Hungerford Town F.C.

Hungerford Town Football Club
Full name Hungerford Town Football Club
Nickname(s) Crusaders
Founded 1886
Ground Bulpit Lane, Hungerford
Capacity 2,500 (170 seated)[1]
Chairman Steve Skipworth
Manager Ian Herring
League National League South
2017–18 National League South, 19th of 22
Website Club website

Hungerford Town Football Club is a football club based in Hungerford, Berkshire, England. Affiliated to the Berks & Bucks Football Association, they are currently members of the National League South, the sixth tier of English football, and play at Bulpit Lane.

History

The club was established in 1886, initially playing friendlies as there were no local league or cup competitions.[2] After two practice matches in October 1886, the first game against another club was played on 6 November, a 6–2 defeat to Earley.[3] In 1904–05 they won their first honours, the Newbury Challenge Cup, by beating Newbury Union Jack 2–1 in the final.[2] They won the trophy again in 1908–09 with a 2–1 win over Thatcham in the final.[2] The club was now playing in the Hungerford League, but later joined the Newbury League. They won the Newbury League in 1912–13, retaining the title the following season.[2] After World War I the club won the title again in 1919–20 and for a fourth time in 1921–22.[2] They later joined the Swindon & District League.[1]

In 1958 Hungerford moved up to the Premier Division of the Hellenic League.[4] They finished bottom of the division in 1964–65, resulting in relegation to Division One. However, after winning the Division One title in 1970–71, they were promoted back to the Premier Division.[4] In 1977–78 they won the Challenge Cup and reached the semi-finals of the FA Vase, eventually losing 3–1 to Barton Rovers in a replay after the original two-legged tie had ended 3–3 on aggregate.[5][4] Their cup exploits and a third-place finish that season was enough to earn promotion to Division Two of the Isthmian League.[4]

In 1979–80 Hungerford reached the first round of the FA Cup for the first time, losing 3–1 to Slough Town;[4] they also reached the semi-finals of the FA Vase again, this time losing 5–3 to Guisborough Town.[4] The 1981–82 season saw them win the Berks & Bucks Senior Cup, beating Wycombe Wanderers 1–0 in the final.[5] League restructuring in 1984 led to the club being placed in Division Two South. Another FA Vase semi-final appearance in 1988–89 ended with a 6–0 defeat to Sudbury Town.[4] Further league reorganisation in 1991 saw them return to Division Two.[4] At the end of the 2002–03 season Hungerford finished fifth in Division Two of the Isthmian League, but dropped back into the Premier Division of the Hellenic League.[4]

Hungerford won the Hellenic League's Supplementary Cup in 2004–05 and the Challenge Cup in 2006–07 and 2007–08. They were Premier Division champions in 2008–09, earning promotion to Division One South & West of the Southern League. A fifth-place finish in 2011–12 saw the club qualify for the promotion play-offs, losing 2–1 to Poole Town in the semi-finals.[4] They were Division One South & West runners-up the following season, again qualifying for the play-offs; after beating Paulton Rovers 4–2 in the semi-finals, they defeated Merthyr Town 3–1 in the final to secure promotion to the Premier Division.

The 2014–15 season saw Hungerford finish fourth in the Premier Division. In the subsequent play-offs they lost 1–0 to Truro City in the semi-finals. However, after another fourth-place finish the following season, they defeated Hitchin Town 3–2 in the semi-finals before beating Leamington 2–1 in the final, earning promotion to the National League South.[4]

Ground

The club initially played at Hungerford Marsh, before moving to Bulpit Lane.[5] Floodlights were installed in 1975.[5]

Honours

  • Hellenic League
    • Premier Division champions 2008–09
    • Division One champions 1970–71
    • Challenge Cup winners 1977–78 2006–07, 2007–08
    • Supplementary Cup winners 2004–05
    • Benevolent Cup winners 1960–61
  • Newbury League
    • Champions 1912–13, 1913–14, 1919–20, 1921–22
  • Berks & Bucks Senior Cup
    • Winners 1981–82
  • Basingstoke Senior Cup
    • Winners 2012–13, 2014–15
  • Linaker Brokers Challenge Cup
    • Winners 2006–07, 2007–08
  • Newbury Challenge Cup
    • Winners 1904–05, 1908–09
  • Hungerford Cup
    • Winners 2003–04

Records

  • Best FA Cup performance: First round, 1979–80[4]
  • Best FA Trophy performance: Third round, 2014–15[4]
  • Best FA Vase performance: Semi-finals, 1977–78, 1979–80, 1988–89[4]
  • Record attendance: 1,684 vs Sudbury Town, FA Vase semi-final, 1988–89[1]
  • Most goals: Ian Farr, 268[1]
  • Record transfer fee paid: £4,000 to Yeovil Town for Joe Scott[1]
  • Record Transfer fee received: £3,800 from Barnstaple Town for Joe Scott[1]

See also

  • Hungerford Town F.C. players
  • Hungerford Town F.C. managers

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Mike Williams & Tony Williams (2016) Non-League Club Directory 2017, Tony Williams Publications, p130 ISBN 978-1869833695
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 History-2 Hungerford Town F.C.
  3. ↑ History 5 Hungerford Town F.C.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Hungerford Town at the Football Club History Database
  5. 1 2 3 4 History 1 Hungerford Town F.C.

Further reading

  • Edmonds, Robert (1994). The Story of Hungerford Town Football Club: A Personal Recollection. Self-published.

Coordinates: 51°24′32.17″N 1°30′48.54″W / 51.4089361°N 1.5134833°W / 51.4089361; -1.5134833

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