:Andover F.C.

Andover Football Club was formed in 1883 and played their first game on 27 October at Stride's Field, Weyhill Road, a friendly match against Basingstoke Mechanical Engineers. Three years later they moved to the Walled Meadow, where they played their home matches for the next 96 years.{{cite web|url=http://www.quantumleap.ndo.co.uk/history.htm|title=Andover Football Club – History Page|access-date=28 January 2008}} For most of the next thirty years, the club competed in three separate small leagues which were run side by side during the space of each season; the Hampshire League, the Salisbury and District League, and the North Hants May League. During this time, Andover won the Salisbury League eight times, the North Hants May League five times and reached the Hampshire Junior Cup final twice.{{cite web|url=http://www.andover-fc.co.uk/docs/Newhonours.htm|title=Andover FC – Honours|publisher=Andover Football Club|access-date=28 January 2008|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080131141632/http://www.andover-fc.co.uk/docs/Newhonours.htm|archive-date= 31 January 2008}}

Andover competed in the first Hampshire Senior Cup in 1888, but became involved in controversy after they were knocked out of the competition by Woolston Works. During this match, a Glasgow–based player called J. Kesson played for Woolston in their victory. Andover protested that Kesson should be disqualified on the grounds of residency—although he had played for Woolston Works earlier that season, he had since moved back to Glasgow. Woolston's appeal rested on the fact that Kesson had left some items of clothing at his lodgings in Woolston, and this should be interpreted as his intention to return. The Hampshire FA upheld the appeal, allowing Woolston to progress through to the next round and eventually win the inaugural competition.{{cite web|url=http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/vtfc/a/history-9094.html |title=Sholing FC – History |publisher=Sholing F.C. |access-date=6 February 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130318190647/http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/vtfc/a/history-9094.html |archive-date=18 March 2013}}

Andover joined the newly formed Southern League Second Division South West section in 1898. They won just two of their ten games at this higher level and finished bottom of their six-team division, which also included Cowes, Ryde and Eastleigh. After just one season, they moved back down to county league football along with the majority of teams in that division.{{cite web|url=http://www.quantumleap.ndo.co.uk/189899.htm|title=Andover Football Club Results Archive 1898–99|access-date=14 January 2008}}

Until the First World War Andover played in the Hampshire League North Division (the Hampshire League at this time was composed of a number of regional divisions instead of the present-day hierarchical structure), and their first major honour came in 1913–14 when they won that division. Competition was suspended during the war, and upon the restart they rejoined the Hampshire League in the North Division before moving to an enlarged County Division in the 1920–21 season. It was while in this division that they won their most prestigious title to date, the league championship in 1924–25.

Division One of the Hampshire League was formed at the start of the 1929–30 season, and Andover were almost permanent members of that division, winning their first title in 1934–35. The only slip was in 1936–37 when they were relegated, but they returned the following year after winning promotion from Division Two. The club remained active during the Second World War, winning the Hampshire League title in 1944–45.

Andover had a certain degree of success in county cup competitions during this period. They reached the final of the Hampshire Senior Cup twice, in 1931 and 1933, losing to Winchester City and Newport (IOW) respectively. They also won the Russell Cotes Cup four times and reached the final a further three times.{{cite web|url=http://www.hampshirefa.com/FixturesAndResults/CountyCups/Russell-CotesCup/|title=Russell Cotes Cup|publisher=Hampshire FA|access-date=25 November 2008|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20081225152648/http://www.hampshirefa.com/FixturesAndResults/CountyCups/Russell-CotesCup/|archive-date=25 December 2008}}

Andover continued playing in Division One of the Hampshire League after the war. They had success during the period between 1948 and 1951, winning two more Hampshire League championships as well as winning the Hampshire Senior Cup for the first two times in the club's history.{{cite web|url=http://www.hampshirefa.com/FixturesAndResults/CountyCups/SaturdaySeniorCup/ |title=Hampshire Senior Cup |publisher=Hampshire FA |access-date=25 November 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081027000224/http://www.hampshirefa.com/FixturesAndResults/CountyCups/SaturdaySeniorCup/ |archive-date=27 October 2008 |url-status=dead }} In 1960–61, Andover won the Russell Cotes Cup for the sixth time, while the reserves were champions of Division Two and won the County Intermediate Cup for the second successive season. The following year saw the first team win their eighth Hampshire League championship and retain the Russell Cotes Cup, while the Reserves were champions of Division Two again. Ian Henderson broke his own goalscoring record set the previous year, scoring 62 goals.

