Havant Town F.C. was a long running semi-professional football club based in Havant, Hampshire.
They ceased to exist in 1998 when they merged with Waterlooville to form Havant & Waterlooville.
History The club were formed in 1883 as Havant Rovers Association Football in Hampshire until 1914 by Norman Gannaway and apart from a brief stint in the Hampshire League in the twenties, were members of the Portsmouth & District League for many years. In 1968 they amalgamated with Leigh Park - a hugely successful local outfit who had just won the FA Sunday Cup. Hampshire Football Association Centenary History 1887-1987 by Norman Gannaway
Now known as Havant & Leigh Park History Havant & Waterlooville FC they won the Portsmouth League at the first attempt, and in 1971 stepped up to Division Four of the Hampshire League. Three successive promotions (including two titles) saw them quickly reach Division One. A Tabulated History of the Hampshire League by Stephen Farmery In 1976, they were renamed as Havant Town, and in order to progress further, were seeking to move away from their basic Front Lawn ground. The club purchased the site of West Leigh Park in 1980 and moved in two years later. Further ground improvements were made as they emerged as a force, reaching the quarter finals of the FA Vase in 1986. History of the Hampshire League 1896–1996 by Norman Gannaway
Later that year the Wessex League was formed with Havant amongst the founder members.https://www.fchd.info/lghist/wessex1987.htm After twice finishing runners-up, they were finally champions in 1991, and this was rewarded with promotion to Division One South of the Southern League, where they soon became regular title contenders. They also performed well in the cup competitions, twice winning the Hampshire Senior Cup.
In 1998 neighbours and league rivals Waterlooville sold their Jubillee Park ground. Both clubs were struggling to meet rising costs - so in order to survive and progress, they then merged to create Havant & Waterlooville https://havantandwaterloovillefc.co.uk/club/club-history/havant-waterlooville-the-hawks-take-flight/, continuing to play at Westleigh Park. https://havantandwaterloovillefc.co.uk/club/club-history/a-new-era-begins/
Honours Hampshire Football Association Hampshire Football Association Yearbook 2015/16 Senior Cup Winners 1993-94 and 1994-95. Finalists 1980-81 and 1991-92 Intermediate Cup Winners 1924-25 and 1947-48 Junior Cup Winners 1922-23 Russell Cotes Cup Winners 1987-88 Portsmouth Football Association Havant Town FC matchday programme 1990/91 season Senior Cup Winners 1983-84 and 1984-85 Wessex League Champions 1990–91, Runners-up 1987-88 and 1988-89 Hampshire League Division 2 Runners-up 1973-74 Division 3 Champions 1972-73 Division 4 Champions 1971-72 Portsmouth & District League Champions 1968–69
Playing records 1968-98
League SeasonDivisionPositionSignificant events1968-71Portsmouth & District League as Havant & Leigh Park1971/72Hampshire League Division 4 1/16Promoted1972/73Hampshire League Division 31/16Promoted1973/74Hampshire League Division 22/16Promoted1974/75Hampshire League Division 111/16 1975/76Hampshire League Division 19/161976/77Hampshire League Division 112/16as Havant Town1977/78Hampshire League Division 114/161978/79Hampshire League Division 116/16Relegated1979/80Hampshire League Division 24/16Promoted 1980/81Hampshire League Division 19/201981/82Hampshire League Division 18/20 1982/83Hampshire League Division 13/201983/84Hampshire League Division 114/20 1984/85Hampshire League Division 13/201985/86Hampshire League Division 14/20Left competition1986/87Wessex League5/17Founder members 1987/88Wessex League2/191988/89Wessex League2/19 1989/90Wessex League11/19 1990/91Wessex League1/20Promoted1991/92Southern League Southern Div3/22 1992/93Southern League Southern Div5/221993/94Southern League Southern Div5/221994/95Southern League Southern Div3/22 1995/96Southern League Southern Div7/221996/97Southern League Southern Div3/221997/98Southern League Southern Div13/22Merged with Waterlooville
