Thornycroft Athletic was a works football club based in Basingstoke, Hampshire.
For many years they played in the Hampshire League but were forced to close in 1972 - just three years after winning the title following the loss of their ground, due to the companies relocation and subsequent takeover.
History Thornycroft Athletic were formed in 1900, as the works side of the Basingtoke-based Thornycroft vehicle manufacturing company.https://www.basingstokegazette.co.uk/news/18483117.world-leading-car-firm-chose-basingstoke/ They spent their early days playing friendly fixturesAssociation Football in Hampshire until 1914 by Norman Gannaway before becoming founder members of the Basingstoke & District League in 1905, where they won the title in 1912.Basingstoke Football League Centenary by Norman Gannaway
That same year, 'Thorneys' joined the North Division of the Hampshire League but in their first two seasons they twice finished bottom.A Tabulated History of the Hampshire League by Stephen Farmery After the Great War they were placed in the County Division (later to become Division 1) and in 1921 they finished runners-up, and also reached the final of the Hampshire Senior Cup where they beaten by Southampton Reserves.Hampshire Football Association Centenary History 1887-1987 by Norman Gannaway Thornycrofts remained in the top flight before being relegated in 1931–32 and after finishing mid-table in Division 2 the following season, the side withdrew from the competition to join the Southern Amateur League, winning the Senior Division 3 title in 1934–35.https://www.southernamateurleague.co.uk/thornycroft.html
When normal football resumed after World War II, Thornycrofts returned to the Hampshire League and were placed in Division 1. The post-war era saw the club remain in the league and were regular entrants in the qualifying rounds of the national cup competitions The FA Cup Club by Club Record Since 1945 by Tony Williams but relegation in 1950–51 saw a decline in fortunes. After several years of re-building Thornycrofts won the Division 2 title in 1955–56 and returned to Division 1 where they remained for three seasons before again being relegated.A History of the Hampshire League 1896-1996 by Norman Gannaway
The early sixties saw 'the Motors' alternate between Divisions 1 and 2 but won promotion back as runners-up in 1963–64. Back in the top flight, Thornycrofts won the title in 1968–69, three points clear of local rivals Basingstoke Town – whom they often played against in front of large crowds.The Story of the Basingstoke Derby Match: Basingstoke Town V. Thornycroft Athletic 1900-1972 by Kevin Smallbone Also at this time they also enjoyed extended runs in the qualifying rounds of the FA Cup and FA Trophy.
However, it all came to an end in 1972 when Thornycrofts closed their Basingstoke factoryhttps://probusbasingstoke.club/2019/02/12/probus-hears-about-thornycroft-in-basingstoke/ and relocated to Watford, where the company was taken over by Scammell Lorries.https://scammellregister.co.uk/history/ Consequently, this resulted in West Ham Park being sold and the club forced to fold.Gone But Not Forgotten (Part 5), by Dave Twydell, ISBN 1-874427-01-1
Honours
Hampshire League Division 1 Champions 1968/69 and Runners-up 1920/21 Division 2 Champions 1955/56 and Runners-up 1963/64 Southern Amateur Football League Senior Division 3 Champions 1934/35 Reserve Division 3 Champions 1933/34 Hampshire Football Association Hampshire Football Association Yearbook 2005/06 Senior Cup Finalists 1920/21 Russell Cotes Cup Winners 1924/25 and 1966/67 North Hants Football Association May Cup Winners 1919/20 and 1920/21 Basingstoke & District League Champions 1911/12 Junior Cup Winners 1911/12
Playing records
