Andover F.C.

Football club infobox
clubname = Andover


fullname = Andover Football Club
nickname = The Lions
founded = 1883
ground = Portway Stadium, Andover
capacity = 3,000
chairman = John Smith
manager = Mick Catlin
league = Southern League
Division One South and West
season = 2007–08
position = Southern League
Division One South and West, 19th
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Andover F.C. is an English football club based in Andover, Hampshire, and was established in 1883. Andover are currently members of the Southern League Division One South and West at Step 4 of the National League System (i.e. four divisions below the English Football League). The club have played at this level for 26 of the club's 125 years of existence, having recently accumulated over 1000 games in this league, [cite web | url=http://www.southern-football-league.co.uk/news/current-season.asp?section=archive%20-news | title=British Gas Business Football League - February 2008 News Archive | accessdate=2008-03-20] with the rest of their time being spent in smaller county or regional leagues.cite web | url=http://www.fchd.info/ANDOVER.HTM | title=Football Club History Database - Andover | accessdate=2008-01-22] Compared with earlier periods, the past ten years have been relatively successful ones for the club, seeing them win a number of league and cup honours as well as registering their biggest ever win. In the 2007–08 season, they finished nineteenth out of 22 teams.

Traditionally, Andover's supporters have viewed Salisbury City as their local rivals, although nearby Winchester City have recently come to be viewed this way thanks to their recent rise up to the same level as Andover together with Salisbury's progression through the football pyramid. [cite news |author=Gary Slater |title=Winchester have rivals in sight |url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2004/02/10/sfnvas10.xml |publisher=The Telegraph |date=2004-09-02 |accessdate=2007-12-18 |quote=It's about 15 miles between us and there is a big rivalry, but a friendly rivalry. There is no animosity. It's one of the biggest games this area has seen for many years.] The club are managed by Mick Catlin, who was appointed at the beginning of January 2008, [cite web | url=http://www.andover-fc.co.uk/docs/NewFrontPageSingle.php?page=Lions%20Appoint%20New%20Manager | title=Lions Appoint New Manager | publisher=Andover Football Club | date=2008-01-03 | accessdate=2008-01-17] and play at the Portway Stadium on the outskirts of the town.

History

Early years

Andover Football Club was formed in 1883 and played their first game on October 27 at Stride's Field, Weyhill Road, a friendly against Basingstoke Mechanical Engineers. Three years later they took up residence at the Walled Meadow, which was to be their home for the next 96 years.cite web | url=http://www.quantumleap.ndo.co.uk/history.htm | title=Andover Football Club - History Page | accessdate=2008-01-28] During the next 30 years the club competed in three separate small leagues which were run side-by-side during the space of each regular season; the Hampshire League, the Salisbury and District League, and the North Hants May League. During this time, Andover won the Salisbury League eight times, the North Hants May League five times and reached the Hampshire Junior Cup final twice.cite web | url=http://www.andover-fc.co.uk/docs/Newhonours.htm | title=Andover FC - Honours | accessdate=2008-01-28]

In 1888, Andover competed in the first Hampshire Senior Cup, but became involved in controversy after they were knocked out of the competition by Woolston Works, an affair which was referred to as 'Kesson’s Boots'. During this match, a Glasgow–based player called J. Kesson played for Woolston in their victory. Andover protested that Kesson should be disqualified on the grounds of residency—although he had played for Woolston Works earlier that season, he had since moved back to Glasgow. Woolston's appeal rested on the fact that Kesson had left a number of clothing items at his lodgings in Woolston, and this should be interpreted as his intention to return. The Hampshire FA upheld the appeal, allowing Kesson to play and Woolston to progress through to the next round and eventually win the inaugural competition. [cite web | url=http://www.pitchside.net/teams/team.php?teamid=15 | title=Pitchside.net /// Fixtures - VT FC | accessdate=2008-01-15]

