Gloucestershire County Football Association Explained

Gloucestershire County Football Association
Size:120
Formation:1886
Purpose:Football association
Headquarters:Oaklands Park
Gloucester Road
Location:Almondsbury
Bristol BS32 4AG
Coords:51.5486°N -2.5709°W
Leader Title:Chief Executive
Leader Name:David Neale
Website:gloucestershirefa.com

The Gloucestershire County Football Association, also simply known as the Gloucestershire FA or GFA, is the governing body of football in the county of Gloucestershire. It was formed in 1886.[1]

History

The Gloucestershire County Football Association has developed from small beginnings in 1886 into an Association of more than 2000 affiliated teams and 20 affiliated Leagues. Key dates in the history of the Association are provided below:

1886: At a meeting in the Full Moon Hotel, Stokes Croft, Bristol on 7 September, the Gloucestershire Football Association was formed to be administered by a Management Committee. Gloucestershire’s first President was the famous cricketer Dr W.G. Grace who was also an active Referee.

1889–90: 33 Clubs had affiliated to the County, which enabled a delegate to be sent to the Football Association.

1892: The Association was running two Cup Competitions and playing five or six County matches a season with the first League commencing operations.

1898: The Association's Management Committee became the Council with representatives from 15 Clubs and a representative from each League affiliated to the Association.

1919–20: A major change in the structure of the Council occurred when Northern Council was formed from areas north of Thornbury. However all decisions still had to be sanctioned by the full Council.

1927: The County Minor (Youth) Association was formulated.

1933: The responsibilities of the County Minor Association were assumed by the Main Council.

1946: The County Youth Association was revived following its demise in 1933.

1967: Moves were made to form an entirely separate Council in the North. But at a meeting in December it was agreed that two separate Associations were impractical. The immediate result was that a joint annual meeting was introduced in addition to the A.G.M.

1976: The last independent North and South Council meetings took place and in 1977 the Council again became a unified body.

1995: Following the sudden death of the long serving Hon. Secretary E J Marsh, the County appointed Paul Britton as full- time Secretary and shortly afterwards purchased the property at Oaklands Park, Almondsbury as its first permanent Headquarters.

1999: The County took the significant step of becoming a Limited Company becoming known as Gloucestershire Football Association Ltd.

2000: The development of Oaklands Park that included the addition of a Floodlit All-Weather Pitch and new Dressing Rooms was completed. These facilities are now being extensively used for training groups from local junior clubs and disabled organisations.

2001: The development of the All-Weather Pitch and Dressing Rooms released capacity within the original building for the development of office space, a Board Room and Council Chamber.

2002: The County Youth Association ceased to be a semi- autonomous Association when it was incorporated into the main Association as the Youth Committee.

2006: David Neale was appointed Chief Executive following the death of Paul Britton in December 2005.[2]

Oaklands Park

Oaklands Park was purchased by the Gloucestershire Football Association (GFA) for their new headquarters in 1994 after the existing owners Almondsbury Town FC was regretfully placed in the hands of the liquidator following a period of financial difficulties. Almondsbury Town FC became tenants at Oaklands Park in 1995 until May 2010, and in addition to using the pitch, the club were able to rent half of the building as a bar and skittle alley.

By 2009 the GFA established that they needed to take over this area for our their own use in order to cater for the increasing number of people employed by the Association in developing grassroots football. In addition to accommodating their staff, the GFA also needed training facilities to assist the development of clubs, coaches and referees.

The situation has eventually led to the demise of Almondsbury Town FC who in April 2011 announced that they were withdrawing from Zamaretto League's 2011–12 season and disbanding the first team citing failure to find a ground share as the main cause.[3] In response the GFA released a statement advising that it was Almondsbury Town's decision to leave Oaklands Park, originally in April 2010, that prompted them to find new tenants and that an agreement had been struck with Winterbourne United and Roman Glass St George in October of that same year.[4]

The situation has resulted in damaging publicity for the GFA in the local press.[3] The Association have reiterated that their "main purpose as an organisation is to drive increased participation in football. As a direct result of the Oaklands Park refurbishment programme, (they) were able to host a team of four FA Tesco Skills Coaches". The GFA expressed disappointment that the club were unsuccessful in their discussions with other parties.[5]

