Romsey area old football teams

Thanks to Leroy Whitelock for the photos of Romsey Town, Awbridge, Braishfield, Whitenap, Mottisfont, Michelmersh & Timsbury and Sherfield English


Awbridge

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Braishfield

 

 

  Braishfield’s Successful Tour   MATCHES IN BELGIUM AND FRANCE, EASTER 1969

 

THE combined village sides, Social Sports and Braishfield F.C enjoyed a successful Continental tour over the Easter holiday. On Saturday they beat F. C. Bruggemans Boys 5—O at Brugge, Belgium, and then, on Sunday, they went down 2—1 to J. S. Wizernoise, a French senior team. Highlight of the latter match, watched by a crowd of well over 500, was a brilliant display by Dave Adams in the Villagers’ goal. The Braishfield party arrived in Blankenberg on Friday morning, having travelled overnight from Dover, and, after breakfast went sight-seeing through the large shopping centre and the marvelous miles of beach. In the afternoon there was a coach tour, taking them over the border into Holland and including several stops for shopping and refreshments.


Both sides exchanged pennants at the start of Saturday’s game in Brugge, and the villagers also received a cup from their hosts. After many photographs bad been taken the game started at the unusual time of 3.45. Cautious play marked the opening stages with the two teams sounding each other out and the Belgium side. After only ten minutes, brought on a substitute. The villagers attacked hard and when Wassell centred Old hit a low drive past the ‘keeper to give them the lead. Wassell on the left wing was giving the Belgian defence plenty of trouble and from one centre Parsons headed inches wide. Then, from a Wassell corner the keeper dropped the ball and wing-half White put them 2—0 in the lead. At the start of the second half, the game became a deadlock with neither side breaking down the other’s defence, in which P. Fielding and Byrne starred for the visitors and Miller did well to block out the Belgians’ dangerous outside left.


With only ten minutes to go, the Villagers turned on a sparkling spree, and Wassell netted twice from identical moves featuring Reg Fielding, Gritt and Old, the keeper having no chance. Then Wassell hit the crossbar and Old banged in the rebound to net the Villagers fifth goal. They were unlucky not to have added even more to their score, but both Old and Wassell had goals disallowed for offside. Gritt had a fine game on the Villagers right-wing and John Fielding, playing in his old wing-half position, also came out with great credit.


Team v. Broemans Boys


D Adams, R Miller, P Fielding; J Fielding, J Byrne, A White, L Gritt, R Fielding, D Old, B Parsons and B Wassell

 

On Sunday morning, the party travelled 80 miles over the border into France, and, on alighting from their coach at Wizerness found posters and photographs of the home side displayed on hoardings and in windows and stuck all over cars in the Town Square. After being entertained to refreshments by the host club, they watched a youth match between Wlzerness Youth and Locks Heath, from Southampton, which the visitors won 3—O. This game was followed by the Social Sports fixture and the home sides first eleven, watched by over 500 people, the was largest crowd ever on the French club’s ground. At the start, both sides stood while the National Anthems were played and then all the players names were called out over the loudspeaker. Pennants were exchanged and photos taken before the kick-off at 4.30.


The home side looked like running riot over the Sports from the start, but Dave Adams was brilliant in the Sports goal and defied them time and time again. Then, at the other end, Old beat three men but shot straight at the keeper. The French side were hard in the tackle, and very fast, and deserved their one goal lead at half-time, although it was a very lucky one, the ball rebounding from P. Fielding past keeper Adams Half-time: l—0.


At the start of the second half the Villagers substituted Parsons for Langford, who had received an ankle injury, but the home side again scored a lucky goal when Wood failed to push the ball back far enough to Adams and French forward netted with a great shot. Not letting their 2—0 deficit worry them Social kept on plugging away and Wally Wassell hit an upright on three occasions, Barry Wassell was inches wide and then a header by the same player scraped the crossbar. Wing-half Byrne was having by far his best same ever for Social and broke up many attacks by the home side. Then at last Social were rewarded when Barry Wassell scored from a long ball through the middle by Reg Fielding. Seconds later he netted again but the referee turned the Villagers’ delight into dismay as be gave it offside. Dave Adams brought applause time and time again from the crowd with fantastic saves as the home side, who bad two brilliant ball players in their forward line, forced pressure on the Sports’ goal. Then right on time a shot from Wood went inches over the home cross-bar. Result: 2—1. The Villagers were unlucky to lose this game as their opponents were a good footballing team and enjoy senior status.


