| Full name | Winchester City Football Club | ||
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| Nickname(s) | The Citizens, City | ||
| Founded | 1884 | ||
| Ground | The City Ground, Winchester (Capacity: 4,500) |
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| Chairman | Paul McCarthy | ||
| Manager | Guy Butters | ||
| League | Wessex League Premier Division | ||
| 2010–11 | Wessex League Premier Division, 3rd | ||
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Winchester City Football Club are an English football team based in Winchester, Hampshire and playing in the Wessex League Premier Division. The team is currently managed by Guy Butters and their motto is "Many in Men, One in Spirit",
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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, 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 AFC 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. In the 2008-09 season the team finished 20th after a last day win at Windsor & Eton, but after the game were deducted three points for fielding an ineligible player and as a result finished bottom of the table, leaving them facing relegation to the Wessex League. The club appealed against the decision with the Football Association but lost their case and were relegated for the 2009/10 season. Shaun Brooks left the club in September and former player Stu Hussey took over, but along with his assistant manager and coaches he was sacked after a string of bad results in April 2010, resulting in Winchester appointing Glenn Cockerill as manager. Cockerill however left the club and Guy Butters was put in charge.
Ted Drake, Terry Paine, Douglas Hunt and Mark Blake have all played for Winchester.
The side that played at St Andrew's, Birmingham was:
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 memorabilia.