In 1962, the club followed Salisbury and stepped up to the Western League. This proved to be quite a different challenge—whereas before they had only competed against local teams in league competition, they now faced opposition from teams as far afield as Somerset and Devon as well as the reserve teams of league clubs such as Bristol Rovers, Bristol City and Torquay United.{{cite web|url=http://www.quantumleap.ndo.co.uk/196263.htm|title=Andover Football Club Results Archive – 1962–63 |access-date=25 February 2008}} They generally fared well, only failing to finish in the top half of the table twice during their time at this level. Their first season in the Western League saw the club reach the first round proper of the FA Cup for the only time in their history after defeating Hendon 5–4 in a fourth qualifying round replay. On 3 November, Fourth Division side Gillingham came to the Walled Meadow and won 1–0 in front of 3484 spectators, a figure which would remain as the club's largest attendance for a home game. In the league Andover finished fourth, but that was their highest placing until 1969–70 when they finished as runners-up.

This was repeated the following season, and so in 1971 Andover took another step up and joined the Southern League. Now competing against teams from an even wider area spanning almost the entire width of the country (ranging from Bideford in the west to Bury Town in the east) and in some cases with a larger budget and fanbase, competition was always tough with the club generally finishing in the bottom half of the table. The highest position the club reached at this level was the sixth place reached in 1987–88 and again in 1991–92.

In 1989 the Walled Meadow was sold for redevelopment and the club moved to the brand new Portway Stadium, which is located on the West Portway Industrial Estate. A crowd of 1,100 watched the official opening match against Leicester City, with the league team coming away with a 10–1 victory. After much deliberation over the cost and distance of travel involved in Southern League football, the club voluntarily stepped down the pyramid ladder to join the Wessex League in 1993–94.

The first season saw them finish runners-up, but the club's management declined to apply for promotion back into the Southern League and so they remained in the Wessex League. In the following three seasons they were placed seventh, ninth and sixth, but 1997–98 saw the club finish runners-up again, winning promotion back to the Southern League. Returning after a five-year absence, it was not long before the difference in quality between the two leagues became evident, and the club soon realised that it was unable to compete financially with the bigger clubs in the division. At the beginning of the year the club announced its intention to return to the Wessex League for 1999–2000, a decision taken because it was felt it would be better to play in a league in which it could compete financially and successfully.

The next few years saw Andover enjoying its most successful spell for many decades. The first season back in the Wessex League saw the club finish third. They also reached the final of the Hampshire Senior Cup for the first time in 35 years, losing 1–9 to Aldershot Town in what is the Shots' record win in their current incarnation.{{cite web|url=http://www.theshots.co.uk/History2.ink |title=Aldershot FC Club History – Part 2 Seasons 1997–2002 |publisher=Aldershot Town F.C. |access-date=24 January 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081013063427/http://www.theshots.co.uk/History2.ink |archive-date=13 October 2008}} The team scored a total of 233 goals in all competitions, including a club record 88 goals scored by Andy Forbes.{{cite web|url=http://www.quantumleap.ndo.co.uk/19992000.htm|title=Andover Football Club Results Archive 1999–2000|access-date=24 January 2008}}

Andover won the Wessex League championship for the first time in the 2000–01 season, scoring a club record 153 league goals including a 14–1 win over Swanage Town & Herston, the club's record victory. In addition, they won the Hampshire Senior Cup for the fifth time in the club's history, beating Havant & Waterlooville 2–0 at The Dell. They also retained the North Hants Senior Cup to complete a treble.{{cite web|url=http://www.quantumleap.ndo.co.uk/200001.htm|title=Andover Football Club Results Archive 2000–2001|access-date=24 January 2008}}

File:Andover-salisbury-2008.jpg in a pre-season friendly played on 22 July 2008 to mark the club's 125th anniversary]]