Andover joined the newly formed Southern League Second Division South West section in 1898. They won just two of their ten games at this higher level and finished bottom of their six-team division which also included Cowes, Ryde and Eastleigh. After just one season, they moved back down to county league football along with the majority of teams in that division. [cite web | url=http://www.quantumleap.ndo.co.uk/189899.htm | title=Andover Football Club Results Archive 1898-99 | accessdate=2008-01-14]

1900 to the Second World War

Up to the First World War Andover were regular members of the Hampshire League North Division (the Hampshire League at this time was composed of a number of regional divisions instead of the present-day hierarchical structure), and their first major honour came in 1913–14 when they won that division. Competition was suspended during the war, and upon the restart they rejoined the Hampshire League in the North Division before moving to an enlarged County Division in the 1920–21 season. It was in this division where they won their most prestigious title to date when they won the league championship in 1924–25.

Division One of the Hampshire League was formed at the start of the 1929–30 season, and Andover were almost permanent members of that division, winning their first title in 1934–35. The only slip was in 1936–37 when they were relegated, only to jump straight back the following year. During the Second World War the club remained active, winning the Hampshire League title in 1944–45.

Andover had a certain degree of success in county cup competitions during this period. They reached the final of the Hampshire Senior Cup twice in 1931 and 1933, losing to Winchester City and Newport respectively. They also won the Russell Cotes Cup four times and reached the final a further three times.cite web|url=http://www.hampshirefa.com/CountyCups/PWRussellCotes.html|title=Russel Cotes Cup - Previous Winners|publisher=Hampshire FA|accessdate=2008-05-19]

Post-war years

Andover continued after the war in Division One of the Hampshire League, having a golden spell between 1948 and 1951 when they won two more Hampshire League championships and the County Senior Cup twice.cite web|url=http://www.hampshirefa.com/CountyCups/PWSeniorCupSat.html|title=Hampshire Senior Cup - Previous Winners|publisher=Hampshire FA|accessdate=2008-05-19] In 1960–61, Andover won the Russell Cotes Cup for the sixth time, while the reserves were champions of Division Two and won the County Intermediate Cup for the second successive season. The following year saw the first team win their eighth Hampshire League championship and retain the Russell Cotes Cup, while the Reserves were champions of Division Two again. Ian Henderson broke his own goalscoring record set the previous year, scoring 62 goals.

In 1962, the club followed the example of near neighbours Salisbury and stepped up to the Western League. This proved to be quite a different challenge—whereas before they had only competed against local teams in league competition, they now faced opposition from teams as far afield as Avon, Somerset and Devon as well as the reserve teams of league clubs such as Bristol Rovers, Bristol City and Torquay United. [cite web | url=http://www.quantumleap.ndo.co.uk/196263.htm | title=Andover Football Club Results Archive - 1962-63 | accessdate=2008-02-25] They generally fared well, only failing to finish in the top half of the table twice during their tenure at this level. Their first season in the Western League saw the club reach the first round proper of the FA Cup for the first and only time to date, defeating top amateur club Hendon 5–4 in a fourth qualifying round replay. On November 3, Fourth Division side Gillingham came to the Walled Meadow and in pouring rain won 1–0 in front of 3,484 spectators. In the league Andover finished fourth, but that was their highest placing until 1969–70 when they finished as runners-up.

This feat was repeated the following season and it was felt that the time was right to move up again, so in 1971 Andover took another step up and joined the enlarged Southern League. Now competing against teams from an even wider area spanning almost the entire width of the country (ranging from Bideford in the west to Bury Town in the east) and in some cases with a larger budget and fanbase, life in this competition was always tough with the club generally finishing in the bottom half of the table. The height of the club's achievements at this level was the sixth place reached in 1987–88 and again in 1991–92.

Move to the Portway Stadium

In 1989 the Walled Meadow was sold for redevelopment and the club moved to the brand new Portway Stadium, which is located on the West Portway Industrial Estate. A crowd of 1,100 watched the opening match against Leicester City, with the league team coming away with a 10–1 victory. After much deliberation over the cost and distance of travel involved in Southern League football, the club stepped down the pyramid ladder to join the Wessex League in 1993–94.

