Welwyn Garden City F.C.

History

Founded in 1921, when the town itself was in its infancy (the first house was completed in December 1920), the club began by playing friendlies before being admitted to the Mid-Hertfordshire League (Division 2) for the 1922/23 season. The club then moved to the Bedfordshire & District County League in 1926 for one season, before joining the Spartan League the following year, where it stayed until the end of the 1934/35 season. 1926 saw the club's first entry in to the FA Amateur Cup and the following year saw them enter the FA Challenge Cup for the first time. During the 1927/28 season the club gained its first honour, winning the Herts Charity Shield, beating Hoddesdon Town 5–2.

Following a very successful 1934/35 season, where the club achieved its highest ever league posion (3rd out of 14 teams), the club was forced to resign from the Spartan League as it couldn't find a suitable ground on which to play; the club needed an enclosed ground to enable it to collect gate money, without which it was unable to cover running costs. Consequently the club was wound up before the start of the 1935/36 season with debts of over £20.

This situation lasted until 1937 when the facilities of local rivals Shredded Wheat FC, which had been wound up, were made available together with a grant of £50 to enable the re-establishment of Welwyn Garden City FC. This enabled the club to re-join the Spartan League for the 1937/38 season. In common with most leagues, the Spartan League was suspended in August 1939 due to the war, the club only playing one league game and an FA Cup tie (that competition was also suspended). For the remainder of the 1939/40 season the club competed in the East, North & Mid-Hertfordshire Combination and then the Hertfordshire & Bedfordshire Combination. At a meeting held in August 1940 it was agreed "to carry on the club with the present committee".

The next recorded action on the pitch is from the 1944/45 season with the club competing in the Mid-Hertfordshire League. Things returned to normality for the 1945/46 season with the club once again competing in the Spartan League, where they remained until joining the London League for the 1950/51 season. Their brief stay in the London League lasted until 1955 during which time - 1954/55 season - the club enjoyed its best run in the FA Amateur Cup by reaching the 3rd Qualifying Round (this run was equalled in the 1956/57 season when they were beaten by Bishops Stortford after a replay).

The club rejoined the Spartan League in 1955, where they stayed until 1959.

At this time the Club were managed by Harry Hibbs, the one time England goalkeeper (25 caps), Harry being one of two ex-internationals to be in charge of ‘The Citizens’, the other being Alex Massie who was capped North of the border.

in 1956 the club was elected Associate Members of the Football Association. The next stop was county football with a move to the Herts County League in 1959.

The Club moved to its present home, Herns Way, in 1968 and staged their first fixture at senior level, against Knebworth in the Aubrey Cup, on 16 November that year.

In 1970 the club joined the Greater London League and the following season was a founder member of the Metropolitan London League, where it remained for two seasons before joining the South Midlands League for the 1973/74 season, winning the Premier Division championship at the first attempt. The following season they reached the final of the League Challenge Trophy, only to be beaten by Barton Rovers, 3–1 on aggregate.

1976–77 saw the Club lose their top-flight status, and there began a five-year battle to reclaim it. During these First Division years the Club were to finish no lower than 5th and in 1981–82, the championship winning year the Club scored over 100 league goals en route to the title.

In the championship year the Club also reached the final of the League Challenge Trophy, but once again had to settle for runners-up, this time losing 3–0 on aggregate to Stotfold.

1984–85 brought about cup success at last, when under the management of John Sneddon they beat Pirton 2-0 to lift the first ever Hertfordshire FA Senior Centenary Trophy. At the end of the season John Sneddon decided to call it a day and he was replaced in the close season by ex-Sudbury Court boss, Ray Sullivan, and his first task was to rebuild the side. 12 months later the club finished runners-up, missing out on the title with some erratic form in the closing games.

In 1986–87 and 1987–88 the Club lifted the Herts Charity Shield, making them only the sixth team to retain the Shield. The close of the 1986/87 season also saw floodlights installed at the Herns Way ground.

