Romsey Town F.C.

Romsey Town

Full name	Romsey Town Football Club
Nickname(s)	The Town
Founded	1886
Ground	The Bypass Ground, South Front, Romsey
Chairman	Ken Jacobs
Manager	Carl Bennett & John McFarlane
League	Wessex League Premier Division
2012–13	Wessex League Premier Division, 20th
Website	Club home page
Home colours Away colours

Romsey Town F.C. is a football club based in Romsey, Hampshire, England. The club competes in the Wessex Premier Division which is the ninth tier of English football. The club is affiliated to the Hampshire Football Association and is an FA chartered Standard club^[1] Formed in 1886, Romsey have always been around the 9th and 10th tiers of English Football but have once in their history reached the Fourth Qualifying Round of the FA Cup in the 1990–91 season. They were among the founding members of the Wessex League in 1986. The club plays at the Bypass Ground which they moved to in 1956.

History

The club was formed in 1886 when a meeting took place at the Town Hall “to consider the desirability of forming a football club in the town.” Initially they played at Alma Road and in 1889 began playing in local league football where they had successful spells in a number of competitions before joining the Southampton League as founder members in 1908.

The 1920s were a good decade for Romsey Town and after winning the Hampshire Intermediate Cup and the Southampton Senior League they gained entry into the Hampshire League but struggled in the West Division and returned to local football after just one season. In 1930, Romsey moved to Priestlands, which is now Romsey School, and returned to the Hampshire League where they were placed in Division 2. Here the club were better prepared as they went on to produce some of their best attacking sides, featuring well in both league and cup competitions.

In 1956, they were relegated and moved to their current home, The Bypass Ground. Romsey continued in Division 3 but the early 1960s saw a further decline in fortune, eventually resulting in relegation from the league in 1964. Because the football pyramid was not yet in existence, the club were forced to drop right down to replace their reserves in Junior Division 1 of the Southampton League and it was not until 1968 that they won promotion back to the senior section.

By the 1970s, the club started to re-surface out of the doldrums of lower league football and after three successive promotions and a Southampton Senior Cup triumph in 1974. Romsey regained their Hampshire League status in 1975 where they promptly won the Division 4 title at the first attempt. Romsey proceeded to end the decade on a high note, again winning promotion and the Hampshire Intermediate Cup in 1978 followed by arguably their finest hour a year later when they won Division 2 title and unexpectedly defeated Farnborough Town 1–0 in the Hampshire Senior Cup final played at the The Dell.

The 1980s saw Romsey consolidate in Division 1 before becoming founder members of the Wessex League in 1986. Here they soon became a strong force, and after some encouraging campaigns, they clinched the title in 1990 and enjoyed numerous good cup runs, most notably in 1990 when they lost 1–2 at home to Littlehampton Town in the 4th Qualifying Round.

A change of personnel saw Romsey fall into decline, and after a nightmare season in 1993 they were relegated back to Division 1 of the Hampshire League, from where they were again relegated. Despite these setbacks, Romsey bounced back and within two years they had won the Southampton Senior Cup and promotion back to the Wessex League. However, they struggled in what had become a much harder competition. In 1998, Romsey were again relegated back to the Hampshire League and a series of managers and large turn-over of players saw them slip into the league's third division. In 2003, the club hit an all-time low when they bottom but the club were re-elected, and since then they have enjoyed a remarkable upturn in fortunes.

In 2004 the Wessex League absorbed the original Hampshire League and due to their facilities Romsey were placed in Division 1 and after some encouraging final placings they won promotion in 2007 back to the top flight, now known as the Premier Division. In the 2007–08 season with manager Glenn Burnett at the helm Romsey's team spirit was at an all-time high. The team were performing well on the pitch as well with two consecutive mid-table finishes really consolidating Romsey's position in the Wessex Premier League. At the end of the 2009–10 season, Glenn Burnett decided to step down blaming his decision to leave on how much he had to do at the club. Assistant manager Lee Harrison soon followed suit. As well as a large percentage of the squad that Glenn had been crafting over the last few seasons. In the 2010–11 season, backed by the new management duo of Wayne Mew and Stuart Long, began with many trials as Romsey searched to rebuild a team. In the end Romsey finished in 16th position in the league despite a lack of players. One of the high points of the season was Romsey's longest-serving and most prolific player in their history, Simon De'ath, who finished with 25 league goals, placing him seventh in the goalscorer charts.^[2]

Wayne Mew continued at the helm for the 2011–12 and managed to keep hold of striker Simon De'ath despite interest from numerous other clubs.^[3]

Following one of Romsey's most successful seasons, where Simon De'ath was once again top scorer,^[4] after finishing in 8th place alongside two cup quarter finals, manager Wayne Mew decided to resign from the Bypass Ground.^[5] Francis Benali also resigned from the post as reserve team boss.

