Bitterne Guild F.C. were an amateur football club, based in Bitterne - an eastern suburb of Southampton, Hampshire. They disbanded during World War I and did not reform once the conflict was finally over.
History
Bitterne Guild were established circa 1896 and spent their early days playing friendlies before joining a variety of short lived local Leagues.Association Football in Hampshire until 1914 by Norman Gannaway
In 1905 the club took up residence at The Veracity Ground on Sholing Common, joined the Hampshire League and also began entering national cup competitions.A History of the Hampshire League 1896-1996 by Norman Gannaway
In those days, it was not uncommon for teams to play in more than one league in the same season, and in 1908 Bitterne Guild became founder members of the Southampton Football Association - winning the inaugural Senior League title and retaining it a year later. Further success arrived in 1911 when they won the Southampton Senior Cup (3-0 against Eastleigh Athletic at The Dell, Southampton), after reaching the two previous finals.A Century of Southampton Local Soccer 1908-2008 by John Moody
In order to attract wider support, the club was re-branded as Woolston F.C. in 1912 and again won the Senior League title. Two years later they again won the Southampton Senior Cup (2-1 against Rifle Depot) before the Great War stopped them playing, sadly never to reform.Bitterne Football A Gimpse at the Past by Ken Prior
Honours
Hampshire League South Division runners-up: 1912–13 Southampton League Senior Division 1 champions: 1908–09, 1910–11, 1912–13 Hampshire Football Association Junior Cup Winners 1910-11 (Reserves) Southampton Football AssociationSouthampton Divisional Football Association Handbook 2017–18 Senior Cup winners: 1910–11, 1913–14. Runners-up: 1908–09, 1909–10 Junior 'A' Cup winners: 1908–09 (Reserves)
Playing records
Hampshire League SeasonDivisionPositionSignificant events1905/06South Division4/8as Bitterne Guild1906/07South Division3/101907/08South Division4/81908/09South Division3/101909/10South Division7/91910/11South Division4/81911/12South Division5/81912/13South Division2/8as Woolston1913/14County Division5/9Left competition
FA Cup SeasonRoundOpponentsResult1907/081st Qualifying RoundH v North Hants IronworksD 3-3 ReplayH v North Hants IronworksW 3-1 2nd Qualifying RoundH v Salisbury CityL 1–41908/091st Qualifying RoundH v Eastleigh AthleticW 5-2 2nd Qualifying RoundH v North Hants IronworksW 6-1 3rd Qualifying RoundH v CowesL 2-4 1909/101st Qualifying RoundH v Farnham TownW 5–1 2nd Qualifying RoundH v Winchester CityW 7–1 3rd Qualifying RoundH v Royal Engineers W 2–0 4th Qualifying RoundA v LeytonL 1–91910/111st Qualifying RoundA v CowesD 1-1 ReplayH v CowesL 0-31911/12Preliminary RoundH v Farnham TownW 9-0 1st Qualifying RoundH v CowesW 3-0 2nd Qualifying RoundA v Eastleigh AthleticW 3-1 3rd Qualifying RoundH v 1st Kings Royal RiflesL 0-21912/13Preliminary RoundA v Bournemouth Gasworks AthleticW 4-0 1st Qualifying RoundH v 1st Kings Royal RiflesD 0-0 ReplayA v 1st Kings Royal RiflesL 1-21913/14Preliminary RoundH v CowesL 0-2
Ground
Bitterne Guild played at the original Veracity Ground, Sholing Common, Southampton. The land was originally owned by the Chamberlayne family - close to the present day site off Spring Road, which is known by the same name.https://www.southampton.gov.uk/people-places/parks-open-spaces/parks/find-a-park/veracity-ground/
The pitch was enclosed with a stand and frequently hosted large crowds. In 1919 Thornycrofts (Woolston) moved in and also enjoyed success,https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/17986978.thornycrofts-took-mighty-burnley-fa-cup/ until the site was closed in 1926 and sold for housing.
Notable players
Bitterne Guild had many fine players during their short history, and their playing strength is clearly indicated by the fact that Arthur Dominy,https://www.saintsplayers.co.uk/player/arthur-dominy/https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/10418790.arthur-dominys-medal-sells-for-double-than-expected-at-london-auction/ George McGhee,https://www.saintsplayers.co.uk/player/george-mcghee/ Stan Smith,https://www.saintsplayers.co.uk/player/stan-smith/ Joe Hoare,https://www.saintsplayers.co.uk/player/joe-hoare/ Jim AngellSaints - A Complete Record of Southampton Football Club 1885-1987 by Gary Chalk & Duncan Holley and Arthur Draperhttps://www.saintsplayers.co.uk/player/arthur-diaper/ all went on to play for Southampton.
Local rivalries
With there being so many teams in the area, there were a number of local rivals such as Peartree Green, Itchen Sports and Sholing Athletic.
Successor clubs
In later years, both Bitterne Sports and Bitterne Nomads played with great success in the same competitions.A Tabulated History of the Hampshire League by Stephen Farmery
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 Hampshire League final tables Hampshire Soccer Archive Bitterne Local History Society