| Full name | Nursling Football Club | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1950 | ||
| Dissolved | 2022 | ||
| Ground | Nursling Recreation Ground | ||
Nursling Football Club were a long running amateur football club based in Nursling, a village in the Test Valley district, in Hampshire, England, about four miles north-west of the city of Southampton.
The club were formed circa 1950 as Nutfield United by members of a local youth club known by that name.
In 1951 they began a long association with the Southampton League, although their debut season saw them finish rock bottom of Junior Division 5. Things gradually improved after this, and they made steady progress up through the divisions, reaching the Senior section in 1971. [1]
The eighties saw Nutfield's fortunes finally take off. In 1987 they won the Senior Division 1 title 1 to reach the Premier Division for the first time, which they then proceeded to win two years in succession. [2]
These successes were rewarded with election to the Hampshire League Division 2. [3] However, the team then lost the services of several key players who were tempted away by Wessex League clubs, and on limited resources they did well to consolidate at a more demanding level. In 1993, the club became known as Nursling but two years later they left the competition. [4]
In an effort to rebuild, the club disbanded their First team, but retained the place of the Reserves who had recently progressed to Senior Division 2. Nursling soon recovered and successive title wins saw them regain their top-flight status within three years.
The new millennium saw Nursling re-emerge as a force. [5] They were regular Premier Division title contenders, winning the championship four times. The club also prospered in the cup competitions, winning the Senior League Cup three times, although in 2008 they were denied a unique treble after losing the Hampshire Intermediate Cup final, 1–2 against Liphook United.
Nursling also reached the Southampton Senior Cup final two years running, both occasions as rank under-dogs. In 2001 they lost 0–2 against Winchester City in what was the last final played at The Dell, Southampton. [6] Then, a year later, they played in the first one held at the new St Mary's Stadium, but lost 0–1 against Sholing. They were back in 2009, but were defeated again - this time 0–2 by Team Solent.
With a now ageing group of players, attention switched to the veterans side, who would soon enjoy plenty of success. Although the first team remained a steady Premier Division outfit, interest gradually faded, and the inevitable loss of personnel [7] resulted in two successive relegations. This saw the team disbanded in 2019, although Nursling continued to operate in vets football until folding in 2022.
| Season | Division | Position | Pld | W | D | L | F | A | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989–90 | Two | 15/18 | 34 | 8 | 8 | 18 | 35 | 36 | 32 |
| 1990–91 | Two | 12/18 | 34 | 11 | 9 | 14 | 53 | 58 | 42 |
| 1991–92 | Two | 9/15 | 28 | 10 | 6 | 12 | 44 | 54 | 36 |
| 1992–93 | Two | 8/18 | 34 | 11 | 14 | 9 | 53 | 47 | 47 |
| 1993–94 | Two | 8/17 | 32 | 13 | 8 | 11 | 55 | 34 | 47 |
| 1994–95 | Two | 16/17 | 32 | 5 | 8 | 19 | 33 | 59 | 23 |
Nursling F.C. played at Nursling Recreation Ground, Joe Bigwood Close, Nursling Street, Nursling, Southampton, SO16 0XH. [11]
The venue is owned by Nursling & Rownhams Parish Council and is located behind the Social Club and Village Hall, where the changing rooms can be found. The ground has a large car park and two football pitches which both remain in use today.
Nursling enjoyed a long running rivalry with a number of clubs, most notably with neighbours North Baddesley.
The new millennium saw a fierce rivalry develop with title rivals Brendon and then Bush Hill.
