The club was founded in 1887 but disbanded twice (for the two World Wars); the current club was established in 1948. Their claim to fame was that they have had never been relegated in their history, although after their promotion to the sixth tier in 2004 they had been reprieved from relegation three times (in 2007, 2008, and 2010), they were eventually relegated for the first time in 132 years in the 2018/19 season. The team's best performance in the FA Cup came in 2003–04 when they reached the second round of the competition.
Weston-super-Mare has a modest fan base and a fierce rivalry with fellow Somerset club Clevedon Town. However, the two clubs have not played in the same league or cup (excluding pre season) since Weston-super-Mare gained promotion to the Southern League Premier Division in 2003.
History
Formation, reformation, and early history
Weston-super-Mare A.F.C. was formed in 1887.[2] The team's first record of a competitive match being against near-neighbours Clevedon Town in a "Medal Competition" organised by the Somerset FA.[3] In 1900, they joined Division two of the Western Football League but left after two years.[4] In 1910, they rejoined this league and played there until World War I.[5]
Between the wars, the club played in the local Bristol and District Football League and then the Somerset County League but the club disbanded upon the outbreak of hostilities in 1939.[3] The club reformed in 1948 and immediately rejoined the Western League, initially in Division Two.[6] At this time the team played at the Great Ground in Locking Road, where initially there was no cover for spectators and the players had to change in a marquee.[3] A season after the club joined rejoined the Western league they made their debut in the FA Cup in the 1949–50 season losing to Gloucester City in the preliminary qualifying round.[5] The team remained in the Second Division until the league consolidated to a single division in 1960.[6] During this time they moved to the Langford Road Ground.[3] In 1976, they were placed into the Western League Premier Division upon the creation of a second tier, meaning that by their centenary in 1987 they had never been promoted or relegated in their history.[3][7]
Paul Bliss era
In early 1986, Paul Bliss was approached by Weston-super-Mare and he was named as the club's chairman roughly six months later.[8][9] In 1989, John Ellener was appointed manager and led the club to the Western League championship in 1991–92 and with it promotion to the Southern League Midland Division.[5] They remained at this level, playing successively in the Midland, Southern, Midland (again) and Western Divisions due to the Southern League's regular reorganisations, until 2002–03 when they finished in second place and were promoted to the Premier Division, clinching promotion with a win away to rivals Clevedon Town.[3][10] In their first Premier Division season they finished in 10th place, enough to clinch a place in the newly formed Conference South.[10]
The club's most successful FA Cup run came in the 2003–04 season, when the Seagulls reached the second round. After defeating Dorchester Town, Chesham United (via a replay) and Welling United in the qualifying rounds, Weston secured a 1–0 away win against Farnborough Town to progress from the first round. They were awarded with an away tie against Third Division side, Northampton Town where they were eventually beaten 4–1. In the same season, Weston would equal their best performance in the FA Trophy, reaching the Fourth Round of the competition.
In the 2006–07 season of the Conference South, the club finished in 20th position and were set to be relegated.[11] However, Farnborough Town were relegated due to going into liquidation and Hayes and Yeading merged to form Hayes & Yeading United, leaving the Conference South one team short, earning a reprieve for Weston.[12] The 2007–08 season ended in similar fashion for Weston. A 20th-place finish meant the club was eligible for relegation, only to be spared by the enforced demotion of Cambridge City, who failed a ground inspection.[13] The 2009–10 campaign again saw the club finish in the relegation zone again when they finished 21st, however as before the club was saved by the FA, this time when Salisbury City were demoted twice to the Southern league.[14]
The 2010–11 season saw the club win the Somerset Premier Cup for the first time, when they defeated Yeovil Town in the final.[15] The club retained the cup the following season (2011–12) when they beat local rivals Clevedon Town 2–1.[16]
In 2012–13, the club finished the season with their highest ever placing in the Conference South in 7th place with 67 points and narrowly missing out on a place in the playoffs. The 2014–15 season brought a relatively successful cup campaign as the Seagulls won three qualifying matches in the FA Cup and reached the First Round Proper of the FA Cup, where they lost 4–1 at home to Doncaster Rovers in front of a record attendance of 2,949.
After a string of poor results, Micky Bell was replaced by Director of Football, Ryan Northmore at the end of November 2014 with the Seagulls at the bottom of the table. Northmore took the team on a string of unbeaten games, taking them to promotion challenging form. Unfortunately this didn't continue and after defeating Bath City at home 4–1 in a rearranged fixture the rejuvenated Seagulls didn't win another league game, which saw them finish 17th.
The 2015–16 season saw the side struggle to gain a win throughout August in the League, winning just 1 point from 18, with that point coming at home in the Somerset Derby against Bath City.
