Winslow United F.C.

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Winslow United
Winslow United F.C. logo.png
Full nameWinslow United Football Club
NicknameThe Ploughmen
Founded1891;134 years ago (1891)
GroundElmfields Gate, Winslow
Capacity2,000 (100 seated)
ChairmanAndy Setterfield
ManagerAlex Woodfine
League Spartan South Midlands Football League Premier Division
2024–2510th of 18
Website https://www.winslowunitedfc.co.uk/

Winslow United Football Club is an association football club based in Winslow, Buckinghamshire, England. Founded in 1891, they are nicknamed The Ploughmen and currently compete in the Spartan South Midlands Football League Premier Division, which is at Step 5 of the National League System, corresponding to the ninth tier of the English football league system.

Contents

Winslow United play their home matches at Elmfields Gate, known locally as "The Gate", which has a capacity of around 2,000, including 100 seats. The club is recognised for its strong community engagement, operating extensive youth football programmes from under-7s to under-18s through Winslow United Juniors F.C., as well as a dedicated disability football team. Winslow United is also an FA Charter Standard Community Club, reflecting high standards in coaching, management, and safeguarding at grassroots level.

History

Formation and early years (1891–1898)

Winslow United was established in 1891, initially as Winslow Town F.C., closely linked to the town's Reading Room, which promoted recreational sport in the late Victorian period. The founding meeting was held at the Parish-rooms, Market-square on 13 October 1891, chaired by Mr. Herbert Bullock. [1]

The first officers were:

The club's first recorded match took place on 31 October 1891, when Winslow defeated Granborough 3–1 on the Flower Show Field, lent by local landowner T. P. Willis. The original team colours were dark blue and white. Some sources suggest 1890 as the founding year, but contemporary records and the Football Club History Database list 1891 as the official year. [2]

The club quickly became a community fixture. For example, a match on 4 February 1893 raised funds to distribute a hundredweight of coal to thirty needy families. [3]

The current name, Winslow United F.C., was adopted at the start of the 1895–96 season, following the merger of Winslow Town and the junior club Winslow Rovers.

The club became a founding member of the Buckingham & District League and also competed in the Aylesbury & District League Division I by 1897–98. Regional league participation included the North Bucks & District League before joining the South Midlands League in 1968. [2]

Golden era: 1970s–1980s

The 1970s marked the club’s most successful period. Under manager John Webster, Winslow United won the South Midlands League Division One title in 1974–75 and finished runners-up in the Premier Division the following season. [2]

In the 1983–84 season, Winslow reached the Second Round Proper of the FA Vase , defeating Ware and Royston Town before narrowly losing to Tiptree United. [2] This remains one of the club’s strongest national cup performances.

Throughout the late 1970s and 1980s, Winslow regularly finished in the top five of the South Midlands League Premier Division, cementing its reputation as one of Buckinghamshire’s most consistent non-league sides.

Challenges and rebuilding

By 1991–92, Winslow United were relegated after recording only two league wins that season. [4]

Following league restructuring in the early 2000s, the club competed in Division Two of the newly formed Spartan South Midlands Football League. Winslow finished runners-up in 2003–04 and won the Anagram Records Trophy in 2004–05. [2]

In 2009–10, senior sides were temporarily withdrawn to focus on youth development, maintaining U18, U17, and U16 squads through Winslow United Juniors F.C.. [5]

Return to senior football

Senior football returned in the 2010–11 season, beginning a period of gradual rebuilding and community growth. Winslow United’s partnership with Winslow United Juniors expanded youth participation from under-7s to under-16s and strengthened ties between local schools, families, and the club.

Recent success and promotion

Winslow United achieved three consecutive top-three finishes in the Spartan South Midlands League Division One (2017–18, 2018–19, and 2021–22), with intervening seasons cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [6]

In 2023–24, Winslow United finished third in the Spartan South Midlands League Division One and won the promotion play-off final 3–1 against Northampton Sileby Rangers, earning a place in Step 5 of the English non-league pyramid — the Premier Division of the Spartan South Midlands League, returning there for the first time in 32 years since the 1991–92 season. Winslow's goals were scored by an own goal from a Northampton Sileby Rangers player, Aaron King, and Courtney Massay, while Northampton Sileby's lone goal came from Josh Drain. [7]

In the 2024–25 season, the club finished 10th in the Premier Division. On 18 October 2025, Winslow United reached the Second Round Proper of the FA Vase for the first time since 1983–84, matching a 42-year-old club record with a 3–2 victory over Coalville Town, courtesy of two goals from Ethan Flanagan and one from Scott Valentine. [8]

The club also won regional honours including the Buckingham Senior Charity Cup (2018–19, 1–0 vs Aylesbury FC) [9] and the Anagram Records Trophy (2004–05, 4–1 vs White Ensign). [2]

Crest and colours

The club crest displays a crown above a football, symbolising Winslow and the sport itself.