The first season saw them finish runners-up, but the club's management declined to apply for promotion back into the Southern League and so they remained in the Wessex League. In the following three seasons they were placed seventh, ninth and sixth, but 1997–98 saw the club finish runners-up again, winning promotion back to the Southern League. Returning after a five-year absence, it was not long before a difference in quality between the two leagues was discovered and the club soon realised that they were unable to cope financially with the bigger clubs in the division. At the beginning of the year the club announced its intention to return to the Wessex League for 1999–2000, a decision taken because it was felt it would be better to play in a league they could compete in financially and successfully.

2000 to present day

The next few years saw Andover enjoying its most successful spell for many decades. That first season back in the Wessex League saw the club finish third and they also reached the final of the Hampshire Senior Cup for the first time in 35 years, losing 1–9 to Aldershot Town in what is the Shots' record win in their current incarnation. [cite web | url=http://www.theshots.co.uk/History2.ink | title=Aldershot FC Club History - Part 2 Seasons 1997-2002 | accessdate=2008-01-24] One consolation for Andover's supporters is that the team scored a total of 233 goals in all competitions, including a club record 88 goals scored by Andy Forbes.cite web | url=http://www.quantumleap.ndo.co.uk/19992000.htm | title=Andover Football Club Results Archive 1999-2000 | accessdate=2008-01-24]

2000–01 saw the club win the Wessex League championship for the first time, scoring a club record 153 goals in the process including a 14–1 win over Swanage Town & Herston, the club's record victory. In addition, they put the memory of the previous season's cup final drubbing behind them by winning the Hampshire Senior Cup for the sixth time, beating Havant & Waterlooville 2–0 at The Dell. They also retained the North Hants Senior Cup to complete a treble. [cite web | url=http://www.quantumleap.ndo.co.uk/200001.htm | title=Andover Football Club Results Archive 2000-2001 | accessdate=2008-01-24]

They retained the League title the following year, winning the championship by a single point from Fleet Town following a last day 1–1 draw at Fleet played in front of 623 people, a record attendance for a Wessex League match up to that date.cite web | url=http://archive.andoveradvertiser.co.uk/2002/5/2/65098.html | title=Champions Again | publisher=Andover Advertiser | date=2002-05-02 | accessdate=2008-01-17] The Lions gained another treble by also winning the League Cup and Russell Cotes Cup. [cite web | url=http://www.quantumleap.ndo.co.uk/200102.htm | title=Andover Football Club Results Archive 2001-2002 | accessdate=2008-01-24] The club won the North Hants Senior Cup once again in 2002–03, and reached the semi-finals of both the Hampshire Senior Cup and the Russell Cotes Cup.cite web | url=http://www.quantumleap.ndo.co.uk/200203.htm | title=Andover Football Club Results Archive 2002-2003 | accessdate=2008-01-24] Another Wessex League attendance record was set towards the end of the season when 702 people saw Andover's 6–1 win over Eastleigh F.C.