League career SeasonDivisionPositionSignificant events1905-12Basingstoke & District League 1912/13Hampshire League North Division7/7Re-elected1913/14Hampshire League North Division6/6Re-elected1919/20Hampshire League North Division5/61920/21Hampshire League County Division2/12Runners-up1921/22Hampshire League County Division13/16 1922/23Hampshire League County Division13/171923/24Hampshire League County Division4/161924/25Hampshire League County Division7/161925/26Hampshire League County Division3/161926/27Hampshire League County Division13/161927/28Hampshire League County Division8/16 1928/29Hampshire League North Division7/10 1929/30Hampshire League Division 113/161930/31Hampshire League Division 18/161931/32Hampshire League Division 116/16Relegated1932/33Hampshire League Division 29/13Left competition1933/34Southern Amateur League Senior Division 35/101934/35Southern Amateur League Senior Division 31/10Champions, promoted1935/36Southern Amateur League Senior Division 29/10Not relegated1936/37Southern Amateur League Senior Division 26/101937/38Southern Amateur League Senior Division 24/101938/39Southern Amateur League Senior Division 26/10Left competition1945/46Hampshire League Division 112/161946/47Hampshire League Division 110/141947/48Hampshire League Division 110/141948/49Hampshire League Division 16/141949/50Hampshire League Division 112/141950/51Hampshire League Division 114/14Relegated1951/52Hampshire League Division 28/141952/53Hampshire League Division 214/14Not relegated1953/54Hampshire League Division 26/141954/55Hampshire League Division 23/141955/56Hampshire League Division 21/14Champions, promoted1956/57Hampshire League Division 17/141957/58Hampshire League Division 112/141958/59Hampshire League Division 113/14Relegated1959/60Hampshire League Division 25/161960/61Hampshire League Division 23/16Promoted1961/62Hampshire League Division 115/16Relegated1962/63Hampshire League Division 214/161963/64Hampshire League Division 22/16Runners-up, promoted1964/65Hampshire League Division 15/161965/66Hampshire League Division 114/161966/67Hampshire League Division 19/161967/68Hampshire League Division 110/161968/69Hampshire League Division 11/16Champions1969/70Hampshire League Division 17/161970/71Hampshire League Division 13/161971/72Hampshire League Division 15/16Left competition
FA Cup SeasonRoundOpponentsResult1914/151st Qualifying RoundA v Eastleigh AthleticW 8-4 2nd Qualifying RoundH v BoscombeL 1–61919/20Preliminary RoundH v Salisbury CityD 1–1 ReplayA v Salisbury CityW 4-0 1st Qualifying RoundA v Portsmouth AmateursL 0–51920/21Preliminary RoundH v Sholing AthleticL 1-21921/22Extra-Preliminary RoundH v Eastleigh AthleticW 3–11923/24Extra-Preliminary RoundA v KingstonianL 1-31924/25Preliminary RoundA v BournemouthL 2-41925/26Preliminary RoundA v Southampton Civil ServiceL 3-41926/27Preliminary RoundA v EghamW 6-3 1st Qualifying RoundA v AddlestoneD 4-4 ReplayH v AddlestoneW 6-1 2nd Qualifying RoundA v Farnham United BreweriesW 3-2 3rd Qualifying RoundA v WokingL 1-51927/281st Qualifying RoundH v Farnham United BreweriesW 3-0 2nd Qualifying RoundH v Aldershot Traction CoW 2-0 3rd Qualifying RoundA v AldershotL 1-31928/29Preliminary RoundA v AddlestoneW 5-3 1st Qualifying RoundA v RAMC AldershotW 5-4 2nd Qualifying RoundH v Aldershot Traction CoL 0-61929/301st Qualifying RoundH v RAMC AldershotL 2-31930/31Preliminary RoundA v Courage & CoL 2-41931/32Preliminary RoundA v Camberley & YorktownL 0-21932/33Preliminary RoundA v RAMC AldershotL 2-41933/34Preliminary RoundA v Staines TownL 2-41934/35Extra-Preliminary RoundH v Beddington CornerW 5-4 Preliminary RoundA v Winchester CityL 1-51936/37Extra-Preliminary RoundA v Basingstoke TownL 0-81937/38Preliminary RoundH v Salisbury CityL 1-81938/39Preliminary RoundH v Salisbury CorinthiansL 0-21946/47Preliminary RoundH v AndoverW 2–0 1st Qualifying RoundH v RAOC HilseaL 1–21947/48Preliminary RoundA v Bitterne NomadsW 3–2 1st Qualifying RoundA v Ryde SportsL 0–31948/49Preliminary RoundA v RAOC HilseaW 3–2 1st Qualifying RoundA v Longfleet St Mary'sL 0–41949/50Extra-Preliminary RoundH v SandownW 5–0 Preliminary RoundA v BournemouthL 2–51950/51Extra-Preliminary RoundH v Pirelli GeneralD 5-5 ReplayA v Pirelli GeneralL 2–31967/681st Qualifying RoundA v CowesL 1–21968/691st Qualifying RoundA v CowesW 1–0 2nd Qualifying RoundA v Salisbury CityL 0–41969/701st Qualifying RoundH v Salisbury CityL 3–41970/71Preliminary RoundA v Fareham TownW 2–1 1st Qualifying RoundA v WaterloovilleD 1-1 ReplayH v WaterloovilleD 0-0 2nd ReplayA v WaterloovilleL 0–11971/721st Qualifying RoundA v Ryde SportsW 4–1 2nd Qualifying RoundH v Newport (IOW)W 4–1 3rd Qualifying RoundA v Fareham TownL 1–5
