Page 19 - Avonmouth FC v Hanham Athletic 200124

Remembering Avonmouth Clubs from the Past

Although Avonmouth FC was formed in 1919 under the name of Avonmouth St Andrews
there have been five sides playing under the village name, Rovers, Athletic, St Andrews and
most recently Village and Rangers. We are pretty sure that many of the Rover’s side joined
St Andrews after the First World War (WW1) given that many new teams were formed with
strong links to their local church, whilst remembering those lost during the horrors of the
Great War.
The Bristol & Suburban League (B&SL) centenary booklet (published in 1994) has provided
us with the first mentions we have of an Avonmouth football team gaining success in their
league by winning the Division 1 title over two seasons, 1904/5 and 1905/6, although
exactly which club is not confirmed. Although it is thought to be Avonmouth Rovers, perhaps
the forerunner of the St Andrews side? Further research is needed!
Avonmouth Athletic reserves was the next club to feature in the Suburban League records
when they won the Division 4 title in 1926/27 and then the top Division 1 title in seasons
1927/28, 1928/29 and 1935/36. The Athletics star player was Ernie Brinton who went on to
play 249 games for Bristol City as a half back, finishing his playing days at Newport County
just after the Second World War. Avonmouth Athletic had very strong sides as their reserves
also won the Suburban League Division 2 title in seasons 1924/25, 1926/27, 1929/30 and
1930/31.
After WW2 and a spell in the Bristol & District League, Avonmouth St Andrews returned to
the Suburban League winning the top Division 1 in 1953/54. Although the junior teams won
the Church of England youth leagues on several occasions, the first and reserve teams
struggled, mainly due to the growth in stature of other local clubs, including Bristol Manor
Farm, Hallen (formerly Lawrence Weston) and Shirehampton Sports, who all attracted the
best young players. Despite having our West Town Road ground taken by the Ministry of
Transport in 1967 for the M5 River Avon motorway bridge the club continued through difficult
times with the prospect of an imminent return to the village that eventually happened in
1986. Things were looking up with the reserves winning the Suburban League Division 4 title
in 1983/84 and then Division 1 in 1991/92 and the first team again winning the Premier
Division in 2006/07.
More recently, another club was formed and known as Avonmouth Village FC. They achieved
success in the Bristol & District Leage by winning Division 2 in 2003/4, Division 1 in 2005/6,
and the Senior Division in 2006/7, and playing at the King George’s Field ground in Barracks
Lane before disbanding. Finally, there was Avonmouth Rangers who also played in the
Suburban League, winning Division 5 in 2005/06 and Division 4 in 2006/07.
Dave Rowley

Avonmouth FC - Vice President and Archivist
QUIZ ANSWERS

1. Ryan Giggs
2. 1992
3. Carling
4. 2003/04
5. Jamie Vardy
6. Harry Kane
7. Brad Friedel
8. It was for Sergio Aguero’s title-winning goal vs QPR
9. Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink
10, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer