Page 21 - Brislington FC v Clevedon Town 280821

Clevedon Town FC - A History

Having originally started playing in 1880, Clevedon are one of the oldest
clubs in the West Country and were founder members of the Western
League (now the Toolsta on League) in 1892. Their stay, however, only
lasted three seasons when they dropped back into local football before
re-joining the Western League in the 1910/11 season. Their early years
were spent at Dial Hill, s ll the home of the local cricket club, but they
moved to a new site at Old Street (later re-named Teignmouth Road) in
1895 where they remained un l 1992.
When football resumed a er the First World War, Clevedon found themselves in the Bristol &
District League and Bristol & Suburban League before a switch to the Somerset Senior League in
the early 1930's helped Clevedon increase their status, and they were to stay there un l World
War Two brought a temporary end to the League. However, Clevedon stayed in business and
entered the Weston-Super-Mare League, dominated by teams from nearby RAF Locking. This o en
meant playing against interna onal stars sta oned at the Camp, although Clevedon had their
share of service personnel sta oned in the town.

A er the War they again returned to the Western League and, despite a moderate league record,
built up a reputa on for themselves in the F A Amateur Cup, reaching the Rounds Proper no less
than 8 mes in 13 years. In those days that was no mean achievement and their success brought
them to the a en on of the na onal press. There were many notable victories, including home
success over Brigg Sports, Ilford and Dartmouth United. They also faced the mighty Pegasus,
Harwich & Parkeston (who went on to reach the 1953 Final), Wimbledon (then an Isthmian League
side), Billingham Synthonia and Carshalton Athle c. The F A Cup also brought success with several
tussles against Southern League opposi on. One of the finest performances was at Merthyr Tydfil
when 10,000 people gave them a long ova on a er they were defeated 2-1 a er losing a player
with a broken leg a er just 20 minutes. The record home gate was recorded against Bath City in
September 1951 when 2,300 witnessed a 3-1 win for the Southern Leaguers.
Cup success, however, was not matched in the league and they spent several years in Division 2
before resigning, for financial reasons, at the end of the 1957/58 season. They joined the Bristol &
District League where they remained for 15 years, before rejoining the Western League in 1973/74
a er amalgama ng with another local club, Ashtonians United, who were already members of
the Western League ranks. The club's name was later changed to "Clevedon Town" to reflect
their new status. With the breaking up of the old amateur status, Clevedon joined the
professional ranks in 1974 with Ray Mabbu (father of Spurs captain, Gary Mabbu ), becoming
the first paid player. The building of a new clubhouse and the installa on of floodlights in the
early 1980's nearly bankrupted the club. Debts were running at well over £100,000 and
desperate measures had to be taken to save the club. The Board of Directors was forced to
resign and the introduc on of several new faces saved the club from total disaster, with the
overdra being reduced by careful budge ng and management. A er many years as a mid-table
side things began to change a few years ago when the club decided to sell their Teignmouth
Road ground and move to a new site at Davis Lane on the edge of the town. The club had the
foresight to buy the Teignmouth Road site for £450 in 1949 and this wise move enabled the club