Hungerford Town Football Club

Founded in 1886

Hungerford Town Football Club has come a long way since it's formation in 1886. Initially, the club competed at intermediate level, and were members of the Newbury & Swindon District League. Senior status was consolidated in the ranks of the Hellenic League in 1958 and the 1960/61 season saw the club win the Hellenic League Benevolent Cup. The rest of the 1960s saw a period of team rebuilding which culminated in the wining of the League and Cup double in the 1970/71 season.

The 1970s were memorable times as the club established itself as a non-league side to be reckoned with. Progress was also made off the field with new changing rooms and 1974 saw the opening of an impressive new clubhouse, whilst floodlights were added in 1976. Season 1975/76 was notable as the club reached the final of the Berks & Bucks senior cup for the first time. Although defeated by Chesham Utd, the achievement had served to put the clubs name on the map. A second cup final appearance soon followed in 1977, this time losing out to Slough Town in a replay at Readings Elm Park. In 1978, Hungerford's last Hellenic League season saw them finish third in the league and win the League Cup. They also produced a fairy tale run in the F.A Vase, eventually losing out to Barton Rovers in a semi final replay. These achievements served the club to proudly gain election to the Isthmian League in 1978

Hungerford's first season in the Isthmian League Division 2 ended with a 12th place finish and another Berks & Bucks Senior Cup final visit - the 3rd in 4 years. This time it was the mighty Wycombe Wanderers who narrowly won after a replay. Season 1979/80 brought more bitter disappointment to the club as a second F.A Vase Semi Final once again ended in defeat, this time at the hands of Guisborough Town from the Northern Alliance League. The whole year was one of "so near, yet so far" as the team also missed out on promotion finishing 3rd in the table and producing their best F.A Cup run, only to bow out to Slough Town in the first round proper. These were frustrating times for Hungerford as the next two seasons produced two third placed finishes, although some consolation was gained in 1981 when Hungerford Town were invited to compete in the Anglo Italian Semi-Pro tournament along with Bridgend Town, Oxford City and Poole Town. A 1-1 draw v 55 Francavilla and a 2-1 win over US Civiitanovese augured well for the trip to Italy but narrow defeats were recorded against US Sanremese (1-3) and Modena FC (0-1). The second match. was played in front of a 20,000 crowd who had stayed on after watching an Italy V Germany Under 21 international match. 1982 finally brought some silverware when Hungerford defeated Wycombe Wanderers 1-0 to win the Berks and Bucks Senior cup. Promotion was once again narrowly missed in 1984-85 and this signalled a period of rebuilding when manager ]im Kelman left after 9 years in charge.

The club celebrated it's centenary in 1986 with a gala dinner at which the secretary of the Football Association Ted Croker and Alan Simpson, the famous TV scriptwriter, were guests of honour.

Three managers then came and went and the club had to be content with several mid-table positions, however 1988/89 saw a return to prominence under joint managers Gary Goodwin and David Dodds, who guided the club to sixth place in the table and a third F.A Vase semi final appearance. This time it was Sudbury Town who denied Hungerford it's much deserved trip to Wembley.

The next three seasons saw the club finish 9 th , 9 th , and 10 th under Gary Goodwin and later under ex Manchester United player Wilf Tranter, before a dismal start to the 1992/93 season saw the departure of Tranter at Christmas. Former goalkeeper Jimmy Greenwood briefly returned to the club to steady the ship and earn Division safety but then departed 5 months later to rejoin Thatcham Town. The club then secured the services of two ex players, Gerald Smith and his assistant Norman Matthews, from Hellenic League club Kintbury Rangers. Matthews was a member of the 1978 Vase team and indeed scored two goals in the second leg at Hungerford. Their first two Isthmian League campaigns saw the club struggle, although safety was deservedly achieved on both occasions.

In 1995/96 the election of local farmer Alan Holland as chairman saw an upturn in the clubs fortunes and brought a breath of fresh air to the club. A great deal of work has been done to the ground since then. Sadly on the pitch it was not all-good news, as the club would have been relegated had it not been for the league restructuring, although Hungerford reached the Semi Final of the Carlton Trophy for two years running

The 1996/97 saw a complete refurbishment of the clubs lounge bar. On the pitch the club achieved it's highest finish for several seasons and a Quarter Final Associate members Cup appearance.

The club narrowly escaped relegation again in 1997/98 and the following year appointed former Swindon Town player Don Rogers as manager for the 1998/99 season. Although the club reached the 3 rd qualifying round of the F.A cup, going down to a last minute goal at Salisbury City in a replay, the league form was disappointing and Rogers resigned just after the start of the 1999/2000 season. His successor Richard Evans started well but failed to maintain the improving form and parted company with the club in the 2000/01 season. He was replaced by Gary Ackling who has a wealth of local non-league experience. He changed the emphasis of the club toward looking for local youth talent and produced a strong mid table finish in the 2001/02 season, with help from assistant and long time player Tim North. Unfortunately the deadline for ground improvements for League restructure was not met at the end of the 2001/02 season, and a forced relegation to Isthmian Division 2 followed. After a single season in Division 2 and despite a respectable 5th place finish on top of a great FA Cup run into the 3 rd qualifying round, the decision was taken to re-join the Hellenic League for the long term benefits to the club. Gary Ackling then took a strong squad into the new Hellenic League season.

Website www.hungerfordtownfc.co.uk

This page provided courtesy of the Hungerford Town Council Website

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