RS Basingstoke F.C. was a long running amateur football club based in Basingstoke, Hampshire.
History The club were founded in 1971 as Soldiers Return, and originally played Sunday football before switching to Saturdays where they joined the Basingstoke & District League.Hampshire Football Association Centenary History 1887-1987 by Norman Gannaway After successfully climbing up through the divisions the side became founder members of the Chiltonian League in 1984 where they remained for two seasons before joining the North Hants League, which they won in 1986–87 resulting in their application to join Hampshire League Division 2 being successful.A Tabulated History of the Hampshire League by Stephen Farmery
Upon election the team then became known as SR Basingstoke and promptly proceeded to win promotion as champions in their debut seasonhttps://www.nonleaguematters.co.uk/nonleaguetables/lt1987-1988.html#HMP2 and soon established themselves in Division 1. In 1990 the club became known as DCA Basingstoke and finished runners-up in 1990–91.A History of the Hampshire League 1896-1996 by Norman Gannaway
In 1992 the club successfully applied to move up to the Combined Counties Leaguehttps://www.fchd.info/lghist/comco1993.htm where they maintained a steady mid-table position but, due to ground grading, they dropped out after four seasons to rejoin the Chiltonian League. A year later, the club was renamed again as RS Basingstoke.Hampshire Football Association Yearbook 1996/97
When the competition was absorbed by the extended Hellenic League in 2000, they were placed in Division 1 East and finished runners-up in their first season, but again due to ground grading were ineligible for promotion.https://www.fchd.info/lghist/hell2001.htm
In 2003 RS Basingstoke returned to the Hampshire League where they were placed in Division 2,https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/5592850.amp/ finishing in 3rd place, before joining the expanding Wessex League.https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/5592690.hants-league-accept-wessex-expansion-plans-as-inevitable/ This would be the seventh league that they had played in during their existence.
Despite holding a comfortable mid-table position in Division 3, a player exodus in January 2005 forced them to suddenly withdraw and fold.https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/5556248.rs-call-time-on-their-34-years-of-football/https://www.fchd.info/lghist/wessex2005.htm
Honours Hellenic League Division 1 East Runners-up 2000/01 Hampshire League Division 1 Runners-up 1990/91 Division 2 Champions 1987/88 North Hants League Champions 1986/87 North Hants Football Association Senior Cup Winners 1988/89 Basingstoke & District League Basingstoke Football League Centenary by Norman Gannaway Premier Division Champions Senior Cup Winners
League career
SeasonDivisionPositionSignificant events1984/85Chiltonian League8/17Founder Members1985/86Chiltonian League4/10Left competition1986/87North Hants League1/12 Champions, promoted1987/88Hampshire League Division 21/19Champions, promoted1988/89Hampshire League Division 18/171989/90Hampshire League Division 112/181990/91Hampshire League Division 12/19Runners-up, not promoted1991/92Hampshire League Division 16/18Promoted1992/93Combined Counties League13/19 1993/94Combined Counties League6/211994/95Combined Counties League9/181995/96Combined Counties League14/22Demoted on ground grading1996/97Chiltonian League6/181997/98Chiltonian League3/181998/99Chiltonian League7/131999/00Chiltonian League5/17Competition absorbed by Hellenic League in 20002000/01Hellenic League Division 1 East2/17Runners-up, not promoted2001/02Hellenic League Division 1 East3/172002/03Hellenic League Division 1 East11/17Left competition2003/04Hampshire League Division 23/15Competition absorbed by Wessex League 2004/05Wessex League Division 221/22Left competition
Ground
RS Basingstoke played at Whiteditch Playing Fields, Sherborne Road, Basingstoke, RG21 5UT.https://www.footballgroundmap.com/ground/whiteditch-playing-field/dca-basingstoke The venue remains in use today.
Local rivals
Having played in such a variety of leagues, RS Basingstoke had many rivalries during their existence, but neighbours Basingstoke Town and Tadley Calleva were always considered as their main rivals.
References
External links
Hampshire Soccer Archive Hampshire League Final Tables Chiltonian League Final Tables Combined Counties League Final Tables Hellenic League Final Tables