Winslow United's traditional home colours are yellow shirts, blue shorts, and blue socks. This colour scheme has been consistently used in senior fixtures, youth teams, and official club merchandise. Historical records show that the club's original colours, when formed as Winslow Town in 1891, were dark blue and white, before the current yellow and blue scheme was adopted.

The club occasionally wears an alternate kit for away fixtures to avoid colour clashes. Historical records and images show that these kits have sometimes incorporated different combinations of blue, white, or black, but yellow and blue remain the defining colours of Winslow United.

Past seasons

Season Highlights
Champions
Relegated
Play-off winners

Ground

Winslow United play at Winslow Sports Club, located at Elmfields Gate, Winslow, Buckinghamshire (MK18 3JA). The ground, commonly called "The Gate," hosts senior, junior, and disability football fixtures and serves as a central hub for community sports activity in the town. [10]

History

The site has a long history, originally known as Mill Close in the 14th century, where it served as pasture and was the location of Winslow’s windmill. By the 16th century, it was renamed Bell Close (or Bell Closes), with ownership recorded in various manor court documents. The 1767 Winslow Enclosure Award reallocated the land while maintaining its boundaries. The name began to shift eastward to the current Recreation Ground site in the 19th century when Bell Closes were converted to freehold, and some areas were gradually built over.

During World War II, the fields were ploughed for crops. Post-war, growing demand for a permanent public recreation space led the Parish Council to purchase the land from Brigadier N. McCorquodale in 1947–48, supported by Ministry of Education grants. Winslow Recreation Ground was officially established in 1949, with a Management Committee formed to oversee its use for football, cricket, and the wider community. The creation of Elmfields Gate in the 1950s–60s slightly altered the layout, but the site has continuously hosted Winslow United FC, Winslow Cricket Club, and school sports ever since. [11]

Winslow Sports Club / Recreation Ground Timeline

14th century: Area known as Mill Close; pasture and site of Winslow’s original windmill

16th–17th centuries: Renamed Bell Close/Bell Closes; ownership recorded in manor court documents

1767: Winslow Enclosure Award reallocated the Bell Closes

19th century: Bell Closes converted to freehold; name gradually shifted east to current Recreation Ground

World War II: Fields ploughed for crops; post-war demand for public recreation space

1947–1948: Parish Council purchased Bell Closes; Ministry of Education grants approved

1949: Winslow Recreation Ground officially established; Management Committee formed

1950s–1960s: Elmfields Gate created; site continues to host Winslow United FC, Winslow Cricket Club, and school sports

Present day: Hosts senior, junior, and disability football; central hub for community sports

Honours

Spartan South Midlands League
North Bucks & District Football League
Cup Competitions

Records

Community and Youth Development

Winslow United operates one of Buckinghamshire’s most active youth football programmes, offering teams from under-7s to under-18s through Winslow United Juniors F.C. The system provides a structured pathway to senior football and supports the club’s ethos of community development. [12]

The club also operates a dedicated disability football team, providing opportunities for players with physical or learning disabilities. Winslow United Juniors F.C. holds the status of an FA Charter Standard Community Club, which recognises high standards in coaching, management, and safeguarding at grassroots level.

References

  1. ↑ Winslow Town F.C. and Winslow United F.C. Historical Match Reports and Administrative Records (1891–1898), Winslow History
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Winslow United. Football Club History Database. Retrieved 19 October 2025.
  3. ↑ Winslow Town F.C. and Winslow United F.C. Historical Match Reports and Administrative Records (1891–1898), Winslow History
  4. ↑ "South Midlands League Tables 1991–92". Football Club History Database. Retrieved 19 October 2025.
  5. ↑ "Winslow United Juniors F.C." Retrieved 19 October 2025.
  6. ↑ "Spartan South Midlands League Division One Table 2021–22". Football Club History Database. Retrieved 19 October 2025.
  7. ↑ "Winslow United Promoted to Step 5 After Play-Off Victory". Sports Shots. 4 May 2024. Retrieved 19 October 2025.
  8. ↑ "Winslow United Reach FA Vase Second Round with Win Over Coalville Town". Sports Shots. 18 October 2025. Retrieved 19 October 2025.
  9. ↑ "Buckinghamshire Senior Charity Cup Final 2019". Bucks Football. Retrieved 19 October 2025.
  10. ↑ "Winslow Recreation Ground / Bell Closes / Tabernacle Field". Winslow History. Retrieved 19 October 2025.
  11. ↑ "Winslow Recreation Ground / Bell Closes / Tabernacle Field". Winslow History. Retrieved 19 October 2025.
  12. ↑ "Winslow United Youth Teams" . Retrieved 19 October 2025.


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