Page 3 - Longwell Green Sports v Cheddar 081021
P. 3
Founded in June 1966, Longwell Green Sports were originally formed from the
workforce of the areas main employer, Longwell Green Coachworks, the team was run
for many years by Harold Harding, a well know character in and around Longwell Green.
The first pitch was laid out on the same site of today’s pitch and was, in 1966, open
farmland. In its early years Longwell Green played in what was the Saturday Regional
League and by the early seventies progressed to the District League.
The club have always had an ambition to play at the highest level and this was rewarded
when Matt Hale rejoined the club he first played for as a 15 year old before becoming
a professional footballer with Bristol City, he has also played for Yeovil and Weymouth.
Matt returned in late 2003, to assist John Gibbs as 1 team player/coach, the team
st
finished runners up to Sea Mills in the Bristol Combination Premier Division and were
promoted to the Gloucestershire County League.
Following one season in the County League we were promoted to the Western League
– newly named Toolstation, along with Portishead and Bradford on Avon. We believe
we may well have created a little county history by being the only club on record that
have achieved promotion after only one season in the County League.
In addition to the 1 Team, we have three senior teams who play in the Bristol & District
st
Leagues and two under 18’s teams, one of who play in the Gloucestershire County
League and last season won the League Title in their first season, the only team from
Bristol to have won the League.
Last season our Reserves were runners up in their league and gained promotion, 3 rd
Team reached the final GFA Primary cup and the 4 Team won their league and gained
th
promotion.
Longwell Green has always had a commitment to developing young players and benefit
from a tremendous spirit amongst its teams and club members, a number of who have
been with the club for over 25 years.
The club has over years produced many young players who have gone on to play at a
higher level for Football League, Conference Southern and Western League clubs or
have remained with the club, a number are now in our First Team squad.