Nickname(s) The Blanketmen Founded 2001 | Dissolved February 2013 | |
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Full name Witney Town Football Club Ground The Polythene UK Stadium, Witney | ||
Witney Town A.F.C. was a football club based in Witney, Oxfordshire. The club dissolved while playing in the Hellenic League Premier Division, 2012–13 season.
Contents
History
The club was formed by a group of Witney Town supporters. Intent on bring senior football back to the town the group registered Witney United FC with the Oxfordshire Football Association in 2001. For almost a year they had little else other than the name. There was no ground, team or manager. That year was all about raising funds and the profile of the club. The club set itself a challenging business plan that targeted a return to Southern League football within five seasons. Finally after much hard work it all came together. In 2002 WUFC gained a lease on the original Witney Town stadium and were accepted into Division One (West) of the Hellenic League. In its first year the Club struggled to attract local players and finally finished 15th in the Division. The second season saw the club move forward finally finishing the season in 4th place and gaining a surprise, last minute, offer of promotion to the Premier Division.
The challenge of promotion was compounded by the fact that the Club would start its third ever season with its third ever manager. But under the management team of Alan Clark, Steve Paish and Spencer Keyes the team proved it could hold its own – finally finishing a creditable 11th out of 22. The Club also competed, for the first time, in the FA Vase winning through the first three rounds – eventually losing to Deal Town away. Further success was achieved in the Oxfordshire Senior Cup where Witney finally fell to Oxford City in the semi-finals. The 2005–06 season saw United enter the FA Cup for the first time and were very unlucky to bow out after a replay against Southern League high-fliers Clevedon Town. The FA Vase brought similar disappointment as they went out to Truro City at the second hurdle. In October 2005 Alan Clark resigned as 1st Team Manager and Spencer Keyes stepped up from Assistant Manager to replace him. Spencer’s first management move was to recruit Pete Lamont as his No. 2.
The side went from strength to strength and a top 6 finish was claimed on the very last day of the season to round off an excellent season. United entered 2006–07 with a certain amount of optimism as the bid to bring Southern League football back to West Oxfordshire. A lack of consistency and too many draws saw them slip away from the leading pack and eventually finish 6th for the second season running. The club did however reach the Challenge Cup Final before losing 2–1 to Hungerford Town. In the close season Keyes stood down as manager and United moved quickly to appoint Andy Lyne. Lyne had two spells as manager at Witney Town in the nineties and his homecoming was well received by the fans who hoped he could work his magic for a third time at Marriotts Stadium.
Conservative leader David Cameron was the club's patron. Notable former players include former Liverpool FC manager Brendan Rodgers and MLS coach Ricky King, who is currently working with the New York Red Bulls Academy.
Liquidation
Following lengthy discussions in February 2013 between Uhlsport Hellenic League and the trustee's of Witney Town FC, no persons came forward to offer their services to take over responsibility as Officers of Witney Town Football Club and the resignation of Witney Town FC was tendered to the Uhlsport Hellenic League. The club then liquidated and folded.
Ground
Witney Town played their home games at Witney Community Stadium, Downs Road, Witney, Oxon, OX29 7WT.