Sholing Sports F.C. were a football team based in Sholing, Southampton from 1901 until 1993 .
They were members of the Wessex League until folding after losing their ground.
History
The club were founded in 1901 as Sholing Athletic and spent their early days playing friendly fixturesAssociation Football in Hampshire until 1914 by Norman Gannaway until 1908, when they became founder members of the Southampton League.A Century of Southampton Local Soccer 1908-2008 by John Moody
In 1919–20 Sholing won the Senior League title and the first of three successive Southampton Senior Cups.Southampton Senior Cup – The Finals 1909-2022 by Gary Day This saw them step up into the Hampshire League where they won the East Division title. Playing in the County Division (later to become Division 1), Sholing settled and after finishing 6th and 5th they won the Hampshire Senior Cup but after two tough seasons the club finished bottom and returned to the Southampton League.Bitterne Football A Gimpse at the Past by Ken Prior
Now known as simply Sholing the late Thirties were particularly successful times - in 1937–38 they were Senior League champions and Hampshire Intermediate Cup winners, the following season saw them retain the title and win the Southampton Senior Cup.A Century of Southampton Local Soccer 1908-2008 by John Moody
After World War II the club became known as Sholing Sports and returned to the Hampshire League in 1946 when they were placed in Division 3 East.A Tabulated History of the Hampshire League by Stephen Farmery Back in county football and shortly after moving to their Birch Lawn home, Sholing won promotion as champions in 1952–53 before consolidating themselves in Division 2. Sholing were promoted to Division 1 in 1961-62 but struggled and dropped straight back down again, and were relegated back to Division 3 in 1964–65.
In 1969-70 Sholing Sports were Division 3 East champions and in 1971–72 they finished runners-up in Division 2, winning promotion back to the top flight - and this time they were far better prepared. Sholing became one of the top clubs in the league and began entering the national competitions, the FA CupThe FA Cup Club by Club Record Since 1945 by Tony Williams and FA Vase. They enjoyed several runs in the latter competition. In 1973–74 Sholing won their first Division 1 title as well as the Hampshire Senior Cup.
The club remained regular title contenders, finishing runners-up three times before the incredible 1982–83 season when they were League champions - and they completed a treble by also winning the Hampshire Senior and Russell Cotes Cup's.A History of the Hampshire League 1896-1996 by Norman Gannaway The following season saw Sholing retain the league title, but were beaten finalists in the Hampshire Senior Cup. In 1984–85, Sholing were league runners-up and Hampshire Senior Cup finalists, but did gain some compensation when they again won the Russell Cotes Cup.Hampshire Football Association Centenary History 1887-1987 by Norman Gannaway
For the 1986-87 campaign Sholing Sports became founder members of the newly formed Wessex League, and enjoyed a debut season in which they finished 9th.https://www.fchd.info/lghist/wessex1987.htm However, in that season's cup competitions they reached the finals of the Southampton Senior, Russell Cotes and the inaugural Wessex League Cup - but lost all three. The early 1990s saw increasing uncertainty over their Birch Lawn ground, caused mainly by financial problems at the adjacent Social Club.Sholing Sports Football Club History by Neil Cotton
Sholing Sports continued on until August 1993 when they were evicted from their ground prior to the start of the new season and this forced them to withdraw from the competition.https://fchd.info/lghist/wessex1994.htm The club continued to operate during the 1993–94 season with just an Under 18's side playing in the Hampshire Youth League but the search for a new home ground was unsuccessful and they folded.Gone But Not Forgotten (Part 5), by Dave Twydell, ISBN 1-874427-01-1
