Amesbury is a small Town in Wiltshire approximately nine miles north of Salisbury, very close to the A303 and Stonehenge.
Amesbury Town Football Club was founded in 1904 and first played its football in a field near the historic monument of Stonehenge, although legend purporting they didn’t need to bring along their own goalposts is unfounded!
Town played local football in the Salisbury League until progressing to County football in the late 50s. In the early years the club went under various guises, Amesbury, Amesbury Comrades (after WWI)and Amesbury Corinthians. The years between the wars were not a glorious time for the club, it's only success being champions of the Salisbury & District Wednesday League in 1935/36. It was not until the late 1950’s however that Town started to gain County honours, winning the Wiltshire League Division 1 title, Hospital Cup in 1959/60 and also the Wiltshire Subsidiary Cup in 1960/61.
However, it was some 16 seasons later that further success came to the Town, winning the Wiltshire Combination League in 1975/76 and two seasons later, lifting the Wiltshire County title for the first time in 1984.
In the late 1980’s and early 90’s the club enjoyed its most successful period, winning the Wiltshire County title twice and finishing Runners up on three occasions, as well as lifting the Wiltshire Senior Cup in 1993/94 for the second time.
It was now thought time for the Town to move forward, applied to join the Western League and duly took their place in the First Division for the 1994/95 season. The first season was fairly successful, with average gates of 99 and one crowd of 200, finishing 14th place out of 21 teams.
However, the loss of key players over the next two seasons made them struggle and the Club finished bottom in season 1996/97. Although Town could have continued in the Western League, the Club took the decision to pull out, mainly due to the problem of finding players willing to travel the long distances involved to fulfil fixtures and cost incurred in travelling those long distances.
It was decided to regroup and run just one senior side in the Salisbury & District League for the 1997/98 season. Previously, a Reserve side operated in the Wiltshire County League. The Towns commitment to youth over the years saw them continue to run an under 18 side in the Wiltshire County FA Youth Floodlight League.
In the meantime the Club were looking to progress in a different direction and applied to join the Hampshire League. With Amesbury being close to the A303 and only a few miles from the Hampshire border, this was indeed the best option for the Club.
The 1998/99 season, Amesbury ran their first team in the Division 3 of the Hampshire League and re introduced a Reserve side in the Salisbury League. The Club’s first season in Hampshire was fairly successful, finishing 4th. Town also had success in Wiltshire, by winning the Wiltshire Junior Cup.
The 1999/2000 season saw Amesbury meet the criteria to gain entry into the newly formed Hampshire League Premier Division, with the Reserve side in the Hampshire League Combination.
The season proved to be one of the most memorable in the clubs history, winning the Premier Division title in its inaugural season, however the Reserve side had a rather disappointing season finishing in the wrong half of the Hampshire League Combination.
The 2000/01 season was not as successful as the club would have liked, failing to regain the Championship title of last season, eventually finishing in 12th position. The Youth team did however
reach the Wiltshire County FA Youth Floodlight League final, narrowly losing to Chippenham Youth.
The following season, 2001/02, the Club finished second from bottom having won only 8 of their 40 league games played, conceding 114 goals in the process whilst only scoring 45 themselves. The Club and
bottom placed AFC Aldermaston were saved from relegation due to clubs in Division One of Hampshire League not having the necessary ground standards required for the Premier Division. This season also saw the Club entered in the FA Vase and hopes of a prolonged cup run were high after earning a creditable 0-0 draw at Portland United in the second qualifying round. However it was not to be as Portland ran out 2-0 winners in the replay. Both the Reserves and Youth teams finished in lowly positions in their respective leagues.
Season 2002/03 was better than the previous one with the Club finishing in eleventh place in the league. In the FA Vase the Club were drawn away to Devon League side Newton Abbot and again came away with a commendable 3-3 draw. But as with the previous season hopes of progress were dashed when Newton Abbot ran out comfortable 4-1 winners in the replay. The Reserve team withdrew from the Salisbury & District League when they were unable to fulfil their fixtures due to player unavailability.
