CLUB INFORMATION
Where we came from. Who we are. How to get to us.
WHERE WE CAME FROM: CLUB HISTORY
DOWNTON Football Club was formed in September 1905, following a meeting which had been arranged by the Rev J.H. Phillips.
Early results were not very encouraging. However, after the First World War in 1919 the Robins fared better after entering the Salisbury & District League.
They gained promotion from Division Two to Division One in 1920, but returned to Division Two in 1924. The 1924/25 season saw Downton become the first winners of the Norman Court Cup, beating Alderbury in the final. They won the competition again in 1932, 1934, 1935, 1936 and 1939 and then on three further occasions after World War II.
Downton won the Wilts Junior Cup for the first time in 1949/50, defeating Atworth 6-2 in the final. The following season, the club entered the Bournemouth League and gained promotion to Division One, winning the championship five times. The 1958/59 season saw them secure promotion to Senior Division One, winning the title seven times between 1959/60 and 1967/68 – an achievement which resulted in Bournemouth FA presenting the club with a special plaque.
Downton also won the Bournemouth Senior Cup in 1962/63 and 1979/80 and the Senior League Cup in 1961/62, 1963/64 and 1966/67.
In order to progress further, Downton joined the Hampshire League in 1968/69, winning promotion in 1971/72. More promotions followed in 1978/79 and 1979/80.
In 1992/93, The Robins were elected to the Wessex League – the club's reserves joining its Combination League. The 1995/96 campaign proved one of the club's best ever – winning both the Wessex League Cup and the Russell Cotes Cup, while its reserves finished runners-up in the Combination Cup. They also entered the FA Vase for the first time.
A highest ever league finish of eighth was achieved in the 1996/97 season. The club entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1997/98. Downton enjoyed county success in the Wilts Senior Cup, winning it in 1979/80 and 1980/81, and finishing runners-up in 1955/56, 1991/92 and 1994/95.
Closer to home, The Robins lifted the Salisbury Hospital Cup in 2008/09, beating Shrewton United in the final having defeated Laverstock & Ford and Amesbury Town en route. They retained the cup the following season when they beat Chalke Valley in the final, staged at Salisbury City's Raymond McEnhill Stadium.
The 2010/11 campaign proved a highly memorable one. As well as securing promotion to the Premier Division after being crowned Division One champions in what was the league's 25th anniversary season, Downton also enjoyed their best ever run in the FA Vase, reaching the second round for the first time.
A number of other accolades followed - Jeff Softley picked up the Manager of the Year honour at the league's 25th anniversary celebrations with four players – Charles Aldridge, Calum Robertson, Nick Turpin and Declan McGregor – all named in the Division One Team of the Year.
Downton finished 6th in their first year back in the Sydenhams Premier League, their highest finish ever. They also won the Hospital Cup again, winning 4-0 against Laverstock and Ford.
Following relegation in 2013, Downton have since been playing in the Sydenhams (Wessex) Division One, finishing mid-table in most of those seasons under the leadership of Ben Smith. With the relaunch of their Development team in 2017, they managed to finish second in the Wyvern West Division, earning them a position in the Wyvern Premier for the 2019-20 season. With a growing number of youth teams - standing at 8 for the 2019-20 season - and a finish of 7th to build on for the first team, the future looks particularly strong for the Robins.
Early results were not very encouraging. However, after the First World War in 1919 the Robins fared better after entering the Salisbury & District League.
They gained promotion from Division Two to Division One in 1920, but returned to Division Two in 1924. The 1924/25 season saw Downton become the first winners of the Norman Court Cup, beating Alderbury in the final. They won the competition again in 1932, 1934, 1935, 1936 and 1939 and then on three further occasions after World War II.
Downton won the Wilts Junior Cup for the first time in 1949/50, defeating Atworth 6-2 in the final. The following season, the club entered the Bournemouth League and gained promotion to Division One, winning the championship five times. The 1958/59 season saw them secure promotion to Senior Division One, winning the title seven times between 1959/60 and 1967/68 – an achievement which resulted in Bournemouth FA presenting the club with a special plaque.
Downton also won the Bournemouth Senior Cup in 1962/63 and 1979/80 and the Senior League Cup in 1961/62, 1963/64 and 1966/67.
In order to progress further, Downton joined the Hampshire League in 1968/69, winning promotion in 1971/72. More promotions followed in 1978/79 and 1979/80.
In 1992/93, The Robins were elected to the Wessex League – the club's reserves joining its Combination League. The 1995/96 campaign proved one of the club's best ever – winning both the Wessex League Cup and the Russell Cotes Cup, while its reserves finished runners-up in the Combination Cup. They also entered the FA Vase for the first time.
A highest ever league finish of eighth was achieved in the 1996/97 season. The club entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1997/98. Downton enjoyed county success in the Wilts Senior Cup, winning it in 1979/80 and 1980/81, and finishing runners-up in 1955/56, 1991/92 and 1994/95.
