A.F.C. Totton - History

History

Totton Football Club was formed in 1886 and became one of the founder members of the Hampshire F.A. when it was inaugurated the following year, and was also one of the founder members of the New Forest League, formed in 1904. After the First World War they entered the Southampton Senior League and the New Forest League, and in 1920–21 joined the Hampshire League West.

The early matches were played at South Testwood Park before Totton moved to Testwood Park, on 30 December 1933. In 1975 they amalgamated with Totton Athletic, installed floodlights and opened a Club Room and Bar at the ground. Totton’s most successful season was in 1981–82 when they won Hampshire League Division 1 for the first time, the Russell Cotes Cup, Hampshire Intermediate Cup, Southampton Senior Cup, Echo Trophy, Reg Mathieson Trophy and the Eastleigh 6-a-Side Shield.

Totton became one of the founder members of the Wessex League when it was formed in the 1986–87 season, finishing 3rd. Although the league title has continued to elude the club, it has still performed well in cup competitions. The Medisport Wessex League Cup was won in 1989–90 and the Club was runners-up to Southern League Bashley in the Russell Côtes Cup in 1990–91.

This upturn in fortunes continued into 2000–01, with Totton again finishing fourth in the Wessex League. The FA Vase provided the club with a good run, reaching the Fourth round. Season 2002–03 saw the club enjoy a good FA Cup run before losing to Slough Town in a First Qualifying Round replay. The club did gain some silverware though, beating league champions Eastleigh 2–1 in the final of the Wessex League Cup.

In 2003–04 the Reserves had an excellent season, reaching the final of the Southampton FA Senior (Saturday) Cup, but lost to Hampshire Premier League champions VT FC in the final. 2005–06 saw many changes in team personnel and fourth place gained in the League, together with a fine run in the FA Cup and the winning of the Wessex League Cup for a third time. The reserves also reached the semi-finals of the Southampton Senior Cup, but again suffered defeat at the hands of a full-strength VT 1st team.

2006–07 proved to be the most memorable in the history of the club. In the league the 1st team had a season long battle with Gosport, narrowly missing out on the title on goal difference, a bitter disappointment after having led the table from October until that eventful last week. But the highlight of the season had to be the reaching of the final of the FA Vase at Wembley Stadium for the first time in the club’s history. In front of a record 36,232 crowd for a Vase final, the team had to settle for runners-up after a thoroughly entertaining match against Truro City.

After the achievements of the previous season, 2007–08 was always going to be a challenge. A good early run in the FA Cup set the team up nicely for the season, and that momentum extended into a great run in the League. In what was a season long battle, with any of five teams in with a chance, the team ultimately produced 27 points from 30 in March & April to seal its first ever Wessex League Championship, and promotion to the Southern League.

The 2008–09 season saw AFC Totton narrowly missing out on promotion to the Southern League Premier Division after beating Beaconsfield SYCOB 2–1 in the playoff semi-final. They were defeated 2–1 at home to Didcot Town in the playoff final in front of a crowd of 1,123. The game was taken into extra time with Didcot eventually coming out on top.

The 2009–10 season saw AFC Totton again push for promotion gaining an impressive 100 point tally, missing out on promotion by one point. The play off semi-final against Cirencester ended in defeat.

The 2010–11 season was arguably the most successful in AFC Totton's history. On 9 February 2011, the Stags played their first match at the newly built 3,000 capacity (although the F.A. recently gave permission to Totton to only allow 2,400 fans to enter the stadium at one time) Conference South standard Testwood Stadium against Paulton Rovers, winning 5–1. The club won the league on the final day of the season with a 1–0 win away at Gosport Borough. Local rivals Sholing finished two points behind Totton in second place, subsequently losing the play off final to Frome Town. On 25 May, Totton and Sholing met in the Hampshire Senior Cup final at the home of Southampton, St. Mary's Stadium. Despite falling behind, Totton produced a superb second half display to win 3–1 and lift the trophy for the second year in a row.

For the 2011–12 season, Totton will play in the Southern League Premier Division.

On November 12, 2011, Totton beat Bradford Park Avenue 8–1 to reach the FA Cup second round for the first time in their history. A record attendance of 2,315 was achieved beating their previous record of 1,746 when Totton played Southampton in 2009. Totton's dream of reaching the third round of the FA Cup was ended as they lost 6–1 against Bristol Rovers in the FA Cup 2nd Round at the Testwood Stadium. Nathaniel Sherborne scored The Stags' only goal.