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Billingham Synthonia F.C. is a football club based in Billingham, England. They were established in 1923, playing first in the Teesside League, and joining the Northern League in 1945. In the 1993-94 season, they reached the Quarter-Finals of the FA Trophy, in a run which included a victory over Conference side Kettering Town. They are currently members of the Northern League Division One. Their nickname is "The Synners" and they play a derby match against Billingham Town.
They are known for being the only club in England to be named after an agricultural fertiliser (Synthonia being a contraction of "synthetic ammonia", a product manufactured by ICI, with whom the club originally had a close connection), and being the only club to go an entire season (1950-51) in the Northern League without conceding a goal at home, a last minute penalty save in the final game by goalkeeper Harry Armstrong preserving this record.
Their current manager is Stuart Coleby, a former player, who also acts as chairman. Frank Cook (MP for Stockton North) is the club's president.
Synthonia play at Central Avenue (the name of the street upon which the ground is situated). Their ground is also used by the Billingham Athletics club. The stadium was opened on 6 September 1958 by Lord Derby, with the first game ending in a 2-2 draw against Bishop Auckland. In the same year, the stadium was used for an England 'B' international athletics meeting. The stadium's 2,000 capacity cantilever stand was the longest in the country at the time. Previously, the team had played at Belasis Lane, a ground they left in 1958 to make way for a new ICI office block. The Belasis Lane ground saw the first floodlit game in the North of England and the first amateur team to play under lights, when Billingham Synthonia defeated an RAF team 8-4 before an attendance of 3,000. Some Middlesbrough reserve matches are played at Central Avenue.
Synthonia most recently won the Northern League Division One in the 1995-96 season (having finished 2nd in 1994-95, as they did in 1996-97 and 1997-98) with other successes occurring in 1956-57, 1988-89 and 1989-90. They also won the Northern League Cup in 1951-52, 1987-88 and 1989-90. In 2005-06 they finished 7th in the league and were Durham Challenge Cup runners-up. In the 2006-07 season, they were knocked out in the semi-final of the FA Vase, beaten by AFC Totton 5-4 on penalties.
The most famous ex-Synner is Brian Clough, who appeared for the club before he went on National Service. Others include Aidan Davison, a goalkeeper capped 3 times by Northern Ireland, who played for Synthonia during the 1987-88 season, and Glen Cockerill, who played for Stockport County. Bernie Slaven, ex-Middlesbrough and Republic of Ireland striker, played for the club after his retirement from profesional football. Currently, another ex-Middlesbrough and Republic of Ireland player, Curtis Fleming, is appearing for Synthonia.