DOWNTON HISTORY
In Wiltshire during September 1905, a meeting was arranged by the Reverend J H Phillips which resulted in the formation of DOWNTON FC. Early results were not very encouraging, and it appears that the club didn’t join a league until after the Great War when they became members of the Salisbury & District League and they also played in the Bournemouth League later. They’ve been League members since 1993.
Downton FC was formed in September 1905, following a meeting which had been arranged by the Reverend J.H. Phillips.
Early results were not very encouraging. However, after the First World War in 1919 the Robins fared better after entering the Salisbury & District League.
They gained promotion from Division Two to Division One in 1920 but returned to Division Two in 1924. The 1924/25 season saw Downton become the first winners of the Norman Court Cup, beating Alderbury in the final. They won the competition again in 1932, 1934, 1935, 1936 and 1939 and then on three further occasions after World War II.
Downton won the Wilts Junior Cup for the first time in 1949/50, defeating Atworth 6-2 in the final. The following season, the club entered the Bournemouth League and gained promotion to Division One, winning the championship five times. The 1958/59 season saw them secure promotion to Senior Division One, winning the title seven times between 1959/60 and 1967/68, an achievement which resulted in Bournemouth FA presenting the club with a special plaque.
Downton also won the Bournemouth Senior Cup in 1962/63 and 1979/80 and the Senior League Cup in 1961/62, 1963/64 and 1966/67. In order to progress further, Downton joined the Hampshire League in 1968/69, winning promotion in 1971/72. More promotions followed in 1978/79 and 1979/80.
In 1992/93, The Robins were elected to the Wessex League – the club's reserves joining its Combination League. The 1995/96 campaign proved one of the club's best ever – winning both the League Cup and the Russell-Cotes Cup, while its reserves finished runners-up in the Combination Cup. They also entered the FA Vase for the first time.
A highest ever league finish of eighth was achieved in the 1996/97 season. The club entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1997/98. Downton enjoyed county success in the Wilts Senior Cup, winning it in 1979/80 and 1980/81, and finishing runners-up in 1955/56, 1991/92 and 1994/95.
Closer to home, The Robins lifted the Salisbury Hospital Cup in 2008/09, beating Shrewton United in the final having defeated Laverstock & Ford and Amesbury Town en-route. They retained the cup the following season when they beat Chalke Valley in the final, staged at Salisbury City's Raymond McEnhill Stadium.
The 2010/11 campaign proved a highly memorable one. As well as securing promotion to the Premier Division after being crowned Division One champions in what was the league's 25th anniversary season, Downton also enjoyed their best ever run in the FA Vase, reaching the second round for the first time.
A number of other accolades followed - Jeff Softley picked up the Manager of the Year honour at the league's 25th anniversary celebrations with four players – Charles Aldridge, Calum Robertson, Nick Turpin and Declan McGregor – all named in the Division One Team of the Year.
Downton finished sixth in their first year back in the Wessex League Premier Division, their highest finish ever. They also won the Hospital Cup again, winning 4-0 against Laverstock & Ford.
The Club were relegated back into Division One in 2013-14, having remained there since with a number of mid-table finishes. In 2017-18, the Youth section was added to the club, with four teams now playing under the Downton badge, ranging from Under 12 to Under 18. The club remains committed to building out a Senior and Youth squad for the area to be proud of, with the aim of having a full range of 10 youth clubs over the next few years.
