Long Melford Football Club is a football club based in Long Melford, Suffolk, England. Affiliated to the Suffolk County FA, they are currently members of the and play at Stoneylands.
The existence of the club was first recorded in 1868, when they won a match against Ipswich Rangers 5âÂÂ1 on the Church Green. William Cobbold played for the club in their early years, and was later capped by England. During the 1887âÂÂ88 season Long Melford played fifteen games, winning all but two. Following their success, they challenged Ipswich Town to a match. Although Ipswich declined, claiming that it would be injurious to their prestige if they played "little village teams", the two clubs met in the Suffolk Senior Cup semi-final, with Long Melford winning 2âÂÂ1 before going on to beat Woodbridge 1âÂÂ0 in a replay in the final. The club won the Senior Cup again in 1894âÂÂ95, beating Saxmundham 2âÂÂ1, and for a third time in 1909, beating Bury Town 1âÂÂ0 in a replay. This scoreline was repeated in the 1921 final between the two clubs. In 1934 the club joined Division One of the Ipswich & District League, but left after a single season.
The 1950s were one of Long Melford's most successful periods; they won the Senior Cup in 1952âÂÂ53 and retained it the following season, also finishing as runners-up in the Essex and Suffolk Border League Premier Division. In 1954âÂÂ55 they won the Senior Cup for a third successive season and were Premier Division champions. The following season saw them retain the Premier Division title, and they were champions for a third time in a row in 1956âÂÂ57, also winning the league's Knock-Out Cup with a 9âÂÂ3 aggregate win over Bury Town Reserves. After finishing as runners-up in 1957âÂÂ58, the club won their fourth title in five seasons in 1958âÂÂ59. A fifth Premier Division title was won in 1960âÂÂ61 and they were runners-up in 1962âÂÂ63, but the club subsequently went into decline and were relegated to Division One by the end of the decade.
The 1970âÂÂ71 season saw Long Melford finish as runners-up in Division One. They won the division in 1984âÂÂ85 and were Knock-Out Cup winners the following season. The club won the Knock-Out Cup again in 1989âÂÂ90, and after finishing as runners-up in the Premier Division in 2001âÂÂ02, they were promoted to Division One of the Eastern Counties League. The club's first season in the Eastern Counties League ended with them winning the Suffolk Senior Cup for the eighth time, beating Stanton 5âÂÂ0. In 2014âÂÂ15 they won the Division One title and were promoted to the Premier Division. The club won the League Cup in 2018âÂÂ19, defeating Fakenham Town 1âÂÂ0 in the final.
In 2024âÂÂ25 Long Melford finished second-from-bottom of the Premier Division and were relegated to Division One North.