Affiliated Leagues

Men's Saturday Leagues

Men's Sunday Leagues

Ladies & Girls Leagues

Youth Leagues

Small Sided Leagues

- Bradley Stoke

- Kingswood

- Thornbury

- Yate

- Cheltenham

Summer 8-a-side League

- Bristol

- Cheltenham

- Gloucester

- Stroud

- Bristol – Ashton Park

- Bristol – Horfield

- Bristol – St George

- Gloucester

- Stroud

- Tewkesbury[6]

Futsal Leagues

- Hanham

- Gloucester

Other Leagues

Disbanded or Amalgamated Leagues

A number of leagues that were affiliated to the Gloucestershire FA have disbanded or amalgamated including:

Affiliated Member Clubs

Among the notable clubs that are affiliated to the Gloucestershire FA are:

Lists of Gloucestershire FA cup and trophy winners

Gloucestershire Senior Professional Cup

See main article: Gloucestershire Cup. The Senior Professional Cup, initially known as the Challenge Cup and later as the Senior Challenge Cup, was held 99 times between 1888 and 1996. Founded in 1887, it was originally a knockout tournament for all teams affiliated to the Gloucestershire County Football Association, but after a few years became dominated by Bristol City and Bristol Rovers to such an extent that the format of the competition was changed in 1907 to be an annual match between those two clubs. A list of the winners is shown in the table below.

ClubWinsFirst winLast win
Bristol City5418981996
Bristol Rovers2818891994
Warmley418921897
Bedminster218911900
St George218941895
Clifton Association218881890

Challenge Trophy

Season  Winners
1978–79Almondsbury Greenway
1979–80Fairford Town
1980–81Moreton Town
1981–82Moreton Town
1982–83Old Georgians
1983–84Shortwood United
1984–85Mangotsfield United
1985–86Moreton Town
1986–87Mangotsfield United
1987–88

Season  Winners
1988–89Yate Town
1989–90Lawrence Weston Hallen
1990–91Mangotsfield United
1991–92Shortwood United
1992–93Hallen
1993–94Mangotsfield United
1994–95Shortwood United
1995–96Cirencester United
1996–97Mangotsfield United
1998–99Fairford Town
Season  Winners
1999–00Mangotsfield United
2000–01Yate Town
2001–02Cirencester Academy
2002–03Fairford Town
2003–04Slimbridge
2004–05Harrow Hill
2005–06Slimbridge
2006–07Slimbridge
2007–08Bitton
2008–09Bitton
Season  Winners
2009–10Almondsbury Town
2010–11Shortwood United
2011–12Bristol Manor Farm
2012–13Bristol Academy
2013–14Hallen
2014–15Bristol Manor Farm
2015–16Bristol Manor Farm
Source[7]

Senior Amateur Challenge Cup (South)