Entertained at Town Hall


After the match the teams were entertained to champagne at the Town Hall where Social Sports secretary Dave Old was introduced to the Mayor of Wizerness, and captain Brian Wood received a cup for the Club from the home side, whose friendliness and hospitality wilt always be remembered by the villagers.

Team v. J, S. Wizernoise:

 Dave Adams, R Miller, P Fielding, J Byrne, B Wood, D Langford, B Parsons, Dave Old, L Gritt, B Wassell and W Wassell.

Monday morning was free for shopping and after a mid-day meal at their hotel, the party sailed back on the 3.45- ferry from Ostend, arriving in Dover at 7.30.

 

Braishfield ladies team Boxing Day 1969 (Fun event)

 

There were high jinks at Braishfield on Boxing Day 1969, when members of the local teams and some retired players and their wives and girl friends took the field for a comic football match. The ladies, captained by Mrs. Jean Gritt, were dressed in pyjamas, while the men, led by Mr. Len Gritt, turned out in shorty nighties!

A sporting encounter was enjoyed, with the ladies winning 3-2, although the game was played in light-hearted fashion and not always strictly according to the rules. Most of the men's team lined up between the posts on one occasion, for instance, in an effort to thwart a penalty kick, and referee Mr. P. Cawte was not averse to giving the ball a helpful boot in the ladies favour when it came his way. The ladies' scorers were Mrs. Maureen Fielding (2-one pen.) and Mrs. Bet Byrne, with S. White and Colin Dowling replying.

Afterwards, all went to the Braishfield Social Club for a celebration drink and dance.

 

Social Sports 1970

Many of their players originally played for Woodley Rangers, but after they finished quite a number of them then signed for Braishfield Social who then became quite successful, climbing up through the leagues to the Premier Division. After a while this became too much in what was a tough division and they changed leagues, and became known as Social Sports (we think!).

 

 

Braishfield FC 1988-89

 

 

Crampmoor

Happy, carefree days of football soon to be shattered by the First World War are recalled by this old but hitherto unpublished photograph of Crampmoor FC. 1912-13. The team played friendly's against Awbridge Albion, Ampfield, Chilworth, Braishfield, Mottisfont and Romsey Reserves. The year after the picture was taken, many of the young men concerned were in the Forces and some gave their lives for their country.

Lockerley

Run by Phil Stemp, who was awarded manager of the year and they finished third in the table, semi-finalists in one cup and runners-up to Redbridge Eagles in the Southampton Under 18 cup final.

 

Michelmersh and Timsbury

 

 

 

Mottisfont

 

Romsey

 

 

 

 

 

Romsey Town FC ground at Priestlands 1950

 

Sun Inn FC

 

Sherfield English

 

 

 

 

West Dean FC

 

West Dean FC - 1980-81 Salisbury Sunday League Division Two Champions

 

Back row: 1. David Selby; 2. Gary Whitfield; 3. Simon Barry; 4. Andy Day; 5. David Strover; 6. Alan Higgins; 7. Martin Pearce; 8. Tony Porteous; 9. Kenny Hughes.

 

Front row: 1. Paul Wilkins; 2. lan McDonagh; 3. Gary Poolman; 4. Phillip Hodges; 5. Jimmy Porteous; 6. David Poolman.

 

Whitenap

 

 

Back L-R, George Smith, Stefan Nater, ?, Michel Smith, Peter Windibank, Simon Cull, Chris Allen, Piers Trussler,

Front L-R, Steve White, James (Jock) Adams, Simon Clarke,  Alan Crockett, Andrew Taplin

 

 

Woodley Rangers

 Charlie Woods, Brian Knights, John Bobbett,  Pat Savage,  Dave McLaughlin, 

Eric Williams,  Dave Bobbett, Mick Farthing and Len Levy.

 

Norman Ayres, Jimmy Byrne, Terry Fish, Dave Leigh, Geoff Hattersley

 

Woodley Rangers 1968/69

 

Woodley Rangers 1967/68

 

Woodley Rangers 1965-66, Dave Shaw, Dave Leigh, Mick Madigan

Wrynams

Wrynams FC 1972

Wrynams FC 1972


Back row:- Alan Lambert, Ben Smith, Alan Fields and Rob Sillence

Front row:- Keith McGrady, Derek White, John Perry, Dave Lambert, Barry Head and Kevin Snow