The 2003/04 saw the Club finish in 8th place in the league, which was again an improvement on the previous season. After getting off to an to a slow start winning only once in their first six league games the team then produced their best form of the season winning ten of the next thirteen league matches. Unfortunately player suspensions and games cancelled took its toll and the club were unable to find the same level of consistency again. In the FA Vase the Club were once again drawn away to Newton Abbot where they lost 5-2. For the first time in a number of seasons the club won two cup matches. The club defeated Warminster Town 3-0 in the Wiltshire Senior Cup before losing in the next round to Westbury United. Shrewton United, were then beaten at the Rec. 4-2 in the Salisbury Hospital Cup. However this success was short lived as Bemerton Heath Harlequins defeated the Town 5-0 at the semi-final stage. The Reserve team were reformed and had a successful season finishing in 9th position in the Hampshire Combination League Division Two. The Youth team again struggled in their league finishing in the bottom half of the table.
The commencement of the 2004/05 season saw a number of improvements made at the Recreation Ground and it was hoped that the team would be able to make a real challenge for promotion. Despite a reasonable start to their league campaign the team once again lacked any real consistency due in part to injury to several key players and finished a very disappointing 15th place in the league. There was a change off the field when Manager Nick Horner resigned at the beginning of March and this resulted in two of the more senior players – Steve Reeves and Neil Sole being asked to stand in as temporary managers until the end of the season. In the FA Vase Minehead were defeated 4-1 before the team lost to eventual quarter finalists Bridgwater Town 0-3. In the league cup Micheldever and Clanfield were seen off before VT FC cut short the Clubs cup aspirations by winning the penalty competition 6-5 after the match had ended 2-2 following 120 minutes of exciting cup football. The Reserves, made their debut in the Wessex League Combination West and acquitted themselves well despite finishing 13th in the table and the importance of a reserve side was shown when a number of players graduated to the first team towards the end of the season. One of the highlights of the year was two fixtures to celebrate the Clubs Centenary. The first team entertained a strong Salisbury City side whilst the Reserves played against an Amesbury Old Boys team.
For season 2005/06 the Club appointed a new management team of John Scott, Pete Taylor and Gareth Dilling and expectations were once again high for a successful year. However with players moving on the team that started the season was unrecognisable from the o0ne that that ended the 2005/06 campaign. It was therefore necessary to introduce a number of locally based youngsters most of whom had never played at this level of football before The team made a reasonable start to the season but were inconsistent and despite high levels of commitment from the players a victory from the last match of the season was required to ensure relegation was avoided. This was achieved with a hard fought victory against Petersfield Town. In the FA Vase the team were drawn at home to Western League side Bishops Sutton and despite a number of chances (none of which were taken) the visitors ran out 1-0 victors. During the course of the season it was decided to pull the Reserves out of the Sydenhams Wessex League Combination Division Two as it was becoming increasing difficult to fulfil fixtures with the non availability of players.
For the 2006/07 season the majority of last season’s squad have been re-signed and several key areas have been strengthened and it is expected that the team will have a far better season than last in the renamed Sydenams Football League (Wessex) Division One. Season 2006/07 proved to be a successful one in terms of FA Vase success at least. Victories over Combined Counties Premier League side Cove (2-0 after 1-1 draw) and Thame United (Hellenic Premier League) 4-2 earned them the prestigious FA Vase Team of the Round Award. Manager John Scott resigned in November to be replaced by Tony Craven but a bad run of results led to his dismissal after only being in charge for a few weeks, Former manager Glen Butterfield then returned to the club from Andover New Street to run the side.
Due to a further re-organisation of the league the Club escaped relegation after finishing 18th of 19 teams.

