 | |||
| Full name | Sholing Sports Football Club | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1901 (as Sholing Athletic) | ||
| Dissolved | 1994 | ||
| Ground | Birch Lawn, Sholing, Southampton | ||
| Capacity | 1,500 | ||
Sholing Sports were a long running Southampton based football team who for many years played with great success in the Hampshire and Wessex League's. They folded in 1994 after suddenly losing their ground.
It is thought that the club were founded in 1901 as Sholing Athletic and spent their early days playing in the Southampton League. In 1919–20 Sholing won the Senior League title and the first of three successive Southampton Senior Cups. This saw them step up into the Hampshire League where they promptly won the East Division title. Playing in the County Division (later to become Division 1) Sholing soon settled and after finishing 6th and 5th they proudly won the Hampshire Senior Cup but after two tough seasons the club finished bottom and returned to the less demanding Southampton League.
Now known as simply Sholing the club soon re-established themselves as a force. The late Thirties were particularly successful times - in 1937–38 they were Senior League champions and Hampshire Intermediate Cup winners, the following season saw them retain the title and win the Southampton Senior Cup.
After World War II the club became known as Sholing Sports and returned to the Hampshire League in 1946 when they were placed in Division 3 East. Back in county football, Sholing quickly settled and shortly after moving to their Birch Lawn home, they won promotion as champions in 1952–53 before consolidating themselves in Division 2. After some promising seasons, Sholing were promoted to Division 1 in 1961-62 but struggled and dropped straight back down again, and were surprisingly relegated back to Division 3 in 1964–65.
The 1970s saw Sholing Sports become a prominent force in the Hampshire League. In 1969-70 they were Division 3 East champions and in 1971–72 they finished runners-up in Division 2, winning promotion back to the top flight - and this time they were far better prepared. Sholing quickly became one of the top clubs in the league and began entering the national competitions, the FA Cup and FA Vase. They enjoyed several good runs in the latter competition. In 1973–74 Sholing won their first Division 1 title as well as the Hampshire Senior Cup.
The club remained regular title contenders, finishing runners-up three times before the incredible 1982–83 season when they were deservedly League champions - and they completed a remarkable treble by also winning the Hampshire Senior and Russell Cotes Cup's. The following season saw Sholing retain the league title, but were beaten finalists in the Hampshire Senior Cup. In 1984-85, Sholing were league runners-up and Hampshire Senior Cup finalists, but did gain some compensation when they again won the Russell Cotes Cup.
For the 1986-87 campaign Sholing Sports became founder members of the newly formed Wessex League, and enjoyed a steady debut season as they reached the finals of the Southampton Senior Cup and the inaugural League Cup. The next few years saw the club continue to hold their own but in a more professional environment their fortunes gradually declined - not helped in the early 1990s by increasing uncertainty over their Birch Lawn ground, caused mainly by financial problems at the adjacent Social Club.
Sholing Sports battled on until August 1993 when they were evicted from their ground - virtually on the eve of the new season and inevitably this unfortunately forced them to withdraw from the competition. The club continued to operate during the 1993-94 season with just an Under 18's side playing in the Hampshire Youth League but the search for a new home ground was unsuccessful and they inevitably folded.
| Season | Division | Position | Significant events |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1920/21 | Hampshire League East Division | 1/9 | Champions, promoted |
| 1921/22 | Hampshire League County Division | 6/16 | |
| 1922/23 | Hampshire League County Division | 5/17 | |
| 1923/24 | Hampshire League County Division | 14/16 | |
| 1924/25 | Hampshire League County Division | 16/16 | Relegated, left competition |
| 1925-47 | |||
| 1947/48 | Hampshire League Division 3 East | 9/12 | |
| 1948/49 | Hampshire League Division 3 East | 7/14 | |
| 1949/50 | Hampshire League Division 3 East | 4/14 | |
| 1950/51 | Hampshire League Division 3 East | 2/14 | Runners-up, not promoted |
| 1951/52 | Hampshire League Division 3 East | 4/14 | |
| 1952/53 | Hampshire League Division 3 East | 1/14 | Champions, promoted |
| 1953/54 | Hampshire League Division 2 | 9/14 | |
| 1954/55 | Hampshire League Division 2 | 10/14 | |
| 1955/56 | Hampshire League Division 2 | 8/16 | |
| 1956/57 | Hampshire League Division 2 | 7/16 | |
| 1957/58 | Hampshire League Division 2 | 3/16 | |
| 1958/59 | Hampshire League Division 2 | 12/16 | |
| 1959/60 | Hampshire League Division 2 | 12/16 | |
| 1960/61 | Hampshire League Division 2 | 4/16 | |
