Ardley United Football Club, nicknamed “The Sky Blues,” is a non-league football club based in Ardley, Oxfordshire.
Established in 1945, they currently compete in the Cherry Red Records Combined Counties Premier Division North, which is part of the ninth tier of English football. The team calls The Playing Fields their home ground.
Formed shortly after World War II, the club initially competed in the Lord Jersey FA on a pitch near the railway line on Oxford Road. The 1950s and 60s were highly successful, with the club securing multiple league titles and cups, including three Oxfordshire Junior Shields. The acquisition of their current Playing Field site in the mid-60s brought the club to the village center, where volunteers, led by Doug Hodges, built the initial changing rooms. Despite a lack of success in the 70s and early 80s, the club’s fortunes changed in the mid-80s under Chairman Norman Stacey.
In 1988, Ardley United were promoted to the Oxfordshire Senior League, quickly winning the Division One and Premier Division titles. They joined the Hellenic League for the 1993/94 season, winning Division One in 1996/97 and 1997/98, and the Division 1 Cup for four consecutive seasons. Managed by former Oxford United player Peter Foley, and later by Paul Spittle, Paul Berry, Dan Still, and Kevin Brock, the club maintained a strong presence. The early 2000s saw the construction of dedicated facilities, leading to promotion to the Hellenic Premier Division and subsequent successes, including the Oxfordshire Senior Cup in 2013/14.
After the resignation of long-time chairman Norman Stacey in 2017, Ian Feaver became chairman, and Craig Adey was appointed First Team Manager, leading the team to win the Division One title and promotion back to the Premier Division. The club strengthened its community ties during the COVID-19 pandemic and appointed Julian McCalmon as first team manager. Due to regional changes, Ardley moved to the Spartan South Midlands Football League and subsequently to the Combined Counties Premier League – North Division for the 2023/24 season. The club aims to achieve Southern League football, fully supporting McCalmon and his team in this endeavor.