HISTORY OF MANGOTSFIELD UNITED FC

Last season saw Mangotsfield United finish in 9th place in the Southern League Premier Division - their second season at step three of the pyramid. The board of directors - with Mike Richardson at the helm and long standing CEO Roger Gray are ambitious and hopeful enough to see the club in the Conference South in the near future and the club's off the field plans, and achievements to date, reflect that objective.

There has been football in the village since 1888 and four years later, Mangotsfield FC became a founder member of the Bristol & District League (later to become the Western Football League in 1895) but the club folded after 10 years after finishing bottom of the Amateur Section, Division 1 in 1898. From 1898 until the 1950s, Mangotsfield FC was disbanded and subsequently reformed on several occasions.

In January 1951, the parent club dispensed with the Reserve XI for financial reasons leaving many local players without a team to play for. These players decided to form a new club in the village and at the start of the 1951-52 season, the newly-established Mangotsfield United FC was entered into the Bristol & District League, Division VII. They achieved five successive promotions and gained entry to the Bristol & District Premier Combination in 1957. The club remained there until 1972-73, when it was accepted in to the Western League.

The first ever Mangotsfield United FC team formed in 1951

The Mangotsfield United FC side that played in the Bristol Premier Combination in 1957

Mangotsfield United FC 1968/69 celebrating winning the GFA Senior Amateur Trophy after beating Hanham Athletic 4-1 at Eastville. This victory marked a notable "double" as the team also won the Bristol & District Premier Combination Division One title.

Mangotsfield United FC 1972/73 prior to their first match in the Western League

The Club became established in the Western League during the 1970's and despite being relegated to the first division in 1981-82, 'The Field' as they were affectionately known, bounced straight back the following season under the guidance of the charismatic Ralph Miller, who as Chairman undertook the task of improving the ground and its facilities. The club then went on to re-establish themselves in the Premier Division over the next few seasons mainly featuring in the leading positions.

In 1991, the club, managed by Harold Jarman and assisted by Terry Rowles achieved regional glory by taking the (then) Great Mills League Premier Division title, ahead of runners-up Torrington. Disappointingly, they were denied promotion to the Southern League as the ground failed to meet the grading requirements and there followed several lean seasons as the team broke up. However under newly-elected Chairman Richard Davis, off the pitch, things were improving.

The 1990/91 Great Mills Premier Division winning team

Terry Rowles returned to manage the club himself in 1995 and kept them in the spotlight by consistently finishing in the top three/four in the Great Mills/Screwfix League and an appearance in the FA Vase semi-final ( losing to Clitheroe), but their ambitions of promotion and Southern League football were always thwarted by the continual success of Taunton and Tiverton Town. It was considered very important to establish a sound working base, improve ground facilities and secure a long-term tenure on their Cossham Street ground.

In recent years, the Roger Pullin/Richard Davis partnership has seen many improvements take place, with the installation of Conference-style floodlights and at the end of the 2003/04 season, the Cossham Street end of the ground was covered, together with new toilet blocks and social club improvements. Ex player Andy Black returned to the club as Manager in 1999 and guided the club to promotion to the Dr. Martens Southern League and three successful campaigns which saw the fourth qualifying round of the FA Cup reached on two occasions as well as an appearance in the fourth round of the FA Trophy. During this period the GFA Senior Trophy was also won for the first time in the club's history. The 2003/04 campaign did not go too well and just before Christmas, Black and his assistant Shaun Penny where replaced by Martin Grimshaw. Towards the end of the campaign, Nigel Webb came in as his Assistant, but the club could only finish in 13th place, which was not high enough for the planned re-structuring of the Pyramid.

The promotion winning team of 1999/2000

The Management duo made promotion their priority in 2004/05 and the club headed the table for most of the campaign, eventually taking the Division One West title with a 21 match unbeaten run. After 28 seasons at Western League level, the club had spent just five campaigns in Southern League Division One West before reaching the Premier Division.

The 2005/06 campaign, the club's first at step three of the pyramid, saw a creditable tenth place achieved. The club have found financial stability in recent years & more ground improvements are planned together with the need to reach out to the community and attract a broader fan-base and local sponsorship.

The team of 2004/05 which was promoted to the Southern League Premier Division as champions

Sometimes now referred to as "The Mangos" the club's highest ever league placing in the football pyramid (9th) was tempered by the departure of manager Lee Howells and assistant Nigel Webb at the end of the 2006/07 campaign. During the close season a new management pairing of Frank Gregan and Darren Perrin were recruited and with both experienced at this level, and above, it is hoped the club's aspirations can be achieved.

MANGOTSFIELD UNITED FOOTBALL CLUB HONOURS

(No Division 5 in 1953-54 due to formation of Bristol & District League Premier Division - all subsequent divisions renumbered upward).

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