| 1961/62 | Hampshire League Division 2 | 3/16 | Promoted |
| 1962/63 | Hampshire League Division 1 | 16/16 | Relegated |
| 1963/64 | Hampshire League Division 2 | 5/16 | |
| 1964/65 | Hampshire League Division 2 | 15/16 | Relegated |
| 1965/66 | Hampshire League Division 3 | 12/16 | |
| 1966/67 | Hampshire League Division 3 | 4/16 | |
| 1967/68 | Hampshire League Division 3 | 11/16 | |
| 1968/69 | Hampshire League Division 3 East | 2/14 | Runners-up, not promoted |
| 1969/70 | Hampshire League Division 3 East | 1/14 | Champions, promoted |
| 1970/71 | Hampshire League Division 2 | 4/16 | |
| 1971/72 | Hampshire League Division 2 | 2/16 | Runners-up, promoted |
| 1972/73 | Hampshire League Division 1 | 9/16 | |
| 1973/74 | Hampshire League Division 1 | 1/16 | Champions |
| 1974/75 | Hampshire League Division 1 | 2/16 | Runners-up |
| 1975/76 | Hampshire League Division 1 | 2/16 | Runners-up |
| 1976/77 | Hampshire League Division 1 | 6/16 | |
| 1977/78 | Hampshire League Division 1 | 11/16 | |
| 1978/79 | Hampshire League Division 1 | 7/16 | |
| 1979/80 | Hampshire League Division 1 | 3/16 | |
| 1980/81 | Hampshire League Division 1 | 3/20 | |
| 1981/82 | Hampshire League Division 1 | 2/20 | Runners-up |
| 1982/83 | Hampshire League Division 1 | 1/20 | Champions |
| 1983/84 | Hampshire League Division 1 | 1/20 | Champions |
| 1984/85 | Hampshire League Division 1 | 2/20 | Runners-up |
| 1985/86 | Hampshire League Division 1 | 6/20 | Left competition |
| 1986/87 | Wessex League | 9/17 | Founder members |
| 1987/88 | Wessex League | 7/19 | |
| 1988/89 | Wessex League | 15/17 | |
| 1989/90 | Wessex League | 9/19 | |
| 1990/91 | Wessex League | 19/20 | |
| 1991/92 | Wessex League | 15/19 | |
| 1992/93 | Wessex League | 19/21 | Left competition |
| Season | Round | Opponents | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1922/23 | 1st Qualifying Round | unknown | |
| 2nd Qualifying Round | A v Boscombe | L 1-2 | |
| 1983/84 | 1st Qualifying Round | H v Salisbury City | W 2-1 |
| 2nd Qualifying Round | H v Gosport Borough | D 0-0 | |
| Replay | A v Gosport Borough | L 0-4 | |
| 1984/85 | 1st Qualifying Round | A v Chippenham Town | L 0-3 |
| 1985/86 | Preliminary Round | A v AFC Totton | L 0-2 |
| 1986/87 | Preliminary Round | A v Andover | L 0-1 |
| 1987/88 | 1st Qualifying Round | H v Swanage Town & Herston | L 1-3 |
| 1988/89 | Preliminary Round | A v Devizes Town | L 2-3 |
| 1989/90 | Preliminary Round | A v Salisbury City | L 0-6 |
| 1990/91 | Preliminary Round | H v Abingdon United | L 1-3 |
| 1991/92 | Preliminary Round | H v Maidenhead United | L 0-6 |
| 1992/93 | Preliminary Round | H v Bemerton Heath Harlequins | L 1-2 |
| Season | Round | Opponents | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1976/77 | Preliminary Round | A v Cowes | W 2-0 |
| Round 1 | A v Thatcham Town | L 0-2 | |
| 1977/78 | Preliminary Round | H v Brading Town | W 1-0 |
| Round 1 | H v Newbury Town | L 2-4 | |
| 1978/79 | Preliminary Round | A v Brockenhurst | W 3-1 |
| Round 1 | H v Newbury Town | L 0-1 | |
| 1979/80 | Preliminary Round | A v Fleet Town | L 0-1 |
| 1980/81 | Preliminary Round | H v Arundel | W 4-0 |
| Round 1 | H v Newbury Town | L 0-1 | |
| 1979/80 | Preliminary Round | A v Fleet Town | L 0-1 |
| 1980/81 | Preliminary Round | H v Arundel | W 4-0 |
| Round 1 | A v Thatcham Town | W 3-0 | |
| Round 2 | H v Dorking | W 3-2 | |
| Round 3 | H v Devizes Town | L 1-4 | |
| 1981/82 | Preliminary Round | A v Pirelli General | W 2-1 |
| Round 1 | A v First Tower United | W 1-0 | |
| Round 2 | H v Harefield United | W 2-0 | |
| Round 3 | A v Whyteleafe | W 1-0 | |
| Round 4 | A v Shortwood United | L 0-2 | |
| 1982/83 | Round 1 | H v Steyning Town | W 2-1 |
| Round 2 | H v Newbury Town | L 2-3 | |
| 1983/84 | Round 1 | A v AFC Totton | W 1-0 |
| Round 2 | H v Eastleigh | L 0-2 | |
| 1984/85 | Round 1 | H v Paulton Rovers | W 3-1 |
| Round 2 | H v Mangotsfield United | W 2-1 | |
| Round 3 | H v Bristol Manor Farm | L 2-4 | |
| 1985/86 | Round 1 | H v Godalming Town | W 2-0 |
| Round 2 | H v Yeading | W 1-0 | |
| Round 3 | H v Newport (IOW) | W 3-1 | |
| Round 4 | A v Havant Town | L 0-10 | |
| 1986/87 | Round 2 | A v Torrington | L 2-3 |
| 1987/88 | Round 2 | A v Wantage Town | W 3-1 |
| Round 3 | A v Vale Recreation | L 1-3 | |
| 1988/89 | Round 2 | A v Housnlow | L 0-4 |
| 1989/90 | Round 1 | A v Bournemouth | W 3-1 |
| Round 2 | A v Vale Recreation | L 0-1 | |
| 1990/91 | Round 1 | H v First Tower United | W 2-1 |
| Round 2 | H v Trowbridge Town | L 1-2 | |
| 1991/92 | Preliminary Round | H v Swanage Town & Herston | L 1-2 |
| 1992/93 | Preliminary Round | H v Fleet Town | D 1-1 |
| Replay | A v Fleet Town | L 1-2 |
In 2005 the famous name was revived by some enthusiastic locals and the new Sholing Sports joined the Southampton League. Like their predecessors, they originally played at Mayfield Park and began clawing their way up through the Junior ranks. By 2009 they had reached the Senior section and were using the Royal Victoria Country Park in Netley for their home matches, but sadly after a tough 2010-11 season the club again ceased to exist.
