Winchester Castle F.C.

Last updated

Winchester Castle F.C.
WIncastlefc.jpg
Full nameWinchester Castle Football Club
Nickname(s)The Castle
Founded1952 (reformed 2006)
Dissolved2023
GroundChilcomb, HCC Sports Ground
Capacity1,000
2022–23 Hampshire Premier League Senior Division, 12th of 17

Winchester Castle F.C. were a long running English amateur football team based in Winchester. They played in the Hampshire League for over 50 years before their untimely demise.

Contents

History

The club were first formed in 1952 as Castle FC [1] and were the 'sports arm' of Hampshire County Council. They originally played in the Winchester & District League before becoming founder members of the North Hants League in 1968, which they won in 1970/71.

Upon entry to Division Four of the Hampshire League for the start of the 1971/72 campaign, the club became known as Winchester Castle and won promotion in their first season after finishing third. [2]

They then remained a steady Division Three side for a number of years, during which time they won the Hampshire Intermediate Cup in 1976/77 after defeating Southampton University in the final. The 1983/84 campaign was a memorable one when they finally gained promotion as champions. [3]

The club then consolidated in Division Two before being promoted to Division One in 1986, after many of the top teams left to join the newly formed Wessex League. [3] [4] However, after two seasons they finished bottom and were relegated. [3] Further relegation followed at the end of the 1991/92 campaign when the club finished second from bottom of Division Two. [3] After a spell of re-building, they bounced back up at the end of the 1996/97 campaign after finishing runners-up in Division Three. [5]

In March 2001 it was announced that Winchester Castle would merge with their local rivals Winchester City in an attempt to create one of the most powerful non-league sides in Hampshire. [6] The amalgamated club decided that it would use City's Abbots Barton for the first team, and keep Chilcomb for the reserve and ladies team. [6] At the end of the 2000–01 season Castle finished as runners-up behind City. [5] The clubs then formally merged in June of that year. [6]

Winchester Castle was reformed in 2006, when the 'A' and 'B' teams decided to leave their parent club, to keep playing together as the Hampshire League 2004 did not want reserve teams to feature amongst its members any more. [1] The following season the club became one of the founder members of the Hampshire Premier League. [7] They generally remained a steady mid-table side, but in the summer of 2023 a long career of county league football sadly came to an end when they disbanded after a loss of personnel.

Ground

Winchester Castle played their home games at the Hampshire County Council Sports Ground, A31 Petersfield Road, Chilcomb, Winchester, Hampshire, SO21 1HU. .

The venue is accessed off the A31,by a signposted track, which can be easily missed by a first-time visitor. Upon entry there is a large car-park with the pavilion/changing rooms adjacent. There are two well-maintained adult football pitches with the far one being used for 1st Team fixtures. The pitch is surrounded by a fixed barrier and also has home/away dugouts and a small covered enclosure, which as the venue is somewhat exposed to the elements, is much appreciated by spectators. There is also a large grass bank which runs parallel with the length of the far side and as provides an excellent view of both the pitch and the surrounding countryside. It is these facilities that enabled the club to play in the Hampshire Premier League.

The ground remains in use today for grassroots football. There is hope amongst local football followers that one day Castle may re-form again or that another club may take up residence.

Honours

League Career 1971-2023

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">Winchester City F.C.</span> Association football club in England

Winchester City Football Club are an English football team based in Winchester, Hampshire and playing in the Southern Football League Premier Division South. Craig Davis is the current manager. The club motto is "Many in Men, One in Spirit".

<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">Westfield F.C. (Surrey)</span> Association football club in England

Westfield Football Club is a semi-professional football club based in the Westfield area of Woking, England. The club is affiliated to the Surrey County Football Association. They are currently members of the Isthmian League South Central Division.

Andover Football Club was an association football club based in Andover, Hampshire, established in 1883. Since the 2007–08 season, Andover had been a member of the Southern League Division One South and West at Step 4 of the National League System. The club played at this level for 29 of its 128 years of existence, and played its thousandth game in this league in 2008. Compared with earlier periods, the ten years from 1998 to 2008 were relatively successful for Andover, seeing them win a number of league and cup honours as well as registering their biggest ever win.

