LAVERSTOCK & FORD - HISTORY
Established in 1956, Laverstock & Ford Football Club had always been a force in local football. In that opening season we came runners up in Salisbury & District league 3B and, of course, promotion to Salisbury & District Division 2. Unfortunately we were relegated in 1961-62 but during that season regained promotion back to Division 2 and were runners up in the Heseltine Cup.
In 1962-63 we were again runners up, this time in Division 2 which gained us promotion to Salisbury & District Division 1 whereupon we came runners up in 1963-64, maintaining top positions in that league until 1969-70. In 1970-71 Laverstock & Ford FC won Division 1 and the following year came runners up and won the Morrison Cup. 1972-73 saw another blip being relegated to Division 2 where we remained for some 9 seasons, winning the Wiltshire Junior Cup and the Heseltine Cup along the way.
In 1982-83 we were playing in Division 1 once again and in 1984–85 the club entered the Salisbury & District Premier league where we finished runners up and also won the Stonehenge Cup. Between 1985 and 1991 the Club participated in the Wiltshire League, gaining promotion to Division 1, but being relegated in 1989 to Division 2.
In 1991-92 we returned to Salisbury & District Premier League and finished 6th and the following year we entered into the Hampshire League where we remained for one season, returning to Salisbury & District Premier in 1993-94. Between 1993 and 1999 the Club achieved success in the Morrison Cup (2 years running), the Riley Cup and were Premier League Cup Winners twice.
1999-2000 saw us re-enter the Hampshire League again. During that season, we played in Hampshire Division 2, with a reserve side in Combination 1, we won the Wiltshire Junior Cup again in 2000. 2001-02 saw the senior side narrowly miss out on promotion from Hampshire League Division 2 but achieve a remarkable series of victories in the Hospital Cup, beating Salisbury City and Shrewton United before succumbing to Bemerton Heath Harlequins in the final. 2002-03 we won the Bledisloe Cup and were champions of Hampshire Division 2. 2003-04 saw us regain the Bledisloe Cup, win the Stokes Cup and came 11th in Hampshire Division 1. In 2004-05 we joined the Sydenham Wessex League Division 3, finishing a disappointing 11th in our first season. In 2005-06 we finished runners-up in Division 3, and with the reshaping of the Sydenham Wessex League were promoted to Division 1. In 2006-07 in our first season in Division 1 we finished a disappointing 12th.
The 2007-08 season saw a vast improvement, we reached the Wiltshire Senior Cup Final for the first time in the clubs history and were promoted to the Wessex Premier League after coming runners up. Off the pitch in 2005-06 we played our first match under floodlights at Church Road. In 2006-07 we completed the hard standing around the pitch. In 2007-08 we erected our 114 seater stands and bought the rest of the facilities up to the required ground grading requirements for the Wessex Premier League. Lost to Melksham Town in the final of the Wiltshire Senior Cup 4-2.
2008-9 saw us compete in the Wessex Premier League for the first time finishing 20th, we also entered the FA Vase for the first time, unfortunately we lost to Warminster Town at the first hurdle. Finished 20th in the league. 2009-10 FA Vase First Round Proper lost 2-1 at home to Brockenhurst. Entered the FA Cup for the first time, lost to Alton Town 3-1. Finished 21st in the league. Lost to Calne Town in the final of the Wiltshire Senior Cup 4-3 and lost to BHH in the quarter finals of the Sydenhams Wessex Cup 4-2. 2010-11. Finished 17th in the Premier league, our highest position to date.
Finished bottom of Premier League in 2011-12 and thus relegated to Division One. During the 2012-2013 season there were many changes on and off the pitch as the club attempted to return to its local roots. This resulted in some degree of success during the second half of the season with the team finishing mid table in Division One. Two more years of stability have followed with Robbie Lakeman at the helm.
During the 2015 summer Liam McConnell joined the club as joint manager with Robbie and they were together for 3 years, taking the club close to promotion on each occasion. Robbie stepped down after the 2017-18 season to take a well-earned rest after 5 years at the helm with club veteran Graham Mankin stepping up to assume the position of assistant manager alongside Liam.
Since then the club has been battling at the top end of Wessex League Division One and in the 20-21 season were top of the league when we had to endure the frustration of a second successive season curtailed by the Covid pandemic.
In 2021–22 the club finished fifth in Division One, qualifying for the promotion play-offs. After defeating Andover New Street 3–0 in the semi-finals, the club beat Newport (IOW) 3–2 (after extra time) in the final and were promoted to the Premier Division.