FA Cup SeasonRoundOpponentsResult1986/87Preliminary RoundH v Radstock Town D 1-1 ReplayA v Radstock TownW 1-0 1st Qualifying RoundA v BrockenhurstW 2-1 2nd Qualifying RoundH v AFC TottonD 1-1 ReplayH v AFC TottonL 0-11987/881st Qualifying RoundH v WaterloovilleL 0-21988/89Preliminary RoundA v Abingdon TownL 2-41989/90Preliminary RoundA v CroydonL 2-31990/91Preliminary RoundH v HorndeanW 3-0 1st Qualifying RoundH v Langney SportsW 3-0 2nd Qualifying RoundH v KingstonianL 0-41991/92Preliminary RoundA v OakwoodW 3-0 1st Qualifying Round 1H v PortfieldW 2-1 2nd Qualifying RoundA v MarlowL 1-21992/93Preliminary RoundA v AFC TottonW 1-0 1st Qualifying RoundH v Horsham YMCAW 2-1 2nd Qualifying RoundA v Erith & BelvedereD 1-1 ReplayH v Erith & BelvedereW 5-4 2nd Qualifying RoundH Thame UnitedD 3-2 ReplayA v Thame UnitedL 2-3 3rd Qualifying RoundA v SittingbourneL 2-31993/941st Qualifying RoundA v Carshalton AthleticL 0-21994/95Preliminary RoundA v Maidenhead UnitedW 1-0 1st Qualifying RoundH v BashleyD 1-1 ReplayA v BashleyL 1-31995/961st Qualifying RoundA v Basingstoke TownL 1-21996/97Preliminary RoundA v Maidenhead UnitedW 1-0 1st Qualifying RoundH v BashleyL 0-31997/981st Qualifying RoundH Basingstoke Town D 1-1 ReplayA v Basinsgstoke TownL 0-2
FA Trophy SeasonRoundOpponentsResult1993/941st Qualifying RoundA v Newport L 0-11994/95Preliminary RoundH v Poole TownW 2-1 1st Qualifying RoundH v WaterloovilleW 3-0 2nd Qualifying RoundH v Dorchester TownL 1-31995/961st Qualifying RoundA v Hastings UnitedD 2-2 ReplayH v Hastings UnitedW 1-0 2nd Qualifying RoundA v Staines TownL 1-31996/971st Qualifying RoundA v Cinderford TownW 3-2 2nd Qualifying RoundA v Fisher AthleticL 2-31997/981st Qualifying RoundH v HendonD 2-2 ReplayA v HendonL 1-2
FA Vase SeasonRoundOpponentsResult1976/77Round 1A v Selsey W 4-1 Round 2H v NewportW 2-0 Round 3H v Gosport BoroughL 1-41977/78Preliminary RoundA v NewportL 0-31978/79Preliminary RoundA v First Tower UnitedL 1-21983/84Preliminary RoundA v Camberley TownL 1-21984/85Extra-Preliminary RoundA v Molesey D 0-0 ReplayH v MoleseyD 2-2 2nd ReplayA v MoleseyW 1-0 Preliminary RoundH v Erith & BelvedereL 1-21985/86Extra-Preliminary RoundA v Greenwich BoroughW 3-1 Preliminary RoundH v Horley TownW 3-0 Round 1H v Herne BayW 2-1 Round 2H v MersthamW 2-1 Round 3H v AFC TottonW 2-1 Round 4H v Sholing SportsW 10-0 Round 5A v Buckingham TownW 1-0 Round 6H v Wisbech TownL 1-51986/87Round 2H v Banstead AthleticW 3-0 Round 3H v DorkingW 2-0 Round 4H v SelbyW 2-0 Round 5A v Collier RowD 2-2 ReplayH v Collier RowL 4-51987/88Round 2H v BashleyL 0-21988/89Round 2H v Flackwell HeathW 1-0 Round 3H v Camberley TownL 1-71989/90Round 2H v Hastings UnitedL 1-61990/91Round 1H v Bishops CleeveW 4-0 Round 2H v MersthamW 2-0 Round 3H v Harefield UnitedL 1-31991/92Round 1H v RedhillW 3-2 Round 2H v NewportL 1-21992/93Preliminary RoundA v Ashford Town (Middx)W 3-0 Round 1H v Epsom & EwellW 1-0 Round 2A v First Tower UnitedL 2-3
Former players Havant Town was home to many notable players over the years—most notably Bobby Tambling, who played as a youngster before enjoying a long and successful professional career with a number of top clubs.
Ground
Havant Town played at West Leigh Park, Martin Road, Havant, Hampshire, PO9 5TH.
The ground was opened in August 1982, Page 84. The History of Non-League Football Grounds by Kerry Miller (Polar Publishing ISBN 1-899538-11-9) and is still used by Havant & Waterlooville, who have made significant improvements to enable their progression further up the pyramid system.
In 1986 Havant Town recorded their attendance of 3,000 for the FA Vase quarter-final against Wisbech Town - although this record for the stadium has since been superseded. https://havantandwaterloovillefc.co.uk/club/club-history/the-2007-08-fa-cup-run/
Local rivalries Havant Town enjoyed a long running rivalry with a number of local clubs, most notably Horndean and neighbours Waterlooville—with whom they eventually merged.https://havantandwaterloovillefc.co.uk/club/club-history/havant-waterlooville-the-hawks-take-flight/
Successor club
See Havant & Waterlooville
References
External links Havant & Waterlooville FC Havant & Leigh Park at the Football Club History Database Havant Town at the Football Club History Database Hampshire League Final Tables Wessex League Final Tables Southern League Final Tables Hampshire Soccer Archive