Lovell's Athletic F.C.
Full name | Lovell's Athletic Football Club |
---|---|
Founded | 1918 |
Dissolved | 1969 |
Ground | Rexville, Alderney Street, Newport |
Lovell's Athletic F.C. was the works team for Lovell's sweet factory in Newport, Monmouthshire, Wales, which played professional football from 1918 until 1969.
History
Lovell's joined the Western Football League in 1923 and won the title in their inaugural season.[1] In 1928, they moved to the Southern League, but left in 1930, with the first team taking the reserves' place in the Welsh Football League. They entered a second side in The Football Combination for the 1930–31 season only, finishing bottom of the inaugural Second Division with 15 points from their 26 games. Teams in that league included Bournemouth, Bristol City, Norwich City, Peterborough United and Swindon Town.[2]
Lovell's rejoined the Western League in 1931. They won their second title in 1938–39, and the following year joined the Southern League's wartime competition.[1] During World War II, Newport County did not field a team, so Lovell's were the premier team in Newport for that period. In the 1945–46 FA Cup, they reached the third round, losing 12–3 on aggregate in a two-legged match against Wolverhampton Wanderers, having defeated AFC Bournemouth of the Football League Third Division South in the first round 6–4 on aggregate.[3]
Lovell's returned to the Southern League in 1947. Following the 1947–48 season the club applied for election to the Football League, along with nine other non-league teams. However the two Third Division South teams seeking re-election, Norwich City and Brighton and Hove Albion, were both re-elected.
Lovell's left the Southern League in 1959 after finishing in the relegation zone of the North West Division.[1] They continued to play in the Welsh League until disbandment in 1969.
In their 51-year existence they were Welsh League champions six times, Southern League champions and Welsh Cup winners. The old Rexville ground is now a housing estate named "The Turnstiles".
Honours
- Champions: 1924, 1939
- Runners-up: 1936
Southern League Midland Division
- Joint Champions: 1940
- Winners: 1931–32, 1937–38, 1938–39, 1945–46, 1946–47, 1947–48, 1965–66
- Winners: 1948
- Runners-up: 1959
- Winners: 1925–26, 1926–27, 1927–28, 1953–54
- Runners-up: 1922–23, 1923–24, 1938–39
- Winners: 1930–31, 1936–37, 1948–49, 1954–55
Monmouthshire/Gwent Senior Cup
- Winners (10): 1929–30, 1930–31, 1936–37, 1937–38, 1938–39, 1946–47, 1948–49, 1949–50, 1951–52, 1954–55
Monmouthshire/Gwent Amateur Cup
- Winners (2): 1925–26, 1928–29
History
- FA Cup progress: Third round defeat by Wolverhampton Wanderers, 1946.
- Record FA Cup victory: 7–1 vs. Stonehouse, 1954.
- Record Welsh Cup victory: 3–0 vs. Shrewsbury Town, 1948 final.
References
- ^ a b c Lovell's Athletic at the Football Club History Database
- ^ Perkins, Bob (2011). The league tables of the Football Combination (1915–2010)
- ^ Collett, Mike (2003). The Complete Record of the FA Cup. Sports Books. p. 387. ISBN 1-899807-19-5.
External links
- Defunct football clubs in Wales
- Football clubs in Newport, Wales
- Association football clubs established in 1918
- Association football clubs disestablished in 1969
- Southern Football League clubs
- 1918 establishments in Wales
- 1969 disestablishments in Wales
- Welsh Football League clubs
- Works association football teams in Wales
- Defunct Welsh football clubs in English leagues