Christchurch F.C.

Last updated

Christchurch
Christchurchfc.png
Full nameChristchurch Football Club
Nickname(s)The Church
Founded1885;139 years ago (1885)
GroundHurn Bridge Sports Ground, Christchurch
Capacity1,200 [1]
ChairmanKamal Azzeddin
ManagerChrister Warren and Wayne Crutcher
League Wessex League Premier Division
2023–24 Wessex League Premier Division, 18th of 20

Christchurch Football Club is a football club based in Christchurch, Dorset, England. They are currently members of the Wessex League Premier Division and play at the Hurn Bridge Sports Ground.

Contents

History

The club was established in 1885. [1] They won the Hampshire Junior Cup in 1892–93, and again in 1911–12. [2] After winning the cup for a second time the club joined the West Division of the Hampshire League. [3] They won the Junior Cup again in 1920–21, and after being moved to the Divisional Section in 1921–22, they returned to the West Division in 1922–23. Although they were runners-up behind Eastleigh Athletic in their first season back in the division, the club left the league after finishing bottom of the West Section in 1924–25. [4] They subsequently played in the Bournemouth League. [2]

Christchurch returned to the Hampshire League in 1935, joining Division Two. They were Division Two runners-up in their first two seasons, before winning the division in 1937–38, earning promotion to Division One. [5] After the war the club were in Division Two, but were champions in 1947–48, [2] resulting in promotion back to Division One. They were relegated after finishing bottom of Division One in 1949–50 and relegated again (to Division Three West) the following season having finished bottom of Division Two. [6] In 1955 the club became members of Division Three amidst league reorganisation. [6]

In 1956–57 Christchurch were Division Three champions and were promoted to Division Two. [6] The 1959–60 season saw them finish as runners-up in Division Two, resulting in promotion to Division One. [4] However, they were relegated back to Division One the following season, and in a repeat of the early 1950s, suffered a second successive relegation to Division Two in 1961–62. [7] The club were Division Three runners-up in 1962–63, securing an immediate promotion back to Division Two. [7] In 1968–69 they were Division Two runners-up and were promoted to Division One. [7]

Christchurch were relegated back to Division Two at the end of the 1974–75 season, and then relegated to Division Three in 1976–77 after finishing bottom of Division Two. [8] Despite only finishing fifth in 1979–80, they were promoted to Division Two. [8] The 1985–86 season saw the club win Division Two, earning promotion to Division One. [9] After winning the Hampshire Intermediate Cup and finishing fourth in the Hampshire League Premier Division in 1985–86, [2] the club were admitted to the Wessex League. [9] When the league gained a second division in 2004, the club became members of Division One, which was renamed the Premier Division the following year. They won the League Cup in 2011–12, [10] but finished bottom of the Premier Division in 2014–15, resulting in relegation to Division One. [9]

In 2017–18 Christchurch were Division One champions, earning promotion back to the Premier Division.

Ground

The club played at the Barrack Road Recreation Ground until 1984, when they moved to their current Hurn Bridge ground. [2] The site had previously been owned by British Aerospace and had been bought by Christchurch Borough Council. The ground also became the headquarters of the Bournemouth FA, as well as being used by Dorset County Cricket Club and Christchurch Cricket Club. [2] A 200-seat stand was installed in 1995.

Honours

Records

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bournemouth F.C.</span> Association football club in England

Bournemouth Football Club is an English football team currently playing in the Wessex League Premier Division, in the ninth tier of the English football league system. Their nickname is "The Poppies", and they are often known as Bournemouth Poppies to avoid confusion with the Premier League club AFC Bournemouth. The club plays at Victoria Park, Namu Road, in Bournemouth and are founding members of the Hampshire FA and Bournemouth FA.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Basingstoke Town F.C.</span> Association football club in Basingstoke, England

Basingstoke Town Football Club is a football club based in Basingstoke, Hampshire, England. The club are currently members of the Southern League Premier Division South and play at the Winklebury Sports Complex. Their motto, 'Vestigia Nulla Retrorsum', means 'Never a step backward'.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Newport (IOW) F.C.</span> Association football club in England

Newport Football Club is a semi-pro football club based in Newport on the Isle of Wight, England. They are currently members of the Wessex League Division One and they currently groundshare at East Cowes Vics' Beatrice Avenue ground.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bashley F.C.</span> Association football club in England

Bashley Football Club is a football club based in Bashley, near New Milton, Hampshire, England. They are currently members of the Southern League Division One South and play at Bashley Road.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fleet Town F.C.</span> Association football club in England

