Oldland Abbotonians F.C.

Oldland Abbotonians

Full name	Oldland Abbotonians Football Club
Nickname(s)	The O's
Founded	1910
Ground	Aitchison Playing Field Oldland Common
Manager	David Hillier
League	Western Football League Division One
2010–11	Western Football League Division One, 2nd
Home colours

Oldland Abbotonians F.C. is a football club based in Oldland Common, near Bristol, England. In the 2006-07 season, they finished third in the Somerset County League, which is a level 11 (or Step 7) league of the English football league system. For the 2011-12 season, they are members of the Western Football League Division One. The club is affiliated to the Somerset County FA and Gloucestershire County FA

2010 was Oldland’s Centenary Year after Bristol and District League handbooks of the 1920’s revealed that the team was founded as St. Annes (Oldland) at California Road in 1910.

OLDLAND

Earlier records indicate that football was being played in Oldland in the 1890’s and that the local side enjoyed success around the turn of the century but this cannot be confirmed by the league historian Colin Timbrell.

St. Annes (Oldland) won the GFA Minor Cup at the end of the 1921/22 season when league programmes resumed after World War One, then lifted the 1925 GFA Junior Cup but had to wait until the 1950’s for further success. Little is known about the club’s fortunes between the wars but they became founder members of the Bristol Premier Combination in 1962 and were promoted to the Gloucester County League in 1973, remaining there for 12 seasons until being re-elected as Oldland Decora in 1986.

The seventies was a successful period for the club, the reserves were District League division 5 and 4 champions in two successive seasons (1975 and 1976) and the first team won the GFA Senior Amateur Cup in 1977. Secretary of the Reserve, A and B sides, Reg Hamblin, first played for the club in 1952 and has been secretary since 1962, he is a life member of the Bristol and District League and highly regarded for his efficiency and manner throughout local football.

The A side won the Bristol and District division 5 title again in 1991, then former player Herbie Johnson led a B team of mainly 16 year olds to the GFA Primary Cup in 1994 and the Bristol and Avon League’s Jack Jenkins and Sportsman’s Trophies in the following year. In 1996 they also won the league’s Division 1 title. In 1995 the first team were relegated from the Gloucester County League but bounced straight back as Bristol Premier Combination champions the following year.

ABBOTONIANS

Pupils at Hanham Abbots school launched Abbotonians football club as juniors in 1947 and they enjoyed many league and cup successes in the early years, including Kennedy Cup wins in 1961, 1966 and 1972. The club also won the GFA Intermediate Cup in 1962 and 1969, the 1968 GFA Minor Cup. It also became the Bristol Churches League Under 16 league winners in 1959 and 1961 and Under 18 league winners in 1960. Mike Millard took this junior side into adult football, his son Steve then becoming manager as the club based itself at Shellards Road, Longwell Green.

Whilst playing at Longwell Green, Abbots were guided by long serving secretary George Threader, manager Jeff Evans and chairman Bill Holloway, whose son Ian enjoyed tremendous professional success as a player with Bristol Rovers, Wimbledon, QPR and now Manager of Blackpool in the English Barclays Premier League.

OLDLAND ABBOTONIANS

The two clubs merged in 1998, playing in the Somerset Senior League. Alan Bush was appointed chairman of the newly merged club based at Oldland’s Castle Road ground and still has a major input in the club despite living in Malta.

Oldland Abbotonians won the Somerset Senior League Division One in 2004/05, were Premier Division runners up in 2005/06 and promotion to the Toolstation League in 2006/07. Spencer Thomas took over from ex-Arsenal player David Hillier at the start of the 2009/10 season, Hillier had replaced Lee Gibbs at the start of the 2008/09 season. Gibbs had led the 1st team into the Western League and Hillier helped them become the first ever Division 1 side to win the Les Phillips (league) cup, securing 7th place in the league as well.

Spencer and his squad managed to gain Runners-up spot during the 2010/11 season but promotion was snatched away as the ground was not up to the League’s strict regulations. ‘Spenny’ decided to stand down and that is where the new 1st team management come into play.

Both Paul Britton and Gary Brown have excellent local footballmanagement skills, knowledge and top experience, that with the assistance from Martin Cutler, will no doubt build a top footballing squad to challenge for many honours.

The Reserves are managed by Gary Twose, the A Team by Ollie Jobbins helped by Ian Butterfield. The club currently runs three adult squads and a very successful ladies team who are on the verge of national recognition and numerous junior sides with children as young as five training under the club’s valued FA Charter Status banner.

The have recently been granted planning permission for floodlights and now looking to get full acceptance for the funding, to help their club ground and facilities development.

PROFESSIONAL CONNECTIONS

Oldland has often been described as a nursery for Bristol Rovers with Vic Lambden, Peter Sampson, Brian Bush and Mike Tippets all playing for the club before turning professional at Eastville. Former Rovers favourite Bobby Jones was one of many successful Oldland managers, a list which includes Roger Sealey, Stuart Nethercott, David Hillier and Spencer Thomas also played for Rovers.

Abbots rose to heady heights under the leadership of Alan Bush in the 1980’s with the help of former Rovers players Jeff Meacham, Steve Talboys (Wimbledon) plus Rovers favourites Graham Day, Peter Aitken and Phil Bater. Among youngsters who left Abbots to play for Rovers were Stuart Taylor, Phil Kite and Kevin Westaway.

Club honours

League Honours

Somerset Senior League Division 1 2005
Bristol Premier Combination League 1973, 1986, 1996
Bristol and District League Division 4 1975, 1991
Bristol and District League Division 5 1976
Bristol and Avon League Division 1 1996
Bristol Church of England League Under 16 Division 1959, 1961
Bristol Church of England League Under 18 Division 1960
Avon Youth League Division 1 2008

Cup Honours

Les Philips Cup 2009
GFA Senior Amateur Cup 1977
GFA Intermediate Cup 1962, 1969
GFA Minor Cup 1922, 1968
GFA Junior Cup 1925
GFA Primary Cup 1994
Cadbury Heath Over 35's 2006, 2007, 2008
Fry Club Cup 2007
Kennedy Cup 1961, 1966, 1972
Bristol and Avon League Jack Jenkins Cup 1995
Bristol and Avon League Sportman’s Trophy 1996
Les Phillips Cup 2009

External links

• Official club website
• Oldland Abbotonians at the Football Club History Database

Coordinates: 51°26′26.08″N 2°27′58.94″W / 51.4405778°N 2.4663722°W / 51.4405778; -2.4663722