Page 29 - Keynsham Town FCv Wincanton Town 020324

Wincanton Town Football Club was founded in 1890 and played most of its football in the
Yeovil and District League at Dancing Lane on West Hill. In the mid to late 1990's the West
Hill ground was sold to fund Wincanton's new Sports ground at Moor Lane, where the club
now play.
In the club's recent history they progressed significantly in the late 1980's as they won the
Yeovil & District League Division 2 in season 1988/89 before lifting the Division 1 title the
following season and then completing a notable hat-trick in 1990/91 by becoming Yeovil &
District Premier Division Champions.
Following their 2002/03 Yeovil & District Premier runners-up spot, Wincanton Town were
promoted to the Somerset County League and progressed again in their first season after
securing second place in Division Three scoring over 100 goals.
After two seasons of finishing mid table in Somerset Senior Division Two the club in 2006
made the decision to move over the border to play in the Dorset County League. In the first
year of Dorset football Wincanton won the Dorset Senior League by a clear ten points and
gained promotion to the Dorset Premier League.
In the first season (2007/08) in the Dorset Premier League the club finished in a creditable
5 th position. 3 mid tables seasons of 8 th , 9 th and 7 th then followed before the club
finished 4 th in 2011/12
losing just 3 league matches all season.
Season 2012/2013 was the most successful in the club's history as Wincanton finished
runners up to Portland United in the Dorset Premier League and were promoted to the
Toolstation Western Football League Division 1. Wincanton won 25 of their 34 league
matches, scoring over 100 goals in the process. Silverware was added as Wincanton lifted
the Somerset Senior Cup for the first after defeating Brislington Reserves 1-0 in the final
which was played at Street Football Club Season 2013/14 saw some big changes at the club
following the promotion to the Western League. Off the pitch the committee worked hard to
ensure the new floodlights, hard standing and fencing was all installed on time. Gary
Johnson manager of Yeovil Town F.C. officially switched on the floodlight in October 2013,
and brought his then Championship first team squad for a match to celebrate the switching
on of the lights. Yeovil won the match 8-0 but a crowd of more than 450 watched the fixture.
In the league the team finished in a very creditable 4th place scoring 116 league goals along
the way.
Season 2014/15 saw the club enter the FA Vase for the first time, though Wessex League
Bemerton Heath Harlequins were victorious 5-0. The team repeated their 4th position finish
in the league and were one of only two sides to defeat runaway champions Barnstaple Town.
A run to the quarter finals of the Les Phillips Cup was ended by eventual winners Willand
Rovers. At the end of the season manager Paul Down announced he would be standing
down after 5 successful seasons in charge.
Season 2015/16 saw Andy Mitchell and Chris Wise take charge of the club as joint managers.
It also saw Wincanton take part in the FA Cup for the first time as they took higher level
Wessex League side Whitchurch United from Hampshire to a replay and before beating them
at Moor Lane 3-1. This set up a tie at Southern League Winchester City in the next round,
however the hosts were too strong and ran out 5-1 winners. A big FA Vase draw saw
Wincanton travel to newly re-formed Salisbury in a tie played in front of 625 spectators. The
game ended 8-1 to the side managed by ex-Premier League player and national radio pundit
Steve Claridge, though Wincanton caused a little scare by taking the lead inside 5 minutes.
After good form in the new year Wincanton finished the season in 16th place.
Season 2016/17 saw the side start well before eventually finishing in mid table in 13 th
position. The club again entered the FA Vase and were unlucky to go down 3-2 at higher
ranked South West Peninsula League side Cullompton Rangers.