BLACKFIELD & LANGLEY CLUB HISTORY

League record

Where a club has ‘and’ in its title there is a suggestion there was once two separate teams and that is the case with BLACKFIELD & LANGLEY FC but 1935 was the date of the merger between them and has therefore been established as its formation year. As with many teams, records of the early years are not well known and they apparently played in the Hythe & District League. They immediately joined the Southampton League following the hostilities and had a long association in the Hampshire League, mainly being members of its lower divisions. The club had been competing in the Wessex League since 2000, although they did have two seasons (2018 to 2020) in the Southern League but returned to the fold in 2019/20.

After playing in the war time Hythe & District League the Club joined the Southampton Junior League and in 1946 won the Division One title and appeared in the final of the Senior Cup losing to NDLC. However, the following season the Club won the Cup and were Southampton League West Division champions. After this with progression in mind, the Club applied to join the Hampshire League and made their debut in Division Three West in the 1950/51 season. Although title winners the following season, the Club did not move into Division Two until 1956/57. They remained in this division for the next four seasons but were relegated at the end of 1959/60.

Bad fortune lasted for 15 years as the Club dropped into Division Four, were promoted in 1974/75 after finishing third but dropped back again in 1979/80. Then in 1981/82 the Hampshire League reorganised and Division Four was swallowed up by Division Three and as runners up promotion was secured to Division Two.

After three seasons in Division Two, promotion was gained to the top division, overhauling run away leaders, Locksheath, with a last match win at Cowes. In the first season in the top flight the Club finished a credible tenth. In the following seasons the Club established itself as one of the most consistent teams in the league with eleven top six finishes including, three second places and then won the elusive Championship in 1997/98.

With the establishment of the Wessex League in 1986/87, the Club recognised that to compete against the best in local football, the long term aim had to be elevation to the new league. With the emphasis for entry into the league being on facilities as much as ability on the pitch, negotiations were opened with Fawley District Council for a long lease on a ground which gave the Club the necessary security to develop it to the required standard. The pitch at Gang Warily was identified and the Council provided a playing surface that is still to this day, the envy of many teams and the enthusiastic Committee set about bringing the ground up to the required standard. Development continues to this day.

The best opportunity for promotion came in the Championship year 1997/98 but the funds ran out to complete ground improvements, so second place Moneyfields were promoted. The Club’s chance for promotion came two years later - a last match win at West Wight Mayflower earned the third place required and the dream had been realised after 50 seasons of Hampshire League Football. After 5 years in Wessex Division 1 the club were relegated to the new Division 2 in 2004.

The Club in 2004/05 became only the second club in Hampshire football to be awarded the FA Adult Standard Charter.

The 2008/09 season saw success return to the Club with promotion back to the top division of the Wessex League under the guidance of Jon Gittens. Jon continued for a second season finishing the season mid-table. Jon left the club in the early part of the 2010/11 season and Assistant Manager Louis Bell was put in charge with the team eventually finishing in 14^th position and 16^th in the subsequent season.

The Club had in incredible 2012/13 season under the leadership of Ashley Vickers, winning the Wessex League Premier Division by ten points, reaching the Fourth Qualifying round of the FA Cup, losing 3-0 to Hastings United, and reaching the last 32 of the FA Vase.

In stark contrast, 2013/14 season was the most tumultuous in recent years with a number of changes in playing, coaching and management throughout the season, leaving the club unsettled for the most part. Taking on the manager’s role mid-way through the season, Kevin Gibbens, assisted by Chris Farrell, managed to finish a very credible sixth. 2014/15 season started with John Robson taking control of the First team who started off brightly but with some injuries and a general failure to score goals, the season didn’t quite pan out as planned although the team still finished a credible fifth in the league and were Russell-Cotes Cup winners.

Glenn Howes took the reins in his managerial debut in 2015/16, ultimately guiding the team to third place behind Salisbury FC, missing out on the second spot to Sholing with a defeat at Fareham Town on the last game of the season. The Watersiders also finished runners up in the Southampton Senior Cup, losing heavily to defending champions, Team Solent, made it to the Third round qualifying of the FA Cup, (losing to Maidenhead United) and were losing semi-finalists in the Russell-Cotes Cup.

After another season of going close, Glenn was joined by James Wood and the Club surpassed the previous success of 2012/13, enjoying its most successful season in 2017/18, winning the Wessex Premier Division by one point in a very tight race with Andover Town and benefitted from the restructuring of Step 4 Leagues, gaining promotion for the first time to the Southern League. Season 2017/18 also saw two appearances at St Marys in both the Hampshire Senior and Southampton Senior Cup finals, unfortunately losing on both occasions to Havant & Waterlooville and Southampton respectively. The Club also made a semi-final appearance in the League Cup and equalled the record in the FA Vase by reaching the last 32 but eventually losing to Bracknell Town in a midweek replay.

Success continued in 2018/19 with the Club winning Southern League South Division One and narrowly losing in the semi-final of the Southern League Cup. Success on the field of play together with hard work behind the scenes in connection with Ground Grading requirements has enabled another piece of Club history to be created with promotion to the Southern League South Premier Division.

Over the years, the Club has had their fair share of Cup success. In the 1980/90s the Club made six appearances at the Dell in the Southampton Senior Cup to add to the two in the 1940s, ending up as winners in four of them. The last success in 1998, producing a league and cup double. In the 2000 final, the Club suffered the agony of losing 2-1 in a replay to AC Delco after a power failure led to the abandonment of the first game with 15 minutes to go and with a 2-0 lead.

FA CUP

Furthest progress - 2012/13  4th Qualifying Round - Hastings United

Record victory - 2015/16 2nd Qualifying Round - Wimborne Town 6-1

The FA Cup record is the best achieved whilst in League membership. Where this has been on more than one occasion, only the last time it was achieved is shown here.

FA VASE

Furthest progress - 2017/18   4th Round Replay - Bracknell Town

Record victory - 2011/12   1st Qualifying Round - Fleet Spurs 6-1

The FA Vase record is the best achieved whilst in League membership. Where this has been on more than one occasion, only the last time it was achieved is shown here. The club have reached the 3^rd Round of the FA Vase on five occasions.

Local County FA Senior and other cup competitions- winners in the Wessex era.

Russell-Cotes Benevolent Cup 2014/15

These are wins only whilst the club were members of the League.