The Club was originally formed in 1901 (although membership of a league – the Ipswich & District League – was not taken up until 1908 by the then named Stowupland Swifts). The game was played in the village by teams under the names of Stowupland Swifts, Stowupland United, Stowupland Athletic and Stowupland Wanderers for various lengths of time until 1932 when the Club became just plain ‘Stowupland’.  

Under yet another new name of Stowupland Corinthians, the club was one of just ten to form the new Ipswich & District League Division One when the league restarted in 1945/46 following the War years - with home matches being played on “Carter’s Meadow”. 

 

The club have now been continuous members of the Ipswich & District league (now the Suffolk & Ipswich League) since 1964, and in the season 1964/65 finished second in Division Four (Section B). Steadily climbing through the lower divisions before reaching the ‘giddy heights’ of Division One for the first time in season 1972/73, but sadly this momentum could not be sustained as many of our near neighbours, some with a much shorter history, overtook the club on their way to the then ‘Premier Division’.

 

In those early days the good old ‘Green’ was the main playing surface and that was after the local farmer’s dairy cattle had been directed homewards. Local knowledge as to the consistency of the ‘pats’ played a part in determining whether to go into a sliding tackle or not. Villagers crossing the pitch on their bicycles could also be an interruption that many referees had not seen before, as were long delays for recovering the ball when the wind was blowing in the wrong direction. There were some consolations, not the least being changing in the ‘Retreat’ public house which whilst not having the most modern of changing facilities, offered somewhat unique pre and post match refreshment opportunities. 

 

The change of main venue to the Sports & Social Club in 1990 was very welcome and the club were able to start an ‘A’ side in addition to the First and Reserve teams. In 1998 the first team were winners of the Suffolk & Ipswich League Division Two but could only manage three season’s in Division One before being relegated. Returning the following year (2002), again as Champions, the club reached the semi-final of the Junior Cup in 2004, losing to Hadleigh United Reserves after extra-time.

 

The  2005/6 season was by far the most successful in recent history, being narrowly defeated  (1-0) to AFC Sudbury Reserves in the SCFA Junior Cup Final at Portman Road, followed by a win in the final game of the season to  gain promotion to the Senior Division of the Suffolk & Ipswich League for the first time.

Before the start of the 2006/7 season the club changed name again. As part of the efforts to forge closer relationships with the former ‘Stow Falcons Youth’ both clubs adopted the name  ‘Stowupland Falcons’. On the field, the 1st team held on to their Senior Division status, and the A’s gained promotion to Division Four, the highest level they have played at.

 

The summer of 2008 has seen the club formally integrate with the youth section under a joint constitution and executive committee, a great step forwards in the club’s history. The adult section look forward to successful 2008/2009 seasons in the Senior Division, Intermediate A and Division Five of the Suffolk & Ipswich League.