Despite this period of success, the club failed to attract significant amounts of local support. The club was close going out of existence during the summer of 2003 after the chairman decided to leave, [cite web | url=http://www.nonleaguedaily.com/news/index.php?newsmode=FULL&nid=4255 | title=Jewson Wessex League Champions In Danger Of Folding | date=2002-05-28 | publisher=Non-League Daily | accessdate=2008-01-28] and was only saved when twelve supporters secured the future of the club by purchasing the lease for the Portway Stadium from the outgoing chairman.cite web | url=http://archive.hampshirechronicle.co.uk/2003/8/13/45568.html | title=New lease of life for Andover | publisher=Hampshire Chronicle | date=2003-08-13 | accessdate=2008-02-23] The 2003–04 season brought success in the FA Vase competition, reaching the quarterfinals for the first time in their history before losing to Hampshire rivals Winchester City. [cite news | url=http://archive.andoveradvertiser.co.uk/2004/2/24/34270.html | title=FA Vase: Winchester City 5 - Andover 1 | publisher=Andover Advertiser | date=2004-02-24 | accessdate=2008-01-24] They finished sixth in the league and won the North Hants Senior Cup for the fifth time. [cite web | url=http://www.quantumleap.ndo.co.uk/200304.htm | title=Andover Football Club Results Archive 2003-2004 | accessdate=2008-01-24] The 2004–05 season saw an improvement in the league finishing fifth and winning the North Hants Senior Cup for the sixth time, and the reserves finished runners up in the Wessex Combination East division. [cite web | url=http://www.quantumleap.ndo.co.uk/200405.htm | title=Andover Football Club Results Archive 2004-2005 | accessdate=2008-01-24]

Under the 2006 pyramid reorganisations, a third place finish in the Wessex League was good enough for promotion back to the Southern League along with their local rivals Winchester City and Thatcham Town. [cite web | url=http://www.tonykempster.co.uk/maps06-07.htm | title=Tony Kempster's English Football Fixtures - Maps & Lists for 2006/07 season | date=2006-05-11 | accessdate-2008-01-24] In their first season back, they finished in ninth place, just five points from the playoffs. They were unable to build on this and struggled to a nineteenth place finish in the following season, ultimately finishing 29 points above relegation after Slough Town were reprieved following Halifax Town's expulsion from the Football Conference. [cite web|url=http://www.southern-football-league.co.uk/news/|title=British Gas Business Football League - News|accessdate=2008-06-06]

Honours

Ground

The club moved to the Portway Stadium in 1989, situated in the Portway Industrial Estate on the western outskirts of the town. Constructed at a cost of £850,000, [cite web | url=http://andover-fc.co.uk/docs/Newhistory.htm | title=Andover Football Club - History | date=2007-04-19 | accessdate=2008-02-13] the ground has a large main stand of brick and concrete construction with bench seating for around 250 people.cite web|url=http://www.pyramidpassion.co.uk/html/andover.html|title=Pyramid Passion: Andover|accessdate=2008-05-13] This stand is set on a bank running along the entire south side of the ground, giving spectators on that side an elevated view of the pitch. The manager's benches are set into this banking in front of the stand at pitch level. The banking slopes down behind each goal until it reaches the same level as the pitch along the north side. There is hard standing around the entire perimeter of pitch, along with a turnstile block and a gate opening out onto the stadium car park for ambulance access.

The stadium's clubhouse (named the Portway Suite) is also situated on this elevated side, just inside the turnstiles. The clubhouse houses a function suite and bar at first floor level, and changing rooms, physio room, public announcement equipment and a tea bar at ground floor level. The Portway Stadium has an official FA grading of D, which is sufficient for playing at their current level (Step 4 of the football league pyramid) but would require improvements to enable promotion.In addition to hosting the club's first, reserve and youth team fixtures, the Portway Stadium has also played host to a number of local and regional cup matches. This includes Hampshire Senior Cup semi-finals, Hampshire Floodlit Youth Cup finals, and the South West Counties Women's Championship playoff final. [cite web | url=http://www.hampshirefa.com/News/April2006.htm#0424 | title=Hampshire Women Run Riot to Lift Cup | publisher=Hampshire F.A. | date=2006-04-24 | accessdate=2008-02-23] [cite web | url=http://www.theshots.co.uk/newspage.ink?nid=28480&newstype=y&matchid= | title=Aldershot Town FC - Youth Cup Final on Wednesday & Youth team open trials | date=2007-04-24 | accessdate=2008-02-23]

Previously, the club played at the Walled Meadow located near to the town centre. The ground had a main wooden stand along one side (which incorporated the changing rooms) with a bank of covered terracing on the opposite side. The ground was mainly accessed via the car park off London Road, with turnstiles also situated on Eastfield Road behind the main stand. Since the club left the Walled Meadow in 1989, the ground has been demolished and the site is now used for a housing development which also bears the name Walled Meadow.

