return to the Premier Division as Division One runners-up in 1999–2000, also winning the Division One Cup. In 2002 they won the Cambridgeshire Invitation Cup, beating Histon 1–0 at the Abbey Stadium in Cambridge. At the end of the 2002–03 season they were relegated again after finishing bottom of the Premier Division. In 2007–08 the club won the Division One Cup and finished runners-up in Division One, earning promotion back to the Premier Division. In 2011–12 the club finished as runners-up in the Premier Division and won the Cambridgeshire Invitation Cup for a third time. They retained the Invitation Cup in 2012–13 with a 3–0 win over Cambridge City in the final. The club were relegated back to Division One in at the end of the 2014–15 season after finishing bottom of the Premier Division. The following season they set a club record by winning fourteen matches in a row as they finished second in Division One, earning promotion back to the Premier Division. The 2017–18 season saw Ely win the Cambridgeshire Invitation Cup for a fifth time, defeating Cambridge United Development in the final. They retained the trophy the following season, winning the final against Histon 2–1. Ground The club played at the Paradise Ground until 1986, when they moved to the Unwin Sports Ground; the final match at the Paradise Ground was a 3–2 loss to Felixstowe Town. The new ground was originally known as Downham Road until it was named after Doug Unwin, who was involved with the club from 1934 until his death in 1999. The first match at the new ground was a 4–1 loss to Tiptree United in the FA Cup first qualifying round. In 1994 a new 200-seat stand was built. Honours Eastern Counties League League Cup winners 1979–80 Division One champions 1996–97 Division One Cup winners 1999–2000, 2004–05, 2007–08 Peterborough & District League Premier Division champions 1955–56 Cambridgeshire Senior Cup Winners 1947–8 Cambridgeshire Invitation Cup Winners 1969–70, 2001–02, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2017–18, 2018–19 Records Best FA Cup performance: First round, 1956–57 Best FA Vase performance: Fifth round, 2016–17 Best FA Trophy performance: Second qualifying round, 1973–74 Record attendance: At the Unwin Ground: 646 vs Sporting Khalsa, FA Vase fifth round, 28 January 2017 At the Paradise Ground: 4,223 vs Torquay United, FA Cup first round, 1956–57 See also Ely City F.C. players Ely City F.C. managers References External links Official website Football clubs