Basingstoke Town F.C.

History

The club was established in 1896 by a merger of Aldworth United and Basingstoke Albion. They joined the Hampshire League in 1901, and when the league was split into geographical divisions in 1903, were placed in the North Division. They finished bottom of the division in both 1903–04 and 1904–05, and again in 1906–07 and 1907–08. However, after consecutive second-bottom finishes and then finishing fifth out of seven clubs in 1910–11, they were North Division champions in 1911–12.

Finishing as champions resulted in promotion to the County Section, although the club continued to play in the North Division. After league reorganisation in 1929 Basingstoke were placed in Division One. They finished as runners-up in 1965–66 and 1966–67, before winning the league in 1967–68. After finishing as runners-up again in 1968–69, they won back-to-back titles in 1969–70 and 1970–71, remaining unbeaten in the latter season. They club also won the Hampshire Senior Cup for the first time in 1970–71, beating Fareham Town 3–2 in a replay after the original final ended 1–1.

After their third Hampshire League title in 1971, Basingstoke moved up to Division One South of the Southern League. Their first season in the Southern League saw them reach the first round of the FA Cup for the first time, eventually losing 5–1 to Northampton Town. The club remained in Division One South until 1979, when league restructuring saw them placed in the Southern Division. They won the division in 1984–85, earning promotion to the Premier Division. Two seasons later they were transferred to the Premier Division of the Isthmian League. Although they were relegated to Division One at the end of the 1987–88 season, they made an immediate return to the Premier Division after finishing as Division One runners-up the following season.

The 1989–90 season saw Basingstoke reach the first round of the FA Cup again. After beating Bromsgrove Rovers 3–0, they lost 3–2 to Torquay United in the second round. They also won the Hampshire Senior Cup, beating AFC Lymington 8–0 in the final. In 1993–94 they were relegated to Division One. They won the Hampshire Senior Cup again in 1995–96 and 1996–97, beating Waterlooville 2–0 in the final on both occasions. The latter season also saw them return to the Premier Division after finishing as runners-up in Division One. The following season saw them reach the first round of the FA Cup and defeat Football League opposition for the first time, beating Wycombe Wanderers 5–4 on penalties after a 2–2 draw in a replay; the attendance of 5,085 was a new record for the club. They then took Northampton to a replay in the second round, before losing 4–3 on penalties. They reached the first round again in 1998–99, losing 2–1 to AFC Bournemouth.

In 2003–04 the club finished fourteenth in the Premier Division, entering a play-off against Lewes for a place in the new Conference South. Although they lost 4–1, they gained a place in the new league after Hendon decided against promotion. The club made another appearance in the FA Cup first round in 2006–07, beating League One club Chesterfield 1–0 at Saltergate before losing 3–1 to local rivals Aldershot in a second round replay. The Hampshire Senior Cup was won again in 2007–08 with a 1–0 win over Farnborough in the final. A fifth-place finish in 2011–12 saw the club qualify for the promotion play-offs. However, they lost the two-legged semi-final to Dartford 3–1 on aggregate, losing 1–0 at home and 2–1 away. They also reached the FA Cup first round again, losing 1–0 to Brentford. They qualified for the play-offs for a second time in 2014–15 after finishing third, but were beaten 2–1 on aggregate by Whitehawk in the semi-finals. However, the club did win the Hampshire Senior Cup again, beating Havant & Waterlooville 3–2 after extra time in the final.

The following season saw Basingstoke make another appearance in the FA Cup first round, a 1–0 defeat at Cambridge United; They won the North Hampshire Senior Cup again in 2023–24, beating Romsey Town 4–3 in the final. The 2024–25 season saw a third consecutive North Hampshire Senior Cup final against Romsey Town, with Basingstoke winning 6–0.

Ground

The club played at Castlefields from their establishment until 1945, when a site for a new ground was offered to them by Lord Camrose. The new ground was initially known as Winchester Road, and consisted of a small wooden stand together with grass banking with some terracing.

A new clubhouse was built in 1969 and a new main stand in 1970. Terracing was also added to the ground and floodlights erected.