upporters

In the 2007–08 season, Andover's average attendance was 146, representing a drop of 20 compared to the previous season. This figure was the 15th highest in the division, falling 39 short of the division's mean average but very similar to the average crowds recorded by many of the other teams. [cite web|url=http://www.tonykempster.co.uk/sl1swatt.htm|title=Southern League Division One South & West Attendances|publisher=Tony Kempster|accessdate=2008-05-16]

Attendance levels at Andover's matches reached a peak in the late 1960s. During the 1969–70 season, home attendances at league matches averaged over 550, with the largest crowd being the 2,144 people who watched their FA Cup match against local rivals Salisbury. [cite web|url=http://www.quantumleap.ndo.co.uk/196970.htm|title=Andover Football Club Results Archive 1969-70|accessdate=2008-05-16] In the years that followed their promotion to the Southern League, average attendances started to drop until they dipped below the 200 mark during the 1970s.

Colours and crest

Football kit box
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title = Home colours, 1950-1957Football kit box
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title = Home colours, 1972-1988Andover's traditional strip of red and black stripes has been worn for the vast majority of their history. This was changed to red and black quarters in 1950 and remained so until 1957 when the club reverted back to the traditional stripes. When promotion to the Southern League was gained in 1972, the team's colours were changed once again, this time to red with a single white stripe. This kit was worn until 1988, when the familiar red and black stripes were re-introduced. For the 2008–09 season, a plain red kit was introduced to commemorate the club's 125th anniversary—this was worn for the first time in the pre-season friendly against Salisbury City. [cite web|url=http://www.andover-fc.co.uk/docs/Newshow_match_report.php?fixid=1&date=22&opponents=Salisbury%20City|title=Andover vs. Salisbury: Match Report|date=2008-07-23|publisher=Andover FC|accessdate=2008-08-26]

The away kit is currently yellow and black shirts with white shorts. However, various combinations have been worn in recent years, such as white shirts with blue sleeves and blue shorts, and tangerine shirts with white shorts.

Andover's present badge depicts a lion standing under an oak tree, which mirrors the design used on the town coat of arms. [cite web| url=http://www.envf.port.ac.uk/hantsgaz/refnos/b078arm2.htm | title=Hampshire Gazetteer: Andover coat of arms, 1720 | date=2001 | accessdate=2007-12-10] This badge was first used during the 1950s.

Club records

*Best league performance: Sixth in Southern League Southern Division, 1987–88 and 1991–92
*Best FA Cup performance: First round, 1962–63
*Best FA Trophy performance: Second round, 1998–99
*Best FA Vase performance: Quarter-finals (sixth round), 2003–04
*Highest Scorer in a Season: Andrew Forbes, 86 goals in 1999–2000
*Worst Defeat: 0–24 vs. Ryde Sports, Hampshire League, January 27 1900
*Record attendances:
**Walled Meadow: 3,484 vs. Gillingham, FA Cup first Round, November 3 1962
**Portway Stadium: 1,183 vs. Portsmouth XI, friendly

Record victories

Club staff

Players

Officials

;Club President:Bill Maynard;Chairman:John Smith;Club & Football Secretary:Chris Jeremy;First Team Manager :Mick Catlin;First Team Coach:Paul Douglas

Finances and structure

Andover Football Club is run as a Private Limited Company. [cite web | url=http://www.ukdata.com/numbers/04458680.html | title=UK Data: Andover Football Club Ltd | accessdate=2008-02-23] The twelve-strong consortium who banded together to save the club in 2003 are the club shareholders, with the club president being the majority shareholder, the club chairman being the secondary shareholder, and the remainder of the shares distributed equally among the other members of the board and management committee.

