COWES SPORTS HISTORY

League record from 2010

COWES FC is formed in 1881. The original club continued until December 1899, playing its final game at home against Tottenham Hotspur – before withdrawing from the Southern League. The name is revived in 1903 when a team known as Cowes White Star adopts the old club’s title. Many years later, in 1980, the Cowes club merges with an Island side known as White’s Sports and adds Sports as a suffix, and a decision that was not universally accepted by members at the time but has remained. The club, having joined in 1994, remain members of our league.

The history of Cowes FC can be traced back to 1881, when the club was originally formed, although competitive action did not arrive until 1886 in the shape of the Hants & Dorset Junior Cup.

The club joined the newly formed Hampshire League in 1895 and the following spring Cowes were confirmed as its first-ever champions. That season the club also won the Hampshire Senior Cup to complete the double.

In 1898/99, Cowes won the South West Division 2 of the Southern League at the first attempt with a 100% record but were defeated by Thames Ironworks 3-1 in a Play-off final at Millwall before promotion came following a 4-1 test match win over RA Portsmouth and, as a limited company, ventured in to the Southern League alongside the likes of Tottenham Hotspur, Millwall, Bristol City and Swindon.

However, financial difficulties and a string of poor results prompted the withdrawal from the league midway through the season and the winding up of the club.

In 1903 the club was resurrected and nine years later celebrated moving to current home Westwood Park by winning the Hampshire Senior Cup for the second time.

By the mid-1920s the club had become a formidable force in Hampshire football and between 1926 and 1937 Cowes won the Hampshire League on four occasions and added three more Hampshire Senior Cup triumphs.

In 1932 the club lost the final of the Hampshire Senior Cup to local rivals Newport at The Dell, Southampton. But the day will be remembered more for the incredible crowd of 21,000 - a record gate for such a final to this day.

With four figure crowds regularly being attracted to Westwood Park, the main stand was erected in just 24 hours – before a local derby with Newport – by a force of workers from one of the many shipyards in the town. Extensive renovation work has helped ensure that it remains one of the largest in non-league football in the South. After the war, the club continued to pick up county honours and in 1963 enjoyed a run to the fourth qualifying round of the FA Cup. Giant-killers Yeovil ended hopes of a first round proper appearance with a 1-0 victory at Westwood.

By the mid-1960s the club was a spent force and, after winning the Hampshire Senior Cup in 1967, Cowes dipped into Division 2 of the county set-up for the first time. The 1970s were a barren spell marked only by the Division 2 title in 1975.

The 1980s heralded a rebuilding period for the club and, in a bid to attract more local players to Westwood Park, Cowes merged with Whites Sports. By this time the newly named Cowes Sports FC was once more a Division 2 side.

The club finally regained its place in the top flight of county football in 1989 after an exciting battle for promotion alongside the now-defunct Ryde Sports and AC Delco. Consolidation followed and with improving finances and a strong committee, Cowes Sports once again became a force to be reckoned with.

The 1993 season brought the first silverware to the club in nearly 20 years when the Hampshire League Cup was secured at Cam Alders – with more than 120 ecstatic Cowes supporters cheering the team on to a 2-0 victory over New Street.

Events the following season were even more exciting, with Cowes and Blackfield & Langley enjoying a dogfight for the Hampshire League title. Blackfield held the advantage as the final stage of the season approached, but a splendid run of results saw Cowes claim the title. During the summer, the club was accepted into the Wessex League.

The club achieved a respectable mid-table position in its debut season of 1994/95 and the year was capped with the first Isle of Wight Senior Gold Cup victory in 30 years. A thrilling 4-3 victory over Newport at Smallbrook preceded a 3-2 win against Binstead in the final.

Two more steady league campaigns followed before 1997/98 saw the club enjoy another exciting season. After a poor start, Cowes steadily climbed the table and could have claimed a top three spot were it not for another poor run at the season’s close. Nonetheless, the final finish of sixth place was highly creditable.

But the season will be remembered more for the wonderful run to the fourth round proper of the FA Vase. Here Cowes faced 1997 runners-up North Ferriby, who grabbed a replay victory on Humberside after coming within 10 minutes of defeat at a packed Westwood Park.

The 1998/99 season saw the side finish seventh in the Wessex League, but the campaign was crowned with a splendid victory over champions Lymington in the League Cup final.

Two seasons later the club exceeded all expectations by reaching the last 16 of the FA Vase, losing to Taunton Town in the fifth round in front of almost 1,000 fans at Westwood Park.

2001/02 saw the Yachtsmen victorious in the IoW Senior Gold Cup defeating Southern League side Newport IW 2-1 in a thrilling final.

