Page 34 - CHESSINGTON & HOOK UTD vs COVE - 2019-20 Season

Cove Football Club was formed many changes have taken place at Oak
in 1897 by a group of local friends Farm with the installation of floodlights a
playing on a field behind their fa- concrete perimeter wall and stand in their

vourite Public House. quest to host senior non-league football.
Later moving to a more central location, These achievements are the more remarkable
Cove Green became their home until 1973, with Farnborough Town (then Conference
when they moved to their present ground at League) and Aldershot Town (then Football
the Oak Farm Stadium. Playing their football League) just a couple of miles down the road.
in The Surrey Leagues, Cove enjoyed success In 1990, Cove was given the opportunity
for many years, winning more than their to join the Vauxhall League (now Ryman
fair share of silverware including the League League) after finishing third. New manag-
Championship 3 years in succession and a er ‘Chick’ Botley assembled a squad strong
double in that period. enough to finish a respectable fourth in their
In 1973, the club decided to upgrade and first season. Two more successful seasons
were accepted into the Hampshire Leagues,
WELCOME
COVE

but had to leave ‘The Green’ for safety rea-
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
Cup beating close neighbours and rivals Ash area. Having played professional football for
United. Since moving into their new home, Aldershot and Brentford, the club decided