They retained the League title the following year, winning the championship by a single point from Fleet Town following a 1–1 draw at Fleet on the last day of the season—this match was played in front of 623 people, a record attendance for a Wessex League match up to that date.{{cite web|url=http://www.andoveradvertiser.co.uk/archive/2002/05/02/Hampshire+Archive/5608597.Champions_again/ | title=Champions Again | publisher=Andover Advertiser|date=2 May 2002|access-date=5 February 2013}} The Lions gained another treble by also winning the League Cup and Russell Cotes Cup.{{cite web|url=http://www.quantumleap.ndo.co.uk/200102.htm|title=Andover Football Club Results Archive 2001–2002|access-date=24 January 2008}} The club won the North Hants Senior Cup again in 2002–03, and reached the semi-finals of both the Hampshire Senior Cup and the Russell Cotes Cup.{{cite web|url=http://www.quantumleap.ndo.co.uk/200203.htm|title=Andover Football Club Results Archive 2002–2003|access-date=24 January 2008}} Another Wessex League attendance record was set towards the end of the season when 702 people saw Andover's 6–1 win over Eastleigh.

Despite this period of success, the club failed to attract significant local support. The club was close to extinction during the summer of 2003 after the chairman resigned,{{cite web|url=http://www.nonleaguedaily.com/news/index.php?newsmode=FULL&nid=4255 |title=Jewson Wessex League Champions in Danger of Folding |date=28 May 2002 |publisher=Non-League Daily |access-date=28 January 2008 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120601005652/http://www.nonleaguedaily.com/news/index.php?newsmode=FULL&nid=4255 |archive-date=1 June 2012}} and was only saved when twelve supporters secured its future by purchasing the lease for the Portway Stadium from the outgoing chairman.{{cite web|url=http://www.andoveradvertiser.co.uk/archive/2003/08/13/Hampshire+Archive/5589044.New_lease_of_life_for_Andover/|title=New lease of life for Andover|publisher=Andover Advertiser|date=13 August 2003|access-date=5 February 2013}} The 2003–04 season brought success in the FA Vase competition, when Andover reached the quarterfinals for the first time in their history, before losing to Hampshire rivals Winchester City.{{cite news|url=http://www.andoveradvertiser.co.uk/archive/2004/02/24/Hampshire+Archive/5577803.FA_Vase__Winchester_City_5___Andover_1/|title=FA Vase: Winchester City 5 – Andover 1|publisher=Andover Advertiser|date=24 February 2004|access-date=5 February 2013}} They finished sixth in the league and won the North Hants Senior Cup for the fifth time.{{cite web|url=http://www.quantumleap.ndo.co.uk/200304.htm|title=Andover Football Club Results Archive 2003–2004|access-date=24 January 2008}} The 2004–05 season saw an improvement in the league with a fifth-place finish; the reserves finished runners up in the Wessex Combination East division. The club also won the North Hants Senior Cup for the sixth time.{{cite web|url=http://www.quantumleap.ndo.co.uk/200405.htm|title=Andover Football Club Results Archive 2004–2005|access-date=24 January 2008}}

Under the 2006 pyramid reorganisations, a third-place finish in the Wessex League was good enough for promotion back to the Southern League, along with local rivals Winchester City and Thatcham Town.{{cite web|url=http://www.tonykempster.co.uk/maps06-07.htm|title=Tony Kempster's English Football Fixtures – Maps & Lists for 2006/07 season|date=11 May 2006|access-date=24 January 2008}} In their first season back, they finished in ninth place, just five points from the divisional playoffs. They were unable to build on this and struggled to a nineteenth-place finish in the following season, ultimately finishing 29 points above relegation after Slough Town were reprieved following Halifax Town's expulsion from the Football Conference.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_conf/7402814.stm|title=Leagues agreed for 2008/09 season|date=14 June 2008|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=31 October 2008}} Andover's home match against Uxbridge, played towards the end of that season, was the club's thousandth game in the Southern League.

The beginning of the 2008–09 season saw the Lions marking their 125th anniversary with a pre-season friendly against local rivals Salisbury City.{{cite news|url=http://www.andoveradvertiser.co.uk/search/2316065.Salisbury_game_confirmed/|title=Salisbury game confirmed|date=3 June 2008|publisher=Andover Advertiser|access-date=31 October 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720135758/http://www.andoveradvertiser.co.uk/search/2316065.Salisbury_game_confirmed/|archive-date=20 July 2011|url-status=dead}} Prior to the game, it had been announced that the club would also be wearing a new kit design to mark this occasion for one season only—a plain red shirt (a departure from the traditional red and black stripes) was worn for the first time during this game, which Andover won 3–2. The season itself saw Andover have their best run in the FA Trophy to date, eventually losing 0–3 at home to Newport County in the third qualifying round.{{cite web|url=http://www.thefa.com/TheFACup/TheFATrophy/NewsAndFeatures/Postings/andover_newport_preview.htm |archive-url=https://archive.today/20081218162208/http://www.thefa.com/TheFACup/TheFATrophy/NewsAndFeatures/Postings/andover_newport_preview.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=18 December 2008 |title=Swayne's goal challenge |last=Glenn |first=Tom |date=21 November 2008 |publisher=The Football Association |access-date=24 November 2008 }}{{cite news|url=http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/sport/latestsport/3870918.Delight_as_Exiles_avoid_a_cup_upset/|title=Delight as Exiles avoid a cup upset|last=Penman|first=Andrew|date=24 November 2008|publisher=South Wales Argus|access-date=24 November 2008}}

