Laverstock & Ford F.C.
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| Full name | Laverstock & Ford Football Club | |
|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Lavvy, The Bulldogs | |
| Founded | 1956 | |
| Ground | Church Road, Laverstock | |
| Chairman | John Pike | |
| Manager | Liam McConnell | |
| League | Wessex League Premier Division | |
| 2023–24 | Wessex League Premier Division, 8th of 20 | |
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Laverstock & Ford Football Club is a football club based in Laverstock, near Salisbury, Wiltshire, England. They are currently members of the Wessex League Premier Division and play at Church Road.
History
[edit]The club was established in 1956 and joined Division Three B of the Salisbury & District League.[1] They were runners-up in the division in their first season, earning promotion to Division Two.[1] Although the club were relegated at the end of the 1960–61 season, they were promoted back to Division Two at the first attempt.[1] The club were Division Two runners-up in 1962–63, securing a second consecutive promotion as they moved up to Division One.[1] The following season saw them finish as runners-up in Division One.[1] The club won the league title in 1970–71 and were runners-up the following season, also winning the Morrison Cup.[1]
Two seasons after winning Division One, Laverstock & Ford were relegated to Division Two at the end of the 1972–73 season. They won the Wiltshire Junior Cup in 1973–74,[2] and were promoted back to Division One in 1981–82, before moving up to the Premier Division in 1984. After winning the Stonehenge Cup and finishing as league runners-up in 1984–85,[1] the club moved up to Division Two of the Wiltshire League.[3] In 1986–87 the club were promoted to Division One, but they finished bottom of Division One in 1988–89 and were relegated back to Division Two.[3]
In 1991 Laverstock & Ford left the Wiltshire League and returned to the Salisbury & District League.[1] They joined Division Three of the Hampshire League in 1992, but left after a single season to return to the Salisbury & District League.[1] In 1996 the club rejoined Division Three of the Hampshire League.[4] League reorganisation in 1999 saw them placed in Division Two, and the club went on to win the Wiltshire Junior Cup again in 1999–2000.[2] They won Division Two in 2002–03, earning promotion to Division One.[4] In 2004 the Hampshire League merged into the Wessex League, with the club becoming members of the new Division Three.[4]
Laverstock & Ford were Division Three runners-up in 2005–06 and were promoted to Division Two, which was renamed Division One the following season.[4] They went on to finish as runners-up in Division One in 2007–08, earning promotion to the Premier Division. The club finished bottom of the Premier Division in 2011–12 and were relegated back to Division One.[4] In 2021–22 they finished fifth in Division One, qualifying for the promotion play-offs. After defeating Andover New Street 3–0 in the semi-finals, the club beat Newport (IOW) 3–2 (after extra time) in the final and were promoted to the Premier Division.
Ground
[edit]The club play at Church Road. Floodlights were installed during the 2005–06 season and a new 114-seat stand was installed in 2007–08.[1]
Honours
[edit]- Hampshire League
- Division Two champions 2002–03
- Salisbury & District League
- Division One champions 1970–71
- Morrison Cup winners 1971–72
- Stonehenge Cup winners 1984–85
- Wiltshire Junior Cup
- Winners 1973–74, 1999–2000[1]
Records
[edit]- Best FA Cup performance: Second qualifying round, 2022–23[4]
- Best FA Vase performance: First round, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2013–14, 2015–16[4]