Winchester Castle F.C. were a long running

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Culture, language and peoples * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England * ''English'', an Amish ter ...

amateur football team based in

Winchester Winchester (, ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city in Hampshire, England. The city lies at the heart of the wider City of Winchester, a local government Districts of England, district, at the western end of the South Downs N ...

. They played in the

Hampshire League The Hampshire League was a football league in Hampshire, England. During its heyday its constitution consisted of four divisions with over 60 clubs taking part - this included a vast number of semi-professional teams and Reserve/’A’ sides o ...

for over 50 years before their untimely demise.

History

The club were first formed in 1952 as Castle FC and were the 'sports arm' of Hampshire County Council. They originally played in the Winchester & District League before becoming founder members of the

North Hants League The North Hants Senior League was a football (soccer), football competition based in Hampshire, England and was administered by the North Hants FA. History The League was founded in 1968, by the North Hants FA, to bridge the gap between the Ha ...

in 1968, which they won in 1970/71. Upon entry to Division Four of the

for the start of the 1971/72 campaign, the club became known as Winchester Castle and won promotion in their first season after finishing third. They then remained a steady Division Three side for a number of years, during which time they won the Hampshire Intermediate Cup in 1976/77 after defeating Southampton University in the final. The 1983/84 campaign was a memorable one when they finally gained promotion as champions. The club then consolidated in Division Two before being promoted to Division One in 1986, after many of the top teams left to join the newly formed

Wessex League The Wessex Football League, known as the Velocity Wessex Football League for sponsorship reasons, is an English regional men's football league in southern England. Its members are primarily from Hampshire and Dorset, but clubs from adjoining co ...

. However, after two seasons they finished bottom and were relegated. Further relegation followed at the end of the 1991/92 campaign when the club finished second from bottom of Division Two. After a spell of re-building, they bounced back up at the end of the 1996/97 campaign after finishing runners-up in Division Three. In March 2001 it was announced that Winchester Castle would merge with their local rivals Winchester City in an attempt to create one of the most powerful non-league sides in Hampshire. The amalgamated club decided that it would use City's Abbots Barton for the first team, and keep Chilcomb for the reserve and ladies team. At the end of the 2000–01 season Castle finished as runners-up behind City. The clubs then formally merged in June of that year. Winchester Castle was reformed in

2006 2006 was designated as the International Year of Deserts and Desertification. Events January * January 1– 4 – Russia temporarily cuts shipment of natural gas to Ukraine during a price dispute. * January 12 – A stampede during t ...

, when the 'A' and 'B' teams decided to leave their parent club, to keep playing together as the

Hampshire League 2004 The Hampshire League 2004 was an English football league comprising teams located in Hampshire. It was formed in 2004, ran for nine seasons and served as a feeder league to Step 7 of the National League System. It was an unofficial continuation of ...

did not want reserve teams to feature amongst its members any more. The following season the club became one of the founder members of the

Hampshire Premier League The Hampshire Premier League or uhlsport Hampshire Premier League, for sponsorship reasons, is a football (soccer), football competition based in Hampshire, England. The league was formed in 2007 and currently consists of a 'Senior Division' of ...

. They generally remained a steady mid-table side, but in the summer of 2023 a long career of county league football sadly came to an end when they disbanded after a loss of personnel.

Ground

Winchester Castle played their home games at the Hampshire County Council Sports Ground, A31 Petersfield Road, Chilcomb, Winchester, Hampshire, SO21 1HU. . The venue is accessed off the A31,by a signposted track, which can be easily missed by a first-time visitor. Upon entry there is a large car-park with the pavilion/changing rooms adjacent. There are two well-maintained adult football pitches with the far one being used for 1st Team fixtures. The pitch is surrounded by a fixed barrier and also has home/away dugouts and a small covered enclosure, which as the venue is somewhat exposed to the elements, is much appreciated by spectators. There is also a large grass bank which runs parallel with the length of the far side and as provides an excellent view of both the pitch and the surrounding countryside. It is these facilities that enabled the club to play in the Hampshire Premier League. The ground remains in use today for grassroots football. There is hope amongst local football followers that one day Castle may re-form again or that another club may take up residence.

Honours

** Division 1 Runners-up 2000/01 ** Division 3 Champions 1983/84 and Runners-up 1996/97 *

** Combination Champions 2009/10 (Reserves) ** Combination Cup Winners 2016/17 (Reserves) *

** Champions 1970/71 and 2002/03 (as Winchester City 'A') *

Hampshire Football Association The Hampshire Football Association, also known as ''Hampshire FA'', is the governing body of football in the county of Hampshire, England England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is loc ...

** Intermediate Cup Winners 1976/77 *Andover Open Cup ** Winners 1998/99, 1999/00 and 2000/01

League Career 1971-2023

References

{{Reflist, 30em

External links

Football Club History Database

Hampshire League Final Tables

Hampshire Soccer Archive Defunct football clubs in England Defunct football clubs in Hampshire Association football clubs established in 2006 Sport in Winchester 2006 establishments in England North Hants League Hampshire League Wessex Football League Hampshire League 2004 Hampshire Premier League