Folland Sports F.C.

Coordinates: 50°51′49″N 1°19′47″W / 50.86361°N 1.32972°W / 50.86361; -1.32972
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Folland Sports
Full nameFolland Sports Football Club
Nickname(s)The Planemakers
Founded1938 (as Folland Aircraft)
GroundFolland Park, Hamble-le-Rice
Capacity1,000 (150 seated)[1]
ChairmenIan Josephs & James Langdown
ManagerJayda Chiutare
LeagueWessex League Division One
2022–23Wessex League Division One, 11th of 20

Folland Sports Football Club is a football club based in Hamble-le-Rice, near Southampton, in Hampshire, England. They are currently members of the Wessex League Division One and play at Folland Park.

History[edit]

The club was established in 1938 by workers of the Hamble-le-Rice aircraft factory under the name Folland Aircraft.[2][1] The club won the Hampshire Senior Cup in 1940–41.[3] The following season saw the club win the Hampshire League and the Hampshire FA's Russell Cotes Cup.[4] By 1948 the club had left the Hampshire League and were also renamed Folland Sports. In 1968 they rejoined the Hampshire League, becoming members of Division Three East.[5]

When league reorganisation in 1971 saw the regional third divisions replaced with Division Three and Division Four, Folland Sports were placed in Division Three.[6] However, in 1975–76 they finished second-from-bottom of Division Three and were relegated to Division Four.[6] In 1979–80 the club were Division Four champions and moved up to Division Three as Division Four was disbanded;[6] the season also saw them win the Hampshire Intermediate Cup.[4] They won Division Three the following season, earning a second successive promotion, this time to Division Two.[7] In 1985–86 the club were Division Two runners-up and were promoted to Division One.[8] After finishing third in Division One the following season, they moved up to the Wessex League.[8]

In 1990 the club were renamed Aerostructures S&S.[8] In 1997–98 the club won the League Cup.[9] At the end of the season they adopted another new name, this time becoming Hamble ASSC.[10] When the Wessex League gained a second division in 2004 the club became members of Division One.[11] The division was renamed the Premier Division in 2006, and despite finishing bottom of the table in 2006–07 they avoided relegation to Division One. However, after finishing second-from-bottom of the division in 2008–09, the club were relegated to Division One.[11] They went on to win Division One the following season, earning an immediate promotion back to the Premier Division.[11] In 2011 the club were renamed GE Hamble,[11] although the new name lasted only two seasons as they reverted to Folland Sports in 2013.[12]

Folland Sports finished bottom of the Wessex League Premier Division in 2015–16 and were relegated to Division One.[8]

Ground[edit]

The club play at Folland Park. When they joined the Wessex League in 1987 the ground was upgraded, with floodlights and pitch barriers installed.[4] The ground has a small stand with wooden bench seating on one side of the pitch, with uncovered standing at both ends.[13] It has a capacity of 1,000, of which 150 is seated and covered.[1]

Honours[edit]

  • Wessex League
    • Division One champions 2009–10
    • League Cup winners 1997–98
  • Hampshire League
    • Division Three champions 1980–81
    • Division Four champions 1979–80
  • Hampshire Senior Cup
    • Winners 1940–41
  • Southampton Senior Cup
    • Winners 1944–45, 1984–85, 1986–87[14]
  • Reg Mathieson Cup
    • Winners 1984–85, 1986–87[4]
  • Hampshire Intermediate Cup
    • Winners 1979–80

Records[edit]

  • Best FA Cup performance: Third qualifying round, 2010–11[8]
  • Best FA Vase performance: Third round, 2012–13[12]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c Mike Williams & Tony Williams (2012) Non-League Club Directory 2013, p806 ISBN 978-1-869833-77-0
  2. ^ Fooland Sports Wessex League
  3. ^ Hampshire Senior Cup: Previous Winners Hampshire FA
  4. ^ a b c d History Hamble ASSC F.C.
  5. ^ Hampshire League 1960–1970 Non-League Matters
  6. ^ a b c Hampshire League 1970–1980 Non-League Matters
  7. ^ Hampshire League 1980–1992 Non-League Matters
  8. ^ a b c d e Folland Sports at the Football Club History Database
  9. ^ List of Awards Wessex League
  10. ^ Aerostructures S&S at the Football Club History Database
  11. ^ a b c d Hamble ASSC at the Football Club History Database
  12. ^ a b GE Hamble at the Football Club History Database
  13. ^ Hamble Aerostructures Sports & Social Club FC Pyramid Passion
  14. ^ Southampton DFA competition winners – Senior (Saturday) Cup Southampton FA

External links[edit]

50°51′49″N 1°19′47″W / 50.86361°N 1.32972°W / 50.86361; -1.32972