File:Andover-2008-Squad.jpg

The start of the 2010–11 season was disrupted due to damage caused to the Portway Stadium pitch by rabbits, leading to a number of home league games being postponed.{{cite news|last=Miller|first=Kerry|title=Portway pitch leaves Lions facing league rap|url=http://www.andoveradvertiser.co.uk/sport/football/8337237.Portway_pitch_leaves_Lions_facing_league_rap/|access-date=27 April 2011|newspaper=Andover Advertiser|date=18 August 2010}}{{cite news|last=Farrant|first=Nick|title=North Leigh are hopping mad|url=http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/sport/8369570.FOOTBALL__North_Leigh_are_hopping_mad/|access-date=27 April 2011|newspaper=Oxford Mail|date=3 September 2010}} An FA Cup match against Chertsey Town was played at Whitchurch United's Longmeadow Ground,{{cite news|title=Craig back for Lions|url=http://www.andoveradvertiser.co.uk/sport/football/8379068.Craig_back_for_Lions/|access-date=27 April 2011|newspaper=Andover Advertiser|date=8 September 2010}} and their FA Trophy match against Bideford was played at Winchester City's Denplan City Ground.{{cite news|title=Trophy run derailed at the Denplan|url=http://www.andoveradvertiser.co.uk/sport/football/8433569.Trophy_run_derailed_at_the_Denplan/|access-date=27 April 2011|newspaper=Andover Advertiser|date=6 October 2010}} The Lions were unable to recover and struggled throughout the season, failing to win a single home game and finishing bottom of the division with eleven points after conceding more than 100 goals.{{cite web|title=Division One South & West 2010–2011|url=http://www.southern-football-league.co.uk/statistics/stats_1011/table_south-and-west.asp?section=statistics|publisher=Southern Football League|access-date=5 February 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130421083210/http://www.southern-football-league.co.uk/statistics/stats_1011/table_south-and-west.asp?section=statistics|archive-date=21 April 2013}} However, the club avoided relegation due to the resignation of Almondsbury Town F.C. earlier in the season.{{cite web|title=Non-League Restructuring 2011–12 – Proposed Club Allocations |url=http://www.thefa.com/Leagues/NationalLeagueSystem/NewsAndFeatures/2011/~/media/Files/PDF/Leagues/NLS/NLS_Restructuring_2011-12.ashx/NLS_Restructuring_2011-12.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110626114009/http://www.thefa.com/Leagues/NationalLeagueSystem/NewsAndFeatures/2011/~/media/Files/PDF/Leagues/NLS/NLS_Restructuring_2011-12.ashx/NLS_Restructuring_2011-12.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=26 June 2011 |publisher=The Football Association |access-date=21 May 2011|date=20 May 2011 }}

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Following the 2010–11 season, a new chairman and manager were appointed by the club. However, the manager resigned shortly afterwards to take up a post at Rotherham United F.C., and the chairman resigned citing continuing financial constraints. The remaining board members formally wound up the club and resigned from the Southern League in July 2011.{{cite news|last=Miller|first=Kerry|title=Andover Football Club collapses|url=http://www.andoveradvertiser.co.uk/sport/9158154.Andover_Football_Club_collapses/|access-date=25 December 2011|newspaper=Andover Advertiser|date=25 July 2011}}

However, it wasn't quite the end and after gaining clearance from the Football Association and the Hampshire F.A., the club's old Reserve side became known as Andover Lions and were allowed to continue playing in the Hampshire League 2004, using the adjacent Charlton Sports Centre for home fixtures.{{cite news|last=Miller|first=Kerry|title=New Andover Lions FC is born|url=http://www.thisishampshire.net/news/9191309.New_Andover_Lions_FC_is_born/|access-date=25 December 2011|newspaper=This is Hampshire|date=12 August 2011}} The Lions progressed on the Hampshire Premier League but sadly folded midway through the 2016–17 season.

