AFC Totton

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A.F.C. Totton is a football club based in Totton, Hampshire, England. The current club was established in 1975 and was among the founding members of the Wessex League in 1986. They are currently members of the Southern League Division One South & West. In 2005-06 they narrowly missed out on promotion after finishing 4th [1], while in 2006-07 again they fell just short, losing the title to Gosport Borough on goal difference.
Totton reached the FA Vase final for the first time in the 2006-07 season, where they played Truro City in front of a crowd of 36,232 (a record attendance for the final of the FA Vase). Totton took the lead after 27 minutes but eventually lost 3-1.



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 Côtes 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 199091.
This upturn in fortunes continued into 2000–01, with Totton again finishing 4th in the Wessex League. The FA Vase provided the club with a good run, reaching the 4th round. Season 2002/03 saw the club enjoy a good FA Cup run before losing to Slough Town in a 1st Qualifying Round replay. The club did gain some silverware though, beating league champions Eastleigh 2-1 in the final of the Wessex Football 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 4th 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 match against Truro City.
After the achievements of the previous season, 2007–08 was always going to be a challenge.[citation needed] 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.

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