AFC PORTCHESTER - CLUB HISTORY
In April 1971, Lloyds Sports was formed and played in the City of Portsmouth Sunday League and the club subsequently became Colourvision Rangers in 1973. The name was changed again in 1976, to Wicor Mill, after a public house. The club collected various local honours and took the step to join the Hampshire League in 1998. A name change to AFC Portchester, following a merger with a junior club, occurred in 2000. Now nicknamed The Royals the club returned to the Wicor Recreation Ground and those that have visited the ground over several years will see they’ve transformed it into the fine stadium it is today. They’ve been Wessex League members since 2004.
In April 1971 Lloyds Sports formed, entering the City of Portsmouth Sunday League Division 6 under the guiding hand of "BOB" AR Sansbury. In 1973/74 Colourvision Rangers with a reserve team carried our flag up to Senior Division 2. 1976 saw BOB retire and Colin Brans took over the reigns as secretary and Wicor Mill was formed. In 1983/84 the reserves played in the Royal Dockyard League before joining the Gosport & Fareham Sunday League the following season. By 1986/87 Wicor Mill FC was the largest pub club in Hampshire running seven teams in total, three Saturday and four on Sunday. During our years in the various Leagues we were rarely out of the honours as far as promotion and cup success are concerned.
It had long been our ambition to continue to be the most successful side in Portchester and consistently applied to be in the Saturday Hampshire League. We are proud to say that in 1998/99 we were accepted in to Hampshire League Division 3. The club then gained successive promotions to Hampshire Division 1 becoming champions in 2001/02.
The season of 2002/03 saw a big change to Portchester football with the merge of AFC Portchester and Castle Royals. AFC Portchester now has teams from under 7's to senior level. The club colours are Orange shirts, Black shorts and Orange socks, which is worn by the under 7's to the senior team. With the merger of the clubs there are around 500 members- so making us one of the biggest clubs in Hampshire.
We aim to offer qualified training by FA/UEFA qualified coaches also the club has a qualified child protection officer.
Within the club we have several generations of families managing, refereeing or playing. Some managers have played for the senior sides in the past and are looking to pass on their expertise to the boys and girls of Portchester. Whereas before if you wanted to play a higher standard of football you had to travel out of the area now, we don't, AFC Portchester Senior first team play in a high standard of football, and it is the clubs aim to good a lot further.
The Club now fully comply with the FA s Child Protection Policy. We do not only take an active part in our own children’s football, but we also care about youth football as a whole, which is why all managers will be attending the FA s Child Protection course, made available by the Hampshire Football Association. We have recognized that the youth of today are the future and we must do our up most to ensure that their future means being protected.
We are also looking to build on our mini-soccer, which will lead to at least one team in each age group, from the under 7s, up to and including under 10s, We will always welcome along new children to our fold, numbers permitting! We would also like to be able to bring in more girls to play football and introduce them to the leagues, both in their own teams and also with the lads!
June 2011 was a historic month as the Queens Honoured the Club with the Queens's Award for Voluntary Service - MBE for Groups which is a great achievement and an honour. The 2011/12 Season was a successful season with the First team gaining promotion to the Wessex League Premier Division after securing the runners up position.
The 2012/13 saw AFC Portchester play in the Wessex Premier division for the first time finishing fifteenth. The club's best finish to date is third in 2014/15, however in 2022/23 under the stewardship of Dave Carter, the Royals just missed out on a promotion spot, eventually finishing fourth on the final night having led the table for much of the season, with marquee summer signing, Brett Pitman amassing 50 goals.
Wessex League Cup wins
2015, 2018
FA Cup
Furthest progress: Season - 2017/18 - 2nd Qualifying - Truro City
Record victory: 2013/14 - 1st Qualifying - Horndean - 5-0
FA Vase
Furthest progress: Season - 2014/15 - 3rd Round - Tunbridge Wells
Record victory 2013/14 - 2nd Qualifying - Romsey Town - 4-0
The FA Cup and Vase records are 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 Second Qualifying Round of the FA Cup on four occasions.
Local County FA Senior and other cup competitions - winners in the Wessex era.
Russell-Cotes Benevolent Cup 2013/14, 2016/17
These are wins only whilst the club were members of the League.
