Page 8 - Shirehampton FC v Wells City 141023

WELLS CITY F.C.

Wells City Football Club joined the Western League Division Two and won the Western
League Title in 1950. Declining performances culminated in relegation to the second
division after the 1956-57 season and after three seasons in the
Western League Division Two, Wells City left the league. Wells City rejoined the
Somerset Senior League in 1960-61 with the Reserves competing in the Mid-Somerset
Football League. The club finished very much mid-table until 1965-66 when they were
third behind Street and Welton Rovers Reserves. They were Runners-up behind Paulton
Rovers in 1971-72.
Relegation from the Somerset Senior League Premier Division occurred at the end of
the 1977-1978 season with promotion to the top section being gained at the end of the
1979-80 season. Unfortunately 1981-82 saw relegation yet again for Wells.
Promotion back to the Premier Division of the County League was a long time in
arriving, not until the start of the 1994-95 season would Wells City grace the top flight
Somerset County Football. Soon the yo-yo effect happened once more with relegation
at the end of the 1997-98 season followed by bouncing straight back up in 1998-99.
Wells City would finally reclaim the Somerset Senior Cup in 2006-07 season defeating
Burnham on Sea at Weston-super-Mare’s Woodspring Stadium 2-1.
After an absence of almost fifty years, Wells City returned to the Western League
Division One in 2008-09 and after a mid-table finish that season, had their best season
on record in the 2009-10 season by reaching the semi-finals of the Somerset Premier
Cup (losing to Bridgwater Town of the Southern League (South & West) by two goals
to nil); following magnificent wins against Taunton Town and Street Football Club (in
the third and fourth round respectively).
Wells City was crowned Toolstation Western League Division One Champions at the end
of the 2009-10 season, however after only a brief spell of 3 seasons in the Premier
Division found themselves relegated back into Division One in 2012-13.
After a period of consolidation, City’s 2015-16 season saw double success.
Not only was promotion back to the Western League Premier Division achieved, but
they also won the Somerset Premier Cup – beating five teams from higher divisions, all
away from home – including Weston-super-Mare of the National League South.
The 2017/18 season saw Wells City relegated, finishing bottom of the Western League
Premier Division.
The 2018/19 season saw manager Nathan Truckle able to put his own team together
and add to his backroom staff. Tom Clifford-Jones joined from Somerton as joint first
team manager, Steve Bayliss stepped up from the U18s to be first team coach and
Steve Vowles remained as physio.
In 2019/20 Nathan, CJ and Bomber brought a local feel back to the club with a young,
vibrant side. The season was looking promising with Wells sat in 4th just 5 points from
the top of the table, until COVID–19 brought the world to an abrupt halt.
Now they are set for another promotion push and the Reserves are well placed for a
title challenge in the Somerset County League Premier Division.