Swindon Supermarine F.C.

History

The club was established in 1992 as a merger between two local clubs in the Hellenic Football League, Supermarine F.C. and Swindon Athletic F.C.. Both clubs had problems with Supermarine finishing bottom of Division One and Swindon Athletic were having problems meeting the new ground grading requirements, required by the league, at their Swindon Borough Council owned Southbrook Recreation ground. So the two clubs decided to merge and took Swindon Athletics place in the Hellenic League Premier Division.

Supermarine F.C. was originally set up in 1946 from the Social club associated with the Supermarine aircraft company. The club was originally called Vickers Armstrong and then shortened to Vickers FC. The club originally played in the Swindon & District league, working their way up the footballing pyramid, becoming founder members of the Wiltshire Football League in 1976, starting in Senior Division 1. The club joined the Hellenic League in Division One for the 1982–83 season, under the name of Supermarine, and was immediately promoted to the Premier Division, where the club spent the next seven seasons. The club during their time in the premier division also won the Wiltshire Senior Cup in the 1985–86 season. After being relegated from the Premier Division the club struggled in Division One and at the end of the 1991–92 season, their last before they merged, finished in bottom place.

Swindon Athletic F.C. were established in 1968 and were originally called Penhill, until 1989. Like Supermarine they were founder members of the Wiltshire Football League in 1976, but started two divisions lower in Junior Division – Section A. That season saw the club promoted and become Wiltshire Junior Cup winners. The next season saw them become Senior Division 2 champions and went on to Become Senior Division 1 champions in the 1982–83 and 1983–84 campaigns. At the end of the 1984–85 competition they were promoted to the Hellenic Football League Division one and gained promotion at the first attempt when they finished as runners up. They then remained in the Premier Division of the Hellenic league. During the 1980s the club also had some cup success, winning the Wiltshire Senior Cup three times and finishing runners-up twice.

In 1997–98 the new club won the Hellenic League championship, but were not promoted due to ground requirements. The championship was won for the second time in 2000–01 and this time they were accepted into the Southern League. After four years of struggle at the foot of the table, not helped by a rapid succession of managerial changes, they qualified for the play-offs in 2005–06 but lost to Hemel Hempstead Town in the semi-finals. In 2006–07 they again reached the promotion play-offs, where this time they were successful after beating Burnham in the semi-final and Taunton Town in the final. This earned them a place in the Southern League Premier Division. That season also produced the club's last trophy win to date, securing the Wiltshire Premier Shield a decade after their first win in the competition.

At the end of the 2009–10 season, the club announced that it was facing a financial shortfall of £50,000, which would affect its immediate position in the Southern League. A supporters consortium then took over the club and saved the club through various commitments and a sponsorship drive, which allowed them to continue in the Southern League Premier Division in the 2010–11 season. Part of the sponsorship drive included the ground sponsorship which was taken up by local company H J Webb & Son and the ground was known as the Webbs Wood Stadium from August 2010.

In February 2011, manager Mark Collier and assistant Tom Jones both resigned due to proposed budget cuts with player-managers Gary Horgan and Matt Robinson taking over as temporary managers until the end of the season. The 2010-11 season saw them narrowly miss a lucrative FA Cup third round tie, though this was still the club's best ever cup run. Season 2011–12 kicked off with Horgan and Robinson now as permanent managers but the season didn't go well with relegation to the South & West Division confirmed on the last day of the season.

In May 2012 the management team stepped down and Highworth Town manager Dave Webb was offered and accepted the manager's position.

Crest

At the start of the 2001–02 season, the club was to no longer wear the traditional blue and white hooped kit with the wording "Swindon Supermarine Football Club" located where the badge usually is. The badge was adjusted slightly in the next decade in a shape.

Colours and kits

The merger between the two Hellenic League clubs saw the new club adopt a new hooped blue and white Umbro kit. After three years of the club's existence Wemyss Lodge took over as sponsor, and remained a part of the hooped shirt until 2001. The turn of the millennium signalled a new era for the club, and the hooped blue and white kits were scrapped. Initially the new plain blue kits were sponsored by Fuelforce, who had also secured the away kit sponsorship as well. The kit has remained unchanged since. The club announced its first major sponsorship deal on 29 June 2012 with Wonga.com.

Despite there not being much photographic evidence of Marine's away colours, the colours are traditionally red. Unlike the home kit, the away kit has not changed to any extent.

Ground

Swindon Supermarine play their home games at the Webb's wood stadium in South Marston. The ground possesses a seated stand of 325 seats, a floodlit pitch; shop and clubhouse; 6 ft perimeter fence. It is located near the Swindon Honda Plant and 4½ miles away from Swindon station. During the summer of 2016 new changing rooms were built.

The improvements necessary for the club to step up to the Southern League saw the building of a new 225-seater stand, taking the total covered capacity to 300, as well as new perimeter fencing and toilets and the addition of floodlights.

Training ground

In November 2015, Supermarine successfully finished the new training facility, Swindome, behind the east goal. The all-weather 3G facility was quoted as "state of the art" and Supermarine chairman, Jez Webb, stated that he felt the facility would attract more people to the club and change Supermarine's game. The facility also has an upstairs gym and changing rooms.

Rivalries

Marine's rivals are considered to be Cirencester Town and Chippenham Town

Board

Senior club staff

Coaching staff

Medical staff

Current squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

League honours

Cup honours

Notable former players

1. Players that have played/managed in the football league or any foreign equivalent to this level (i.e. fully professional league).
2. Players with full international caps.

Former coaches

1. Managers/Coaches that have played/managed in the football league or any foreign equivalent to this level (i.e. fully professional league).
2. Managers/Coaches with full international caps.