Waterlooville F.C.

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Waterlooville F.C.
Full nameWaterlooville Football Club
NicknameThe Ville
Founded1902
Dissolved1998
GroundJubilee Park, Waterlooville
Capacity6,000
League Southern Football League
1997–98 Southern League Division One South, 10/22

Waterlooville F.C. was a long running semi-professional football club based in Waterlooville, Hampshire.

Contents

They were known as "The Ville" and played at Jubilee Park until 1998 when they merged with Havant Town to form Havant & Waterlooville.

History

Waterlooville F.C. was established in 1902 and initially played in the local Waterlooville & District League. [1] Shortly before World War II they joined the Portsmouth League, immediately winning the Division Three title. After the war they won Division Two and after a few years in Division One they won three consecutive titles. [2] In 1953 they joined the Hampshire League [3] and in 1968–69 reached the first round of the FA Cup for the first time, where they lost 2–1 to Kettering Town. [4] [5]

In 1971 Waterlooville were promoted to Division One South of the Southern League. They won the division in their first season and were promoted to the Premier Division. [6] However, they finished bottom of the Premier Division the following season and were relegated back to Division One South. [6] In 1976–77 they reached the first round of the FA Cup again, losing 2–1 at home to Wycombe Wanderers in a match which set the Jubilee Park attendance record of 4,500. [4] When the league was reorganised in 1982 they were placed in the Premier Division, but were relegated back to Division One South in 1982–83, despite also reaching the final of the Southern League Cup, losing to Alvechurch. [6] The following season, under the stewardship of manager John Milkins, they again reached the first round of the FA Cup, holding Northampton Town to two 1–1 draws, before losing a second replay 2–0. [4]

Ville lifted the Southern League Cup in 1986–87 after winning both legs of the two-legged final against Hednesford Town. The following season they finished second and were promoted back to the Premier Division. [6] In 1988–89 they reached the first round of the FA Cup for the fourth and final time, losing 4–1 at home to Aylesbury United. [4] They remained in the Premier Division until relegation at the end of the 1993–94 season. [6]

Following the sale of Jubilee Park in 1998, the club merged with neighbours and league rivals Havant Town to form Havant & Waterlooville. [4]

Honours

Playing records

League

FA Cup

FA Trophy

Former players

Notable former players include three who went on to play professional football in England, Paul Hardyman (transferred to Portsmouth in 1983), Guy Whittingham (to Portsmouth via Yeovil Town in 1989) and Paul Moody (to Southampton in 1991). Additionally, several players joined Ville after a professional career, including Vince Hilaire, Billy Gilbert, Joe Laidlaw, Gary Stanley, and Ray Pointer. Calvin Hore holds the club record for player appearances, with 801. He made his debut, aged 16, in September 1980, and aside from one season on the books of Portsmouth (1981–82), was a regular first team member until the club played its last match in May 1998. He was also club captain for most of the 1990s. [9]

Ground

Waterlooville played at Jubilee Park, Aston Road, Waterlooville, Hampshire, PO7 7SZ.

Opened in 1957, the stadium had a 6,000 capacity with a large 500 seater grandstand, along with a covered terrace behind both goals. The record attendance of 4,500 was recorded in 1976 for the FA Cup meeting against Wycombe Wanderers. [10]

Jubilee Park closed in 1998 after being sold. Residential housing, known as Coronation Road, has since been built on the site. The rows of poplar trees which marked the southern and western boundaries of the football ground remain. [11]

The merged club play at Havant Town's Westleigh Park. Over the years, the ground has seen significant developments - enabling 'the Hawks' to progress further up the pyramid system. [12]

Local Rivalries

Waterlooville enjoyed a long running rivalry with a number of local clubs, most notably Horndean and neighbours Havant Town - with whom they eventually merged with. [13]

Successor Club

In 2025 a new club, Waterlooville AFC were formed in an attempt to restore the town's footballing identity and bring back past glories. [14]

References

  1. ↑ Association Football in Hampshire until 1914 by Norman Gannaway
  2. ↑ Hampshire Football Association Centenary History 1887-1987 by Norman Gannaway
  3. ↑ A Tabulated History of the Hampshire League by Stephen Farmery
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Waterlooville at the Football Club History Database
  5. ↑ A History of the Hampshire League 1896–1996 by Norman Gannaway
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 England – Southern League Final Tables RSSSF
  7. ↑ Hampshire Football Association Yearbook 2015/16
  8. ↑ Waterlooville FC matchday programme 1986/87 season
  9. ↑ https://southern-football-league.co.uk/news/127658/Whatever-Ha
  10. ↑ Pages 84-85. The History of Non-League Football Grounds by Kerry Miller (Polar Publishing ISBN 1-899538-11-9)
  11. ↑ Page 60. Beyond The Cemetery End by Paul Claydon & Vince Taylor (Groundtastic Publications ISBN 0 9529435 6 5)
  12. ↑ https://havantandwaterloovillefc.co.uk/club/club-history/a-new-era-begins/
  13. ↑ https://havantandwaterloovillefc.co.uk/club/club-history/havant-waterlooville-the-hawks-take-flight/
  14. ↑ https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/sport/football/portsmouth-fc/portsmouth-fc-waterlooville-havant-stainton-5444933
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