Match Preview

Winchester City are the visitors to the Sports Ground this Saturday afternoon in what will be the first game between the clubs since the FA Vase semi final in 2004.

A Brief History of Winchester City FC
Winchester City were originally founded in 1891 as Winchester Swallows FC. They became Winchester FC in 1894 and then Winchester City FC in 1907. Winchester played local level football in the Hampshire League until they joined Southern League Division One South for the 1971/72 season. However, the next season they were relegated back to the Hampshire League in which they fell to the third tier in 1979. In 1991/92 Winchester were Division Two (third tier) champions and began their long climb back up the leagues. It took nine seasons to get out of Division One which they did in 2000/01 by winning the division title but it took only two seasons to become Hampshire League champions as they finished top of the Premier Division in 2002/03. Winchester's ascension continued as they joined the Wessex League in 2003/04 and finished as champions as well as winning the FA Vase with a 2-0 win over AFC Sudbury at St Andrews, Birmingham. The Citizens were runners-up in 2004/05 and champions again in 2005/06. They rejoined Southern League Division One (South & West) in 2006/07 but were relegated back to the Wessex League in 2008/09. Winchester won their third Wessex League title in 2011/12 to be promoted back to the Southern League but lasted just one season and were relegated once again. In 2014/15 City were runners-up in the Wessex Premier and were promoted to the Southern League for a fourth time. This time they fared much better with a fifth place finish and qualification for the play-offs after achieving their highest ever league position. However their hopes of promotion ended with a semi final play-off defeat to Banbury United.

Form Guide

Winchester City’s last six (LLWWWW)
14/12/16 Winchester City 1 Yate Town 0 (League)
10/12/16 Winchester City 3 Paulton Rovers 2 (League)
06/12/16 Fleet Town 1 Winchester City 6 (Hampshire Cup R3)
03/12/16 Barnstaple Town 1 Winchester City 3 (League)
26/11/16 Winchester City 0 Dulwich Hamlet 1 (FA Trophy Q3)
16/11/16 Winchester City 1 North Leigh 2 (League)

Winchester will come into Saturday’s encounter with renewed confidence after winning their last four games. After finishing in the play off positions last season, The Citizens have not had the start they would have wanted this time around. Recent wins over Barnstaple, Paulton and Yate though have helped Winchester begin to climb the table.

Bideford's last six (WLDLDW)
3/12/16 Bideford 2 Bridgwater Town 0 (League)
10/12/16 Bideford 0 AFC Totton 0 (League)
03/12/16 North Leigh 2 Bideford 1 (League)
29/11/16 Tiverton Town 1 Bideford 1 (League)
26/11/16 Bideford 0 Mangotsfield United 1 (League)
19/11/16 Wantage Town 0 Bideford 2 (League)

After four games without a win Bideford returned to winning ways on Tuesday night with a routine victory over bottom club Bridgwater Town. Matt Bye will be available again after serving a two match suspension and Dan Western is likely to return to the fold.

Previous meetings
2003/04 Bideford 3 Winchester City 3 (FA Vase SF L1)
2003/04 Winchester City 4 Bideford 0 (FA Vase SF L2)

Bideford vs Winchester City
Southern League Division One South & West
Saturday 17th December 2016
3:00pm Kick off
Sports Ground, Bideford

Winchester City FC
Website: http://www.winchestercityfc.co.uk
Twitter: @wincityfc