they continued to play floodlit matches at the Gloucester Park Bowl until floodlights were installed at Gardiners Close. A covered standing area was built on one side of the pitch, but was removed by the end of the 1970s; a new, equally short-lived stand was built in its place in the 1980s with three steps of terracing. Two covered areas were also built on the other side of the pitch, one of which had seats installed after they were removed from Leytonstone's Granleigh Road ground. Another smaller stand was later built between the two covered areas containing the directors box. Floodlights were installed in 1979 at a cost of £10,000 and inaugurated with a friendly match against Crystal Palace on 30 October, attracting a crowd of over 2,000. Plans were announced in 1995 to move to a new stadium on Courtauld Road next to the A127; however, the plans were dropped in 1997 due to complaints about the proposed development. Gardiners Close currently has a capacity of 2,000, of which 400 is seated and 1,000 covered. Honours Isthmian League Division Two champions 1983–84 Essex Senior League Champions 1976–77, 1977–78, 1978–79, 1979–80, 1993–94 League Cup winners 1977–78, 1993–94, 1997–98, 2016–17 Essex Senior Trophy Winners 1978–79 '''Essex Elizabethan Trophy Winners 1978 Records Best FA Cup performance: Third qualifying round, 1983–84, 1998–99 Best FA Trophy performance: Second qualifying round, 1985–86 Best FA Vase performance: Quarter-finals, 1980–81 Record attendance: 5,000 vs West Ham United, friendly match, 1963 See also References External links Official website Football clubs in England Football clubs in Essex Association football clubs established in 1955 1955 establishments in England Borough of Basildon Greater London League Athenian League Isthmian League Essex Senior Football League