FA CARLSBERG VASE TEAM OF THE ROUND - 1st Round 2006/07

WILTSHIRE LEAGUE DIVISION ONE CHAMPIONS:
1959/60
WILTSHIRE COUNTY LEAGUE CHAMPIONS:
1979/80, 1990/91, 1991/92
WILTSHIRE COUNTY LEAGUE RUNNERS-UP:
1988/89, 1989/90, 1993/94
WILTSHIRE COMBINATION LEAGUE CHAMPIONS:
1976/77
WILTSHIRE SENIOR CUP WINNERS:
1983/84, 1993/94
WILTSHIRE SENIOR CUP FINALISTS:
1995/96
WILTSHIRE JUNIOR CUP WINNERS:
1998/99
WILTSHIRE SUBSIDIARY CUP WINNERS:
1960/61
WILTSHIRE LEAGUE SENIOR CUP WINNERS (Ghia, Harding, Addkey):
1988/89, 1989/90, 1990/91, 1992/93
SALISBURY & DISTRICT LGE DIV 1 WINNERS : 1955/56
SALISBURY & DISTRICT LGE DIV 2 WINNERS : 1954/55
SALISBURY & DISTRICT WEDNESDAY LGE WINNERS : 1935/36
W.C STOKES MEMORIAL CUP WINNERS:
1975/76, 1977/78, 1982/83, 1988/89, 1990/91, 1992/93
W.C STOKES MEMORIAL CUP FINALISTS:
1976/77
HOSPITAL CUP WINNERS:
1959/60, 1963/64, 1976/77, 1978/79, 1979/80, 1980/81, 1981/82, 1987/88, 1989/90
MORRISON CUP WINNERS:
1997/98
MORRISON CUP FINALISTS:
1998/99
LORD BLEDISLOE CUP FINALISTS:
1997/98
CHARITY 'A' CUP WINNERS : 1955/56
HESELTINE CUP FINALISTS : 1955/56, 1962/63 (reserves)
CORONATION CUP FINALISTS : 1966/67 (reserves)
COOK CUP WINNERS : 1961/62 (colts)
HAMPSHIRE PREMIER LEAGUE DIVISION CHAMPIONS:
1999/2000
WILTSHIRE COUNTY FA YOUTH FLOODLIGHT LEAGUE CHAMPIONS:
1999/2000
WILTSHIRE COUNTY FA YOUTH FLOODLIGHT LEAGUE FINALISTS:
2000/01
SALISBURY & DISTRICT YOUTH LGE WINNERS : 1952/53, 1953/54, 1956/57, 1961/62
SALISBURY YOUTH CUP WINNERS : 1952/53, 1953/54, 1956/57

AMESBURY TOWN F.C.

1904 Founded

1904-56 Played in Salisbury & District League, as Amesbury, Amesbury Comrades, Amesbury Corinthians, Amesbury & Amesbury Town

1956-94 Played in Wiltshire League/Wiltshire Combination/Wiltshire County League

1994-95 Joined Western League Division One

1997 Resigned from Western League

1997-98 Re-joined
Salisbury & District League Premier Division

1998-99 Joined Hampshire League Division Three

1999-00 Placed in Hampshire League Premier Division upon re-organisation (effectively promoted two divisions)
Hampshire League Premier Champions

2004-05 Joined Wessex League Division Two upon F.A. Pyramid re-organisation

2006-07 Wessex renamed Sydenhams League and Division 2 became Division 1

SEASON LEAGUE P W D L F A P Pos

1994-95 WEST – 1 40 14 7 19 67 61 49 12/21
1995-96 WEST – 1 36 7 10 19 37 67 31 16/19
1996-97 WEST – 1 38 1 9 28 27 107 12 20/20
1997-98 S & D – Prem
22 15 1 6 67-30 46 2/12
1998-99 HANTS – 3 34 21 7 6 81 45 70 4/18
1999-00 HANTS – P 42 25 7 10 117 80 82 1/22
2000-01 HANTS – P 40 16 11 13 77 61 59 12/21
2001-02 HANTS – P 40 8 6 26 46 114 30 20/21
2002-03 HANTS – P 38 15 5 18 76 88 50 11/20
2003-04 HANTS – P 34 16 7 11 88 85 55 8/18
2004-05 WESSEX – 2 42 14 7 21 76 89 49 15/22
2005-06 WESSEX – 2 42 10 4 28 55 109 34 19/22
2006-07 SYDENHAMS - 1
36 5 10 21 57 78 25 18/19
2007-08 SYDENHAMS - 1
40 16 5 19 100 86 53 11/21

