Bitterne Nomads F.C. were an amateur football club, based in Bitterne - an eastern suburb of Southampton, Hampshire. They folded after the loss of their ground.
History
Bitterne Nomads were formed in 1939, the suffix an indication of they number of venues used for home games.
They were the third club to represent the area, although any aspirations of emulating their successful predecessors Guild and SportsBitterne Football - A glimpse at the past by Ken Prior was soon halted by the outbreak of World War II. Despite this, Bitterne Nomads remained active and participated in various war time competitions.Bitterne Nomads Football Club History Part 1 1939–47 by Ken Prior
The post war era saw renewed interest. In 1946 the club began using the Hatley Road Sports Ground, were elected into the Hampshire League Division 3 and also began entering the national cup competitions.A Tabulated History of the Hampshire League by Stephen Farmery Unfortunately, the loss of their ground forced them to leave the competition in 1949, and join the Southampton League.A Century of Southampton Local Soccer 1908–2008 by John Moody
Despite this set-back, Bitterne Nomads recovered by winning the Southampton Senior Cup in 1955 (2–1 against Winsor United at The Dell)Southampton Senior Cup Finals 1909–2022 by Gary Day and the Senior Division 1 title in 1959.Hampshire Football Association Centenary History 1887–1987 by Norman Gannaway Now playing at a nicely developed venue at Cutbush Lane, they made a returned to the county league in 1960 and immediately won promotion as Division 3 runners-up. In 1965 they were relegated back again, where they remained a steady force until 1968 when the loss of their ground prompted the club to fold.A History of the Hampshire League 1896–1996 by Norman Gannaway
Honours
Hampshire League Division 3 Runners-up 1960/61 Hampshire Football Association Intermediate Cup Finalists 1952/53 Southampton League Southampton Football League Handbook 2017/18 Senior Division 1 Champions 1958/59 Senior Division 2 Runners-up 1952/53 Senior East Division Runners-up 1950/51 Junior Eastern Division Champions 1952/53 and 1954/55 (Reserves) Southampton Football Association Southampton Divisional Football Association Handbook 2017/18 Senior Cup Winners 1954/55
Playing records
Hampshire League SeasonDivisionPositionSignificant events1946/47Division 39/121947/48Division 3 East5/121948/49Division 3 East6/14Left competition1949-60 - Southampton League1960/61Division 32/16Promoted1961/62Division 27/161962/63Division 211/161963/64Division 210/161964/65Division 216/16Relegated1966/66Division 36/161966/67Division 36/161967/68Division 34/16Left competition
FA Cup SeasonRoundOpponentsResult1947/48Preliminary RoundH v Thornycroft AthleticL 2-3 1948/49Extra-Preliminary RoundA v Basingstoke TownW 2–1 Preliminary RoundA v Newport IOWL 0-4
FA Amateur Cup SeasonRoundOpponentsResult1946/47Preliminary RoundA v SandownW 4-2 1st Qualifying RoundA v Poole TownL 1-3 1947/481st Qualifying RoundH v Portsmouth ElectricityL 0-2 1948/49Preliminary RoundA v Romsey TownW 2-0 1st Qualifying RoundA v Portsmouth ElectricityW 1-0 2nd Qualifying RoundH v Portland UnitedD 0-0 ReplayA v Portland UnitedL 2-31962/631st Qualifying RoundA v Gosport BoroughL 2-3 1963/641st Qualifying RoundA v WaterloovilleL 2-4
Ground Bitterne Nomads played at Cutbush Lane, Townhill Park, Southampton. The ground is now covered by housing and is not to be confused with the modern day council owned pitches known by the same name located at the opposite end of the road in West End.
Notable players
Bitterne Nomads had many fine players, most notably Don Roperhttps://www.saintsplayers.co.uk/player/don-roper/ and Fred Turnerhttps://www.saintsplayers.co.uk/player/fred-turner/ who both went on to play for Southampton. Former Saints goalkeeper Eugene Bernardhttps://www.saintsplayers.co.uk/player/eugene-bernard/ also played towards the end of his career.
Local rivalries With there being so many teams in the area, Bitterne Nomads had a number of local rivals. These included Sholing Sports, Thornycrofts (Woolston) and West End.
Successor club
Bitterne Sports played in the Southampton League from 1972 until 1995. The club played on hired council pitches and reaching the Southampton FA Junior 'B' Cup final in 1989 was the closest they ever came to winning any silverware.
Bitterne Nomads FC History by Ken Priorhttps://bitterne.net/product/no-19-bitterne-nomads-football-club/ Bitterne Football - A glimpse at the past by Ken Prior https://bitterne.net/product/no-2-bitterne-football-a-glimpse-of-the-past/
References
External links Bitterne Nomads at the Football Club History Database Hampshire League final tables Hampshire Soccer Archive Bitterne Local History Society