In 2019 the club was forced to relocate to Winchester City's City Ground as former chairman Rafi Razzak attempted to sell the Camrose for development. In October 2020 the club returned to Basingstoke, at the upgraded FA Winklebury Sports Complex in the Winklebury area of the town.

Club staff

First team

• Manager: Dan Brownlie
• Assistant Manager: Aaron Nicholson
• Coach: Paul Worsfold
• Coach: Jon Boardman
• Physiotherapist: Seanagh McCarthy
• Goalkeeper Coach: Geraint Holliman & Lance Forster

Academy

• Academy Manager: Aaron Nicholson
• Academy Coach: Ben Cook

Honours

• Isthmian League
  • South Central Division champions 2022–23
• Southern League
  • Southern Division champions 1984–85
• Hampshire League
  • Division One champions 1967–68, 1968–69, 1970–71
  • North Division champions 1911–12, 1919–20
• Hampshire Senior Cup
  • Winners 1970–71, 1989–90, 1995–96, 1996–97, 2007–08, 2013–14, 2016–17, 2022–23
• North Hampshire Senior Cup
  • Winners 2022–23, 2023–24, 2024–25
• Remembrance Cup
  • Winners 2005, 2006

Records

• Best league position: 3rd in the Conference South, 2014–15
• Best FA Cup performance: Second round, 1989–90, 1997–98, 2006–07
• Best FA Trophy performance: Third round, 1998–99, 2003–04
• Most appearances: Billy Coombs (1980s)
• Most goals: Paul Coombs 159 (1991–99)
• Biggest win: 10–1 vs Chichester City, FA Cup first qualifying round, 1976
• Heaviest defeat: 8–0 vs Aylesbury United, Southern League Division One South, April 1979
• Record attendance: 5,085 vs Wycombe Wanderers, FA Cup first round, November 1997
  • Record league attendance: 2,810 vs Aldershot Town, Isthmian League Premier Division 26 December 1998
• Record transfer fee paid: £4,750 to Gosport Borough for Steve Ingman

References

References

1. [https://www.theguardian.com/football/2006/dec/03/match.sport9 Battle to resume as The Stoke keep Shots in sight] The Guardian
2. [https://int.soccerway.com/venues/england/winklebury-football-complex/v26776/ Winklebury Football Complex] Soccerway
3. {{usurped
4. [http://www.nonleaguematters.co.uk/nlmnet/Aarg3E/Hant96.html Early Hampshire League 1896-1914] Non-League Matters
5. They won the North Section again in 1919–20,[http://www.nonleaguematters.co.uk/nlmnet/Aarg3E/Hant19.html Hampshire League 1919-1929] Non-League Matters
6. [http://www.nonleaguematters.co.uk/nlmnet/Aarg3E/Hant_29.html Hampshire League 1929-1939] Non-League Matters
7. [http://www.nonleaguematters.co.uk/nlmnet/Aarg3E/Ham60.html Hampshire League 1960-1970] Non-League Matters
8. [http://www.nonleaguematters.co.uk/nlmnet/Aarg3E/Ham70.html Hampshire League 1970-1980] Non-League Matters
9. {{fchd
10. (11 May 2023). "Hampshire Senior Cup: Basingstoke beat Bournemouth to win the treble".
11. (2 May 2024). "North Hants Senior Cup: Basingstoke beat Romsey in final".
12. (8 May 2025). "Romsey Town thumped by Basingstoke in North Hants senior cup final".
13. The first match was played on 1 December 1945 against Southampton Borough Police, and the ground was later renamed after Lord Camrose.[http://www.pyramidpassion.co.uk/html/basingstoke_town.html Basingstoke Town] Pyramid Passion
14. [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-49177554 Basingstoke Town Football club future in doubt over stadium row] BBC News, 31 July 2019
15. [https://www.basingstokegazette.co.uk/news/18819571.basingstoke-town-play-first-winklebury-stadium-match-today/ Basingstoke Town to play first Winklebury stadium match TODAY] ''Gazette'', 24 October 2020