Fleet Town Football Club is a semi-professional football club based in Fleet, Hampshire, England. The club are currently members of the Combined Counties League Premier Division South and play at Calthorpe Park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Milton Town F.C.</span> Association football club in England

New Milton Town Football Club is a football club based in New Milton, Hampshire, England. They are currently members of the Wessex League Division One and play at Fawcetts Field.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A.F.C. Totton</span> Association football club in England

Amalgamated Football Club Totton is a football club based in Totton, Hampshire, England. The club is affiliated to the Hampshire Football Association and is an FA Standard Chartered club. They are currently members of the Southern League Premier Division South and play at the Testwood Stadium.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alton F.C.</span> Association football club in England

Alton Football Club is a football club based in Alton, Hampshire, England. Formed by a merger of Alton Town and Bass (Alton) in 1991, they are currently members of the Combined Counties League Premier Division South and play at Anstey Park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brockenhurst F.C.</span> Association football club in England

Brockenhurst Football Club is a football club based in Brockenhurst, near Lymington, in Hampshire, England. They are currently members of the Wessex League Premier Division and play at Grigg Lane.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Folland Sports F.C.</span> Association football club in England

Folland Sports Football Club is a football club based in Hamble-le-Rice, near Southampton, in Hampshire, England. They are currently members of the Wessex League Division One and play at Folland Park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lymington Town F.C.</span> Association football club in England

Lymington Town Football Club is a football club based in the coastal town of Lymington, Hampshire, England. Known as "The Linnets", they are currently members of the Wessex League Division One and play at the Sports Ground.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alresford Town F.C.</span> Association football club in England

Alresford Town Football Club is a football club based in New Alresford, Hampshire, England. Affiliated to the Hampshire FA, they are currently members of the Wessex League Division One and play at Alrebury Park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amesbury Town F.C.</span> Association football club in England

Amesbury Town Football Club is a football club based in Amesbury, Wiltshire, England. They are currently members of the Wessex League Division One and play at Bonnymead Park, on the western edge of the town.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andover New Street F.C.</span> Association football club in England

Andover New Street Football Club is a football club based in Andover, Hampshire, England. Affiliated to the Hampshire Football Association, they are currently members of the Wessex League Premier Division and play at Foxcotte Park in the neighbouring village of Charlton.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blackfield & Langley F.C.</span> Association football club in England

Blackfield & Langley Football Club is a football club based in the village of Blackfield, near Southampton, England. Affiliated to the Hampshire Football Association, they are currently members of the Wessex League Premier Division and play at the Gang Warily Recreation Ground. Their local rivals are Fawley and Hythe & Dibden.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Downton F.C.</span> Association football club in England

Downton Football Club is a football club based in Downton, near Salisbury, Wiltshire, England. Affiliated to the Wiltshire Football Association, they are currently members of the Wessex League Premier Division and play at the Brian Whitehead Sports Ground on Wick Lane.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">East Cowes Victoria Athletic A.F.C.</span> Association football club in England

East Cowes Victoria Athletic Association Football Club is a football club based in East Cowes, Isle of Wight, England They are currently members of the Wessex League Division One and play at Beatrice Avenue.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fawley A.F.C.</span> Association football club in England

Fawley Association Football Club is a football club based in Fawley, near Southampton, in Hampshire, England. They are currently members of Wessex League Division One and play at the Waterside Sports & Social Club in Holbury.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Laverstock & Ford F.C.</span> Association football club in England

Laverstock & Ford Football Club is a football club based in Laverstock, near Salisbury, Wiltshire, England. They are currently members of the Wessex League Premier Division and play at Church Road.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A.F.C. Stoneham</span> Association football club in England

A.F.C. Stoneham is a football club based in Eastleigh, Hampshire, England. They are currently members of the Wessex League Premier Division and play at the Stoneham Football Complex.

References

  1. 1 2 Mike Williams & Tony Williams (2016) Non-League Club Directory 2017, Tony Williams Publications, p554 ISBN   978-1869833695
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 History Christchurch F.C.
  3. Early Hampshire League 1896–1914 Non-League Matters
  4. 1 2 Hampshire League 1919–1929 Non-League Matters
  5. Hampshire League 1929–1939 Non-League Matters
  6. 1 2 3 Hampshire League 1948–1960 Non-League Matters
  7. 1 2 3 Hampshire League 1960–1970 Non-League Matters
  8. 1 2 Hampshire League 1970–1980 Non-League Matters
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 Christchurch at the Football Club History Database
  10. Christchurch FC win the Wessex League cup Archived 2017-09-21 at the Wayback Machine Bournemouth Buzz, May 2012

50°46′22″N1°49′03″W / 50.7728°N 1.8176°W / 50.7728; -1.8176