In 2010, successful local rivals VTFC (Vosper Thornycroft) changed their name to Sholing FC in a bid to attract more local support but they are not connected in any way to Sholing Sports, who remain consigned to the history books and sorely missed.
Over the years many fine players appeared for Sholing Sports. In the early twenties two players moved on to professional clubs; Tom Parker who progressed on to Southampton and the legendary Arsenal team of the thirties and also Sam Meston, who played for Southampton, Gillingham and Everton. Latterly, they had two former professionals as player-managers - Jack Gregory (former Southampton, Bournemouth and Leyton Orient) for the 1965-66 season, and also Tommy Hare (former Southampton and Luton Town) for the 1976-77 campaign.
Winchester City Football Club are an English football team based in Winchester, Hampshire and playing in the Southern Football League Division One South. Craig Davis is the current manager. The club motto is "Many in Men, One in Spirit".
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 play at St Georges Park.
Fleet Town Football Club is a semi-professional football club based in Fleet, Hampshire, England. The club are currently members of the Wessex League Premier Division and play at Calthorpe Park.
Sholing Football Club is an English football club based in Sholing, Southampton, Hampshire. Formerly known as Vosper Thorneycroft FC and later VTFC the club changed its name in 2010 to Sholing FC. In 2013–14 they won both the FA Vase and the Wessex League Premier Division and have three times been runners up in the Wessex Premier, in 2007, 2009 and 2016. They are currently members of the Southern League Division One South. The club has twice won the Hampshire League, in 2001 and 2004. Sholing are also 8 times Southampton Senior Cup Winners.
Association 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 Division One South.
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.
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 Premier Division and play at Alrebury Park.
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.
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 Division One and play at the Brian Whitehead Sports Ground on Wick Lane.
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.
Horndean F.C. is an English football club based in Horndean, near Portsmouth in Hampshire. The club are currently members of the Wessex League Premier Division and play at Five Heads Park.
Romsey Town Football Club is a football club based in Romsey, Hampshire, England. The club competes in the Wessex League Division One which is the tenth tier of English football. The club is affiliated to the Hampshire Football Association and is an FA chartered Standard club Formed in 1886, Romsey have always been around the 9th and 10th tiers of English Football but have once in their history reached the Fourth Qualifying Round of the FA Cup in the 1990–91 season. They were among the founding members of the Wessex League in 1986. The club plays at the Bypass Ground which they moved to in 1956.
Ryde Sports (1888–1997) were an English football club based in Ryde, Isle of Wight.
Road-Sea Southampton was a football club best known for moving directly from playing in amateur league parks to the semi-professional Southern League during their short fourteen-year existence.
Wellworthy Athletic were a works football team based in the New Forest area of Hampshire. The club existed for over 60 years until the loss of their ground in 1988.
Eastleigh Athletic were a long-running works football club, based in Eastleigh, Hampshire. They ran for over 70 years, many of which as the town's leading club and were one of the early pioneers of football in the area.
Thornycroft Athletic were a highly successful works football club based in Basingstoke, Hampshire. For many years they played in the Hampshire League but were forced to close in 1972 - just three years after winning the title, following the loss of their ground.
Pirelli General were a long-running and highly successful works football club based in Eastleigh, Hampshire. For a spell they were the top club in the town and played in the Hampshire League for many years until their unfortunate demise in 2003.
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 Chestnut Avenue.
Baffins Milton Rovers Football Club is a football club based in Portsmouth, Hampshire, England. They are currently members of the Wessex League Premier Division and play at the Kendall Stadium.