FA Amateur Cup SeasonRoundOpponentsResult1919/202nd Qualifying RoundA v Walton-on-ThamesL 0-21925/26Preliminary RoundH v GodalmingW 5-1 1st Qualifying RoundH v Walton-on-ThamesW 8-1 2nd Qualifying RoundH v 10th Royal HussarsW 6–4 3rd Qualifying RoundH v 2nd Rifle BrigadeL 2–51928/29Preliminary RoundA v EghamL 2-41935/361st Qualifying RoundA v EghamL 0-71936/37Preliminary RoundH v Camberley & YorktownL 2-31937/38Preliminary RoundH v HershamL 0-31938/39Preliminary RoundH v RAMC AldershotL 1-51948/49Extra-Preliminary RoundH v BotleyW 2-1 Preliminary RoundH v Portsmouth ElectricityL 4-81949/50Preliminary RoundA v Poole TownL 1-41950/51Extra-Preliminary RoundH v 2nd Training Battalion RASCW 5-2 Preliminary RoundA v BournemouthL 0-31951/52Extra-Preliminary RoundH v RAMC AldershotL 1-61952/53Preliminary RoundH v HMS DaedalusL 1-31955/56Preliminary RoundH v Gosport BoroughL 3-41956/57Preliminary RoundA v Gosport BoroughL 1-51957/58Preliminary RoundH v TottonD 1-1 ReplayA v TottonW 4-2 1st Qualifying RoundA v Bournemouth GasworksL 1-2
FA Trophy SeasonRoundOpponentsResult1969/701st Qualifying RoundA v Rugby TownD 2-2 ReplayH v Rugby TownL 4-5 *re-instated 2nd Qualifying RoundH v St Neots TownD 1-1 ReplayA v St Neots TownW 2–0 3rd Qualifying RoundH v MargateW 2–0 1st RoundA v WeymouthL 0–51970/713rd Qualifying RoundH v Bedford TownD 1-1 ReplayA v Bedford TownL 0–11971/723rd Qualifying RoundH v King's LynnL 1–2
Ground Thornycroft Athletic played at West Ham Park, Worting Road, Basingstoke. The privately owned venue was fully enclosed with covered accommodation for spectators. Page 22. Before The Cemetery End by Vince Taylor (Groundtastic Productions)
The record attendance is unknown, but local derby matches against Basingstoke Town often attracted crowds of over a thousand. https://www.basingstokegazette.co.uk/news/25819352.local-rivalry-basingstoke-town-thornycroft/
The ground was closed in 1972 after the company's relocation and subsequent takeover. With the town expanding at a rapid rate, the land was quickly sold for housing development. https://www.basingstokegazette.co.uk/memory_lane/10834486.west-ham-estate-changes-into-prime-entertainment-complex/
Notable players Members of the successful sixties side included Taffy Davies https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/5554989.manager-was-successful/ and Ted Pearce, both of whom later enjoyed long successful spells as managers of north Hampshire rivals Basingstoke Town and Farnborough Town.
See also Thornycroft Athletic players
Local rivals The club enjoyed a long running fierce rivalry with neighbours Basingstoke Town and their meetings always attracted much local interest. However, after 'Thorneys' disbanded, a number of club officials and supporters joined their rivals, who had recently progressed on to the Southern League. https://www.basingstokegazette.co.uk/news/18294326.history-towns-football-club/
Print The Story of the Basingstoke Derby Match: Basingstoke Town V. Thornycroft Athletic 1900–72 by Kevin Smallbone. https://www.abebooks.co.uk/9780953788002/Story-Basingstoke-Derby-Match-Town-0953788008/plp
References
External links Thornycroft Athletic at the Football Club History database Thornycroft Athletic in the Southern Amateur League A History of Thornycroft in Basingstoke Hampshire League Final Tables Hampshire Soccer Archive