Match Preview

Bideford vs Sholing
Southern League Division One South
Saturday 15th February 2020
3:00pm kick off
Sports Ground, Bideford

There is no team in Southern League Division One South in better form right now than Sholing who have won their last six games in all competitions. The Hampshire side have made a real resurgence this calendar year and have won their last four league fixtures which has taken them up to 11th position. Sholing have won their last three leagues games by a goal to nil and achieved a very impressive 4-1 win at Melksham who had just won nine games on the trot themselves. Bideford are also much improved in 2020 and are unbeaten in their last four outings. Wins over Cinderford and Slimbridge were so nearly followed by another three points at Totton but a last minute equaliser meant the spoils were shared.

Form Guide

Sholing’s last six (WWWWWW) Pos 11th W11 D0 L11 Pts 33
08/02/20 Sholing 1 Willand Rovers 0 (League)
06/02/20 Sholing 6 Horndean 0 (Russell Cotes Cup R2)
04/02/20 Sholing 1 Bristol Manor Farm 0 (League)
01/02/20 Winchester City 0 Sholing 1 (League)
30/01/20 Sholing 2 Hamble Club 1 (Southampton Cup R3)
27/01/20 Melksham Town 1 Sholing 4 (League)

Bideford’s last six (DLDWWD) Pos 14th W8 D6 L11 Pts 30
08/02/20 AFC Totton 2 Bideford 2 (League)
01/02/20 Bideford 4 Slimbridge 1 (League)
28/01/20 Cinderford Town 1 Bideford 2 (League)
25/01/20 Bideford 1 Thatcham Town 1 (League)
18/01/20 Bristol Manor Farm 2 Bideford 1 (League)
11/01/20 Moneyfields 0 Bideford 0 (League)

A Brief History of Sholing FC
Sholing FC were originally founded as Vosper Thornycroft in 1960 initially playing in the Southampton Junior League. The club joined Hampshire League Division Three in 1991 and were promoted to Division Two after finishing third in 1992/93. After five seasons at that level Thornycroft finished as runners-up meaning promotion to Division One in 1998. They were Division One runners-up in 1999/00 which brought them to the Premier Division where they were crowned Hampshire League champions in their first season at that level. In 2003 the club changed their name to VTFC and won their second Hampshire League title in 2003/04. The club were promoted to the Wessex League in 2004 where they spent five seasons before finishing as runners-up in 2007/08 and again in 2008/09 and making the step up to the Southern League in Division One South & West. After finishing fourth in their first season the club changed their name to Sholing as their parent company VT Group ceased to exist. After four seasons in the Southern League, three of which the club finished in the Play-Off’s, Sholing resigned from the league and rejoined the Wessex League Premier Division. The came storming back in 2013/14 in what must be regarded as their finest ever season by winning the Wessex League title and the FA Vase after beating West Auckland Town 1-0 at Wembley Stadium. Sholing rejoined Southern League Division One South & West for one season but after finishing 17th the club were demoted for not meeting the FA’s new ground requirements. Three top three finishes back in the Wessex League Premier Division was followed by a second Wessex League title in 2018/19 and another return to the Southern League for 2019/20.

Sholing FC
Mackoy Stadium
Portsmouth Road
Southampton
Hampshire
SO19 9PW
Tel: 07496 804555
Website: http://www.sholingfc.co.uk
Twitter: @sholingfc

Previous meetings:
19/10/19 Sholing 3 Bideford 2 (Southern Div 1 South)
15/10/11 Sholing 3 Bideford 1 (Southern Div 1 S&W)
10/09/11 Bideford 3 Sholing 2 (Southern Div 1 S&W)
12/03/11 Sholing 2 Bideford 0 (Southern Div 1 S&W)
06/11/10 Bideford 2 Sholing 5 (Southern Div 1 S&W)