In 1988–89 the Club gained a top six league finish along with an appearance in two cup-finals, the League Challenge Trophy and the Hertfordshire FA Senior Centenary Trophy. However these were both lost in the space of five days.

The 1990–91 season saw Ray Sullivan step down and so began a lean spell in which the Club tried several combinations, amongst those being Dave Lawrence, Jock Bruce, former player Pat Maslen and Ian Priest. During these years the closest the Club came to anything was another Herts Charity Shield final appearance, during Pat Maslen’s reign. However the trophy slipped through their fingers when losing out to Sawbridgeworth Town on penalties after a 2–2 draw.

1996–97 City looked to local man Malcolm Doctor, who the previous year had guided City’s archrivals Hatfield Town to second place in the South Midlands League. Everyone at the Club was optimistic about further glory days returning to Herns Lane. Two cup-finals were reached, the League Challenge Trophy and the Southern Combination Cup, but once again the Citizens missed out at the final stage.

The 1997/98 season saw the formation of the Spartan South Midlands League, with the club joining the Premier Division North, finishing high enough (6th) to qualify for the Premier Division the following season.

In 1998, upon the departure of Malcolm Doctor the Citizens forged a link with near neighbours, Stevenage Borough FC and strengthened their squad with Boro’s EFCO youngsters along with the management pairing of Dave Bullock and Bill Bannister. However, despite reaching the Third Qualifying Round of the FA Cup the season collapsed midway through and with the breakup of the squad and a battle with relegation followed.

1999–00 saw a rebuilding process with former Somersett Ambury V&E boss Dave Steadman being appointed and being given the task of leading the Citizens into the new millennium. However the club’s downward trend continued and in 2001–02 the club were relegated into the First Division thus ending one of the longest unbroken spells in the Premier Division.

Guillermo Ganet was appointed with the task of restoring the glory days back to the club and following two seasons steered the club back to the Premier Division. The club’s first season back saw them finish in a very creditable third place however the end of the campaign saw the manager and most of the playing squad depart for Berkhamsted Town.

Howard Cowley was given his chance in 2005–06; he brought about a wealth of experience from not only the South Midlands League but in all divisions of the Ryman league. During his tenure the club had an excellent 19 game unbeaten run in all competitions and also equalled their best ever FA Cup run when losing narrowly away 2-1 to the then Conference South leaders Histon in the 3rd Qualifying Round. The club also exceeded its best ever run in the FA Vase by reaching the 5th Round only for an administrative error to deny them the chance to go even further. Players Joe Devera, Nick Brindley and Harry Hunt were offered contracts with Barnet FC and the season’s top scorer, Bradley Woods-Garness went to Conference side Farnborough Town. 2006–07 saw the club achieve fourth spot in the league, becoming the only side to beat eventual League and Cup champions Edgware Town at their White Lion ground whilst doing the double over local rivals Hertford Town with two fine victories.

Following the departure of Howard Cowley a succession of managers tried to revive the fortunes of the club however this quick turnover of managers did nothing to ensure success in fact it had the opposite effect with relegation back to the First Division at the end of the 2009-10 campaign.

2010–11 saw the club’s poor form continue. This was not helped by having three managers in the season, Phil Read, Rob Pattwell and Simon Braine. The latter, with the help of Assistant Manager Adam Fisher, helped to steer the club away from potentially ruinous relegation.

2011–12 saw Simon working alongside Charlie Marshall although the partnership was to last just twelve months.

The following sesason the club then turned to former players Scott O’Donoghue and Pablo Ardiles to try and take the Citizens back into the top flight. Scott and Pablo left the club after one season in charge.

In 2013–14 Welwyn Garden City found their feet again under newly appointed Manager Adam Fisher, with a respectable league campaign, finishing 4th

2014–15 saw the Citizens shine, with an impressive runs in the FA Cup and FA Vase.

They later went on to win the club's first ever Double consisting on the Spartan South Midlands Division 1 Cup and the Spartan South Midlands Division 1 champions. Promotion was achieved for the first time in five years with a season record of W29 D5 L6.

Extensive improvements to the ground were made in time for the 2016/17 season.

Honours