Moneyfield Sports F.C. were a long-running amateur football club based in Copnor, a suburb of Portsmouth.
In existence for 50 years, the club were mainstays of the Hampshire League (under a number of identities) until their sudden demise in 1984. Despite the name and location, they are not connected to the present day Moneyfields F.C.
History
The club were formed in 1934 as the works side of Airspeed Ltd, who were running Portsmouth Airport and were originally known as Airspeed Portsmouth.https://theddaystory.com/markers/airspeed-factory-portsmouth-airfield/ They spent their early days playing in the local Portsmouth & District League before the outbreak of World War II.
After the conflict finally finished, the club joined the Hampshire League in 1947. Here, they were placed in Division 3 East and became a steady mid-table side, becoming known as De Havillands in 1951 after that company took over the Airport. This rebranding seemed to inspire the team, as they won the Division 3 title in 1956, and after a series of encouraging seasons they then won the Division 2 title in 1964.A History of the Hampshire League 1896-1996 by Norman Gannaway
The 'Planemakers' did well to survive in a tough Division 1, which at the time was of a very high standard. There was another name change in 1965 when Hawker-Siddeley took over the site, and in 1968 there was a memorable run in the Hampshire Senior Cup in which they reached the final. Here, they faced hot favourites Fareham Town and narrowly lost 1-2 in front of a large crowd at Fratton Park, Portsmouth.Hampshire Football Association Centenary History 1887-1987 by Norman Gannaway
However, by this point links to the airport had faded and this saw the club became known as Strongs, coinciding with the Reserves election to the county league. A year later, they changed name yet again - this time adopting their best-known identity of Moneyfield Sports - in connection with their home ground. They were relegated in 1971 but soon recovered and won promotion back four years later, remaining a steady top-flight side and performing well in the national FA Vase competition.https://fchd.info/MONEYFSP.HTM
In a bid to attract further support, the club was rebranded as Portsmouth United for the 1983/84 campaign, but despite a respectable midtable finish the move proved unsuccessful and they disbanded at the end of that season.A Tabulated History of the Hampshire League by Stephen Farmery
Honours
1st Team Hampshire League Division 2 Champions 1964/65 Division 3 Champions 1955/56 Hampshire Football Association Hampshire Football Association Yearbook 2005/06 Senior Cup Finalists 1967/68 Intermediate Cup Finalists 1962/63 Portsmouth Football Association Senior Cup Winners 1973/74 and 1975/76, Finalists 1974/75
Playing records
Hampshire League SeasonDivisionPositionSignificant events1947/48Division 3 East7/12as Airspeed Portsmouth1948/49Division 3 East11/141949/50Division 3 East9/141950/51Division 3 East4/14 1951/52Division 3 East12/14as De Havilland 1952/53Division 3 East12/141953/54Division 3 East7/141954/55Division 3 East4/111955/56Division 31/16Champions - promoted1956/57Division 212/161957/58Division 27/161958/59Division 211/161959/60Division 210/161960/61Division 214/161961/62Division 25/161962/63Division 23/16 1963/64Division 21/16Champions - promoted1964/65Division 16/161965/66Division 111/16as Hawker-Siddeley1966/67Division 111/161967/68Division 19/161968/69Division 112/16as Strongs1969/70Division 112/16as Moneyfield Sports1970/71Division 116/16Relegated1971/72Division 25/16 1972/73Division 26/161973/74Division 27/161974/75Division 25/16Promoted1975/76Division 110/161976/77Division 113/161977/78Division 113/16 1978/79Division 113/161979/80Division 115/16Not relegated1980/81Division 115/201981/82Division 118/20 1982/83Division 115/201983/84Division 112/20as Portsmouth United Left competition
FA Amateur Cup SeasonRoundOpponentsResult1966/671st Qualifying RoundA v Gosport BoroughL 2-31967/681st Qualifying RoundH v TottonW 3–0 2nd Qualifying RoundH v Pirelli GeneralL 2-41968/691st Qualifying RoundH v WaterloovilleL 0-21969/701st Qualifying RoundA v TottonL 0-41970/711st Qualifying RoundA v TottonW 1-0 2nd Qualifying RoundA v ChristchurchL 1-31972/731st Qualifying RoundA v BrockenhurstW 1-0 2nd Qualifying RoundA v Gosport BoroughL 1-21973/741st Qualifying RoundA v PaghamW 3-0 2nd Qualifying RoundA v Gosport BoroughD 2-2 Replay H v Gosport BoroughW 2-1 3rd Qualifying RoundA v BrockenhurstL 0-3
FA Vase SeasonRoundOpponentsResult1974/75Round 1A v PortfieldW 5-4 Round 2H v Chichester CityW 3–0 Round 3A v Farnborough TownL 0-11975/76Round 1A v Camberley TownW 1-0 Round 2A v Chichester CityL 2-41976/77Round 1H v PortfieldW 4-2 Round 2A v Chichester CityL 0-41977/78Preliminary RoundA v Swanage Town & HerstonD 2-2 Replay H v Swanage Town & HerstonD 0-0 ReplayA v Swanage Town & HerstonL 3-4
Ground The club played at Moneyfields Sports Ground, Dover Road, Copnor, Portsmouth. PO3 6LA.Page 94 - Before the Cemetery End by Paul Claydon & Vince Taylor. ISBN 0 9529435 5 7
The ground remains in use today and since 1994 has been home to the modern day Moneyfields F.C. During 2023-24 the venue was redeveloped into a state of art facility with two enclosed 3G artificial pitches.https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/news/politics/plans-for-final-touches-to-moneyfields-sports-club-plans-are-unveiled-4528471Page 295. Beyond The Cemetery End by Paul Claydon & Vince Taylor (Groundtastic Publications ISBN 0 9529435 6 5) It is now also home to 'Pompey in the Community' and renamed as the John Jenkins Stadium.https://pompeyitc.co.uk/john-jenkins-stadium/
Local rivalries With there being so many teams within the city, the club had many rivals - most notably fellow 'Pompey' Hampshire League sides Portsmouth Royal Navy, McMurdo and Portsmouth Civil Service, who ironically would eventually move to Moneyfields and become the modern day club.https://moneyfieldsfootballclub.co.uk/club/history/
References
External links Moneyfield Sports at the Football Club History Database Portsmouth United at the Football Club History Database Moneyfield Sports Reserves at the Football Club History Database 3 Hampshire League Final Tables Hampshire Soccer Archive Moneyfields Sports Ground