File:Portway stadium.jpg

Previously, the club played at the Walled Meadow, near to the town centre. The ground had a main wooden stand along one side (which incorporated the changing rooms), and a bank of covered terracing on the opposite side. The ground was mainly accessed via the car park off London Road, with turnstiles also situated on Eastfield Road behind the main stand. Since the club left the Walled Meadow in 1989, the ground has been demolished and the site is now used for a housing development of the same name.

In 1989 the club moved to the Portway Stadium, situated in the Portway Industrial Estate on the western outskirts of the town. Built at a cost of £850,000,{{cite web|url=http://andover-fc.co.uk/docs/Newhistory.htm |title=Andover Football Club – History|publisher=Andover Football Club|date=19 April 2007|access-date=13 February 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080131141627/http://www.andover-fc.co.uk/docs/Newhistory.htm|archive-date=31 January 2008}} the ground has a main stand of brick and concrete construction with bench seating for around 250 people.{{cite web|url=http://www.pyramidpassion.co.uk/html/andover.html|title=Pyramid Passion: Andover|access-date=13 May 2008|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080509100515/http://www.pyramidpassion.co.uk/html/andover.html|archive-date=9 May 2008}} This stand is set on a bank running along the entire south side of the ground, giving spectators on that side an elevated view of the pitch. The managers' benches are set into this banking in front of the stand at pitch level. The banking slopes down behind each goal until it reaches the same level as the pitch along the north side. There is hard standing around the entire perimeter of pitch, along with a turnstile block and a gate opening out onto the stadium car park for ambulance access.

File:Walled Meadow main stand.JPG can be seen on the near side of the stand.]]

The stadium's clubhouse (named the Portway Suite) is also situated on this elevated side, just inside the turnstiles. The clubhouse houses a function suite and bar at first-floor level, and changing rooms, physio room, public announcement equipment, toilets and a tea bar at ground-floor level.

In addition to hosting the club's first, reserve and youth team fixtures, the Portway Stadium has also played host to a number of local and regional cup matches. They include Hampshire Senior Cup semi-finals, Hampshire Floodlit Youth Cup finals, and the South West Counties Women's Championship playoff final.{{cite web|url=http://www.theshots.co.uk/news/Aldershot44517.ink |title=Aldershot Town FC – Youth Cup Final on Wednesday & Youth team open trials |date=24 April 2007 |access-date=23 February 2008 }}{{dead link|date=December 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

Following the demise of Andover F.C. in 2011, the stadium was unused for 2 years until the newly formed Andover Town won the lease for its use and, after a major facelift, regular football returned to the venue with the newly established outfit gaining direct entry into the Wessex League First Division where they gained promotion after their first season.

File:Andover FC attendances.png

In the 2008–09 season, Andover's average attendance was 149, representing a small increase of three compared to the previous season. This figure was the 11th highest in the division, falling around twenty short of the division's mean average.{{cite web|url=http://www.tonykempster.co.uk/sl1swatt.htm|title=Southern League Division One South & West Attendances|publisher=Tony Kempster|access-date=6 February 2013}}

Attendance levels at Andover's matches reached a peak in the late 1960s. During the 1969–70 season, home attendances at league matches averaged over 550, with the largest crowd being the 2,144 people who watched their FA Cup match against local rivals Salisbury.{{cite web|url=http://www.quantumleap.ndo.co.uk/196970.htm|title=Andover Football Club Results Archive 1969–70|access-date=16 May 2008}} In the years following their promotion to the Southern League, average attendances started to drop until they dipped below the 200 mark during the 1970s. Since then, the average attendance at Andover's matches has remained at approximately 140, although this figure dipped below 100 in the 1999–2000 season following their last relegation from the Southern League. Just three seasons later however, this figure had risen to just under 200 following the club's second consecutive Wessex League championship and successes in cup competitions.

