Winterbourne United Football Club is a football club based in
Winterbourne, near
Bristol
Bristol () is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, the most populous city in the region. Built around the River Avon, Bristol, River Avon, it is bordered by t ...
, England. Affiliated to the
Gloucestershire County FA
The Gloucestershire County Football Association, also simply known as the ''Gloucestershire FA'' or ''GFA'', is the governing body of football in the county of Gloucestershire. It was formed in 1886.
History
The Gloucestershire County Footba ...
, they are the current double champions of the and the BPC League Cup.
History
Winterbourne United Football Club, formerly known as Winterbourne Wasps until the outbreak of the First World War, was formed in 1911, the first club secretary being Fred Tolley.
The Club entered the
Bristol and Suburban League and enjoyed one of the most successful periods in their history. They finished as runners up in the league no less than four times during the 1930s and in the 1933–34 season reached the semi-finals of the G.F A Senior Amateur Cup, losing to Victoria Albion at the Douglas Ground, Kingswood. In the home quarter final against Dockland Settlement over 2000 paid to watch the game.
During the Second World War, the local Home Guard kept football going in the village until peacetime.
In 1950–51, the Club joined the
Bristol & District League
The Bristol and District Football League currently known as the uhlsport Bristol and District Football League is a football competition based in Bristol, England. The top division in this league, which is the Senior Division, sits at level 14 of ...
and were relegated in their first season. A period of rebuilding followed which took longer than anticipated as there were a limited number of players in the villages of Winterbourne, Watleys End and Frampton Cotterell. However the rebuilding both of the team and the changing rooms paid dividends and season 1967–68 saw the Club move into senior football as it won the Bristol & District League Division One Championship and the G.F.A Intermediate Cup, along with the Berkeley Hospital Senior Cup.
This success brought promotion to the
Bristol Premier Combination
The Bristol Premier Combination currently known as the uhlsport Bristol Premier Combination Football League is a football competition based in and around Bristol, England. The league is affiliated to the Gloucestershire County FA, and it has t ...
and three years later, 1970–71, the Club won the Second Division Championship and the Cossham Hospital Premier Cup.
Winterbourne continued membership of the
County of Avon Premier Combination until their most successful season, 1991–92, winning the Premier Combination Cup, and finished runners up to Hlghridge United in the Premier Division. As a result, the Club gained promotion to the Gloucestershire County League for the first time.
During that season strength of the club was evident as the Reserves team won the Bristol & District League First Division title and also carried off both the Premier and Senior Berkeley Hospital Cups.
A poor season in 1995–96 saw the Club relegated from the
Gloucestershire County League
The Gloucestershire County Football League is a association football, football league in England, founded in 1968. The league is affiliated to the Gloucestershire County FA.
It sits at step 7 (or level 11) of the National League System and is ...
back to the Bristol Premier Combination despite reaching the G.F.A. Challenge Trophy semi-finals for the first time. The slump did not last long as just one year later the Club marched back into the County League by winning the 'double'.
After beating Highridge United 2–1 in the final to win the G.F.A. Senior Amateur Cup, they clinched promotion by winning the Premier Combination championship by 7 clear points from their nearest rivals Hambrook.
In season 1998–99 the Reserves won the Bristol & District League Senior Division to gain promotion to the Premier Combination and two years later in 2000/2001 the first team finished as Champions of the Gloucestershire County League to gain promotion to the Hellenic League.
In season 2005–06 saw the club's most successful season when they won the Hellenic League Div1 West losing just 5 out of their 34 games and scoring 98 goals.
Winterbourne also has a successful 'A' team in Division 3 of the Bristol and District League consisting of the younger element bonded together by a few experienced old stagers. In more recent years the club has benefited from its successful youth policy.
In November 2009,
Nick Tanner was appointed manager. On 18 November 2009 it was confirmed that former
Liverpool
Liverpool is a port City status in the United Kingdom, city and metropolitan borough in Merseyside, England. It is situated on the eastern side of the River Mersey, Mersey Estuary, near the Irish Sea, north-west of London. With a population ...
goalkeeper and colleague of Tanner,
Bruce Grobbelaar
Bruce David Grobbelaar (born 6 October 1957) is a Zimbabwean former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper, most prominently for English club Liverpool between 1981 and 1994, and for the Zimbabwean national team. Regarded as one of ...
had agreed to play in a one-off cup tie against local rivals Patchway in a
Gloucestershire FA
The Gloucestershire County Football Association, also simply known as the ''Gloucestershire FA'' or ''GFA'', is the governing body of football in the county of Gloucestershire. It was formed in 1886.
History
The Gloucestershire County Footba ...
County Cup match on 5 December. Eventually Grobbelaar did not play the game although he attended at the club's Parkside Avenue ground. Grobbelaar took part in a half-time penalty shootout competition. Winterbourne lost the game to Patchway 1–0. In August 2011, Tanner resigned from his position as manager of the club.
For the 2012–13 season the club was transferred to the
Western League Premier Division. However, they resigned from the league midway through the
2015–16 season,
with the reserves in the Premier Division of the
Bristol Premier Combination
The Bristol Premier Combination currently known as the uhlsport Bristol Premier Combination Football League is a football competition based in and around Bristol, England. The league is affiliated to the Gloucestershire County FA, and it has t ...
becoming the first team.
In the summer of 2024, manager, Tim Minihane, and assistant, James Betts, were appointed to guide the club into revitalising new chapter. The duo achieved instant success in their maiden 2024-25 season, winning the Bristol Premier Combination League Cup in early April, and securing the Bristol Premier Combination - Premier Division title just two weeks later, rendering the final game of the season versus rivals DRG Stapleton, a promotion party.
Honours
*
Hellenic Football League
The Hellenic Football League, currently known as the uhlsport Hellenic Football League for sponsorship reasons, is an English men's association football, football league covering an area including the English Counties of the United Kingdom, cou ...
Division One West
**Champions 2005–06, 2007–08
*
Gloucestershire County League
The Gloucestershire County Football League is a association football, football league in England, founded in 1968. The league is affiliated to the Gloucestershire County FA.
It sits at step 7 (or level 11) of the National League System and is ...
**Champions 2000–01
*Bristol Premier Combination - Premier Division
**Champions 2024–25
*Bristol Premier Combination League - League Cup
**Champions 2023–24
**Champions 2024–25
Records
*
FA Vase
The Football Association Challenge Vase, also known as the Isuzu FA Vase for sponsorship reasons, is an annual football competition run by and named after The Football Association (The FA), for teams playing in Steps 5 and 6 of the English Nation ...
**Second Round 2011–12
References
External links
*
{{Coord, 51, 31, 28.03, N, 2, 30, 16.10, W, region:GB_type:landmark, display=title
Hellenic Football League
Football clubs in Gloucestershire
Association football clubs established in 1911
1911 establishments in England
Western Football League
Civil Parish of Winterbourne
Football clubs in England
Bristol and District Football League
Bristol Premier Combination