Sholing

June 26, 2011

The Boatmen have a long but fragmented history, running teams from the Woolston Works as early as 1884, when they are recorded as being refused permission by the Hants & Dorset FA to introduce fresh players as substitutes at half-time. In March 1887 they were finalists in the first Portsmouth Challenge Cup, beaten 1-0 by Portsmouth Association Club.

The Club were only beaten twice in 16 games that year (goal tally 72-6) and won the last Hants & Dorset Challenge Cup before these Associations split.

Woolston Works won the first ever Hampshire Senior Cup Final in 1888, beating Winchester 2-0. There was some controversy that year concerning Woolstons professional attitude, which was infamously referred to as ‘Kesson’s Boots’. Andover were beaten in an earlier round by Woolston, in which a Glasgow – based player called J. Kesson played a prominent part.

Andover protested that Kesson should be disqualified on the grounds of residency – although he had played for Woolston Works earlier that season, he had since moved back to Glasgow. Woolstons appeal rested on the fact that Kesson had left a number of clothing items at his lodgings in Woolston, and this should be interpreted as his intention to return. The Hampshire FA upheld the appeal and allowed Kesson to play.

Re-forming after World War 1 as Thornycrofts (Woolston), they turned professional and were admitted into the Hampshire County League from 1920/21 to 1925/26. in 1920/21 Thornycrofts reached the FA Cup First Round proper, meeting first Division Burnley at Fratton Park, and held them to a 0-0 draw, before losing 5-0 in the replay.

Burnley were in the middle of a 30 game unbeaten run and went on to win the first Division Championship. Thornycrofts Woolston re-formed in 1947 but were only able to keep going until 1952. The Club were re-formed as Vosper Thornycroft FC in 1960 and joined the Southampton Junior League.

After several successful years, Vospers were promoted to the Hampshire League Division 3 in 1991. The following season they were promoted to Division 2. 1997/98 saw Vospers as Hampshire Division 2 Runners-up and also Hampshire Intermediate Cup Winners.

In 2001/02 Vospers won the Southampton Senior Cup.

In 2002/03 Vospers were re-named as VT FC (after the parent company), and saw the Club as Runners-up in the Southampton Senior Cup.

2003/4 saw VT as Hampshire Premier League Champions, Southampton Senior Cup Winners and promotion to the Sydenhams Wessex League Division 1.

In 2005/06 VT Reserves won the Southampton Senior Cup at St Mary’s Stadium which gave the club their 3rd victory in 5 years.

Season 2006/07 was a great season for the club. The first team finished in third place and the reserves finished runners-up in Combination 1 and they also won the Southampton Senior Cup again this was the Club’s 4th victory in 6 years.

What an amazing season 2007/2008 was. The 1st team were Runners-up to Totton in the Premier League and the Reserves won 3 out of 4 trophies. They are the Sydenhams (Wessex) Combination 1 League Champions, the Southampton Senior Cup Champions (for the third consecutive year) and the Sydenhams (Wessex) Combination Cup Champions. They missed out on the Hampshire Intermediate Cup by losing to Nursling in the semi-final which was the ONLY defeat they suffered all season an achievement to be proud of.

2008/09 was equally a very successful season with the first team again Runners-up in the Wessex Premier, this time to Poole Town. They were Wessex League Cup Winners with a close 2-1 victory over Hamworthy United. Runners-up in the Hampshire Senior Cup with a narrow 1-0 defeat against Fleet Town.

Reserves again won Wessex Combination 1 and the U18 Youth team made a clean sweep winning four trophies i.e The League, The League Cup, The Hampshire FA Youth Cup and the Echo Floodlit Cup.....what a great season.

2009/10...In our very first season in the Zamaretto League we finished a creditable 4th (play-off position) in the South & West Division and finished Runners-up in the Red Insure League Cup after going so close and finally losing on penalties to Cambridge City.

The Reserves regained the Southampton Senior Cup at St Mary's defeating Team Solent 2-0....the sixth time in the last ten years the Club has won it.

The Club also changed their name in July 2010 to Sholing FC after the parent company VT Group were no longer in existance.In only their second season in the Southern League, the 1st team reached an incredible 2nd place, only 2 points behind AFC Totton. Also Hampshire Senior Cup Finalists at St Marys losing 3-1 to AFC Totton.The Reserves gained an incredible Double by winning the Wessex Combination League and League Cup in its Final year. For the third season on the trot we once again reached the playoffs only to fall at the first hurdle by a 1-0 away defeat by Gosport. It was a fine achievement to be in contention for promotion once again. The reserves copied last year’s achievement by winning the League and League Cup in the newly formed Wyvern League which shows the strength of the Club overall. After 4 seasons in the Southern League we have decided the way forward is to step back into the Wessex League next season to enable the club to invest in the new ground development in order we can continue as a club. Despite this we went from bottom of the table at Christmas to finish the season in 7^th place, losing on the last game having previously gone unbeaten in 13 matches. Once again our reserves emulated last season by repeating the same double.