Traditionally, Andover's supporters regarded Salisbury as their local rivals, with matches between the two teams often attracting larger attendances than average for Andover's home games. This rivalry was encouraged by the fact that the two teams played in the same division for all but three years between Andover's admission into the Western League in 1962 and their step down to the Wessex League in 1992.{{cite web|url=https://www.fchd.info/SALISBUR.HTM|title=Football Club History Database – Salisbury|access-date=6 February 2013}} With Salisbury City's rise up the football pyramid separating the two teams, the nearest club in Andover's division was Whitchurch United, until Winchester City were promoted from the Hampshire League in 2003. Their rivalry quickly grew and was at its closest during that season's FA Vase competition, in which the two clubs were drawn against each other at the quarter-final stage.{{cite news|author=Gary Slater|title=Winchester have rivals in sight|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/2372828/Winchester-have-rivals-in-sights.html|publisher=The Telegraph|date=2 September 2004|access-date=18 December 2007|quote=It's about 15 miles between us and there is a big rivalry, but a friendly rivalry. There is no animosity. It's one of the biggest games this area has seen for many years.}} This rivalry continued following the two teams' simultaneous promotion to the Southern Football League in 2006.

Andover New Street, a Wessex League team who play just outside the town, were also considered rivals. The two teams competed in an annual pre-season tournament known as the Dango Memorial Cup (a charity tournament named in honour of a former player who appeared for both teams), together with two other invited clubs.{{cite news|url=http://www.andoveradvertiser.co.uk/sport/4516851.Late_show_brings_Lions_Dango_Cup/|title=Late show brings Lions Dango Cup|last=Miller|first=Kerry|date=28 July 2009|publisher=Andover Advertiser|access-date=4 August 2009}}

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Andover's traditional strip of red and black stripes was worn for the vast majority of their history. This was changed to red and black quarters in 1950 and remained so until 1957 when the club reverted to the traditional stripes. When promotion to the Southern League was gained in 1972, the team's colours were changed, this time to red with a single white stripe. This kit was worn until 1988, when the familiar red and black stripes were re-introduced. For the 2008–09 season, a plain red kit was introduced to commemorate the club's 125th anniversary—this was worn for the first time in the pre-season friendly against Salisbury City. The last away kit worn by the team was yellow and black shirts with white shorts. However, various combinations have been worn in recent years, such as white shirts with blue sleeves and blue shorts, and tangerine shirts with white shorts.

Andover's badge depicted a lion standing under an oak tree, which mirrors the design used on the town coat of arms.{{cite web|url=http://www.envf.port.ac.uk/hantsgaz/refnos/B078ARM2.HTM|title=Old Hampshire Gazetteer: Andover coat of arms, 1720|year=2001|access-date=10 December 2007}} This badge was first used during the 1950s.

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File:Andover fc seasons.png

• Best league performance: Sixth in Southern League Southern Division, 1987–88 and 1991–92
• Best FA Cup performance: First round, 1962–63
• Best FA Trophy performance: Third qualifying round, 2008–09
• Best FA Vase performance: Quarter-finals (sixth round), 2003–04
• Highest Scorer in a Season: Andy Forbes, 86 goals in 1999–2000
• Worst Defeat: 0–24 vs. Ryde Sports, Hampshire League, 27 January 1900
• Record attendances:
• Walled Meadow: 3,484 vs. Gillingham, FA Cup first round, 3 November 1962
• Portway Stadium: 1,183 vs. Portsmouth XI, friendly

File:Portwaysuite.jpg

Prior to its dissolution, Andover Football Club was run as a Private Limited Company.{{cite web|url=http://ukdata.com/company/04458680/ANDOVER-FOOTBALL-CLUB-LIMITED|title=UK Data: Andover Football Club Ltd|access-date=5 February 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120905141919/http://ukdata.com/company/04458680/ANDOVER-FOOTBALL-CLUB-LIMITED|archive-date=5 September 2012|url-status=dead}} The twelve-man consortium who took over the club in 2003 were the club shareholders, with the club president being the majority shareholder, the club chairman holding the second-largest number of shares, and the remainder of the shares distributed equally among the other members of the board and management committee.