Season  Winners
1907–08Kingswood Rovers
1908–09Dominicans
1909–10Hanham
1910–11Hanham
1911–12Hanham
1912–13St. Michael's
1913–14Packers
1915–19No competition due to World War I
1919–20Douglas
1920–21Hanham Athletic
1921–22St Philip's Marsh Adult School
1922–23Victoria Albion
1923–24Hanham Athletic
1924–25Kingswood
1925–26Brecknell Mun.& Rgrs.
1926–27Kingswood
1927–28Victoria Albion
1928–29Barton Hill Sports
1929–30Victoria Albion
1930–31St. Phillip's Athletic
1931–32Bristol St. George
1932–33Victoria Albion
1933–34
1934–35Mount Hill Enterprise
1935–36Dockland Settlement
1936–37St. Pancras (Knowle)
1937–38Bristol Aeroplane Co.
Season  Winners
1938–39Bristol St. George
1939–40B.C.E.D.
1940–41No competition due to World War II
1941–42R.A.F. Filton
1942–43Bristol Aeroplane Co.
1943–44Bristol City "A"
1944–45R.E.M.E.
1945–46Douglas (Kingswood)
1946–47St. Andrew's
1947–48Hambrook
1948–49Soundwell
1949–50Bishopsworth Utd.
1950–51Bristol St. George
1951–52Victoria Athletic
1952–53Bristol St. George
1953–54St Philip's Marsh Adult School
1954–55St Philip's Marsh Adult School
1955–56Exeter United
1956–57Southmead Sports
1957–58Pucklechurch
1958–59Clifton St. Vincent's
1959–60Bristol Rovers
1960–61Bristol St. George
1961–62Clifton St. Vincent's
1962–63Hambrook
1963–64Bristol St. George
1964–65Cadbury Heath
Season  Winners
1965–66Bristol St. George
1966–67Bristol St. George
1967–68Bristol St. George
1968–69Mangotsfield United
1969–70Greenway Sports
1970–71Greenway Sports
1971–72Old Georgians
1972–73Cadbury Heath
1973–74Cadbury Heath
1974–75Cadbury Heath
1975–76Mangotsfield United
1976–77Oldland
1977–78Yate Town
1978–79Hillfields O.B.
1979–80P & W United
1980–81Avon St. Phillips Ath.
1981–82Henbury Athletic
1982–83Henbury Athletic
1983–84Henbury O.Bs.
1984–85Eden Grove
1985–86RWP
1986–87Stokeside Sports
1987–88Almondsbury Picksons
1988–89St Philip's Marsh Adult School
1989–90Bristol Manor Farm
1990–91Glenside Hospital S.C.
1991–92Yate Town
Season  Winners
1992–93Yate Town
1993–94Pucklechurch
1994–95Bitton
1995–96St. Aldhelms
1996–97Winterbourne United
1997–98Ridings High
1998–99Bristol 5 O.B.
1999–2000Bitton Reserves
2000–01Bristol Union F.C.
2001–02Nicholas Wanderers
2002–03Hanham Athletic
2003–04Shirehampton
2004–05Glenside Five OB
2005–06Glenside Five OB
2006–07Bitton Reserves
2007–08B & W Avonside
2008–09Hallen Reserves
2009–10Southmead Athletic
2010–11Mendip United
2011–12Highridge United
2012–13Highridge United
2013–14AEC Boko
2014–15Totterdown United
2015–16Bitton Reserves
Sources[8] [9]

Senior Amateur Challenge Cup (North)

Season  Winners
1925–26Broadwell Amateurs
1926–27Forest Green Rovers
1927–28Sharpness
1928–29Sharpness
1929–30Cheltenham Town
1930–31Cheltenham Town
1931–32Gloucester City
1932–33Cheltenham Town
1933–34Cheltenham Town
1934–35Cheltenham Town
1935–36Stonehouse
1936–37Chalford
1937–38Charlton Kings
1938–39Dursley
1939–40Brimscombe
1940–45No competition due to World War II
1945–46Forest Green Rovers
1946–47Charlton Kings
1947–48Charlton Kings
1948–49Charlton Kings
1949–50Cinderford Town
1950–51Stonehouse
Season  Winners
1951–52Hoffman's Athletic
1952–53Lydbrook
1953–54Hoffman's Athletic
1954–55Cinderford Town
1955–56Cinderford Town
1956–57Lydbrook Athletic
1957–58Sharpness
1958–59Lydbrook Athletic
1959–60Lydbrook Athletic
1960–61Lydbrook Athletic
1961–62Sharpness
1962–63Newent Town
1963–64Gloucester City
1964–65Bishop's Cleeve
1965–66Sharpness
1966–67Sharpness
1967–68Brimscombe
1968–69Bishop's Cleeve
1969–70Cinderford Town
1970–71Cinderford Town
1971–72Forest Green Rovers
1972–73Stonehouse
Season  Winners
1973–74Moreton Town
1974–75Matson Athletic
1975–76Forest Green Rovers
1976–77Cinderford Town
1977–78Forest Green Rovers
1978–79Hilldene Athletic
1979–80Tewkesbury Y.M.C.A.
1980–81Cirencester Town
1981–82Badminton Picksons
1982–83Wotton Rovers
1983–84Viney St. Swithins
1984–85Campden Town
1985–86Shortwood United
1986–87Bishop's Cleeve
1987–88Tuffley Rovers
1988–89Tewkesbury Y.M.C.A.
1989–90Cirencester Town
1990–91Tewkesbury Y.M.C.A.
1991–92Cheltenham Saracens
1992–93Endsleigh
1993–94Shortwood United
1994–95Brockworth
Season  Winners
1995–96Endsleigh
1996–97Endsleigh
1997–98Cirencester Academy
1998–99Whitminster
1999–2000Shortwood United Res.
2000–01Longlevens
2001–02Taverners
2002–03Kings Stanley
2003–04Warden Hill
2004–05Lydney Town
2005–06Dursley Town
2006–07Tuffley Rovers
2007–08Sharpness
2008–09Broadwell Amateurs
2009–10Sharpness
2010–11Harrow Hill
2011–12Brockworth Albion
2012–13Minsterworth
2013–14Cheltenham Civil Service
2014–15
2015–16Stonehouse Town
Source[9]