Honours
Wessex League League Cup Finalists 1986/87 Hampshire League Division 1 Champions 1973/74, 1982/83 and 1983/84, Runners-up 1974/75, 1975/76, 1981/82 and 1984/85 Division 2 Runners-up 1970/71 East Division Champions 1920/21 Division 3 East Champions 1952/53 and 1969/70, Runners-up 1950/51 and 1968/69 Southampton League Southampton Football League Handbook & Directory 2018/19 Senior Division Champions 1919/20, 1920/21, 1937/38 and 1938/39 Junior 'A' Division Champions 1913/14 Hampshire Football Association Hampshire Football Association Yearbook 2005/06 Senior Cup Winners 1922/23, 1973/74 and 1982/83, Finalists 1983/84 and 1984/85 Intermediate Cup Winners 1937/38 Russell Cotes Cup Winners 1971/72, 1982/83 and 1984/85, Finalists 1979/80 and 1986/87 Southampton Football Association Southampton Divisional Football Association Handbook 2017/18 Senior Cup Winners 1919/20, 1920/21, 1921/22, 1938/39, 1961/62 and 1979/80, Finalists 1986/87
Playing records
League SeasonDivisionPositionSignificant events1920/21Hampshire League East Division1/9Champions, promoted1921/22Hampshire League County Division6/16 1922/23Hampshire League County Division5/171923/24Hampshire League County Division14/161924/25Hampshire League County Division16/16Relegated, left competition1925-47Southampton League 1947/48Hampshire League Division 3 East9/121948/49Hampshire League Division 3 East7/14 1949/50Hampshire League Division 3 East4/14 1950/51Hampshire League Division 3 East2/14Runners-up, not promoted1951/52Hampshire League Division 3 East4/141952/53Hampshire League Division 3 East1/14Champions, promoted1953/54Hampshire League Division 29/141954/55Hampshire League Division 210/141955/56Hampshire League Division 28/161956/57Hampshire League Division 27/161957/58Hampshire League Division 23/161958/59Hampshire League Division 212/161959/60Hampshire League Division 212/161960/61Hampshire League Division 24/161961/62Hampshire League Division 23/16Promoted1962/63Hampshire League Division 116/16Relegated1963/64Hampshire League Division 25/161964/65Hampshire League Division 215/16Relegated1965/66Hampshire League Division 312/161966/67Hampshire League Division 34/161967/68Hampshire League Division 311/161968/69Hampshire League Division 3 East2/14Runners-up, not promoted1969/70Hampshire League Division 3 East1/14Champions, promoted1970/71Hampshire League Division 24/161971/72Hampshire League Division 22/16Runners-up, promoted1972/73Hampshire League Division 19/161973/74Hampshire League Division 11/16Champions1974/75Hampshire League Division 12/16Runners-up1975/76Hampshire League Division 12/16Runners-up1976/77Hampshire League Division 16/16 1977/78Hampshire League Division 111/161978/79Hampshire League Division 17/161979/80Hampshire League Division 13/161980/81Hampshire League Division 13/201981/82Hampshire League Division 12/20Runners-up1982/83Hampshire League Division 11/20Champions1983/84Hampshire League Division 11/20Champions1984/85Hampshire League Division 12/20Runners-up1985/86Hampshire League Division 16/20Left competition1986/87Wessex League 9/17Founder members1987/88Wessex League 7/191988/89Wessex League 15/171989/90Wessex League 9/191990/91Wessex League 19/201991/92Wessex League 15/191992/93Wessex League 19/21Left competition
FA Cup SeasonRoundOpponentsResult1921/22Preliminary RoundH v Thornycroft AthleticW 2-0 1st Qualifying RoundH v CowesW 2-1 2nd Qualifying RoundH v Harland & WolffD 1–1 ReplayA v Harland & WolffL 0-31922/23Preliminary RoundH v Portsmouth AmateursD 1-1 ReplayA v Portsmouth AmateursW 3-0 1st Qualifying RoundA v Thornycrofts (Woolston)W 3-1 2nd Qualifying RoundA v BoscombeL 1–21923/24Preliminary RoundA v Bournemouth Gasworks AthleticL 1-31924/25Preliminary RoundA v Bournemouth TramwaysL 1-21983/841st Qualifying RoundH v Salisbury CityW 2–1 2nd Qualifying RoundH v Gosport BoroughD 0-0 ReplayA v Gosport BoroughL 0–41984/851st Qualifying RoundA v Chippenham TownL 0–31985/86Preliminary RoundA v AFC TottonL 0–21986/87Preliminary RoundA v AndoverL 0–11987/881st Qualifying RoundH v Swanage Town & HerstonL 1–31988/89Preliminary RoundA v Devizes TownL 2–31989/90Preliminary RoundA v Salisbury CityL 0–61990/91Preliminary RoundH v Abingdon UnitedL 1–31991/92Preliminary RoundH v Maidenhead UnitedL 0–61992/93Preliminary RoundH v Bemerton Heath HarlequinsL 1–2