Andover were sponsored by a number of local companies including the Hospital Saving Association (HSA), a locally based health insurance firm who have also sponsored Blackburn Rovers in the past.{{cite web|url=http://www.andover-fc.co.uk/docs/SponsorPage.doc |format=DOC |publisher=Andover Football Club |title=Andover FC full sponsors list |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721155754/http://www.andover-fc.co.uk/docs/SponsorPage.doc |archive-date=21 July 2011 |access-date=5 February 2013 |url-status=dead }}

In addition to gate receipts, the club derived income from club merchandise sold in the club shop, and the Portway Suite (the clubhouse at the Portway Stadium). The suite was able to be rented out for private events such as wedding receptions and birthday parties as well as hosting club events such as quiz nights. A boardroom was also available for conferences and meetings.{{cite web|url=http://www.andover-fc.co.uk/docs/NewPortwaySuite.htm|title=Andover Football Club – The Portway Suite|publisher=Andover Football Club|date=11 July 2007|access-date=23 February 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080304032620/http://www.andover-fc.co.uk/docs/NewPortwaySuite.htm|archive-date=4 March 2008}}

File:Dick Rowley.jpg, who started his career at Andover and went on to play for a number of league clubs, as well as representing Ireland at international level]]

Despite their relatively low stature, a few notable players have represented Andover FC in the past. The most famous of these in recent times is Nigel Spackman, a local player who began his career for his home town before moving to AFC Bournemouth in 1980. From there, he enjoyed a successful career culminating in an English league championship win with Liverpool, and numerous Scottish league and cup winners medals with Rangers. Since retiring, he has ventured into club management as well as becoming a television football pundit.

Like Spackman, Bill Rawlings was another Andoverian who began his career at the club. He joined Southampton in 1919 where he enjoyed a successful career scoring 175 goals in 327 league appearances, making him their third all-time goalscorer behind Mick Channon and Matthew Le Tissier.{{cite book|author=Gary Chalk & Duncan Holley|title=Saints – A complete record|publisher=Breedon Books|year=1987|isbn=0-907969-22-4}} He earned two England caps in 1922 against Wales and Scotland respectively.{{cite web|url=http://www.englandstats.com/players.php?pid=782|title=englandstats.com – Player Report – William Rawlings|access-date=18 December 2007}} He also played for Manchester United and Port Vale.

Dick Rowley was signed in September 1922 by Andover whilst serving at nearby Tidworth army base. After a few years playing the wing for the club, he was signed by Swindon Town and went on to play for Southampton, Tottenham Hotspur and Preston North End. He won six caps for Ireland in the years between 1929 and 1931, scoring two goals against Scotland and Wales.{{cite web|url=http://nifootball.blogspot.co.uk/2007/09/dick-rowley.html|title=Northern Ireland's Footballing Greats – Dick Rowley|access-date=30 September 2008|date=10 September 2007}}

Another league player who started his career for Andover is James Sharp who left Andover in 2000 to play for Hartlepool United. Since then, he has had spells at Falkirk, Torquay United, Rochdale and Airdrie United in the Scottish League.

However, it has often been the case that league players have joined Andover after retiring from professional football. One of the most notable of these in modern times is Matt Crossley, who ended his career with the Lions after playing more than 100 matches for Wycombe Wanderers. After leaving Andover in 2001, Crossley later became assistant manager at Woking where he gained notoriety in December 2006 after he headbutted an opposing player who had tried to break up a fight.{{cite news|title = Posh push for Donaldson|url=http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/1096463.posh_push_for_donaldson/|publisher =The Press|date=30 December 2006|access-date=6 February 2013}} Maurice Evans is another former professional who, after briefly taking over as Andover's player-manager in 1967, went on to lead Reading to the Fourth Division championship, and Oxford United to Milk Cup victory.

Another such player is Nicky Banger who played for Andover in their Wessex League championship winning team of 2002, the Lions being one of a string of local non-league clubs that he played for after leaving professional football. Mel Blyth, who was on Southampton's 1976 FA Cup winning team, ended his career with Andover in 1982. His cup final team-mate David Peach also played for Andover, this time in the 1983–84 season when he scored five goals for the club.{{cite web|url=http://www.quantumleap.ndo.co.uk/198384.htm|title=Andover Football Club Results Archive 1983–84|access-date=28 January 2008}} Other ex-league players who have represented Andover in the past include Colin Barrett (who joined Andover in 1981 after playing league football for Manchester City, Nottingham Forest and Swindon Town),{{cite web|url=http://www.swindon-town-fc.co.uk/Person.asp?PersonID=BARRETTC|title=Swindon-Town-FC.co.uk – Player Information – Colin Barrett|access-date=5 February 2013}} Stuart Barfoot, Peter Brown,{{cite book|title=The Alphabet of the Saints|last=Holley|first= Duncan|author2= Chalk, Gary|publisher= ACL & Polar Publishing|year=1992|isbn=0-9514862-3-3|page=51}} and former player-coach Phil Andrews.{{cite web|url=http://www.andover-fc.co.uk/docs/NewFT_sp.php|title=Andover Football Club – Squad Player's Details|publisher=Andover Football Club|access-date=17 January 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080202164718/http://www.andover-fc.co.uk/docs/NewFT_sp.php|archive-date= 2 February 2008}}{{cite web|url=http://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=188|title=Phil Andrews: player details|publisher=Soccerbase|access-date=6 February 2013}}