F.A. CUP

2008-09

Extra Prelim NEW MILTON TOWN
A 0-5

F.A. VASE

1978-79

Prelim WANTAGE TOWN H 6-0

1R ST MARTINS H 1-2

1979-80

Prelim STONEHOUSE A 2-0

1R BRISTOL MANOR FARM H 4-0

2R OTTERY ST MARY H 2-0

3R HUNGERFORD TOWN A 2-4

1980-81

Prelim PAGHAM A 1-3

1981-82

Prelim FLIGHT REFUELLING H 3-1

1R SWANAGE TOWN & HERSTON A 0-1

1982-83

Prelim CHICHESTER CITY H 4-2

1R BROCKENHURST H 1-0

2R SHORTWOOD UNITED H 2-2

2R Rep SHORTWOOD UNITED A 0-0

2R 2 Rep SHORTWOOD UNITED A 0-1

1983-84

Prelim SUPERMARINE H 3-2

1Q MALVERN TOWN A 1-4

1984-85

Prelim CHIPPENHAM TOWN H 1-3

1985-86

Ex'Pre SWANAGE TOWN & HERSTON H 0-4

1996-97

2Q SANDHURST TOWN H 2-1

1R MINEHEAD A 4-3

2R CHIPPENHAM TOWN A 0-6

2001-02

2Q PORTLAND UNITED A 0-0

2QR PORTLAND UNITED H 0-2

2002-03


2Q NEWTON ABBOTT A 3-3

2QR NEWTON ABBOTT H 1-4

2003-04

2Q NEWTON ABBOTT A 2-5

2004-05

1Q MINEHEAD TOWN H 4-1

2Q BRIDGWATER TOWN H 0-3

2005-06

1Q BISHOP SUTTON H 0-1

2006-07

2Q COVE FC H 1-1

2QR COVE FC A 2-0

1R THAME UNITED H 4-2

2R CORSHAM TOWN H 2-5

2007-08

2Q CHRISTCHURCH H
0-5

2008-09

1Q MARLOW UNITED H
6-3 aet (2-2 90mins)

CAREER APPEARANCES & GOALS FOR CURRENT PLAYERS (as at 6 September 2008)

Apps Gls

Lee Bartlett 167 13
Neil Sole 167 29
Danny Harrison 144 0
Phillip Lawes 137 8
Ben Pryce 105 7
Craig Wheeler 80 7
Nathan Jones 74 11
Danny Finnigan 74 10
Tom Western 69 5
Michael Whitston 60 9
Mark Johnson 59 0
Nic Turpin 51 60
Dean Bowden 45 7
Dave Mariner 26 2
Lance Cooper 16 3
Martin Maggs 15 0
Chris Berntsen 8 1
Chris Smith 8 0
Barry Gerrard 7 1
Shaun Bartlett 7 0
Fran Morrison 3 0
Gary Marney 3 0
Chris Jones 2 0
Adam Dickie 1 0

All 1st team competitive fixtures (not friendlies)

The following are the total appearances & goals going back to season 56/57 (the season that Amesbury commenced senior football in the Wiltshire League). I am currently researching these records. Those indicated with a * are still under review and are likely to increase (06/09/08)
To date the data base includes 684 players.

Appearances :

481* Pete Taylor
464* Phil Thorne
349* Terry Hancock
347* Steve Swinger
322* Dave Coker
321* Micky Hibbs
313* Phil Beattie
285* Bernie Sainsbury
270* Graham Brice
268* Ricky Hibbs
254* Paul Cook
254* Clive Conn
248 Gareth Horner
238 Steve Reeves
234* Fred Baverstock
230 Jason Cameron
230* Mike Nicholson
222* John Rayfield
214* Leslie R 'Biffo' Smith
199* Micky Byrne
192* Steve Gower
191 Martin Bragger
189* Bob Diaper
182* Carlo Downie
181* Colin Andrews
175* Tim Jones
171* Richard Plant
171* Chris Pearce
167 Lee Bartlett
167 Neil Sole
163* Bobby Burden
160* Brian Coombes
159* Willie Sturgess
156* Dave Perry
156* Paul Faircloth
152* Bill 'Archie' Brough
144 Danny Harrison
143* Geoff Burden
142 Robbie Guyton
137* Jon Diaper
137 Phil Lawes
135 Keith Nicholls
133* Harry Baverstock
128* Steve Maddocks
128* Lou Lyczba
124 Phil Nicholls
123* Maxwell Throll
122* Julian McDonald
120* John Willis
116* Terry Worsdell
114* James Nicol
113* Mick Presley
112 Dean Skelly
110* Terry Matthews
108* Pete Burden
107* Gary Beardsley
105* Matt McDonald
105 Ben Pryce
104* Derek Cundick
102* Rob Doris
101* Dave Phillpott
100 Jesse Walters

Goals :

291* Dave Coker
202* Phil Beattie
171* Steve Swinger
145* Terry Hancock
131* Maxwell Throll
106* Bernie Sainsbury
93* Clive Conn
82 Dave Perry
79 Steve Reeves
73* Julian McDonald
70* Micky Hibbs
70* Mick Presley
66* Terry Bates (54 in 1 season)
60* Ronnie McDonald
60 Nic Turpin (46 in 1 aeason)
51* Terry Worsdell
50 Jesse Walters
48 Paul Matthews
47* Jon Diaper
47* Graham Brice
45 Danny Western
43* Alex O'Hagan
43* Phil Thorne
43* Tim Diaper
39 Lee Cunningham
38 Micky Byrne
38 Simon Stuthridge
38* Bill 'Archie' Brough
36* Paul Faircloth
34 Keith Nicholls
33 Willie Sturgess
31 Ricky Hibbs
31 Carlo Downie
30 Robbie Guyton