On Thursday 31 May, Romsey appointed Danny Barker as manager taking over from former boss Wayne Mew.^[6] In his first full season in charge of the club, the side finished second bottom in the league^[7] but were spared relegation after Hayling United were relegated due to ground grading issues.^[8]

On 22 October 2013, manager Danny Barker resigned from his post with the club sitting in 22nd place in the league.^[9]

League History

Season	Division	Position	Notes
1983–84	Hampshire League Division One	15/20
1984–85	Hampshire League Division One	6/20
1985–86	Hampshire League Division One	15/20
1986–87	Wessex League	16/17	Founder members of Wessex League
1987–88	Wessex League	3/19
1988–89	Wessex League	7/17
1989–90	Wessex League	1/19	Wessex League Champions
1990–91	Wessex League	4/20
1991–92	Wessex League	4/19
1992–93	Wessex League	21/21	Relegated to Hampshire League
1993–94	Hampshire League Division One	19/20	Relegated to Division Two
1994–95	Hampshire League Division Two	2/17	Promoted to Division One
1995–96	Hampshire League Division One	3/20	Promoted to Wessex League
1996–97	Wessex League	18/21
1997–98	Wessex League	20/20	Relegated to Hampshire League
1998–99	Hampshire League Division One	19/19	Promoted to Premier through reorganisation
1999-00	Hampshire League Premier	22/22	Relegated to Division One
2000–01	Hampshire League Division One	16/16
2001–02	Hampshire League Division One	15/15	Relegated to Division Two
2002–03	Hampshire League Division Two	13/13
2003–04	Hampshire League Division Two	2/15	Promoted to Wessex League
2004–05	Wessex League Division Two	4/22
2005–06	Wessex League Division Two	13/22
2006–07	Wessex League Division One	3/19	Division Two renamed Division One
2007–08	Wessex League Premier	18/23
2008–09	Wessex League Premier	11/22
2009–10	Wessex League Premier	10/22
2010–11	Wessex League Premier	16/22
2011–12	Wessex League Premier	8/22
2012–13	Wessex League Premier	20/21
2013–14	Wessex League Premier

Source:^[10]

Ground

Romsey Town play their home games at The Bypass Ground, South Front, Romsey, SO51 8GJ.

Romsey Town first played on fields which have since been built on at Alma Road but now play their home matches at the Bypass Ground and have done so since 1956 after they were successful in their application for a 99 year lease on the area of the land the ground is built on from nearby Broadlands.

The ground now has a stand on the far side of the pitch, a smaller stand on the near side as well as a fence which covers a large section of the near side. The ground also has recently re-built changing rooms, hospitality room, refreshments bar and a club house which includes a bar.

Fans

Romsey Town's following has dwindled over previous seasons with attendances dropping to an all-time low but have recently picked up a bit.^[11]

Rivalries

Romsey have no real rivals but as they play in a regional division, Wessex League, the majority of their games are local derbies.

The most obvious of all local rivalries are AFC Totton, who when last visited the Bypass Ground in a competitive fixture drew one of the largest crowds Romsey have received in their recent history.

Players

Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player GK Brad Snelling GK Nathan Goodger DF Ross Gregory (captain) DF Ryan Lambert DF Craig Bryant DF Sam McCarthy MF Jack McCarthy

No. Position Player MF Jamie Bullpit MF Sol Asajile MF Jay Buck MF Jack Garner FW Craig Vigar FW Luke Harry FW Danny Phillips

Notable former players

Two ex-Southampton players turned out for Romsey Town during the 1980s. Goalkeeper Ian Turner and Peter Rodrigues—both of whom played in the 1976 FA Cup final victory. More recently, Nicky Banger—another ex-Saint was briefly player-coach during the 2006–07 campaign.