Closer to home, The Robins lifted the Salisbury Hospital Cup in 2008/09, beating Shrewton United in the final having defeated Laverstock & Ford and Amesbury Town en route. They retained the cup the following season when they beat Chalke Valley in the final, staged at Salisbury City's Raymond McEnhill Stadium.
The 2010/11 campaign proved a highly memorable one. As well as securing promotion to the Premier Division after being crowned Division One champions in what was the league's 25th anniversary season, Downton also enjoyed their best ever run in the FA Vase, reaching the second round for the first time.
A number of other accolades followed - Jeff Softley picked up the Manager of the Year honour at the league's 25th anniversary celebrations with four players – Charles Aldridge, Calum Robertson, Nick Turpin and Declan McGregor – all named in the Division One Team of the Year.
Downton finished 6th in their first year back in the Sydenhams Premier League, their highest finish ever. They also won the Hospital Cup again, winning 4-0 against Laverstock and Ford.
Following relegation in 2013, Downton have since been playing in the Sydenhams (Wessex) Division One, finishing mid-table in most of those seasons under the leadership of Ben Smith. With the relaunch of their Development team in 2017, they managed to finish second in the Wyvern West Division, earning them a position in the Wyvern Premier for the 2019-20 season. With a growing number of youth teams - standing at 8 for the 2019-20 season - and a finish of 7th to build on for the first team, the future looks particularly strong for the Robins.
WHO WE ARE: CLUB OFFICIALS
Dan Newman [Chairman]
Rae Hughes [Vice-Chairman]
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CHAIRMAN: Dan Newman VICE-CHAIRMAN: Rae Hughes SECRETARY: Dawn Peggrem TREASURER: Stephen Fox WELFARE OFFICER: Rebecca Crowley COMMERCIAL MANAGER: Luke Wordley HEAD OF YOUTH: Fran Mathers COMMITTEE MEMBERS: Gary Tanner. Mark Gulliver. Simon Emmens. PHOTOGRAPHER: Dave Dodge Photography Ltd CLUB SCOUT: Jamie Bundy PROGRAMME EDITOR: JMA Programmes [joe@jmaprogrammes.co.uk] CONTRIBUTORS: Chris Garvey. Avril Lancaster. Mike Robins. WEBSITE EDITOR: Jamie Bundy FIRST TEAM MANAGER: Ben Smith FIRST TEAM COACHES: Rich Rendall. Matt Holmes. Mitch Blake. U23 MANAGER: Rob Wilkins U23 COACHES: James Taylor. Tom Aldridge. U18 GIRLS MANAGER: Phillip Rhoades U16 MANAGERS: Mark Gulliver. Luke Wordley. U14 MANAGER: Fran Mathers U14 ASSISTANTS: Mark Daubney. Chris King. U9 MANAGERS: Lyndon Taylor. Marcus Savage. U8 MANAGER: Rae Hughes U8 ASSISTANT: Matt Cox U7 ROBINS MANAGERS: Nick Lumber. Tom Williams U7 REDS MANAGERS: Jamie Weeks. Andy Richardson U6 MANAGERS: Fran Mathers. Lee Syrett. Liam Heggarty. U5: No manager, Training only. |
HOW TO GET TO US: VISITING DOWNTON FC
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ADDRESS: Brian Whitehead Sports & Social Club, Wick Lane, Downton, Wiltshire, SP5 3NF DIRECTIONS: Travelling South from Salisbury on the A338, turn right into Wick Lane opposite the turn for the village centre, just before the Bull Pub. The turning is marked "Leisure Centre". The ground is 1/4 mile on the left. Travelling from Ringwood, go past the traffic lights after Trafalgar School, and turn on the next left, before the Esso garage. Again, the turning is marked "Leisure Centre"; the ground is 1/4 mile on the left. |
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CLUB HONOURS
WESSEX LEAGUE DIVISION 1 CHAMPIONS
2010 - 11
WILTSHIRE SENIOR CUP WINNERS
1979-80, 1980-81
WESSEX LEAGUE CUP WINNERS
1995-96
RUSSELL COTES CUP WINNERS
1995-96
BOURNEMOUTH SENIOR CUP WINNERS
1962-63, 1979-80
BOURNEMOUTH LEAGUE DIV 1 CHAMPIONS
1951-52, 1952-53, 1954-55, 1955-56, 1956-57, 1959-60,
1960-61, 1961-62, 1963-64, 1964-65, 1966-67, 1967-68
BOURNEMOUTH JUNIOR DIV 2 CHAMPIONS [RES]
1959-60, 1965-66
BOURNEMOUTH LEAGUE CHALLENGE CUP WINNERS
1955-56, 1956-57, 1961-62, 1963-64, 1966-67
SUPPLEMENTARY LADS CUP WINNERS
1963-64
RT HAYWARD CUP WINNERS
1958-59, 1964-65
NORMAN COURT CUP WINNERS
1924-25, 1931-32, 1933-34, 1934-35, 1935-36, 1938-39
SALISBURY HOSPITAL CUP WINNERS
1960-61, 1965-66, 1969-70, 1975-76, 1983-84, 1988-89,
2008-09, 2009-10, 2011-12
