Christchurch F.C.

Christchurch
Full name Christchurch Football Club
Nickname(s) The Priory
Founded 1885 (1885)
Ground Hurn Bridge Sports Ground,
Christchurch
Ground Capacity 2,000
Chairman Fiona Legg
Manager Oliver Cherrett
League Wessex League
Division One
2014–15 Wessex League
Premier Division, 21st (relegated)

Christchurch F.C. is a football club based in Christchurch, Dorset, England. They were established in 1885. In the 2002–03 and 2008–09 seasons, they reached the 4th round of the FA Vase. They are currently members of the Wessex League Premier Division. Former players include Jody Craddock, who began his career at Christchurch and went on to play for Sunderland and Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League.

History

The club was founded in 1885, and were founder members of the Hampshire Football Association in 1887. Their first honour was in 1893 when they won the Hampshire Junior Cup and repeated this success in 1912 and 1921. Between the wars, Christchurch played in the Bournemouth and Hampshire County Leagues and in 1938 gained promotion to Hampshire Division one for the first time by winning the Division two title.[1]

After the Second world War the club experienced many ups and downs in the Hampshire league winning Division two again in 1948 and then Division three in 1953. In 1970 Christchurch gained the distinction of being the first club to win the Bournemouth Senior Cup three times in a row. The club also won the Bournemouth Pickford Cup in 1977 and in 1987 won the Hampshire Intermediate Cup.[1]

In 1984 Christchurch moved from their home of Barrack Road Recreation ground to Hurn Bridge. The Hurn Bridge sports ground was formally owned by British Aerospace and together with the local council, and Sports club, the club made various ground improvements, including the provision of floodlights, covered accommodation for spectators and 2 extensions to the club house.

In the 1987–88 season ChristChurch joined the Wessex League, and have remained there eversince.[2] During this period the club built a 200-seat cantilever stand in the 1995–96 season. The club also entered the FA Vase for the first time in 1989–90 and the FA Cup in 1999–2000.[2] The 2011–12 season saw the club reach the final of the Russell Cotes Cup, losing to Bemerton Heath Harlequins, and also the final of the Sydenhams League Cup beating local rivals Brockenhurst.

Ground

Christchurch play their games at Hurn Bridge Sports Club, Avon Causeway, Hurn, Christchurch BH23 6DY.

The ground features a 200-seat cantilever stand with a press box, floodlights and electronic scoreboard.[1]

The long-term lease for the entire complex now belongs to Christchurch Football Club Ltd, who acquired it from Poole Sports Charitable Trust, with the permission of the local council in April 2003, a totally separate operation from the playing side.[1]

The ground is also the headquarters of Bournemouth FA and in 1994 Dorset County Cricket Club also built their indoor cricket school on the site.[3] Christchurch Cricket Club also play at the ground in the Dorset County Cricket League.[4]

Honours

Records

Former players

1. Players that have played/managed in the football league or any foreign equivalent to this level (i.e. fully professional league).
2. Players with full international caps.
3. Players that have achieved a World Record.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Club History Christchurch F.C.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Christchurch at the Football Club History Database
  3. ↑ Welcome to the BDFA Bournemouth Divisional Football Association
  4. ↑ Home Christchurch Cricket Club
  5. ↑ Non League Tables for 1985–1986 NonLeagueMatters
  6. ↑ Russell Cotes Cup final: Priory boss rues poor finishing Bournemouth Echo
  7. ↑ Match Reports 2011–12 Sydenhams Football League (Wessex)
  8. ↑ Archives Sydenhams Football League (Wessex)

External links

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