Ryde Sports F.C.
| Full name | Ryde Sports Football Club | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1888 | ||
| Dissolved | 2004 | ||
| Ground | Smallbrook Stadium, Ryde | ||
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Ryde Sports Football Club (1888–1997) was an English football club based in Ryde, Isle of Wight.
Before its demise, Ryde Sports was for many years a successful and significant club on the Isle of Wight and in Hampshire, and an important part of the town of Ryde.
Foundation
Ryde Sports F.C. was founded in 1888 and became one of the eight founder members of the Hampshire League in 1896. Although finishing at the foot of the table the club soon improved by twice finishing runners-up before winning the title in 1899-00. Ryde also spent the 1898-99 season in the Southern League when it finished as runner-up in the Southern Section. Success returned to the club in 1925-26 when it completed the double by winning the league title and Hampshire Senior Cup.
History
The Thirties continued to be very successful for the club, which won the County Senior Cup five seasons running from 1935 to 1939. The league title eluded Ryde during this period although a top five final position was achieved each season. It was also during this period that Ryde recorded some fine runs in the FA Cup, most notably when they reached the 1st Round proper in 1936-37, losing 1-5 to Gillingham.
It was not until the 1952-53 season that Ryde Sports suffered its first setback when, for the first time, the club was relegated from the Hampshire League's top flight. After several years of consolidation Ryde returned as Division 2 runners-up five years later, only to be relegated straight back again. Worse was to follow in 1963-64 when Ryde were relegated again to Division 3 but made a good recovery by immediately returning as champions; and in 1967-68, finished as runner-up in Division 2, which was enough to return to the top-flight.
The Seventies continued to up and down for Ryde. After two seasons in Division 1 the club was again relegated in 1969-70 and in 1976-77 again dropped down into Division 3. The early Eighties saw troubled times for Ryde, twice finishing bottom of the league and having to apply for re-election. Luckily Ryde regained its place and slowly rebuilt, with the Division being renamed Division 2 in 1986 following the formation of the Wessex League.
Finally, Ryde's fortunes changed and with a powerful side the club won the Division 2 and Division 1 titles in successive seasons 1988-89 and 1989-90. In 1990 the club vacated its traditional Partlands home to play at a new multi-purpose Sports Complex at Smallbrook Stadium, on the outskirts of Ryde. The team was elected to the Wessex League that year.
During the 1990s, Ryde Sports FC hosted pre-season friendly matches against Premier League opposition, most noticeably Sheffield Wednesday, Aston Villa and Southampton.
Demise
Ryde initially did well in the Wessex League where they were frequently in the top half of the table with its highest positions being 3rd in 1995-96 and 4th a year later. Ryde ran into financial problems and a player exodus saw the club struggle badly during the 1997-98 campaign. A local appeal for support was unsuccessful and the club, rock bottom of the table, withdrew from the competition in December 1997 with its playing record being expunged.
New club
A new club, Ryde '98 was formed to play in the local Isle of Wight League but the new team never climbed out of the basement division and folded in 2004.
Ryde Sports F.C. remain sadly missed in local football. Their old ground, Partlands was sold for housing whilst Smallbrook Stadium is still used for various sporting events, most notably for Speedway and athletics.
The town of Ryde is now represented by Ryde Saints who currently run three sides in the Isle of Wight League. Ryde Saints Reserve team won the combination league 1 title in the season 2011/2012.