Otterbourne F.C. were a long running amateur football club based in Otterbourne, a village near Winchester in Hampshire, England. They ran for 53 years and were long standing members of the Hampshire League before their untimely demise.
History
Originally based in Eastleigh, the club was founded in 1962 as North End Old Boys. They joined the Southampton League and rapidly climbed up through the junior ranks to reach the Senior section in 1969. Further progress was made and by 1975 had reached the Premier Division, where they soon consolidated.A Century of Southampton Local Soccer 1908–2008 by John Moody
In 1986, they became known as Otterbourne F.C. after relocating to Oakwood Park in that village. This ambitious move soon paid dividends as they won the title and made a successful application to join the Hampshire League.A Tabulated History of the Hampshire League by Stephen Farmery The 'Otters' remained in Division 2 for thirteen successive seasons and enjoyed several good cup runs – most notably in 1996 when they won both the Hampshire League and Southampton Senior Cups (the final of which was played at The Dell, Southampton).A History of the Hampshire League 1896–1996 by Norman Gannaway
Otterbourne joined the expanded Wessex League in 2004 when they were placed in the competition's controversial and short lived third tier, but when the division was axed in 2007, they became founder members of the Hampshire Premier League, where they finished runners-up in the inaugural season.
After a spell of mediocrity, their fortunes dramatically took off in 2014 when Richard Luffman was appointed manager. With an influx of vastly experienced players, he transformed them from mid-table also-rans to serious title contenders.
In 2016 they finished-runners-up and won both the Hampshire Intermediate and Andover Open Cups, but were ineligible for promotion after Otterbourne Parish Council had unsurprisingly rejected their application to install floodlights. The ambitious management and players were understandably frustrated by this, so accepted an exciting opportunity to join Alresford Town en masse.
This was the end for Otterbourne, who then suddenly decided to finish on a high note and disband. The farewell match was played on 7th May 2016, an emotional Past v Present fixture, which ironically, attracted a record crowd of over 200.
Honours
1st team Hampshire Football Association Hampshire Football Association Handbook 2017/18 Intermediate Cup Winners 2015/16. Finalists 1991/92 and 2004/05 Hampshire League League Cup Winners 1995/96 Hampshire Premier League Senior Division Runners-up 2007/08 and 2015/16 Southampton Football Association Southampton Divisional Football Association Handbook 2017/18 Senior Cup Winners 1995/96 Southampton Senior Cup – The Finals 1909–2022 by Gary Day Junior 'A' Cup Finalists 1967/68 Southampton League Southampton Football League Handbook & Directory 2018/19 Premier Division Champions 1986/87 Junior Division 5 Champions 1965/66 Other Andover Open Cup Winners 2015/16
Second Team Hampshire Premier League Combination Cup Winners 2009/10 Southampton League Senior Division 2 Champions 1988/89
Third Team Southampton League Junior Division 2 Champions 2001/02 Junior Division 8 Champions 1980/81
League career 1986–2016 Season Division Position Significant events 1986/87Southampton League Premier Division1/14Promoted 1987/88Hampshire League Division 26/19 1988/89Hampshire League Division 26/19 1989/90Hampshire League Division 212/18 1990/91Hampshire League Division 215/18 1991/92Hampshire League Division 26/15 1992/93Hampshire League Division 212/18 1993/94Hampshire League Division 29/17 1994/95Hampshire League Division 29/17 1995/96Hampshire League Division 210/18 1996/97Hampshire League Division 23/18 1997/98Hampshire League Division 23/16 1998/99Hampshire League Division 28/18Re-organisation 1999/00Hampshire League Division 115/18Relegated 2000/01Hampshire League Division 25/16 2001/02Hampshire League Division 210/16 2002/03Hampshire League Division 28/13 2003/04Hampshire League Division 28/15Left competition 2004/05Wessex League Division 36/22 2005/06Wessex League Division 38/17 2006/07Wessex League Division 36/18Left Competition 2007/08Hampshire Premier League2/17 2008/09Hampshire Premier League7/18 2009/10Hampshire Premier League8/18 2010/11Hampshire Premier League9/18 2011/12Hampshire Premier League16/18 2012/13Hampshire Premier League16/18 2013/14Hampshire Premier League Senior Division11/18Competition absorbed Hampshire League 2004 2014/15Hampshire Premier League Senior Division3/18 2015/16Hampshire Premier League Senior Division2/18Left Competition
Ground
Otterbourne F.C. played at Oakwood Park Recreation Ground, Oakwood Avenue, Otterbourne, SO21 2ED.
The venue has a modern pavilion with a licensed bar. The pitch has a permanent fixed barrier along the near side and is still used today – ironically by fierce rivals Colden Common from 2019 to 2025 and then by Southampton League outfit Sporting Wessex.
Notable players
Dave Diaper and the ex-Southampton defender Kevin Moore, played for the club after retiring from the professional game.
Local rivalries
Due to their location between Eastleigh and Winchester, Otterbourne had a number of local rivals; the nearest being Compton, Twyford and most notably Colden Common with whom many a battle was fought over the years.
References
External links Otterbourne at the Football Club History Database Hampshire League Final Tables Wessex League Final Tables Hampshire Soccer Archive Otterbourne village website