Through September and October, the side couldn't maintain a consistent run of form going and continued to lay low in the dreaded depths of the relegation zone.
However, toward the end of November, Ryan Northmore's troops managed to pull themselves up to 2nd in the league's form table by going 10 games unbeaten in the Nation League South from 21 November until 16 February. It came to an end when Weston couldn't maintain the run, eventually losing 2–0 to Hayes & Yeading at the Woodspring.
The side momentarily lost form with losses coming against St. Albans and Wealdstone however, over the Easter weekend, the side bagged an important 3 points over Ebbsfleet thanks to Captain Dayle Grubb's impressive strikes.
This was followed by a tough defeat to relegation rivals Bath City, with Scott Wilson firing in during the 91st minute, but Bath hit back with a penalty in the 92nd minute and the winner from half-way in the 94th minute.
During the last month of the season, the Seagulls once again turned on the style and ended the season with 6 unbeaten games from 7, with Scott Wilson and Dayle Grubb netting in a 2–0 win over Maidstone to spark manic celebrations from the home fans at The Woodspring knowing that the Seagulls had avoided relegation.
With the season ending in a party atmosphere in Havant on 30 April, with fan favourite Scott Wilson sliding home at the far post to ultimately send Havant down and keep Margate down.
The club revealed a new crest after the end of the 2015–16 season.[17] Manager Ryan Northmore was sacked by the club on 18 September 2016 after a run of seven league losses and an FA Cup exit to North Leigh[18] Northmore was replaced by former Weston-super-Mare player and Forest Green Rovers caretaker manager Scott Bartlett on 3 October 2016.[19] Bartlett left the club at the end of the 2016–17 season after having led the Seagulls to 15th in the National League South.[20] Former player Marc McGregor was his replacement for the new season.[21]
McGregor's first season in charge saw the club finish in a credible 12th place[22] with McGregor being named Manager of the Month for November.[23] The 2018–19 season saw the club struggle for form, only picking up their first league win three months into the season[24] with their first home league win coming nearly three months later.[25] McGregor's time in charge came to an end in March 2019[26] with the club ultimately suffering the first relegation in their 137-year history finishing bottom of the National League South.[27] Scott Bartlett returned as the club's new manager ahead of the 2019–20 season.[28]
The club's first two seasons (2019–20 and 2020–21) back in the Southern Football League were abandoned prematurely due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[29][30] The 2021–22 season saw Weston finish the season in fifth place, qualifying for the end of season playoffs but the Seagulls lost their semi-final 2–1 against Hayes and Yeading United to confirm their continued participation in the Southern League.[31]
The 2022–23 season saw Weston immediately challenging at the top of the table, spending much of the season battling with Truro City for the top spot. Despite a late challenge from Bracknell Town, Weston were crowned champions following an emphatic 4–1 win against Hendon securing a return to the National League South after four years.[32]
Ground
Woodspring stadium
Weston-super-Mare A.F.C. play their home games at the Woodspring Stadium, currently known as the Optima Stadium for sponsorship reasons, on Winterstoke Road, where the club moved to in August 2004. They previously played at Woodspring Park a short distance away. The move marked the third time in the past 40 years that Weston-super-Mare have changed venues. The capacity of the ground is 3,500 in which 2,000 is covered and 350 are seated.[33]
Woodspring Park had been built almost entirely by supporters and boasted a clubhouse costing £100,000.[3] The Park had been the home of Weston-super-Mare since 1983 and had floodlights installed in 1986.[3] The ground nearly had a greyhound track around the pitch, an idea which chairman Paul Bliss shot down.[8] Weston-super-Mare sold this ground to a residential home builder when it became apparent the club was going to move the short distance to the Woodspring Stadium. The last home fixture was played in April 2004.[33]
The ground for what is now Woodspring Stadium was formerly a sporting complex owned by Westland Aircraft known as Westland Sports Ground. It was home to cricket and football in addition to social buildings. Difficult financial times forced Westland to reconsider their place in town and put the ground up for sale. The club purchased it for £270,000 in 2001.[33] The Stadium opened 14 August 2004, with its first match against Conference South opponents Hornchurch drawing 500 people to the game.
In April 2021, the club announced plans to redevelop the stadium to include 750 additional seats and new terracing plus new club facilities and hospitality areas. The redevelopment would also allow the club to further increase capacity at the ground to 5,000 with 2,000 seats in the future. This would allow the ground to host EFL League Two matches should the club ever be promoted to that level.[34]
The record attendance for this ground 2,949 in a match in the FA Cup against Doncaster Rovers on 18 November 2014.
Current squad
Updated 9 March 2024
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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