The Boatmen have a long but fragmented history, running teams from the Woolston Works as early as 1884, when they are recorded as being refused permission by the Hants & Dorset FA to introduce fresh players as substitutes at half-time.

In March 1887 they were finalists in the first Portsmouth Challenge Cup, beaten 1-0 by Portsmouth Association Club.

The Club were only beaten twice in 16 games that year (goal tally 72-6) and won the last Hants & Dorset Challenge Cup before these Associations split.

Woolston Works won the first ever Hampshire Senior Cup Final in 1888, beating Winchester 2-0. There was some controversy that year concerning Woolstons professional attitude, which was infamously referred to as ‘Kesson’s Boots’. Andover were beaten in an earlier round by Woolston, in which a Glasgow – based player called J. Kesson played a prominent part.

Andover protested that Kesson should be disqualified on the grounds of residency – although he had played for Woolston Works earlier that season, he had since moved back to Glasgow. Woolstons appeal rested on the fact that Kesson had left a number of clothing items at his lodgings in Woolston, and this should be interpreted as his intention to return. The Hampshire FA upheld the appeal and allowed Kesson to play.

Re-forming after World War 1 as Thornycrofts (Woolston), they turned professional and were admitted into the Hampshire County League from 1920/21 to 1925/26. in 1920/21 Thornycrofts reached the FA Cup First Round proper, meeting first Division Burnley at Fratton Park, and held them to a 0-0 draw, before losing 5-0 in the replay. Burnley were in the middle of a 30 game unbeaten run and went on to win the first Division Championship.

Thornycrofts Woolston re-formed in 1947 but were only able to keep going until 1952. The Club were re-formed as Vosper Thornycroft FC in 1960 and joined the Southampton Junior League.

After several successful years, Vospers were promoted to the Hampshire League Division 3 in 1991. The following season they were promoted to Division 2. 1997/98 saw Vospers as Hampshire Division 2 Runners-up and also Hampshire Intermediate Cup Winners.

In 2001/02 Vospers won the Southampton Senior Cup.
In 2002/03 Vospers were re-named as VT FC (after the parent company), and saw the Club as Runners-up in the Southampton Senior Cup.
2003/4 saw VT as Hampshire Premier League Champions, Southampton Senior Cup Winners and promotion to the Sydenhams Wessex League Division 1.
In 2005/06 VT Reserves won the Southampton Senior Cup at St Mary’s Stadium which gave the club their 3rd victory in 5 years.
Season 2006/07 was a great season for the club. The first team finished in third place and the reserves finished runners-up in Combination 1 and they also won the Southampton Senior Cup again. The Club’s 4th victory in 6 years.

What an amazing season 2007/2008 was. The 1st team was Runners-up to Totton in the Premier League and the Reserves won 3 out of 4 trophies. They are the Sydenhams (Wessex) Combination 1 League Champions, the Southampton Senior Cup Champions (for the third consecutive year) and the Sydenhams (Wessex) Combination Cup Champions. They missed out on the Hampshire Intermediate Cup by losing to Nursling in the semi-final which was the ONLY defeat they suffered all season. A great achievement to be proud of.

Season 2008/09 was such a rollercoaster that we started so well and with the VTFC reaching the 4th round of the FA Vase, unluckily going out to Market Drayton FC 2-1 away. The club did reach the final of the Hampshire FA Senior Cup played at St Marys Stadium, Southampton, where we were beaten by Fleet Town FC 1-0, but we played Basingstoke and Waterlooville and Havant FC on the way to an exciting day out. The success of the first team was winning Wessex League Cup by beating Hamworthy United FC 2-1 and coming runners up in the League to Poole Town FC. This is the second season coming that we finished second, but we got promoted to the Southern League as our ground has been improved to the standard required for next step. The reserves again won the Wessex Comb Div 1 and the youth Team won 5 trophies.