Mottisfont F.C.
| Full name | Mottisfont Football Club | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1920 | ||
| Ground | Bengers Lane | ||
| Chairman | Graham Collins | ||
| Manager | Alan Bosenquet | ||
| League | Southampton League | ||
|
| |||
Mottisfont F.C. are a long running amateur football club based in Mottisfont, a small village and civil parish four miles north west of Romsey in the Test Valley district of Hampshire, England,
The club are affiliated to the Hampshire Football Association and are long serving members of the Southampton Football League.
History
Mottisfont F.C. were formed circa 1920, and initially played friendly fixtures. Their first known match was a 2–0 win over neighbours Awbridge that year.[1]
In 1927 they joined the Southampton League, and were initially placed in the short-lived 'Romsey Division' before moving to the larger Junior section.
However, it took until the early sixties for any notable success to arrive, but it was worth the wait as three consecutive titles saw them progress to the Senior section. In 1965 they won promotion to the Premier Division, and the following year, they reached the Southampton Senior Cup final at the The Dell, Southampton - losing 0–1 against Pirelli General.[2]
The 'Font remained in Senior football until 1981, after which their fortunes declined with a rapid dissent down the divisions. However, thanks to efforts of a small and loyal committee, they survived these lean years and gradually recovered.[3]
The late nineties saw a revival and a return to the Senior section in 2000 saw their fortunes take off as both sides won back to back titles (the Reserves completing the treble in 2001). The first team then finished 3rd in the Premier Division and won the Senior League Cup.
This saw Mottisfont make a successful application to join the Hampshire League and here they enjoyed further success, winning the Division 2 title.[4]
However, they were denied the opportunity to progress further as the competition was then absorbed by the expanding Wessex League in 2004,[5] and unable to meet the stricter ground criteria, Mottisfont instead became founder members of the Hampshire League 2004.[6]
Here, they soon became a dominant force in the fledgling competition, winning the title three years running between 2006 and 2008 (the first two seasons unbeaten).[7] They also enjoyed numerous cup runs, most notably in 2006 when they won the Trophyman League Cup and reached the Southampton Senior Cup final at St Mary's Stadium[8] but were denied the treble after a comprehensive 0–5 defeat by Vosper Thornycroft Reserves.[9]
Mottisfont remained in the competition until 2012[10] before joining the City of Southampton Sunday League under a new regime.
In March 2022 the club celebrated their Centenary when the present day side narrowly defeated the Old Boys 2–1 in a commemorative fixture.
Honours
1st Team
- Hampshire League
- Division 2 Champions 2003/04
- Hampshire League 2004
- Champions 2005/06, 2006/07 and 2007/08
- Trophyman League Cup Winners 2005/06 and Finalists 2007/08
- Southampton Football Association [11]
- Senior Cup Finalists 1965/66 and 2005/06
- Junior 'A' Cup Finalists 1997/98
- Southampton League [12]
- Senior Division 1 Champions 2001/02 and Runners-up 1967/68
- Senior Division 2 Champions 2000/01
- Junior Division 2 Champions 1997/98
- Junior Division 4 Champions 1962/63
- Junior Division 5 Champions 1961/62
- Junior Division 7 Champions 1960/61
- Senior League Cup Winners 2002/03
- Junior League Cup Finalists 1999/00
- Other
- Romsey Hospital Cup Finalists 1932/33
2nd Team
- Southampton Football Association
- Junior 'B' Cup Winners 2000/01
- Southampton League
- Junior Division 3 Champions 2001/02
- Junior Division 5 Champions 2000/01
- Junior League Cup Winners 2000/01
County League career 2003–12
| Season | Division | Position | Significant events |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003–04 | Hampshire League Division 2 | 1/15 | Competition absorbed by the Wessex League |
| 2004–05 | Hampshire League 2004 | 4/16 | |
| 2005–06 | Hampshire League 2004 | 1/17 | Unbeaten |
| 2006–07 | Hampshire League 2004 | 1/16 | Unbeaten |
| 2007–08 | Hampshire League 2004 | 1/15 | |
| 2008–09 | Hampshire League 2004 | 7/15 | |
| 2009–10 | Hampshire League 2004 | 3/14 | |
| 2010–11 | Hampshire League 2004 | 15/17 | |
| 2011–12 | Hampshire League 2004 | 9/13 | Left competition |
Ground
Mottisfont FC play at Bengers Lane Sports Ground, Mottisfont, SO51 0LR. The venue has ample parking with a pavilion. The facilities are shared with Mottisfont Cricket Club.[13]
Local rivalries
Mottisfont have a number of local rivals within the Test Valley district, including Broughton, Braishfield, Michelmersh & Timsbury,[14] Romsey Town and the now sadly defunct Awbridge.[15]
References
- ^ Awbridge FC - The history of a village football club by John Moody
- ^ A Century of Southampton Local Soccer 1908-2008 by John Moody
- ^ Hampshire Football Association Centenary History 1887-1987 by Norman Gannaway
- ^ A Tabulated History of the Hampshire League by Stephen Farmery
- ^ "Hants League accept Wessex expansion plans as inevitable". 20 May 2003.
- ^ "All systems go as 'new' Hampshire League earns a reprieve". Daily Echo. 5 August 2004. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
- ^ "Mottisfont win the title". Hampshire Chronicle. 7 May 2008.
- ^ "Semi-final sides aim for St Mary's dream". Daily Echo. 14 March 2006.
- ^ Southampton Senior Cup – The Finals 1909-2022 by Gary Day
- ^ "Football Club History Database - Hampshire League 2004 2012-13". www.fchd.info.
- ^ Southampton Divisional Football Association Handbook 2025/26
- ^ Southampton Football League Handbook & Directory 2025/26
- ^ "Request Rejected".
- ^ "FOOTBALL: Bewick's late winner keeps Font on track". Hampshire Chronicle. 29 March 2007.
- ^ "Romsey Area Football Team Photos". www.woodleynet.co.uk.