Awbridge F.C. was a long running amateur football club based in Awbridge (pronounced 'A-bridge', with the letter 'w' silent), a village and civil parish about three miles northwest of Romsey in the Test Valley district of Hampshire, England,
They were longstanding members of the Hampshire League and were eventually absorbed by neighbours Michelmersh & Timsbury after a brief spell groundsharing.
History
The club were originally known as Awbridge Albion and spent their early days playing friendly fixtures. Their first known game was in November 1904 when they defeated Landford 4–0.Association Football in Hampshire until 1914 by Norman Gannaway
After the Great War, the club became more organised and began using the Village Hall Field for their home games. In 1923, Awbridge were amongst the founder members of the short-lived Ampfield & District League, before joining the Salisbury & District League two years later, where they won numerous trophies. The Thirties saw them switch to the Southampton League where they enjoyed further success.Awbridge FC - The history of a village football club by John Moody
After World War II, the club reformed as Awbridge and in 1948 returned to the Southampton League where they were placed in Junior Division 4. Significant progress was made; by 1953 they had risen to the Senior section, formed a reserves side and even had their own Supporters Club.Hampshire Football Association Centenary History 1887-1987 by Norman Gannaway
The Sixties were very much a successful period in which they dominated the local football scene. Under the astute management of Wilf Moody, they twice won the Premier Division and Southampton Senior Cup (both finals played at The Dell, Southampton)A Century of Southampton Local Soccer 1908-2008 by John Moody along with a solitary Hampshire Intermediate Cup triumph (played at Dean Court, Bournemouth). These successes were eventually rewarded with election into the Hampshire League in 1968, where they promptly won the Division 3 West title at the first attempt.
On limited resources, Awbridge spent three seasons rubbing shoulders with some big-guns in Division 2 before two relegations within three seasons saw them drop to Division 4, where they continued to struggle. Until this point, the club had used the original Village Hall building, but after receiving an ultimatum to improve their facilities, they embarked on an ambitious campaign to build their own separate pavilion, which was officially opened in 1980. Souvenir Programme - August 1980, Awbridge v AFC Bournemouth (J Moody)
This saw Awbridge re-emerge as a force. They regained their Division 2 status, enjoyed numerous cup runs and were rather unfortunate not to win any major silverware. In 1986 they were placed in a new-look Division 1 following the formation of the Wessex League and did well to consolidate at this highly competitive level until relegation in 1993. Two years later, the club were back in Division 3, but they again recovered and began challenging for promotion.A Tabulated History of the Hampshire League by Stephen Farmery
The new millennium saw the non-league pyramid restructured with stricter ground grading requirements. In 2002, Awbridge submitted an unsuccessful application to the Village Hall Committee for redeveloping their dilapidated pavilion. This, along with the high rental costs, forced them to make the difficult decision not to renew the lease and accept an invitation received from their friendly Southampton League neighbours Michelmersh & Timsbury to temporarily join forces until a solution could be found.
This rather unusual arrangement saw the club renamed M&T Awbridge. Playing at the better equipped Timsbury Rec, they were able to maintain their long held county league status,https://fchd.info/lghist/hants2003.htm. Two years later the competition was absorbed by the Wessex League, but unable to meet the criteria, they instead became founder members of the Hampshire League 2004.
