History
Shortwood United AFC – Club History
The club was formed in 1900 and since then have played at 4 different grounds, Nailsworth Playing Field, table land, Wallow Green and finally our current ground, Meadowbank.
The club has been at Meadowbank since 1972, which includes an all weather training area opened by the late Ted Croker. Floodlights were installed in 1989 with a match versus Swindon Town commemorating their official launch. Gradual improvements over the years culminated in a major enhancement in 2009 to meet ground grading criteria for any future promotions. This included refurbishment of the main stand, the erection of a new 50 seater stand opposite, new dug outs and turnstiles and overhaul of the dressing rooms. In 2010 a new pitch barrier was added giving Shortwood a ground to be proud of, befitting the level of football we play. The pitch has been improved over the years with new drainage recently added. With the hard work of the current groundsman the pitch has received many accolades including recognition by the FA in 2009 and 2010.
League football was commenced in the Stroud League where following continued success during the 1970s promotion was gained to the Northern Senior and then the Gloucestershire County League.
Promotion to the Hellenic league was achieved in 1981 only to be relegated in our first season but finishing runners up the following year ensured promotion straight back. In 1983 we won the Hellenic Division One Cup and GFA Trophy and in the following year won the Hellenic League. It was a further six years until success was realised again when the treble of League winners, GFA Trophy and Stroud Charity Cup was completed.
The 2007/08 season started a resurgence in Shortwood’s fortunes in finishing 5th in the league and winning the supplementary cup, defeating Ardley 4-2 in the final.
The subsequent season pushed our success even further when following a good run in the FA Cup, semi finalists in the League Cup, we pressed the eventual Champions Hungerford to the final day of the season where we lost out on goal difference after amassing 99 pts and scoring 99 goals. Shortwood’s fine form continued into the next season when they again finished second in the league to Almondsbury, and runners up in the GFA Trophy again to Almondsbury, had good FA Cup and Vase runs and reached the final of the Floodlit cup. Having lost the away leg 3-0 to Reading Town they produced one of the most exciting comebacks and entertaining matches ever seen at Meadowbank where the score remained at 0-0 till the 67th minute when the deadlock was broken and Shortwood ran out 5-0 winners (AET).
Shortwood’s league campaign in 2011 was a disappointment, by their own high standards, but more silverware was added in the shape of the GFA Trophy after a 1-0 win over Tuffley Rovers in the final.
2011-12 season, however, was pivotal in the Club’s history! Not only did they reach the quarter final of the FA Vase, they also reached the final of the Hellenic League Floodlit Cup and the GFA Trophy Final. Most important was their league position where they finished 2nd by 1 point behind Oxford City Nomads. With Nomad’s not applying for promotion, and with Shortwood filling all the relevant criteria, they were promoted to the Southern League for the first time in their history!
The club was formed in 1900 and since then have played at 4 different grounds, Nailsworth Playing Field, table land, Wallow Green and finally our current ground, Meadowbank.
The club has been at Meadowbank since 1972, which includes an all weather training area opened by the late Ted Croker. Floodlights were installed in 1989 with a match versus Swindon Town commemorating their official launch. Gradual improvements over the years culminated in a major enhancement in 2009 to meet ground grading criteria for any future promotions. This included refurbishment of the main stand, the erection of a new 50 seater stand opposite, new dug outs and turnstiles and overhaul of the dressing rooms. In 2010 a new pitch barrier was added giving Shortwood a ground to be proud of, befitting the level of football we play. The pitch has been improved over the years with new drainage recently added. With the hard work of the current groundsman the pitch has received many accolades including recognition by the FA in 2009 and 2010.
League football was commenced in the Stroud League where following continued success during the 1970s promotion was gained to the Northern Senior and then the Gloucestershire County League.
Promotion to the Hellenic league was achieved in 1981 only to be relegated in our first season but finishing runners up the following year ensured promotion straight back. In 1983 we won the Hellenic Division One Cup and GFA Trophy and in the following year won the Hellenic League. It was a further six years until success was realised again when the treble of League winners, GFA Trophy and Stroud Charity Cup was completed.
The 2007/08 season started a resurgence in Shortwood’s fortunes in finishing 5th in the league and winning the supplementary cup, defeating Ardley 4-2 in the final.
The subsequent season pushed our success even further when following a good run in the FA Cup, semi finalists in the League Cup, we pressed the eventual Champions Hungerford to the final day of the season where we lost out on goal difference after amassing 99 pts and scoring 99 goals. Shortwood’s fine form continued into the next season when they again finished second in the league to Almondsbury, and runners up in the GFA Trophy again to Almondsbury, had good FA Cup and Vase runs and reached the final of the Floodlit cup. Having lost the away leg 3-0 to Reading Town they produced one of the most exciting comebacks and entertaining matches ever seen at Meadowbank where the score remained at 0-0 till the 67th minute when the deadlock was broken and Shortwood ran out 5-0 winners (AET).
Shortwood’s league campaign in 2011 was a disappointment, by their own high standards, but more silverware was added in the shape of the GFA Trophy after a 1-0 win over Tuffley Rovers in the final.
2011-12 season, however, was pivotal in the Club’s history! Not only did they reach the quarter final of the FA Vase, they also reached the final of the Hellenic League Floodlit Cup and the GFA Trophy Final. Most important was their league position where they finished 2nd by 1 point behind Oxford City Nomads. With Nomad’s not applying for promotion, and with Shortwood filling all the relevant criteria, they were promoted to the Southern League for the first time in their history!
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