boys were able to make the final again the following year.  This time there was no mistake, as the team in black and white stripes became the fist church side to lift the Primary Cup. With fantastic contributions from senior players like Dan Hamer, Jamie Collins and Steve Clemente and the energy of emerging stars like Dan Wells and Mike Ball the newly monikered ‘stripes’ had become a competitive outfit. Season 2006/7 was an opportunity to focus and make a push to topple the formidable Thornbury Baptist juggernaut.  In a classic season full of ups and downs the stripes were finally able to declare themselves Div 1 champs. A far cry from the early days and overall an amazing journey featuring some great characters. This season has seen BSX1 face a stern challenge for the league from Rock and Thornbury.  As a bonus, the team has put together an excellent cup run in the GFA minor cup and stand to face rivals Christchurch in the semi-final. If BSX1 do win through they could face a reprise of their first Primary cup final as Eden Grove contest the other semi.  Some prospect. It has been a roller coaster eight years for the club and founder members Marc and Jim Tickner (now an aging but canny management team!).  With promising new recruits like Andy Steward and Andy Young BSX1 will be hoping to fly the flag for church football for a few more years yet.