Lower tier County Cup (South)

SeasonJunior (South) WinnersIntermediate (South) WinnersMinor (South) WinnersPrimary (South) Winners
2000–01Totterdown United Langton Court Rangers Brimsham Green Res. Mendip Gate
2001–02Longshore Longwell Green Sports Res. Alveston Rangers Winterbourne United ‘A’
2002–03Lawrence Rovers Sea Mills Park Res. Soundwell Victoria Ridings High 'A'
2003–04TC Sports Cadbury Heath ‘A’ Shaftesbury Crusade Res. Lawrence Rovers Res.
2004–05Patchway Town Res. Soundwell Victoria AXA ‘A’ Eden Grove
2005–06Talbot Knowle Southmead Athletic Shirehampton ‘A’ Bristol Sanctuary
2006–07Lawrence Rovers AFC Bohemia Brislington Cricketers Inter The Bloomfield
2007–08Wessex Wanderers Winterbourne United ‘A’ Bristol Sanctuary XI Broad Walk FC Res.
2008–09Lawrence Rovers Hanham Athletic ‘A’ Broadwalk Reserves Southmead CS (Saturday)
2009–10Ashley Eden Grove St Georges Rangers Real Thornbury
2010–11Brislington Cricketers Bradley Stoke Town St Philip & Jacob (Pip n Jay) Carmel
2011–12Crosscourt United Portville Warriors Real Thornbury Broadlands
2012–13Stockwood Wanderers Real Thornbury Old Cliftonians Sartan United (Saturday)
2013–14Real Thornbury Bristol Bilbao Thornbury Baptist Church Stapleton Reserves
2014–15Talbot Knowle United North Bristol United Woodlands Rangers Winford PH Reserves
2015–16Stapleton Hillfields Old Boys Thornbury Baptist Church De Veys Reserves
Sources[10] [9]

Lower tier County Cup (North)

SeasonJunior (North) WinnersIntermediate (North) WinnersMinor (North) WinnersPrimary (North) Winners
2000–01Tetbury Town Cam Bulldogs Phoenix United Hillesley Utd.
2001–02Charfield Taverners Res. Down Ampney Aylburton Res.
2002–03Berkeley Town Patriots Aylburton Marshall Langston
2003–04Longlevens G.A.L.A. Wilton Adlestrop D & O Ramblers Res.
2004–05G.A.L.A. Wilton Moreton Town Woodmancote Worral Hill
2005–06Ramblers Lydbrook Athletic Stratton Wanderers AC Olympia
2006–07Barnwood Utd AFC Bohemia Tewkesbury Dynamos Newnham Utd
2007–08FC Barometrics Kingswood Res. Tewkesbury Rovers Didmarton
2008–09Frampton United Bibury Charlton Rovers Res. C & G
2009–10Marshall Langston FC Barometrics C & G Bush
2010–11Minsterworth Whitecroft Whaddon Utd F C Lakeside
2011–12Bibury Huntley Upton St Leonards Reserves Vinney St Swithins Reserves
2012–13Avonvale United FC Lakeside Tuffley Rovers 'A' The Village
2013–14Southside Charfield Alkerton Rangers Levkhampton Rovers Reserves
2014–15Longlevens Ellwood Reserves Northway Fintan Reserves
2015–16Stroud Harriers Chalford Reserves Mushet & Coalway South Cerney Reserves
Sources[10] [9]