FA Amateur Cup SeasonRoundOpponentsResult1964/65Preliminary RoundA v Gosport BoroughL 0-4 1965/66Preliminary RoundA v HamworthyW 2-1 1st Qualifying RoundA v Netley SportsL 1-2
FA Vase SeasonRoundOpponentsResult1976/77Preliminary RoundA v CowesW 2–0 Round 1A v Thatcham TownL 0–21977/78Preliminary RoundH v Brading TownW 1–0 Round 1H v Newbury TownL 2–41978/79Preliminary RoundA v BrockenhurstW 3–1 Round 1H v Newbury TownL 0–11979/80Preliminary RoundA v Fleet TownL 0–11980/81Preliminary RoundH v ArundelW 4–0 Round 1H v Newbury TownL 0–11979/80Preliminary RoundA v Fleet TownL 0–11980/81Preliminary RoundH v ArundelW 4–0 Round 1A v Thatcham TownW 3–0 Round 2H v DorkingW 3–2 Round 3H v Devizes TownL 1–41981/82Preliminary RoundA v Pirelli GeneralW 2–1 Round 1A v First Tower UnitedW 1–0 Round 2H v Harefield UnitedW 2–0 Round 3A v WhyteleafeW 1–0 Round 4A v Shortwood UnitedL 0–21982/83Round 1H v Steyning TownW 2–1 Round 2H v Newbury TownL 2–31983/84Round 1A v AFC TottonW 1–0 Round 2H v EastleighL 0–21984/85Round 1H v Paulton RoversW 3–1 Round 2H v Mangotsfield UnitedW 2–1 Round 3H v Bristol Manor FarmL 2–41985/86Round 1H v Godalming TownW 2–0 Round 2H v YeadingW 1–0 Round 3H v Newport (IOW)W 3–1 Round 4A v Havant TownL 0–101986/87Round 2A v TorringtonL 2–31987/88Round 2A v Wantage TownW 3–1 Round 3A v Vale RecreationL 1–31988/89Round 2A v HousnlowL 0–41989/90Round 1A v BournemouthW 3–1 Round 2A v Vale RecreationL 0–11990/91Round 1H v First Tower UnitedW 2–1 Round 2H v Trowbridge TownL 1–21991/92Preliminary RoundH v Swanage Town & HerstonL 1–21992/93Preliminary RoundH v Fleet TownD 1-1 ReplayA v Fleet TownL 1–2
Ground Sholing Sports played at Birch Lawn, North East Road, Sholing, Southampton which was sold for housing development after their eviction.The Cemetery End by Vince Taylor (Groundtastic Productions) The ground was fully enclosed with a large stand, covered terrace, floodlights and adjacent to the club house. The record attendance was 800 for the 1983 FA Cup meeting with Gosport Borough.Non-League Club Directory 1991 by Tony Williams
Notable players In the early twenties two Sholing Sports players moved on to professional clubs; Tom Parkerstats tab https://www.saintsplayers.co.uk/player/tom-parker/ who progressed on to Southampton and the Arsenal team of the thirties and also Sammy Meston,stats tab https://www.saintsplayers.co.uk/player/sam-meston/ who played for Southampton, Gillingham and Everton. Locally born Graham Roberts briefly played in the mid-seventies as a teenager before enjoying a lengthy professional career with Tottenham Hotspur, Glasgow Rangers and Chelsea.In That Number, A post-war chronicle of Southampton FC by Duncan Holley & Gary Chalk, P614
Sholing Sports also had several former Southampton professionals as player-managers, including Jack Gregory,stats tab https://www.saintsplayers.co.uk/player/jack-gregory/ Tommy Harestats tab https://www.saintsplayers.co.uk/player/tommy-hare/, Mick Earls.stats tab https://www.saintsplayers.co.uk/player/mick-earls/ and Les Harfield.https://www.saintsplayers.co.uk/player/les-harfield/
Local rivals
With there being so many clubs based on the east side of Southampton, Sholing Sports had a number local rivals - most notably Bitterne Nomads, Vosper Thornycroft, Mullard Sports and especially Netley Central Sports who they frequently met whilst in the Hampshire League. Later years saw a rivalry develop with Folland Sports whilst playing in the Wessex League.https://www.fchd.info/lghist/wessex1988.htm Successor clubs