Andover are sponsored by a number of local companies including the Hospital Savings Association (HSA), a locally-based health insurance firm who have also sponsored Blackburn Rovers in the past. [cite web | url=http://www.andover-fc.co.uk/docs/SponsorPage.doc | format=DOC | title=Andover FC full sponsors list | accessdate=2008-02-23] Their main shirt sponsors are currently Mistral Internet, an internet service provider with regional offices in Southampton. [cite web | url=http://www.mistral.net/announcements.asp?strAreaNo=2003_1&intElement=2166 | title=Andover wins new club sponsorship from Mistral Internet | date=2006-09-30 | accessdate=2008-02-23]

In addition to gate receipts, the club derives income from club merchandise sold in the club shop, and the Portway Suite (the clubhouse at the Portway Stadium). The suite can be rented out for private events such as wedding receptions and birthday parties as well as hosting club events such as quiz nights. A boardroom is also available for conferences and meetings. [cite web | url=http://www.andover-fc.co.uk/docs/NewPortwaySuite.htm | title=Andover Football Club - The Portway Suite | date=2007-07-11 | accessdate=2008-02-23]

A supporter-based initiative was launched in April 2008. Under this scheme, supporters are encouraged to donate £5 per month. If the target number of 100 participating supporters is achieved, a total of £6,000 would be raised by this scheme; half of this money would be used to help fund the club itself by paying players' wages, with the other half used in a monthly prize draw for participating members. [cite web|url=http://www.andover-fc.co.uk/docs/NewFrontPageSingle.php?page=Join%20the%20Lions%20100%20Club%20Now|title=Join The 100 Club Now|date=2008-04-11|publisher=Andover F.C.|accessdate=2008-04-18]

Former players

Despite their relatively low stature, a few notable players have represented Andover FC in the past. The most famous of these is Nigel Spackman, a local player who began his career for his home town before moving to AFC Bournemouth. From there, he enjoyed a successful career culminating with winning the English league championship with Liverpool, and numerous Scottish league and cup winners medals with Rangers. Since retiring, he has ventured into club management as well as becoming a television football pundit.

Like Spackman, Bill Rawlings was another Andoverian who began his career at the club. He went on to join Southampton in 1919 where he enjoyed a successful career scoring 175 goals in 327 league appearances (making him their third all-time goalscorer behind Mick Channon and Matthew Le Tissier). He also earned two England caps in 1922 against Wales and Scotland respectively. [cite book |author=Gary Chalk & Duncan Holley |title=Saints - A complete record |publisher= Breedon Books |year=1987 |isbn=0-907969-22-4 ] [cite web | url=http://www.englandstats.com/playerreport.php?pid=782 | title=englandstats.com - Player Report - William Rawlings | accessdate=2007-12-28] He also played for Manchester United and Port Vale.

Dick Rowley was signed in September 1922 by Andover whilst serving at nearby Tidworth army base. After scoring a few goals from the wing, he was signed by Swindon Town and went on to play for Southampton, Tottenham Hotspur and Preston North End. In the years between 1929 and 1931, he won six caps for Northern Ireland, scoring two goals against Scotland and Wales. [cite web | url=http://nifootball.blogspot.com/2007/09/dick-rowley.html | title=Northern Ireland's Footballing Greats - Dick Rowley | accessdate=2008-09-30 | date=2007-09-10]

The only other former Andover player who went on gain international experience is Colvin Hutchinson, a centre-forward who had a brief spell with the Lions in 1993. He won eight caps for Trinidad & Tobago in 1997 and 1998. [cite web | url=http://www.socawarriors.net/games_since_1935.htm | title=T&T games since 1935 | accessdate=2008-01-17]

Another league player who started his career for Andover is James Sharp who left Andover to play for Hartlepool United. Since then, he has had spells at Falkirk, Torquay United, Rochdale and Airdrie United in the Scottish League. However, it has often been the case that league players have joined Andover after retiring from professional football. One of the most notable of these in modern times is Matt Crossley, who ended his career with the Lions after playing more than 100 matches for Wycombe Wanderers. Crossley then became assistant manager at Woking where he gained notoriety in December 1996 after he head-butted an opposing player who had tried to intervene as a peacemaker during a touchline tussle. [cite news
title = Posh push for Donaldson | url=http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/sport/yorkcityfc/news/display.var.1096463.0.posh_push_for_donaldson.php | publisher = The Press | date = 2006-12-30 | accessdate = 2007-06-29] Maurice Evans is another former professional who, after briefly taking over as Andover's player-manager in 1967, went on to lead Reading to the Fourth Division championship, and Oxford United to Milk Cup victory.