Staff

Name	Role
Co-manager	Carl Bennett
Co-manager	John McFarlane
Assistant manager	Dan Piper
First team coach	Ian Snelling
Reserve team manager	James Phillips
Reserve team coach	Rob Blandford
Medical Staff	Paul Coffin
Medical Staff	Dave Penny

Honours

• Wessex League
  • Champions 1989–90

• Hampshire League Division 2
  • Champions 1978–79
  • Runners-up 1994–95

• Hampshire League Division 3
  • Runners-up 1946–47, 1977–78 & 2003–04

• Hampshire League Division 4
  • Champions 1975–76

• Hampshire Senior Cup
  • Winners 1978–79
  • Runners-up 1948–49

• Hampshire Intermediate Cup
  • Winners 1926–26, 1930–31 & 1977–78

• Hampshire Junior Cup
  • Winners 1900–01, 1909–10 & 1923–24
  • Runners-up 1898–99 & 1899–1900

• Russell Cotes Cup
  • Runners-up 1932–33 & 1988–89

• Southampton Senior Cup
  • Winners 1973–74 & 1994–95
  • Runners-up 1927–28, 1928–29, 1929–30 & 2007–08

• Southampton Junior Cup
  • Winners 1922–23

• Southampton League Premier Division
  • Champions 1980–81 & 1983–84

• Southampton League Senior Division 1
  • Champions 1926–27, 1973–74 & 1976–77
  • Runners-up 1910–11

• Southampton League Senior Division 2
  • Champions 1972–73
  • Runners-up 1968–69

• Southampton League West Division
  • Champions 1951–52

• Southampton League Romsey Division
  • Champions 1927–28

• Southampton League Junior Division 3
  • Runners-up 1924–25

• Southampton League Junior Division 4
  • Champions 1974–75

• Salisbury & District League
  • Champions 1898–99

• South Hants League
  • Champions 1900–01

• Winchester League
  • Champions 1921–22

• Eastleigh League
  • Champions 1922–23, 1923–24, 1928–29
  • Runners-up 1921–22, 1927–28 & 1929–30

• Romsey Hospital Cup
  • Winners 1933–34

Records

Romsey's record performance in the FA Cup is the Fourth Qualifying Round which they reached in 1990–91 season. Since 2009, Romsey have entered the FA Cup at the earliest round of the cup — the Extra Preliminary Round. Romsey's record in the F.A. Vase is the Third Round, achieved in 1988–89.

• FA Cup
  • Fourth Qualifying Round 1990–90

• FA Vase
  • Third Round 1988–89

F.A. Cup record

Romsey have entered the FA Cup 13 times:^[12]

Year Round Opposition H/A Score 1948–49 EP Pirelli General Cables A 5–2 1948–49 PRE Poole Town A 3–5 1949–50 PRE Dorchester Town F.C. H 1–4 1950–51 PRE East Cow Vics H 3–2 1950–51 1Q Dorchester Town F.C. H 1–1 1950–51 1Qr Dorchester Town F.C. A 0–2 1983–84 PRE Chippenham Town H 1–1 1983–84 PREr Chippenham Town A 1–0 1983–84 1Q Gosport Borough H 0–2 1988–89 PRE Trowbridge Town A 0–2 1989–90 PRE Westbury United H 5–1 1989–90 1Q Fareham Town H 1–1 1989–90 1Qr Fareham Town A 2–1 1989–90 2Q Poole Town H 1–2 1990–91 PRE Frome Town H 1–0 1990–91 1Q Chard Town A 4–4

Year Round Opposition H/A Score 1990–91 1Qr Chard Town H 3–0 1990–91 2Q Stroud H 1–0 1990–91 3Q Newport IOW A 1–0 1990–91 4Q Littlehampton Town H 1–2 1991–92 1Q Newbury Town H 2–1 1991–92 2Q Selsey A 6–1 1991–92 3Q Marlow A 0–2 1992–93 1Q Bognor Regis Town A 2–9 2009–10 EP Hayling United H 3–0 2009–10 PRE Shortwood United A 1–5 2010–11 EP Brading Town A 1–1 2010–11 EPr Brading Town H 0–4 2011–12 EP Brading Town H 0–1 2012–13 EP Lymington Town H 4–0 2012-13 PRE Horndean A 0-2 2013-14 EP Brockenhurst A 1-4

References

External links

• Official website
• Romsey Town at the Football Club History Database

v t e Wessex League Premier Division Alresford Town AFC Portchester Bemerton Heath Harlequins Blackfield & Langley Bournemouth Brockenhurst Christchurch Downton Fareham Town Fawley Folland Sports Hamworthy United Horndean Lymington Town Moneyfields Newport (IOW) Romsey Town Sholing Totton & Eling Verwood Town Whitchurch United Winchester City Division One Amesbury Town Andover New Street Andover Town Cowes Sports East Cowes Victoria Athletic Fleet Spurs Hayling United Hythe & Dibden Laverstock & Ford New Milton Town Petersfield Town Pewsey Vale Ringwood Town Stockbridge Tadley Calleva Team Solent United Services Portsmouth Seasons 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2012–13 2013–14

Coordinates: 50°59′13.96″N 1°29′24.62″W / 50.9872111°N 1.4901722°W / 50.9872111; -1.4901722