Page 9 - Shirehampton FC v Portishead Town 080223

PORTISHEAD TOWN F.C.

Portishead FC was inaugurated early in the 1900’s by Molly
Jukes, the daughter of a local Rector, who moved to
Portishead in 1903. Always keen on sport, Molly formed a
cricket side in 1910 and, two years later, a football team
she called St, Peter’s Portishead. Initially there were two
teams, a First X1 and Reserves. A year later a junior side
was formed. In 1915 Molly married the Rev.H.S.Briggs but
her interest and devotion to ‘the lads’ didn’t waver and,
despite the intervention of two world wars, she battled on as Chairman,
Treasurer and Manager as well as playing in goal as often as she could.

In the early 1950’s Molly stepped down and Portishead AFC, as the Club were
now known (following a name change in 1948) was left in the hands of Len
Pickering and Eddie Clapson.

Following successive divisional championships in 1973 and 1974 the Club were
accepted into the Somerset Senior League in 1975 and, a year later, moved
from their original pitch where the present Health Centre now stands, to Bristol
Road. As the result of the extra pitches available on the new ground, two new
teams were formed incorporating the former Redcliffe Bay team, In 1995 a
Colts side was formed and entered in the Weston & District League along with
the third and fourth teams.

In 1991-92 Portishead reached the Somerset & Avon (South) FA Senior Cup
Final where they lost 4-2 against Odd Down. In 1997 the First Team, again,
reached the final, this time beating Bridgwater Reserves 2-0 at Paulton, In
1993/94, under the leadership of Terry Hale, the team won the Somerset
Senior League Premier Division Championship. They retained this title in
1994/95, made it a treble in 1995/96 and notched up their fourth
Championship win at the end of the 1997/98 season, In May 2000, Shaun Hill’s
side beat Radstock Town to win the Somerset Senior Cup for the second time,

Following major ground improvements and finishing the 2004/05 season as
runners up in the Somerset County League the Club applied for election to the
Western League and were duly promoted for the start of the 2005/06
campaign.