'Winchester City F.C.' 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. After many years in regional leagues they joined the
Southern League in 1971-72, but they were unable to sustain this move, and had to return to the
Hampshire League after only two seasons. 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 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, 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 and
Terry Paine both played for Winchester.
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 and is often nicknamed The Plan or The Den (leading to the nickname 'The Badgers').
A small terraced area (called the 'Bus Shelter') behind one goal is the home of the noisy and infamous 'Bus Shelter Band'
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
Sources
★
External links
★
Winchester City FC official website
★
Fansite