BASHLEY CLUB HISTORY

The Wessex catchment area is most diverse, typified by a trip through the New Forest to BASHLEY which is a most pleasant one. This club came about in 1947 when Messrs Ingram and Whitcher decided to form a village team. The club played only friendly games in the first two years (where it is documented) “due to the state of the pitch which had a hedge and stream running through the middle”. In such conditions it was surprising that a game of soccer took place at all! The club joined the Bournemouth League in 1950 and, following the initial season, results were not too encouraging. But the club kept at it and eventually turned the corner and progressed into the senior divisions. The club improved what were basic facilities in the early eighties into a ground worthy of the Southern Premier League over the seasons. Having joined the Hampshire League in 1983, Bashley became founder members of the Wessex in 1986 and remained until 1989, moving up to the Southern League at that time. They re-joined the Wessex in 2016 and are current members.

Founded in 1947, Bashley FC joined the Bournemouth League in 1950 and left in 1983 to join the Hampshire League. In 1986 they became founder members of the Wessex League and won the title for next three seasons. In 1987-88 Bashley reached the semi-finals of the FA Vase, losing narrowly to Emley.

In 1989 the club joined the Southern League Southern Division and won the title in their first season. The following season in the Premier Division Bash were in contention for promotion to the Conference but finished in fourth place. The club’s rise came to an end two years later with relegation back to the Southern Division.

Bashley reached the FA Cup First Round proper for the first time in 1994/95 and won 1-0 at Chesham. A Second-Round home tie with Swansea ended with a 1-0 defeat, with Bash came close to causing a huge upset.

August 1997 Bash appointed ex-European Cup winner Jimmy Case as manager. They were promotion challengers during 1997-98, but eventually finished third, with a good FA Trophy run into the last sixteen, losing narrowly at Conference side Hayes.

Young Bash midfielder, Wade Elliott, signed for AFC Bournemouth in January 2000 for £5,000, with Bash receiving further appearance money. Wade subsequently progressed to the Championship with Burnley.

2001/02 resulted in another FA Trophy run ended by finalists, Stevenage Borough of the Conference. A top six place was achieved in 2002/03. The season was capped by a first ever Hampshire Senior Cup final, played at Southampton’s St Mary’s. It was a superb occasion for the club despite an eventual 2-1 defeat to Conference bound Aldershot Town, with Bash coming close to defeating their illustrious opponents.

Barry Blankley resigned early in 2002/03 and leading players departed. Bashley narrowly missed out on promotion under new manager John Robson and had to settle for a place in Isthmian Division One, as a result of FA restructuring. Robson departed, and Geoff Butler was appointed in the summer. Bash started well but had to settle for a mid-table finish. Butler departed summer 2005 and Dave Wakefield took charge as player/manager. After a poor start, Wakefield left and Steve Riley took over as player/manager. An excellent run-in saw Bash finish just outside the play off places.

Another FA restructure saw Bash back in the Southern League South and West Division. They enjoyed a record-breaking season, winning the league by 28 points and achieving a rare double century of 102 points and 111 goals, including a spell of 27 League matches unbeaten. Promotion was an all-round team effort, Bash having the most prolific attack and the meanest defence in the league. Richard Gillespie finished up with 41 goals, the highest total in any of the Southern League divisions and broke the club all time goal-scoring record held by Colin Cummings, which had stood for over thirty years.

Bashley acquitted themselves well in the Southern Premier and finished in fifth place. 2007-08 ended in disappointment with a 4-1 defeat by Team Bath in the play-off semi-final. Steve Riley brought in new signings, but 2008-9 was a very different season. Bash were in the bottom four for long periods but ended with a final position of 14^th. Summer 2009 saw the departure of Gillespie to Eastleigh, having scored 173 goals in 308 appearances. Steve Riley signed Farnborough striker Mark Gamble to ensure that Bash entered 2009-10 with renewed hope of being competitive.

In 2009/10 Bash just missed out on a top five finish on final day of the season. An FA Trophy run saw Bash eventually lose to Conference National side, Crawley Town. Bash lost more key players for 2010/11 but rallied to secure a top half finish. After a good start to the next season, however, Bash struggled. A solid run ensured survival, although Steve Riley left during the summer. Bash appointed former Basingstoke manager Frank Gray for 2012/13 and ended the season in 17^th place.

Paul Gazzard and Stewart Kearn took over the managerial hot seats in 2013/14 with a much-reduced budget. Results did not go for Bashley, players departed and Kearn stepped down. John Pyatt joined Gazzard to try and stave off relegation. The club was relegated to the South and West Division and lucky to survive the season.

Andy Darnton, Graham Speechley-Price, Martin Spiers and Dominic Cuncliffe all had brief spells as manager before Speechley-Price took over as caretaker manager in February 2015. The club battled on but finished bottom and were relegated. Andy Howard took the reserves to the 2014/15 Wyvern League title.

The FA reprieved Bashley, ensuring Southern League football. Ex league player David Stride became manager, only to be replaced by Steve Riley. Riley resigned following a run of defeats and Tom Prodomo took charge. The season ended with no wins, two draws, a bottom finish and relegation to the Wessex League. Season highlight was the 1-0 FA Trophy win against Cinderford, eventual South & West champions.

The 2016/17 campaign, Bashley’s first season back in the Wessex for many years, resulted in a 14^th place finish. Almost at the end of that season manager Tom Prodomo departed for Weymouth. Bashley promoted from within with former assistant manager Paul Morris taking over in the manager’s hot seat for the 2017/18 season. The highlight of that season came from the Reserves who won the Wyvern Combination League Cup; with the first team once again finishing in 14^th place.

FA CUP

Furthest progress - 1988/89   3rd Qualifying Round - Fareham Town

Record victory - 2020/21 Extra Preliminary Round - Whitchurch United 8-2

FA VASE

Furthest progress - 1987/88   Semi Final - Emley

Record victory - 2018/19 1st Qualifying - AFC Portchester  6-0

The FA Cup and FA Vase records are the best achieved whilst in League membership. Where this has been on more than one occasion, only the last time it was achieved is shown here.

Local County FA Senior and other cup competitions- winners in the Wessex era.

Bournemouth Senior Cup 1986/87, 2017/18

These are wins only whilst the club were members of the League.