Winchester City F.C.

Infobox Football club
clubname = Winchester City


fullname = Winchester City Football Club
nickname = City
founded = 1884
ground = The Denplan City Ground,
Abbotts Barton, Winchester
capacity = 4,500
chairman=Derek Caws
manager = Andy Leader
league = Southern League Division One South & West
season = 2007–08
position = Southern League
Division One South and West, 17th
pattern_la1=|pattern_b1=_blackstripes|pattern_ra1=|leftarm1=ff0000|body1=ff0000|rightarm1=ff0000|shorts1=000000|socks1=000000
pattern_la2=|pattern_b2=|pattern_ra2=|leftarm2=F1ef00|body2=F1ef00|rightarm2=F1ef00|shorts2=0000FF|socks2=0000FF

Winchester City Football Club are an English football team based in Winchester, Hampshire and playing in the Southern League Division One South and West. The team is currently managed by Andy Leader and their motto is "Many in Men, One in Spirit",

History

Winchester City were formed in 1884 and joined the Hampshire League in 1898-99. After many years in the competition they joined the Southern League in 1971-72, but they were unable to sustain this move, and had to return to the county league after only two seasons, consequently slipping into decline for a spell. In 1991-92, they won the Hampshire League Division Two, and were promoted to Division One. In 1993-94, Winchester beat Cowes Sports to win the Trophyman League Cup. The club underwent a reorganization in 1999-2000 after a financially turbulent previous season. But they emerged out of the tough period and were Division One champions again in 2000-01, earning promotion to the Premier Division. They also won the Inter League Shield that season. In 2001-02, the club merged with Winchester Castle F.C., hoping to earn promotion to the Wessex League, but only managed to finish third in the league. However, they won the Hampshire League title the next season, along with the Trophyman Cup and the Southampton Senior Cup, and also reached the quarterfinals of the FA Vase. The club's nickname 'The Capitals' derives from Winchester being the historical capital of Alfred the Great's Wessex and then later the whole of England before London was made the de facto capital by Edward the Confessor.

With the league victory in 2002-03, the club earned promotion to the Wessex League. The season turned out to be extremely successful for the club as they won the league in their first season in it, and capped it with the Wessex League Cup title, as well as beating A.F.C. Sudbury to win the FA Vase. However, they were unable to earn promotion to the Southern League as the ground criteria were not met. However, after a further title win in 2005-06 the club were admitted to the Southern League's new Division One South & West.

Notable former players

Ted Drake, Terry Paine and Douglas Hunt all played for Winchester.

FA Vase 2004 winning team

The side that played at St.Andrews, Birmingham was:Simon Arthur;Shaun Dyke;Matt Bicknell;Toby Redwood;Dave Goss;Mark Blake;Lloyd Webber;Danny Smith;Ian Mancey;Andy Forbes;Gary Green.

Ground

The club plays its home matches at The Denplan City Ground, which has a 180 seater stand with floodlights. Permanent pitch boards, advertising boards, terraces, car parking and turnstiles for entering the ground. Within the ground there is a clubhouse and a refreshments kiosk selling hot and cold food and drinks. The ground has a total capacity of 4500. A small terraced area (called the 'Bus Shelter') behind one goal is the home of the 'Bus Shelter Band'. A new stand was built behind the other goal during the close season of 2007/08 by members of the bus shelter band. A new club shop was opened in 2006/07 next to the main seated stand selling club merchandise and other football related memrobilia.

Club records

*Best league performance: 12th in Southern League Division One South, 1971-72
*Best FA Cup performance: 4th qualifying round, 1929-30, 1930-31, 1954-55
*Best FA Trophy performance: 2nd qualifying round, 1972-73, 2006-07
*Best FA Vase performance: Winners, 2003-04

ources

*

External links

* [http://www.winfc.co.uk/ Winchester City FC official website]