Page 9 - Raynes Park Vale v Blackfield & Langley (FA Vase)

Today's Visitors playing surface that is still to this day, ing the 4th Qualifying round of the FA

the envy of many teams and the enthu- Cup, losing 3-0 to Hastings United, and
siastic Committee set about bringing the reaching the last 32 of the FA Vase.
BLACKFIELD & LANGLEY ground up to the required standard. De- In stark contrast, 2013/2014 season was
General failure to score goals
velopment continues to this day.
Funds ran out the most tumultuous in recent years with
After playing in the war time Hythe The best opportunity for promotion a number of changes in playing, coach-
and District League the Club joined came in the Championship year 1997/8 ing and management throughout the sea-
the Southampton Junior League and but the funds ran out to complete ground son, leaving the club unsettled for the
in 1946 won the Division One title improvements, so second place Money- most part. Taking on the manager’s role
and appeared in the final of the Sen- fields were promoted. The Club’s chance mid-way through the season, Kevin Gib-
ior Cup losing to NDLC. However, the for promotion came two years later - a bens, assisted by Chris Farrell, managed
following season the Club won the Cup last match win at West Wight Mayflower to finish a very credible 6th. 2014/15
and were Southampton League West Di- earned the third place required and the season started with John Robson taking
vision champions. After this with pro- dream had been realised after 50 seasons control of the 1st team who started off
gression in mind, the Club applied to of Hampshire League Football. After brightly but with some injuries and a
join the Hampshire League and made Cowes. In the first season in the top 5 years in Wessex Division 1 the club general failure to score goals, the season
their debut in Division Three West in the flight the Club finished a credible tenth. were relegated to the new Division 2 in didn’t quite pan out as planned although
1950/1 season. Although title winners Won the elusive Championship 2004. the team still finished a credible 5th in
the following season, the Club did not In the following seasons the Club estab- Louis Bell was put in charge the league and were Russell Cotes Cup
move into Division Two until 1956/7. lished itself as one of the most consist- The Club in 2004/5 became only the winners.
They remained in this division for the ent teams in the league with eleven top second club in Hampshire football to be The Watersiders finished runners-up
next four seasons but were relegated at six finishes including, three second plac- awarded the FA Adult Standard Charter. Glenn Howes took the reins in his mana-
the end of 1959/60. es and then won the elusive Champion- The 2008/9 season saw success return to gerial debut in 2015/16, ultimately guid-
Promotion was secured ship in 1997/8. the Club with promotion back to the top ing the team to 3rd place behind Salis-
Bad fortune lasted for 15 years as the The pitch at Gang Warily division of the Wessex League under the bury FC, missing out on the 2nd spot to
Club dropped into Division Four, were With the establishment of the Wessex guidance of Jon Gittens. Jon continued Sholing with a defeat at Fareham Town
promoted in 1974/5 after finishing third League in 1986/87, the Club recognised for a 2nd season finishing the season on the last game of the season. The Wa-
but dropped back again in 1979/80. that to compete against the best in local mid-table. Jon left the club in the early tersiders also finished runners-up in the
Then in 1981/2 the Hampshire League football, the long term aim had to be el- part of the 2010/11 season and Assistant Southampton Senior Cup, losing heavily
reorganised and Division Four was evation to the new league. With the em- Manager Louis Bell was put in charge, to defending champions.
swallowed up by Division Three and phasis for entry into the league being on with the team eventually finishing in Its most successful season
as runners up promotion was secured to facilities as much as ability on the pitch, 14th position and 16th in the subsequent Team Solent, made it to the 3rd round
Division Two. negotiations were opened with Fawley season. qualifying of the FA Cup, (losing to
Finished a credible tenth District Council for a long lease on a Reaching the last 32 of the FA Vase Maidenhead Utd) and were losing
After three seasons in Division Two, ground which gave the Club the neces- The Club had in incredible 2012/13 semi-finalists in the Russell Cotes Cup.
promotion was gained to the top di- sary security to develop it to the required season under the leadership of Ashley After another season of going close,
vision, overhauling run away leaders, standard. The pitch at Gang Warily was Vickers, winning the Sydenhams Wes- Glenn was joined by James Wood and
Locksheath, with a last match win at identified and the Council provided a sex Premier league by 10 points, reach- Continued...