Page 20 - CHUFC vs Cove 2020-21 season

Cove Football Club was formed in Cup beating close neighbours and rivals
1897 by a group of local friends Ash United. Since moving into their new
playing on a field behind their fa- home, many changes have taken place at Oak

vourite Public House. Farm with the installation of floodlights a
Later moving to a more central location, concrete perimeter wall and stand in their
Cove Green became their home until 1973, quest to host senior non-league football.
when they moved to their present ground at These achievements are the more remarkable
the Oak Farm Stadium. Playing their football with Farnborough Town (then Conference

in The Surrey Leagues, Cove enjoyed success League) and Aldershot Town (then Football
for many years, winning more than their League) just a couple of miles down the road.
fair share of silverware including the League In 1990, Cove was given the opportunity
Championship 3 years in succession and a to join the Vauxhall League (now Ryman
double in that period. League) after finishing third. New manag-
In 1973, the club decided to upgrade and er ‘Chick’ Botley assembled a squad strong
were accepted into the Hampshire Leagues, enough to finish a respectable fourth in their
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but had to leave ‘The Green’ for safety rea- first season. Two more successful seasons
sons and play at Oak Farm. The Division 4 followed narrowly missing out on promo-
Championship was won at the first attempt, tion, one being a final day defeat by the new
and the Division 3 title followed 2 years lat- Aldershot Town.
er. After a couple of seasons, Cove finished Due to the ever spiralling cost of football at
Runners-Up in Division 2 but decided to this level, Cove were forced to withdraw from
withdraw from this league due to the time their league and after 3 unsuccessful attempts
incurred travelling to away matches at Ports- to join the Wessex League, had to revert back
mouth or Southampton. This was before the into The Combined Counties League, where
M3 motorway was built and all roads were A they remained with little success. In 2009,
and B types. the club appointed Koo Dumbuya as manag-
They returned to the more local Combined er and a member of the Steve Beeks double
Counties League in 1980 and won the League -winning team and well known around the