The Reserves won the Wessex Combination Cup in 2004 defeating Eastleigh Reserves in the final at Brockenhurst. Andy Sampson’s U18 side were next to shine as they dominated 2004/05 and 2005/06 seasons winning the Hampshire Youth League Cup and Hampshire County U18 Sunday Cup defeating Winchester City U18’s in two close finals. The following year both Cups were won again, defeating US Portsmouth 10-0 in the County Cup, they also added the Hampshire Youth League Division 1 title to complete a unique treble.

The IoW Senior Gold Cup returned to Westwood Park as Newport IW were defeated at Whippingham 2-1 in 2006/07 whilst the Reserves beat Newport IW Reserves to win the IoW Challenge Cup but unfortunately the Reserves could not complete the ‘Cup treble’ losing to AFC Totton Reserves aet in the Combination Cup Final.

The Yachtsmen retained the IoW Senior Gold Cup in 2007/08, beating East Cowes Vics 2-1 aet. Again a ‘cup double’ was completed as the ‘A’ team beat Oakfield to win the Memorial Cup.

A 5–4 home defeat against Bournemouth Poppies coupled with a Laverstock & Ford draw, meant relegation for the First XI at the end of 2009/10. Too many late goals conceded costing dear at the end of the season. With plenty of new grounds to visit in Division 1, a poor start to the campaign left the Yachtsmen to recover to a mid-table finish.

A creditable sixth place finish for the First XI and a great run in the FA Vase beating Totton & Eling away 3-2 aet, home wins over US Portsmouth 1-0 and Gillingham Town 3-0, a superb away win at undefeated Egham Town 1-0 before bowing out at Reading Town 0-1. However a trophy was won, as the IoW Senior Gold Cup again came back to Westwood with a penalty shoot-out win 4-3 over East Cowes Vics following a 1-1 draw aet.

Despite being well in the mix for promotion in 2012/13, a poor run of form in the final couple of months ended with a fourth place finish although skipper Gareth Bricknell (24 goals) finished joint top of the Division 1 scoring charts with three other players.

2013/14 once again saw the First XI pushing hard for promotion, but just falling short, finishing third behind Petersfield Town and Andover Town. Also a late goal denied the Yachtsmen in the Gold Cup. After a five year wait The Yachtsmen finally achieved promotion back to the Wessex League Premier Division as a 12 match unbeaten run saw them snatch second place in Division One. They also finished runners up in the IoW Senior Gold Cup.

The 2015/16 season saw the Yachtsmen finish a very creditable eleventh out of 21 in their first campaign back in the Premier Division.

The 2016/17 season did not go so well and only a final day victory over Amesbury Town saved them from relegation. Towards the end of the season, Manager Richie Woodburn left the Club and he was eventually succeeded by the ex-England International, Steve Hunt who had played for Aston Villa, Coventry City, West Bromwich Albion and New York Cosmos during an illustrious career.

2017/18 saw the Yachtsmen again struggle towards the lower reaches of the Premier Division but survival was secured with a couple of games to go whist a League double over near neighbours Newport IW was one of the highlights of the season. The club managed to win as trophy as they defeated Island League side West Wight 4-1 in the Gold Cup Final. The Reserves finished tenth in Division One of the Island League.

An eventful season for the Yachtsmen Managerial wise in 2018/19 season as Cowes Sports had four Managers during the season. Steve Hunt started the season off but due to personal reasons resigned after a few games. Ian Potts took over as interim Manager until a permanent replacement was found toward the end of September when former player Victor Sanders took over.

However despite a 9 - 0 League Cup victory at Fareham Town, a poor run of results in the League led to him being replaced at the end of January 2019. His replacement was John McKie who managed to inspire the team to pick up enough points to maintain their position in the top division.

Steve Rutter was given the Managers job at the start of the season but again due to personal reasons felt it necessary to resign at the end of October. He was replaced by Reserve Team Manager Max Draper, with Steve Mumford stepping into Manage the Reserves. With Cowes sitting second to bottom in the table, the season became unique as it was curtailed on March 14th before a few weeks later was declared null and void due to the Covid-19 pandemic. So with no relegation, another season of Premier football was secured.

Cowes Sports play their games at Westwood Park, Reynolds Close, Cowes, Isle of Wight PO31 7NT.

The club moved to the ground in September 1912 after their old Brooklyn ground was sold for housing. The club purchased the ground in 1945 for a total amount of £665.

League Cup win - 1 1999 [on penalties]

FA CUP

Furthest progress - 1999/00 2nd Qualifying Round - Slough Town

Record victory - 2003/04 Preliminary Round - North Leigh 5-0

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 - 1999/00 5th Round - Taunton Town

Record victory - 1999/00 2nd Qualifying Round - Portfield 8-1

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 Yachtsmen have reached the 3^rd Round of the FA Vase on six occasions.

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

Isle of Wight Gold Cup 1994/95, 2001/02, 2006/07, 2007/08, 2011/12, 2017/18

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