Page 24 - Brislington FC v Radstock Town 080823

Radstock Town FC - A History

Forma on: Programme notes from a game in 1937 suggest that foot ball
was being played in Radstock as early as 1835 but there is no solid
evidence to back that up. However, there are newspaper match reports
from 1883 so, it can be safely assumed that the club was actually formed
in the early 1880's.
Radstock Wanderers was the club’s name from 1889 un l they changed
to Radstock Town a er affilia ng to the Somerset FA in 1895.
Ground: In the early days the club played on a ground off of the Old Bath Road situated
where a Primary School stood un l recently. It was officially called Roundhill but was
known locally as ‘Hilltop'. In the late 1800's and early 1900's they also played at South Hill,
which is where a Bath College campus is now but at the me was a manor house and
grounds which were owned by Earl Waldergrave.
The lack of a true home became cri cal at the end of the First World War and the club was
unable to reform un l 1920 when they were able to move to their current home at South -
field. The first official fixture played at Southfield was on September 10th 1920 when
Warminster Town were the visitors in an FA Cup e.
The game, which Radstock won 1-0, was watched by a crowd of 700, which the local press
reported ‘greatly pleased the club commi ee!'

As a business: Financial issues saw the club take a couple of breaks from compe ve first
team football, 1900-01 to 1902-03 and again at the end of the 1909-10 campaign. The
1914-18 war and the lack of a pitch meant that Radstock Town didn't appear again as
senior club un l the 1920-21 season.
In 1930 club supporters joined to gether to create a supporters’ social club which remains
in existence to this day.

On the pitch: The club's first silver ware came when they won the inau gural Somerset
Senior Cup at the end of the 1895/96 season bea ng Wells City 4-0 in a replay at Midsomer
Norton following a 1-1 draw. The club has won the cup twelve mes subsequently and
finished runners up on a further thirteen occasions! Success in league compe ons has
been harder to come by but they have won the Somerset Senior League six mes and the
Wiltshire League on four occasions.
Despite many seasons in the Western League the best posi on achieved was way back in
the 1920/21 season when the reformed side finished run ners up. The 1960's & 70's were
the most successful in the club’s long history when they won a remarkable 12 leagues and
cups!

The 2000’s: Early in the new millen nia the club was promoted back to the Western League
and then promoted to the Premier Division at the first a empt. Life in the Premier Division
was difficult though and the best place finish was 12th in 2010/11 season. 2013/14 was a