Season 2003-04
AFC Bridgford were formed during a conversation in the TBI, one lunch time in November of 2002. Chairman Craig Gealy was interested in forming a new team after completing two seasons with a Notts Combination side which had recently disbanded.
Together with manager David Bratton, the duo formed the club whose name was taken from a five a side team the pair had played in five years previous.
It was thanks to the financial backing of the then-landlord of the Trent Bridge Inn, Frank Glaisdail,that the pairs plans were put in action.
Having began taking on players in January 2003, it was going to be a long wait until the club would start of their first full season in a Sunday football league.
The club approached the Notts Combination and Empal league, requesting membership with both organisations. It was the Notts Combination league that accepted the club first, so the board opted to go with them.
After membership was accepted, the club were notified that the season would not kick off until September, AFC Bridgford played a large number of pre-season friendlies which took the club through spring and summer until the season start in the Autumn.

Lee Jackson goes for goal in Bridgford's first ever game against Merriment.

The first pre-season friendly was against Merriment FC on the 23rd February 2003. Bridgford won 5-4, with the new captain, Paul Mannion netting four goals.
The best result was a 9-0 win over Cougar FC, in which the blues won 9-0. Only Chilwell FC, and Notts Alumni convincingly beat us. Chilwell winning 6-1, and Alumni 7-2.
After a nine month wait, The season finally kicked off. The team, along with the manager were left very frustrated after it was announced Bridgford would be kicking off a week later than the rest of the division after Beeston Rovers cancelled the premier fixture.
It was seven days later that AFC made their playing debut in the Notts Combination League, playing Southbank away, winning the game 3-2. Despite a convincing performance in the first game, the blues could only force a draw from Friar Tuck the following Sunday.
This seemed typical of Bridgford's first season, with the club failing to win more than two games in a row, until the end of the campaign, when the side went unbeaten in seven.
It was this late burst of form that led AFC Bridgford to be promoted to Division Two, after finishing fifth in the league.
The side was captained by Irishman Paul Mannion, who joined the club after moving to Nottingham from his homeland.
Not only did midfielder Mannion command the team on the pitch, but also went on to become the season's top goalscorer from midfield, followed closely by young striker Matthew Hobbs.

AFC Bridgford's first squad from 2003-04 season. Pictured are: Top Row:(L to R)Matt Astil, Josh Sugarbread.Andy Kimpson, Matt Greenhalgh, Simon Cooper,Anthony Meaden, Rob Moreton,Simon Blackburn,Matt Hobbs,Owen Williams,Jon Smith. Second Row: (L to R) Martin Young,Steve Forbes,Tom Wakeham,Steve Syme, David Bratton, Craig Gealy, Paul Mannion, Lee Jackson, Arun Verma,Kieron Byng

The table shows AFC Bridgford's final league position at the end of the season..