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

Portland United Football Club is a football club based on the Isle of Portland, Dorset, England. In the 2015–16 season, they are members of the Wessex League Premier Division. The club is affiliated to the Dorset County Football Association and is a FA chartered Standard club. Their nickname is "The Blues"

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

Fareham Town F.C. is a football club based in Fareham, Hampshire, England. The club is affiliated to the Hampshire Football Association, and is an FA Charter Standard club. They play in the Wessex League Premier Division.

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

Steyning Town Community Football Club is a football club based in Steyning, West Sussex, England. The club is an FA Charter Standard community club, affiliated to the Sussex County Football Association. The club are currently members of the Isthmian League South East Division and play at the Shooting Field.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Whitchurch United F.C.</span> Football club

Whitchurch United F.C. is an English football club based in Whitchurch, Hampshire. The club has senior teams in the Wessex League Division One and play at Longmeadow Sports Centre. The club has a youth section with teams for all ages and genders from Under 7 to Under 18 which play in the Testway League and Peter Houseman Youth Leagues. The club also has a Women's and Girls Section with girls teams in the Hampshire Girls Youth League at U8, U10, U12, U14, U15 and U16 as well as women's recreational football.

<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">Swanage Town & Herston F.C.</span> Association football club in England

Swanage Town & Herston Football Club is a football club based in Swanage, Dorset, England. The club is affiliated to the Dorset County Football Association. They are currently members of the Dorset Premier League.

<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">Farnborough North End F.C.</span> Association football club in England

Farnborough North End Football Club is a football club based in Farnborough, Hampshire. They are currently members of the Guildford & Woking Alliance Premier Division and play at Blackwater Leisure Centre & Frimley Green FC

Liss Athletic F.C. is an amateur football club based in Liss, near Petersfield, in England. The club is affiliated to the Hampshire Football Association and is an England Accredited club They are currently members of the Hampshire Premier League Senior Division.

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

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 AEC Protection Ground which they moved to in 1956.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stockbridge F.C.</span> Football club

Stockbridge Football Club is an English football club based in Stockbridge, Hampshire. The club is affiliated to the Hampshire Football Association, and is a FA Charter Standard club. The club also has the honour of never being relegated during its existence. The club currently play in the Hampshire Premier League Senior Division.

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

Paulsgrove Football Club is a football club based in the Paulsgrove area of Portsmouth, Hampshire, England. The club is affiliated to the Hampshire Football Association. The club is an FA Charter Standard club. The club was formed in 1964. They joined the Hampshire League Division Two in 1987 and played in that league's Division One between 1993 and 1996. They are currently members of the Hampshire Premier League Senior Division.

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

Tadley Calleva Football Club are a football club based in Tadley, Hampshire, England. The club is affiliated to the Hampshire Football Association. The club's name of Calleva comes from the nearby Roman Town of Calleva Atrebatum, based just outside Silchester. They play in the Combined Counties League Premier Division South.

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

Sherborne Town Football Club are a football club based in the town of Sherborne, Dorset, England. They are currently members of the Wessex League Premier Division and play at Raleigh Grove. The club is affiliated to the Dorset County Football Association and is an FA chartered Standard club.

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

Andover Town Football Club is a football club based in Andover, Hampshire, England. They are currently members of the Hampshire Premier League Senior Division and play at the Portway Stadium.

References

  1. 1 2 Henderson, Ian (13 July 2006). "Winchester Castle FC – a phoenix rising from the ashes (From Hampshire Chronicle)". Hampshirechronicle.co.uk . Retrieved 29 March 2013.
  2. ↑ "Hampshire League 1970–1980". Nonleaguematters.net. Archived from the original on 25 September 2013. Retrieved 29 March 2013.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "Hampshire League 1980–1992". Nonleaguematters.net. Archived from the original on 25 September 2013. Retrieved 29 March 2013.
  4. ↑ "Wessex League 1986–2011". Nonleaguematters.net. Archived from the original on 4 October 2013. Retrieved 29 March 2013.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Hampshire League 1992–2004". Nonleaguematters.net. Archived from the original on 27 September 2013. Retrieved 29 March 2013.
  6. 1 2 3 "Winchester's top two footballing sides join forces (From Hampshire Chronicle)". Hampshirechronicle.co.uk. 6 March 2001. Retrieved 29 March 2013.
  7. ↑ WINCHESTER CASTLE at the Football Club History Database

51°03′12.79″N1°18′06.88″W / 51.0535528°N 1.3019111°W / 51.0535528; -1.3019111

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.