Andover's reserve team played for most of the club's history in various competitions and won the Hampshire Combination in 1998, although they did not play during the 2007–08 season. The reserve team competed in the Hampshire League 2004 from 2008 to 2011 (later to become Andover Lions).{{cite web|url=https://www.fchd.info/lghist/ham042011.htm|title=2010–11 Hampshire League 2004|publisher=Football Club History Database|access-date=5 February 2013}} In addition to their first and reserve teams, Andover FC also ran a number of youth teams; an under-18s team competing in the North East Hampshire Youth League,{{cite web|url=http://andover-fc.co.uk/docs/NewLeagueTable2.php?SelectTable=TPLU18|title=Andover FC U18s|publisher=Andover Football Club|access-date=5 February 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080130141729/http://www.andover-fc.co.uk/docs/NewLeagueTable2.php?SelectTable=TPLU18|archive-date=30 January 2008}} and teams for other age groups ranging from under-7s to under-15s.{{cite web|url=http://www.andover-fc.co.uk/docs/TrgSchedule.pdf |title=Andover FC Youth Section|publisher=Andover Football Club |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090107050354/http://www.andover-fc.co.uk/docs/TrgSchedule.pdf |archive-date=7 January 2009 |url-status=dead }} The under-18s also competed in the FA Youth Cup.{{cite web|url=http://www.thefa.com/NR/rdonlyres/D908E437-2783-4AF4-AC17-37D867341DD7/143220/FAYouthCupentriesaccepted.pdf |title=FA Youth Cup – 2008–09 Entries|publisher=The FA |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081221092158/http://www.thefa.com/NR/rdonlyres/D908E437-2783-4AF4-AC17-37D867341DD7/143220/FAYouthCupentriesaccepted.pdf |archive-date=21 December 2008 |access-date=5 February 2013 |url-status=dead }}

In July 2008, the club started a community programme called "Lions in the Community" in conjunction with some of their principal sponsors (such as HSA and Stannah Lifts) and a government body to provide a range of football activities for children and schools in the immediate area. Events held included coaching sessions at schools and local sports centres, five-a-side football tournaments for girls' teams from local secondary schools, fun days and after-school clubs.{{cite news|url=http://www.andoveradvertiser.co.uk/search/2407226.Birthday_celebrations_for_Lions/|title=Birthday celebrations for Lions|date=25 July 2008|publisher=Andover Advertiser|access-date=31 October 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720135830/http://www.andoveradvertiser.co.uk/search/2407226.Birthday_celebrations_for_Lions/|archive-date=20 July 2011|url-status=dead}} As a result of this programme, the club was officially awarded FA Charter Community Club status in October 2009.{{cite web|url=http://www.andover-fc.co.uk/docs/FACharter.pdf |title=Andover Football Club Achieve FA Charter Standard Community Club Accreditation |date=10 October 2009 |publisher=Andover F.C. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721160143/http://www.andover-fc.co.uk/docs/FACharter.pdf |archive-date=21 July 2011 |access-date=5 February 2013 |url-status=dead }} Despite the dissolution of Andover F.C., the Lions in the Community programme continues its activities.{{cite web|url=http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/lionsinthecommunity/|title=Lions in the Community|publisher=Lions in the Community|access-date=5 February 2013}}

{{reflist}}

• [http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/andoverlionsfc/ Official Club Website]
• [http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/lionsinthecommunity/ Official Lions in the Community website]
• [http://www.quantumleap.ndo.co.uk/lions/ Andover FC Unofficial Archive Site]
• {{fchd|name=Andover|id=ANDOVER}}

Category:Andover, Hampshire

Category:Defunct football clubs in England

Category:Defunct football clubs in Hampshire

Category:Western Football League

Category:Southern Football League clubs

Category:Wessex Football League

Category:Association football clubs established in 1883

Category:Association football clubs disestablished in 2017

Category:1883 establishments in England

Category:2017 disestablishments in England