AEK BOCO FC
AEK-BOCO F.C. was formed during the summer of 2003 as the result of a merger between two longestablished clubs (A.E.K. Rangers and Boco Juniors).
Today we have almost 500 children on our books playing in the Hanham Minor League, Avon Youth
League and Bristol Girls League. As well as four men’s teams and two ladies teams.
We are proud to hold the FA Charter Standard Community Club status. Our home ground is
Greenbank Rd Playing Fields, Hanham, Bristol.
History of Boco Juniors
AEK-BOCO F.C. was formed as a result of a merger in the summer of 2003 between AEK Rangers
and BOCO Juniors.
History of Boco Juniors
Boco Boys was formed in 1978 by Bob Boyd, a former director of Bristol City FC, and John Cummins.
Named after the 1978 Argentinean Champions Boca Juniors, as it corresponded with the year that
Argentina first became World Champions. The first competitive match was an under 11's friendly
against Hanham Boys (Boco last that day 4-2). Andrew Norris, now manager of local team Nicholas
Wanderers, scored twice to record Boco's first ever goals. Boco subsequently entered the Hanham
Minor League for the Under 11's.
Boco's first league game was played in September 1978 against Streamside. Unfortunately we lost
that fixture 7-5, with Bob's son Robert Boyd scoring the first ever league goal for the club. Players
from this original team still play football within leagues around Bristol today.
The second season and a second Under 11's team were a little special, winning the Minor Cup Final
at the old Eastville Stadium. The match against Bridge Farm attracted a large crowd, and finished 1-0,
with the goal being scored by Mark Cooper, son of former England, Leeds and later a manager of
both Bristol City and Rovers. Mark progressed onto play senior football for Macclesfield Town in the
lower divisions of the Nationwide League.
The team also included on the left of midfield a lad who notched 87 goals that season and his name
was Julian Dicks. Always destined for greater things, he progressed to become a regular with
Birmingham City, Liverpool and West Ham United, were he appeared 262 times in the league.
Paul Mardon also appeared for BOCO that year scoring over 50 goals and in 1996-97 became the
first full international to have started at BOCO when he made his debut for Wales. Paul played for
Bristol City in the 1987-90 seasons, before moving to Doncaster Rovers, Birmingham City and West
Bromwich Albion where he was joined by another BOCO team-mate Darren Lloyd for a short spell. A
long-term knee injury forced Paul to call it a day in the 2000-01 season.
The side continued to flourish at Under 12 and produced another rising starlet in Darren Carr who
played for Chesterfield in the 1997 FA Cup semi-final versus Middlesbrough.
Throughout the 80's BOCO continued to produce talented players such as Martin Wilmott (Bristol
City), Darren Harvey at Watford and even a future snooker professional playing at right back Mark
Johnston-Allen.
As the years have progressed the stewardship of the club passed to Dave Payne now a scout for
Bristol Rovers and then Pete Clarke who's sons have had acclaim, Neil as an accomplished Old
Georgians cricketer and Robert playing in goal for England U-19's in 1996/7. Even Manchester
United’s' Alex Ferguson spotted a young Ross Millard playing for BOCO and Ross was signed as full
time professional only to see his dubbing career cut short by injury.
AEK Rangers where a successful men’s team with three sides in various leagues in the Bristol and
surrounding area. Merging with Boco juniorsand becoming AEK Boco FC saw then eventually bring
in a fourth men’s team with the youngsters coming through. Varying success over the last few years
has seen AEK Boco now reach the Gloucestershire County League, with the reserve’s playing in the
Bristol premier combination One, after successful cup and league double last year;
Our first season in the county league was a great success finishing runners up and we will be aiming
for one step higher this season. Com’on Boco