Another such player is Nicky Banger who played for Andover in their Wessex League championship winning team of 2002, the Lions being one of a string of local non-league clubs that he played for after leaving professional football. Mel Blyth, who was on Southampton's 1976 FA Cup winning team, ended his career with Andover in 1982. His cup final team-mate David Peach also played for Andover, this time in the 1983–84 season when he scored five goals for the club. [cite web | url=http://www.quantumleap.ndo.co.uk/198384.htm | title=Andover Football Club Results Archive - 1983-84 | accessdate=2008-01-28] Other ex-league players who have represented Andover in the past include Colin Barrett (who joined Andover in 1981 after playing league football for Manchester City, Nottingham Forest and Swindon Town) [cite web | url=http://www.swindon-town-fc.co.uk/ForceFrames.htm?http://www.swindon-town-fc.co.uk/Transfers.asp?Season=1980-1981 | title=Swindon-Town-FC.co.uk - Player Information - Colin Barrett | accessdate=2008-01-17] , Stuart Barfoot, and current assistant manager Phil Andrews. [cite web | url=http://www.andover-fc.co.uk/docs/NewFT_sp.php | title=Andover Football Club - Squad Player's Details | accessdate=2008-01-17]

Other teams and activities

Andover's reserve team has operated for most of the club's history in various competitions and won the Hampshire Combination in 1998, although they did not play during the 2007–08 season. For the 2008–09 season, the reserve team are competing in the Hampshire League. [cite web|url=http://www.andover-fc.co.uk/docs/NewFrontPageSingle.php?page=Andover%20Reserves|title=Andover Reserves|publisher=Andover FC|date=2008-07-13|accessdate=2008-07-14] In addition to their first and reserve teams, Andover FC also run a number of youth teams; an under-18s team competing in the North East Hampshire Youth League, an under-14s team playing in the Testway Youth League, and under-13s, under-12s and under-8s playing in the Peter Houseman Youth League. [cite web | url=http://andover-fc.co.uk/docs/NewLeagueTable2.php?SelectTable=TPLU18 | title=Andover FC U18s | accessdate=2008-01-22] [cite web | url=http://www.andover-fc.co.uk/docs/NewpageY.php?pageY=DofY | title=Andover Football Club - Youth Teams | accessdate=2008-01-22] The under-18s also compete in the FA Youth Cup. [cite web|url=http://www.thefa.com/NR/rdonlyres/D908E437-2783-4AF4-AC17-37D867341DD7/143220/FAYouthCupentriesaccepted.pdf|title=FA Youth Cup - 2008-09 Entries|format=PDF|publisher=The FA|accessdate=2008-08-26]

The club has also recently started a community programme in conjunction with one of their principal sponsors and a government body to provide a range of football activities for children and schools in the immediate area. Events held to date include coaching sessions at local sports centres and five-a-side tournaments for girls' teams from local secondary schools. [cite web | url=http://www.andover-fc.co.uk/docs/Newpage.php?page=Community | title=Andover Football Club - Community | accessdate=2008-02-25]

References

External links

* [http://www.andover-fc.co.uk/ Official Site]
* [http://www.quantumleap.ndo.co.uk/lions/ Andover FC Unofficial Archive Site]
*fchd|name=Andover|id=ANDOVER
* [http://www.footballwebpages.co.uk/index.jsp?team=392 Andover FC at footballwebpages.co.uk]