However, although they performed steadily on the pitch, they were beset with problems off it - most notably in 2005 when a long running dispute between the parent Sports Club and the Parish Council made them homeless. This briefly raised hopes of negotiating a return to Awbridge, but this was not possible as the (now refurbished) pavilion was being leased to a religious group. After a year playing in exile, the dispute was eventually resolved, but part of the condition was that the club be renamed Michelmersh & Timsbury. With little hope of ever returning to the village, it was agreed to accept the offer and Awbridge F.C. was no more after 102 years.Michelmersh & Timsbury FC 1928-2008 - The 80th Anniversary Club History by Lee Whitelock
Honours 1st Team Hampshire Football Association Hampshire Football Association Yearbook 2005/06 Intermediate Cup Winners 1965/66. Finalists 1966/67 & 1988/89 Hampshire League Division 3 Runners-up 1984/85 Division 3 West Champions 1968/69 Division 4 Runners-up 1979/80 Southampton Football Association Southampton Divisional Football Association Handbook 2017/18 Senior Cup Winners 1962/63 & 1963/64, Finalists 1984/85 Southampton Senior Cup – The Finals 1909-2022 by Gary Day Junior 'A' Cup Finalists 1932/33 Southampton League Southampton Football League Handbook & Directory 2018/19 Premier Division Champions 1965/66 & 1966/67, Runners-up 1964/65 & 1967/68 Senior Division 2 Champions 1954/55, Runners-up 1958/59 Junior Division 1 Champions 1952/53 Junior Division 2 Runners-up 1951/52 Junior Division 3 Champions 1931/32, Runners-up 1949/50 Romsey Division Champions 1929/30 & 1930/31 Salisbury & District League Division 1 Champions 1926/27 & 1929/30 Division 2 Champions 1925/26 Norman Court Cup Winners 1925/26, 1926/27, 1927/28 & 1932/33 Other Ampfield & District League Runners-up 1923/24 & 1924/25 Wayne Smart Cup Winners 1989, Finalists 1987 & 1988 Andover Open Cup Finalists 2005/06
2nd Team Southampton League Junior Division 2 Champions 1966/67 Junior Division 3 Runners-up 1965/66 Junior Division 5 Runners-up 1962/63 Junior Division 6 Runners-up 1951/52 Other King's Somborne League Champions 1930/31
County League record 1968-2006 SeasonDivisionPositionSignificant events1968/69Hampshire League Division 3 West1/14Promoted 1969/70Hampshire League Division 28/161970/71Hampshire League Division 212/161971/72Hampshire League Division 215/16Relegated1972/73Hampshire League Division 314/161973/74Hampshire League Division 315/16Relegated1974/75Hampshire League Division 411/161975/76Hampshire League Division 412/161976/77Hampshire League Division 410/141977/78Hampshire League Division 410/16 1978/79Hampshire League Division 410/131979/80Hampshire League Division 42/12Promoted 1980/81Hampshire League Division 37/171981/82Hampshire League Division 315/161982/83Hampshire League Division 34/141983/84Hampshire League Division 38/181984/85Hampshire League Division 32/18Promoted 1985/86Hampshire League Division 26/18 1986/87Hampshire League Division 113/18Re-organisation due to formation of the Wessex League 1987/88Hampshire League Division 113/181988/89Hampshire League Division 16/17Highest ever final placing1989/90Hampshire League Division 116/181990/91Hampshire League Division 110/181991/92Hampshire League Division 116/181992/93Hampshire League Division 116/17Relegated 1993/94Hampshire League Division 215/171994/95Hampshire League Division 217/17Relegated 1995/96Hampshire League Division 311/181996/97Hampshire League Division 35/201997/98Hampshire League Division 36/161998/99Hampshire League Division 314/19 1999/00Hampshire League Division 28/14Re-organisation2000/01Hampshire League Division 29/162001/02Hampshire League Division 212/16 2002/03Hampshire League Division 212/13As M&T Awbridge2003/04Hampshire League Division 212/15Competition absorbed by Wessex League2004/05Hampshire League 20047/16 2005/06Hampshire League 200410/17Became Michelmersh & Timsbury
Ground
Awbridge Football Club played at the Village Hall Field, Romsey Road, Awbridge, SO51 0HG. It was their home for over 75 years after the land was allocated to the residents as part of the Awbridge Danes Estate.
The ground had two pitches, with a notorious slope, and the record attendance is believed to be approx 500 for the friendly against AFC Bournemouth as part of the new pavilion opening ceremony in August 1980. The building still remains (dwarfed by the impressive new Village Hall) and is currently used as a storage unit.
Successor club See Michelmersh & Timsbury F.C.
Local rivalries
Awbridge had a number of local rivals within the Test Valley districthttps://www.woodleynet.co.uk/football.htm whom they faced many times over the years, and for a sustained spell they were undoubtedly the top team in the area.
Hampshire League meetings with Broughton, Braishfield, Mottisfont and especially Romsey Town always generated much interest and attracted large crowds. A History of the Hampshire League 1896-1996 by Norman Gannaway
Print Awbridge FC - A History of a Village Football Club, by John Moody.https://www.sportspages.com/product/awbridge-f-c-the-history-of-a-village-football-club
References
External links
Awbridge FC pictorial history video Awbridge at the Football Club History Database M&T Awbridge at the Football Club History Database
Hampshire League Final Tables Hampshire Soccer Archive Awbridge Village Hall Field