Page 19 - Cribbs Res v Portishead Town 290324

The History of Portishead Town F.C.

Portishead were 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.