RS Basingstoke F.C.
Full name | RS Basingstoke Football Club | ||
---|---|---|---|
Nickname(s) | Soldiers Return | ||
Founded | 1971 (as Soldiers Return) | ||
Dissolved | 2005 | ||
Ground | Whiteditch Playing Fields, Basingstoke | ||
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RS Basingstoke F.C. was a football club based in Basingstoke.
History
Foundation
Founded in 1971 as a pub side, Soldiers Return, the club originally played Sunday football before switching to Saturday where they joined the Basingstoke League. After successfully climbing up through the divisions the side became founder members of the Chiltonian League in 1984 where they remained for two seasons before joining the North Hants League, which they won in 1986–87 resulting in their application to join Hampshire League Division 2 being successful.
SR Basingstoke
Upon election the team then became known as S.R. Basingstoke and promptly proceeded to win promotion as champions in their debut season and soon established themselves in Division 1. In 1990 the club became known as D.C.A. Basingstoke and finished runners-up in 1990–91.
In 1992 the club successfully applied to move up to the Combined Counties League where they maintained a steady mid-table position but, unable to develop their basic Whiteditch Playing Fields home they dropped out of the league after four seasons to rejoin the Chiltonian League in 1996.
After some encouraging seasons the competition was absorbed by the extended Hellenic League and RS Basingstoke found themselves Division 1 East where they finished runners-up in 2000–01.
In 2003 RS Basingstoke returned to the Hampshire League where they were placed in Division 2. The side finished 3rd and like most of the leagues other clubs they moved into the extended Wessex League in 2004 where they were placed in Division 3.
Demise
2004–05 was sadly to prove the last season for the club as, despite being in a comfortable mid-table position, a player exodus resulted in the side withdrawing from the competition in January 2005 and folding.
References
- http://archive.basingstokegazette.co.uk/2005/1/28/12636.html
- RS Basingstoke at the Football Club History Database
- DCA Basingstoke at the Football Club History Database
- SR Basingstoke at the Football Club History Database
- SR Basingstoke Reserves at the Football Club History Database
- Use dmy dates from March 2012
- Defunct football clubs in England
- Association football clubs established in 1971
- Association football clubs disestablished in 2005
- 1971 establishments in England
- 2005 disestablishments in England
- Sport in Basingstoke
- Football clubs in Hampshire
- Basingstoke and District Football League
- Chiltonian League
- North Hants League
- Hampshire League
- Combined Counties Football League
- Hellenic Football League
- Wessex Football League
- Defunct English football club stubs