ANDOVER TOWN HISTORY
Andover Town Football Club was formed in 2013 by Andover and Sparsholt Colleges. Its aim was to return football to the Portway Stadium, by providing
- A teaching and coaching venue for the Andover College Football Academy
- A playing venue for the Southampton (Sparsholt) Second Chance Academy programme
- A senior Football side which would provide an opportunity for talented academy players to further develop within an adult setting, whilst providing further opportunities for local players to play at the highest possible level
- A pathway for young people from 6-19 which enables them to identify both playing and studying opportunities within Andover
The club finally moved into the stadium in December 2013 and, after an abortive start due to the weather, played its first competitive game in the newly refurbished Portway Stadium beating Team Solent 4-0 in front of a crowd of 161. Success in our first year was beyond that we could have hoped for, including witnessing a crowd of over 300 for our early March fixture with Andover Lions in the Andover Open Cup. In addition, a number of Sparsholt Saints Academy scholars appeared within the Andover Town Senior side over the last few years with Adam Grange following in the footsteps of Charlie Gunson, becoming Andover Town’s second player to represent England at an international level.
Andover enjoyed their most successful yer since their formation in 2017/18. The new season opened with a 6-1 home league win against Bemerton Heath Harlequins. The club then progressed on an unbeaten run in the league of 16 games, finally losing 3-0 at Alresford Town on 8th November. Whilst their cup encounters didn't fare as well - after two wins in the F.A. Cup, including beating Southern League, Wimborne Town after a replay, before losing at home to Cadbury Heath from Bristol. Then a quick exit from the F.A.Vase losing to Horndean after extra time. Half way through the season after 21 games, the club were riding high at the top of the table. By the end of the season with two matches left, the club clinched promotion to the Southern League West division, for the first time in their short history.
The season also saw us achieve the most goals scored (116) since our formation in 2013 and the most points in a season (99) plus of course the highest ever finish as runners up (second place) in the Sydenhams Wessex Premier league.
The club won the final of the Russell Cotes Cup beating AFC Stoneham 1-0
The club won "Club of the Month" twice during the season - August & October 2017
Another success for the 2017 / 18 season, for the second year in succession, our Portway groundsman Chris White has been nominated for the National FA Groundsman of the Year awards, representing the entire Wessex League (i.e. best Wessex League groundsman) and, of course Andover Town Football Club.
Sadly, although finishing in second place and the chance of promotion to the Southern League, the directors had no alternative but to reject promotion. This caused the F.A. to demote the club to level 6 in the football pyramid, back to the Sydenhams Wessex First Division. Whilst disappointing, it has provided us with a great chance of developing a side around young, talented players with a connection to the area and forge strong links with the talented academy players at Andover and Sparsholt College. The loss of playing staff and the management team meant 2018/19 was built around trying to establish the foundations for future success. A difficult year resulted in Andover finishing second from bottom but progressing to the semi-finals of the Andover Open Cup.
Further changes during the summer with the introduction of some new faces on the field provided renewed optimism that the club will be on the rise again very soon. This led to a much improved performance during the curtailed 2019/20 season although when the league was finished due to the pandemic, the club were mid-table.
Nevertheless, it was a step in the right direction and this optimism continued in the first part of the 2020-21 season, challenging for top position and progressing to the quarter-finals of the League cup. The season was halted in November for another lockdown and when the league and cup resumed, Andover’s form slumped losing three quick games in succession before the season was paused again with the club fighting for a top four position but having been deposed from the league cup convincingly by US Portsmouth.
2023/24 saw the club relegated into the Hampshire Premier League, in finishing bottom of the Wessex League Division One, with the club now looking to re-build.
