| Full name | Mullard Sports Football Club | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1957 | ||
| Dissolved | 1988 | ||
| Ground | Mullard Sports Ground | ||
Mullard Sports F.C. were a long-running amateur football club based in Bursledon, a suburb on the east of Southampton.
| Full name | Mullard Sports Football Club | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1957 | ||
| Dissolved | 1988 | ||
| Ground | Mullard Sports Ground | ||
Mullard Sports F.C. were a long-running amateur football club based in Bursledon, a suburb on the east of Southampton.
Mullard Ltd were the British manufacturers of electronic equipment. In 1956 they opened a large Southampton factory in the Millbrook area of the city, from which the Sports & Social section evolved.
A football team was soon formed and they entered the Southampton League for the 1957/58 season. Steady progress was made over the next few years and with a large workforce, the club expanded with the addition of further teams.
By 1965, the club were running three sides and had acquired their own ground - albeit at Bursledon on the other side of the city to the factory. [1]
Despite this. the move coincided with the most successful spell in the clubs history. The First team won three successive promotions (including the Senior Division 1 title) and in 1969, they reached the Southampton Senior Cup Final at The Dell, Southampton but lost 2-5 against league champions Redbridge Rovers. [2]
These successes saw Mullards join the Hampshire League, where they were placed in Division 3 East. However, the step-up proved too much and their debut campaign saw them finish bottom of the table. The next few seasons saw an improvement, but when the league was reorganised they were then placed in the newly formed Division 4. [3] In 1976 a fourth place finish resulted in an unexpected promotion, but they were relegated straight back after finishing rock bottom. Back in the basement division, they again finished bottom and left the competition. [4]
Mullards continued playing in the Southampton League - maintaining the status of their Reserve side in Junior Division 1. In 1984 they regained their Senior status, and four years later they won the Senior Division 2 title. [5]
However, in 1988 the company was taken over by Phillips. Budgetary and staff cuts resulted in the immediate closure of the Sports & Social club and the ground sold.
Rather than attempting to continue at a different site, under a new identity, the football club then decided to end on a high note and disband.
| Season | Division | Position | Significant events |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1969/70 | Division 3 East | 16/16 | Re-elected |
| 1970/71 | Division 3 East | 11/16 | |
| 1971/72 | Division 4 | 10/16 | League re-organisation |
| 1972/73 | Division 4 | 11/16 | |
| 1973/74 | Division 4 | 12/16 | |
| 1974/75 | Division 4 | 7/16 | |
| 1975/76 | Division 4 | 4/16 | Promoted |
| 1976/77 | Division 3 | 16/16 | Relegated |
| 1977/78 | Division 4 | 16/16 | Left competition |
Mullard Sports played at their self titled Sports Ground at Portsmouth Road, Bursledon, Southampton, SO31 8BT. The venue, located immediately behind the Plough Inn public house, was enclosed with a pavilion.
Following the company takeover, the land was sold and is now an allotment. The Pub remains, but there is little trace left of the football ground.
Mullard Sports had many fine players during their existence - including the former Tottenham Hotspur and Southampton goalkeeper John Hollowbread. [8]
With there being so many teams in the area, Mullard Sports had many local rivals - most notably their near neighbours Vosper Thornycroft.