New Milton F.C. were a long running amateur football club based in New Milton, a market town in the New Forest district of Hampshire.
They ran for 101 years, and were long standing members of the original Hampshire League until 1998, when they merged with AFC Lymington to form Lymington & New Milton.
History
New Milton were formed in 1897 and spent their formative years playing friendly fixtures before joining the New Forest League. Association Football in Hampshire until 1914 by Norman Gannaway
In 1924, New Milton were elected to the Hampshire League West Division and by the end of the decade had progressed to Division 1. At the time, the competition was of a very high standard, and they did superbly well to finish 4th in 1931, their highest ever final position. During this time, they also began entering national cup competitions.The FA Cup Club by Club Record compiled by James Wright However, financial problems forced them to leave in 1936 for the less demanding Bournemouth League. A History of Bournemouth Football Association & League 1920-95 by Norman Gannaway
After World War II, the club reformed (as New Milton Argyle until 1950) and returned to the county league in 1946.https://fchd.info/NEW-MILT.HTM They very much became main-stays in the third tier, as apart from two seasons in Division 2 (1972-74), they would remain here for the next 40 years. A Tabulated History of the Hampshire League by Stephen Farmery
Following the creation of the Wessex League in 1986, the Hampshire League was consequently restructured, and New Milton were placed in a revised Division 2.Hampshire Football Association Centenary History 1887-1987 by Norman Gannaway Again, they consolidated and after a series of encouraging seasons they were promoted in 1992.
A year later, the club became known as New Milton Town after accepting an offer from the local council to use the newly opened sports ground at Fawcett Fields. Here they had the main enclosed pitch with impressive facilities that would enable them to progress to a higher level. History of the Hampshire League 1896–1996 by Norman Gannaway There was initial success when they reached the 1996 League Cup final, but then surprisingly lost 0-1 against lower division Otterbourne.'The Pink' Southern Daily Echo, Page 10. 11th May 1996 After this the club found it difficult to attract quality players and were relegated in 1997. https://fchd.info/lghist/hants1997.htm
A year later, New Milton merged with ambitious neighbours AFC Lymington to form Lymington & New Milton, taking the 'Linnets' place in the Wessex League and playing at Fawcett Fields. https://www.newmiltontownfc.com/history
However, the move was not universally popular amongst both sets of supporters. Lymington Town was immediately reformed, https://footballgroundsinfocus.com/NLFPDHistory.htm whilst the previous New Milton first team continued for the following season before disbanding.https://fchd.info/lghist/hants1999.htm The name of the merged club was later changed back to New Milton Town. https://fchd.info/LYMINGNM.HTM
Honours Bournemouth Football Association Senior Cup Winners 1990/91 Junior Cup Winners Hampshire League League Cup Finalists 1995/96 Bournemouth League Division 1 Champions Division 2 Champions New Forest League Division 1 Champions Division 2 Champions
Playing Records
Hampshire League
SeasonDivisionPositionSignificant events1924/25West Division11/131925/26West Division3/121926/27West Division6/101927/28West Division6/12Re-organisation 1928/29South Division9/13Re-organisation 1929/30Division 115/161930/31Division 14/16Highest ever position1931/32Division 110/161932/33Division 115/15 1933/34Division 116/16Relegated1934/35Division 24/16Promoted1935/36Division 116/16Relegated - left competition1936-46 1945/46Division 37/121946/47Division 3 West9/121947/48Division 3 West9/141948/49Division 3 West9/141949/50Division 3 West9/141950/51Division 3 West7/141951/52Division 3 West13/141952/53Division 3 West11/14 1953/54Division 3 West14/141954/55Division 3 West10/111955/56Division 312/161956/57Division 311/161957/58Division 314/161958/59Division 312/16 1959/60Division 312/161960/61Division 36/161961/62Division 313/16 1962/63Division 36/161963/64Division 311/161964/65Division 312/16 1965/66Division 316/161966/67Division 38/161967/68Division 315/161968/69Division 3 West10/141969/70Division 3 West11/16 1970/71Division 3 West11/161971/72Division 34/16Promoted1972/73Division 212/161973/74Division 215/16Relegated1974/75Division 34/161975/76Division 34/16 1976/77Division 34/16 1977/78Division 315/16 1978/79Division 313/161979/80Division 311/151980/81Division 310/18 1981/82Division 310/16 1982/83Division 35/151983/84Division 311/18 1984/85Division 316/181985/86Division 313/181986/87Division 29/18Re-organisation due to creation of Wessex League 1987/88Division 28/191988/89Division 212/191989/90Division 25/18 1990/91Division 26/181991/92Division 23/15Promoted 1992/93Division 18/171993/94Division 115/201994/95Division 114/20 1995/96Division 116/201996/97Division 119/21Relegated1997/98Division 215/18Merged with AFC Lymington
FA Cup SeasonRoundOpponentsResult1929/30Extra-Preliminary RoundH v Castle HillL 0-31931/32Extra-Preliminary RoundA v FarehamL 0-31932/33Preliminary RoundH v BournemouthL 2-7
Notable Players New Milton had many fine players over the years, including former professionals Bill Rawlings, George Harkus, Bill Kitchener and Neil Prosser.
Ground
Until 1993, New Milton played on the Recreation Ground in the town centre.
They then relocated to the newly opened and better equipped Fawcett Fields, Christchurch Road, New Milton, Hampshire. BH25 6QB. The ground remains is use today. It has a large pavilion and is enclosed with a large stand, permanent pitch barrier and floodlights. https://pitchfinder.org.uk/map/site/1011501/
The 'phoenix side' played the 1998/99 season at near-by Milford-on-Sea.
Local rivalries
New Milton enjoyed a healthy rivalry with number of New Forest clubs such as Brockenhurst, Sway,Sway FC 75th Anniversary 1908–84 by Les Castle Bashley, Ringwood Town, Wellworthy Athletic and Lymington Town. A History of Lymington Town Football Club 1876-1984 by Norman Gannaway
Successor club
See New Milton Town F.C.
References
External links New Milton Town FC New Milton at the Football Club History Database New Milton Town at the Football Club History Database Hampshire League Final Tables Hampshire Soccer Archive