Botley Village F.C. are a long running amateur football club based in Botley, an historic market village located 3 miles east of Southampton in Hampshire, England.
They are affiliated to the Hampshire Football Association with Charter Status, running five teams from Under 9's to adults.
History
Original Club Botley F.C. were founded in 1894 and spent their early days playing friendly fixtures before becoming founder members the Botley & District League in 1902.
After the Great War, they joined the Meon Valley League and then, after a brief spell in the Hampshire League, moved to the Southampton League in 1927, winning the Eastern Division title in 1935.
The post World War II era saw renewed interest as Botley began participating in national cup competitions and joined the Hampshire League where they were placed in Division 2, but after four difficult seasons they dropped out - returning to the more realistic Southampton League.Hampshire Football Association Centenary History 1887-1987 by Norman Gannaway
The sixties saw the club's fortunes improve when they won a series of promotions to reach the Premier Division. The 1967/68 campaign was their most successful after winning the title and Southampton Senior Cup, beating favourites Netley Sports 2-1 at The Dell, Southampton.
This was rewarded with a return to the Hampshire League, and their dramatic rise continued as they immediately won the Division 3 East title, followed by promotion again as Division 2 runners-up. On limited resources, they did extremely well to consolidate in a very tough top-flight which at the time consisted of a number of semi-professional clubs, before suffering the three successive relegation's down to Division 4.A Tabulated History of the Hampshire League by Stephen Farmery In 1976, Botley again reached the Southampton Senior Cup final, but this time lost 2-3 against BAT Sports.
In 1980 Botley were relegated back to the Southampton League where they regrouped, eventually regaining their Premier Division status, but after finishing bottom in 1992 they folded - just two years shy of their centenary.
Phoenix Club
Efforts were soon made to revive the club, and in 1994 they returned as a Sunday side called Botley Brewery. Three years later, they merged with local youth set-up Botley Barracudas to form Botley Village F.C.
The club in its current format dates back to 1997, an expanded reformation to ensure the long running continuity of Saturday football in the village.
The new team switched back to Saturday soccer, and joined the Southampton League, where they quickly won a series of promotions to reach the Premier Division by 2001. Here Botley became regular title contenders, finishing in the top four each season (three times as runners-up) and twice reaching the Senior League Cup final, before joining the Hampshire League 2004 in 2008. Despite finishing fourth in their debut season, their fortunes rapidly declined after a player exodus, which eventually resulted in relegation.
Since 2012 Botley Village have played in the Southampton League, and in 2023 they won the Junior Division 2 title.
Honours
Hampshire League Division 3 East Champions 1968-69 Division 2 Runners-up 1969-70 Southampton League Southampton Football League Handbook & Directory 2025–26 Premier Division Champions 1967-68, Runners-up 2002-03, 2003-04 and 2005-06 Senior Division 1 Runners-up 1965-66, Runners-up 1989-90 Senior Division 2 Runners-up 1999-00 Junior Division 1 Runners-up 1998-99 Junior Division 2 Champions 2022-23 Junior Division 4 Runners-up 2012-13 and 2017-18 Junior Division 6 Champions 1988-89 (3rd team) Junior Eastern Division Champions 1934-35 and 1959-60 Senior League Cup Finalists 2003-04 and 2005-06 Veterans 'A' Division Runners-up 2003-04 Veterans League Cup finalists 2004-05 Southampton Football Association Southampton Divisional Football Association Handbook & Directory 2025–26 Senior Cup Winners 1967-68, Finalists 1975-76 Junior 'A' Cup Winners 1959-60 and 1997-98, Finalists 1998-99 Hampshire Football AssociationHampshire Football Association Handbook & Directory 2015–16 Veterans Cup Winners 2002-03, Finalists 2003-04 Other Meon Valley League Champions Botley & District League Champions
Playing records
League SeasonDivisionPositionSignificant events1945–46Hampshire League Division 27/12as Botley1946–47Hampshire League Division 211/12 1947–48Hampshire League Division 210/121948–49Hampshire League Division 214/14left competition1949–68Southampton League Southampton Senior Cup Winners 19681968–69Hampshire League Division 3 East1/14Promoted1969–70Hampshire League Division 22/16Promoted 1970–71Hampshire League Division 110/161971–72Hampshire League Division 111/161972–73Hampshire League Division 116/16Relegated 1973–74Hampshire League Division 216/16Relegated1974–75Hampshire League Division 316/16Relegated1975–76Hampshire League Division 46/16Southampton Senior Cup finalists1976–77Hampshire League Division 47/141977–78Hampshire League Division 45/141978–79Hampshire League Division 47/13 1979–80Hampshire League Division 412/12Relegated1980–92Southampton League Folded in 19921997–2008Southampton League Re-formed in 1997 as Botley Village2008–09Hampshire League 20044/15 2009–10Hampshire League 200415/15withdrew2010–11Hampshire League 200416/17 2011–12Hampshire League 200412/13left competition2012–24Southampton League
FA Cup SeasonRoundOpponentsResult1948-49Extra-Preliminary RoundH v Winchester CityL 1-3
FA Amateur Cup SeasonRoundOpponentsResult1948-49Extra-Preliminary RoundA v Thornycroft AthleticL 1-2
Ground
Botley Village F.C. play at the Recreation Ground, High Street, Botley, SO30 2ES.
The venue has two pitches with a large car park and a modern pavilion. During their hey-day, Botley had their own Supporters Club and regularly attracted large crowds.
Local rivalries
Botley Village have a number of local rivals, most notably Hedge End Rangers and Hedge End Town.
References
External links Botley Village Youth website Botley at the Football Club History Database Botley Village at the Football Club History Database Hampshire League Final Tables Hampshire Soccer Archive Botley website