Women's competitions

SeasonGFA Women's TrophyGFA Women's Challenge Cup
WinnersRunners-upWinnersRunners-up
2018–19Cheltenham TownFrampton RangersCirencester TownCheltenham Town Under-18s
2017-18St Nicholas Cheltenham TownCotswold RangersMitcheldean
2016-17Cheltenham TownSt Nicholas ReservesFrampton RangersStoke Lane Athletic
2015-16Forest Green RoversCheltenham Town Abbeymead RoversMangotsfield United
2014-15Forest Green RoversBristol Ladies UnionBristol Ladies Union DevelopmentAbbeymead Rovers
2013-14Forest Green RoversBristol Ladies UnionSt NicholasCheltenham Town Development
2012-13Bristol AcademyDownend Flyers
2011-12Stroud & South Gloucestershire College FiltonGloucester City
2010-11Stroud & South Gloucestershire College FiltonDownend Flyers
2009-10Stroud & South Gloucestershire College FiltonForest Green Rovers
2008-09Forest Green RoversCheltenham Town
2007-08Filton College AcademyForest Green Rovers

Directors & Officials

Board of directors

Key Officials

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: A Brief Summary of the Association's History. Gloucestershire County Football Association. 2009-05-30. https://web.archive.org/web/20090416002802/http://www.gloucestershirefa.com/AboutUs/. 16 April 2009. live.
  2. Web site: Gloucestershire County FA – About Us . Gloucestershire FA . 2011-05-26 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090416002802/http://www.gloucestershirefa.com/AboutUs/ . 16 April 2009 . live .
  3. Web site: Almondsbury Town set to fold . Gloucestershire Gazette . 7 April 2011 . 31 May 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110726122512/http://www.gazetteseries.co.uk/sport/8960028.Football__Almondsbury_Town_set_to_fold/ . 26 July 2011 . live .
  4. News: Winterbourne United secure home ground in new deal . 23 July 2020 . Frome Valley Voice . 7 December 2013.
  5. News: Iles . Rob . Gloucestershire FA release statement with Almondsbury Town set to withdraw from Southern League . 23 July 2020 . Gazette . 14 April 2011.
  6. Web site: Gloucestershire FA Handbook – Season 2010/11 . Gloucestershire FA . 2011-05-26 . https://web.archive.org/web/20111007144349/http://www.gloucestershirefa.com/NR/rdonlyres/63E764BA-79FE-403C-A037-DF347FF6B1B7/0/GloucestershireFAHandbook201011.pdf . 7 October 2011 . live .
  7. Web site: Gloucestershire County Football Association – GFA Cup Competition Winners. 2011-05-26. https://web.archive.org/web/20120323132856/http://www.gloucestershirefa.com/NR/rdonlyres/9D4F32B9-347B-40FF-99C2-6B064B2B49B4/0/WebsiteCupsWinnersListAdults201011.pdf. 23 March 2012. live.
  8. Web site: Gloucestershire County Football Association – GFA Cup Competition Winners. 2011-05-27. https://web.archive.org/web/20120323132856/http://www.gloucestershirefa.com/NR/rdonlyres/9D4F32B9-347B-40FF-99C2-6B064B2B49B4/0/WebsiteCupsWinnersListAdults201011.pdf. 23 March 2012. live.
  9. Web site: Gloucestershire County Football Association Cups. Gloucestershire Football Association. 9 June 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160609030846/http://www.gloucestershirefa.com/cups. 9 June 2016. live.
  10. Web site: Gloucestershire County Football Association – GFA Cup Competition Winners. 2011-05-28. https://web.archive.org/web/20120323132856/http://www.gloucestershirefa.com/NR/rdonlyres/9D4F32B9-347B-40FF-99C2-6B064B2B49B4/0/WebsiteCupsWinnersListAdults201011.pdf. 23 March 2012. live.
  11. Web site: Gloucestershire FA – About Us – Contacts. Gloucestershire County Football Association. 2009-05-31. https://web.archive.org/web/20110614065823/http://www.gloucestershirefa.com/AboutUs/Contacts/. 14 June 2011. live.