Bishop's Waltham Town F.C. were a long running amateur football club based in Bishop's Waltham, a town in the Meon Valley area of Hampshire.
History Bishop's Waltham Town F.C. were originally established in 1901 and initially played friendly matches.Association Football in Hampshire until 1914 by Norman Gannaway
In 1920 they became founder members of the Meon Valley League before progressing to the Southampton League, where they held membership for many years.A Century of Southampton Local Soccer 1908-2008 by John Moody
In 1983/84 they won promotion to the Premier Division for the first time, and two years later they won the title for what was their first serious piece of silverware.Hampshire Football Association Centenary History 1887-1987 by Norman Gannaway The club were then elected to the Hampshire League Division 2, where they finished 3rd to win promotion to Division 1.A Tabulated History of the Hampshire League by Stephen Farmery Bishop's Waltham then enjoyed success in 1992 when they beat Whitchurch United 3–1 to win the inaugural League Cup, and in 1993 when they were league runners-up to Pirelli General.A History of the Hampshire League 1896-1996 by Norman Gannaway Fortunes declined after this, and by 1997 they were in Division 3 - but in 1999 the league was re-structured with the top-flight being renamed as the Premier Division (for clubs with fixed barriers and floodlights) and after making these requirements at Priory Park, Bishop's Waltham were included.
In 2004 the original Hampshire League was absorbed by the expanded Wessex League,https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/5592690.hants-league-accept-wessex-expansion-plans-as-inevitable/ with the new set-up having three divisions. Bishop's Waltham were placed in the middle tier, but in 2006 they were relegated. They continued to struggle, and had to pull out midway through the following season.
The club regrouped and when the Wessex League was reduced to two divisions in 2007, the new Hampshire Premier League was subsequently formedhttps://www.hpfl.co.uk/history with Bishop's Waltham Town becoming founder members, along with Sporting BTC. After both teams finished midtable, they then joined forces and become known as Sporting Bishop's Waltham.
The club continued on in a midtable position but despite the merger, they found success hard to come by. In bid to attract more local support they changed their name back to Bishop's Waltham Town for the 2013/14 season,Hampshire Football Association Yearbook 2013/14 but after a difficult start and loss of key personnel, they withdrew from the league and folded.https://www.fchd.info/lghist/hampp2014.htm
Honours
1st Team Hampshire League League Cup Winners 1991/92 Division 1 Runners-up 1992/93 Southampton League Southampton Football League Handbook & Directory 2018/19 Premier Division Champions 1985/86 Meon Valley League Division 1 Champions 1921/22 and 1922/23 Pink Cup Winners 1921/22, 1922/23 and 1923/24
2nd Team Southampton League Senior Division 2 Champions 1989/90 Southampton Football Association Southampton Divisional Football Association Handbook 2017/18 Junior 'A' Cup Winners 1987/88 Junior 'B' Cup Winners 1976/77 and 2006/07
County League record SeasonDivisionPositionSignificant events1986/87Hampshire League Division 23/18Promoted1987/88Hampshire League Division 115/181988/89Hampshire League Division 113/171989/90Hampshire League Division 114/181990/91Hampshire League Division 15/18 1991/92Hampshire League Division 112/18 1992/93Hampshire League Division 12/17Runners-up1993/94Hampshire League Division 16/201994/95Hampshire League Division 120/20Relegated1995/96Hampshire League Division 28/181996/97Hampshire League Division 217/18Relegated1997/98Hampshire League Division 37/161998/99Hampshire League Division 39/19Re-organisation1999/00Hampshire League Premier Division15/222000/01Hampshire League Premier Division19/212001/02Hampshire League Premier Division17/212002/03Hampshire League Premier Division14/202003/04Hampshire League Premier Division11/18Competition absorbed by Wessex League2004/05Wessex League Division 120/22 2005/06Wessex League Division 121/22Relegated2006/07Wessex League Division 217/18Withdrew, record expunged2007/08Hampshire Premier League15/172008/09Hampshire Premier League16/18Merged with Sporting BTC2009/10Hampshire Premier League16/182010/11Hampshire Premier League14/182011/12Hampshire Premier League14/172012/13Hampshire Premier League12/18 2013/14Hampshire Premier League18/18Withdrew, record expunged
Ground
Bishops Waltham Town F.C. frequently alternated between Priory Park, Elizabeth Way, Bishops Waltham, SO32 1SQhttps://www.footballgroundmap.com/ground/priory-park/bishops-waltham-dynamos and Hoe Lane Recreation Ground, Bishop's Waltham, SO32 1DU for their home games. Both venues remain in use. Each with two pitches, one each with a fixed barrier, large changing rooms and ample parking for spectators.
Notable players
Former Burnley, Southampton and Huddersfield Town midfielder Brian O'Neilstats tab https://www.saintsplayers.co.uk/player/brian-oneil/ played for Bishops Waltham during the eighties.In That Number A post war chronicle of Southampton F.C. by Duncan Holley & Gary Chalk p559
Local rivalries
Bishop's Waltham Town enjoyed a healthy local rivalry with a number of clubs from within the Meon Valley area. Neighbours Swanmore were regarded at their main rivals.
Successor club
Fortunately, it was not the end of football in the town. In 2012 long running youth club Bishop's Waltham Dynamoes (established in 1975) formed a senior side, which has since risen to prominence.
After climbing the Southampton League, they won the Premier Division title in 2023 and made a successful application to join the Hampshire Premier League. Bishops Waltham then won the League Cup in their debut season, beating Locks Heath 3-1 in the final played at AFC Totton.https://www.hpfl.co.uk/league-cup-winners
The club, who run many teams at various age groups, are affiliated to the Hampshire Football Association and have been awarded charter status.https://www.hampshirechronicle.co.uk/sport/23801118.bishops-waltham-dynamos-get-brand-new-kit/
References
External links Bishops Waltham Town at the Football Club History Database Sporting Bishops Waltham at the Football Club History Database Hampshire League Final Tables Wessex League Final Tables Hampshire Soccer Archive Bishops Waltham Dynamoes FC Hampshire Premier League Bishops Waltham Parish Council