Bass (Alton) F.C. were a long running amateur football club based in Alton, a market town in east Hampshire, England.
'The Brewers' were long standing members of the Hampshire League until 1991 when they merged with neighbours and league rivals Alton Town to create Alton F.C.
History
The club were formed in 1927 as Courage & Co - as the works side of the large brewery site based in Alton.
With their company owned sports ground, they gained direct admittance to the Hampshire League Division 2 and won the Hampshire Intermediate Cup in their very first season.A History of the Hampshire League 1896-1996 by Norman Gannaway The following year they won the title and were promoted to Division 1 which at the time was of a very high standard. During this time they also began entering national competitions, and performed well in both the F.A. Cup and F.A. Amateur Cup.The FA Cup Club by Club Record compiled by James Wright
After World War II, Courages found themselves living in the shadow of the recently formed Alton Town, who would soon enjoy great success.https://fchd.info/ALTONT-1.HTM This saw 'the Brewers' spend many years playing in the Aldershot League, apart from the 1954/55 campaign when they took part in the Hampshire League's short-lived North Division.Hampshire Football Association Centenary History 1887-1987 by Norman Gannaway
In 1972 Courages returned to the county league and were placed in Division 4. They initially performed well and won promotion in 1975, but then only lasted two seasons before being relegated.https://fchd.info/COURAGEC.HTM
When the brewery was taken over by Bass in 1979, the club was renamed Bass (Alton), and with Alton Town now in decline, they then re-emerged as the top team in the area after a series of promotions saw them return to Division 1 in 1983 after a 45-year absence.https://fchd.info/BASSALTO.HTM The following season saw an exciting run in the Hampshire Senior Cup, causing a big shock after defeating Basingstoke Town 2-1 at the Camrose to reach the semi-finals. Here they took on another giant, Farnborough Town, but lost 1-3 to the evenual winners.Alton Herald, 30th March 1984 - Page 16 Bass also twice reached the final of the Aldershot Senior Cup and continued to hold their own in the top-flight, although the competition was weakened in 1986 after the Wessex League was formed.Bass (Alton) FC matchday programme 1985/86 compiled by Tony Hillman
A year later, their resurgent neighbours joined them in Division 1 for what was the first time that the two rivals had played at the same level.A Tabulated History of the Hampshire League by Stephen Farmery However, after a poor 1990/91 campaign (which saw Bass finish rock bottom and Town a few places above) it had become clear that the area could not sustain two successful senior clubs. There had always been a close friendly relationship between the two camps so they then decided to join forces to create the present day Alton F.C.https://www.altonfc.com/history
The merger was successful and has enabled the club to progress further up the pyramid system.
Honours Hampshire Football Association Hampshire Football Association Handbook & Directory 2012/13 Intermediate Cup Winners 1928/29 Hampshire League Division 2 Champions 1929/30, Runners-up 1982/83 Aldershot Football Association https://www.aldershotdfa.com/adfa-saturday-senior-cup-roll-of-honour/ Senior Cup Finalists 1984/85 and 1987/88 Aldershot League Division 1 Champions Division 2 Champions
Playing Records
Hampshire League SeasonDivisionPositionSignificant events1928/29Division 23/12Hampshire Intermediate Cup winners1929/30Division 21/12Promoted1930/31Division 111/161931/32Division 18/161932/33Division 111/151933/34Division 19/161934/35Division 110/161935/36Division 112/161936/37Division 114/161937/38Division 116/16Relegated 1938/39Division 23/15 1954/55North Division10/11left competition 1972/73Division 410/161973/74Division 46/161974/75Division 44/16Promoted1975/76Division 39/161976/77Division 315/16Relegated1977/78Division 49/16 1978/79Division 411/131979/80Division 411/12League restructure at end of season1980/81Division 312/181981/82Division 33/16Promoted1982/83Division 22/20Promoted1983/84Division 113/20Hampshire Senior Cup Semi-Finalists 1984/85Division 114/20Aldershot Senior Cup Finalists1985/86Division 117/20League restructure at end of season1986/87Division 115/181987/88Division 112/18Aldershot Senior Cup Finalists1988/89Division 115/171989/90Division 115/181990/91Division 118/18Merged with Alton Town
FA Cup SeasonRoundOpponentsResult1930/31Preliminary RoundH v Thornycroft AthleticW 4-3 1st Qualifying RoundA v EghamL 3–61931/32Preliminary RoundH v Basingstoke TownW 4-1 1st Qualifying RoundH v EghamW 6-0 2nd Qualifying RoundH v Camberley & YorktownW 4-3 3rd Qualifying RoundH v Winchester CityL 3-41932/331st Qualifying RoundH v Staines TownW 4-2 2nd Qualifying RoundH v Godalming TownD 2-2 ReplayA v Godalming TownL 0-11933/341st Qualifying RoundA v EghamL 2-41934/35Extra-Preliminary RoundA v RedhillL 0-41935/36Extra-Preliminary RoundA v Brookwood HospitalW 5-0 Preliminary RoundH v Godalming TownW 3-0 1st Qualifying RoundA v Metropolitan PoliceW 4-1 2nd Qualifying RoundA v PO Engineers (Beddington)L 2-51936/37Preliminary RoundH v CowesD 0-0 Replay A v CowesW 3-2 1st Qualifying RoundH v Salisbury CityD 3-3 ReplayA v Salisbury CityL 0-31937/38Preliminary RoundA v Dorchester TownW 3-0 1st Qualifying RoundA v Basingstoke TownW 6-2 2nd Qualifying RoundH v WeymouthW 2-1 3rd Qualifying RoundA v CowesL 1-8
FA Amateur Cup SeasonRoundOpponentsResult1930/311st Qualifying RoundH v Guildford CityL 3-41931/322nd Qualifying RoundH v HershamL 2-31932/331st Qualifying RoundH v Camberley & YorktownW 3-2 2nd Qualifying RoundH v RASC AldershotL 0-11933/341st Qualifying RoundA v Godalming TownW 3-1 2nd Qualifying RoundA v RASC AldershotL 2-51934/351st Qualifying RoundA v Walton-on-ThamesW 1-0 2nd Qualifying RoundH v RASC AldershotL 3-41935/361st Qualifying RoundH v WokingL 2-61936/371st Qualifying RoundA v RAMC AldershotL 2-3
Ground Bass (Alton) played at the Bass Sports Ground, London Road, Alton.
The venue was enclosed with a large wooden stand, fixed pitch barrier, floodlights and pavilion. The 1935 FA Amateur Cup tie against Woking attracted a record crowd of 750. Page 233, Beyond The Cemetery End by Paul Claydon & Vince Taylor. Groundtastic Publications
The ground continued to be used by the merged club until 2015 when it was sold for housing. However, brewery owners Coors financed a return to a redeveloped Anstey Park (the former home of Alton Town, located just a short distance away).
Local rivalries Bass (Alton) enjoyed a healthy rivalry with number of clubs in the east Hampshire area including Liss Athletic, Petersfield Town, Liphook and most notably Alton Town - with whom they eventually merged with. The Alton FC Story (75th Anniversary) by Philip J Taylor
Successor Club See Alton F.C.
References
External links Alton F.C. website Courages at the Football Club History Database Bass (Alton) at the Football Club History Database Bass (Alton) Reserves at the Football Club History Database Hampshire League Final Tables Hampshire Soccer Archive