412:
227:
329:, spent two months on loan at Witney as a player in 1994â95. Witney finished 14th in the Southern League Eastern Division in 2000â01. In the close season, chairman/owner Brian Constable folded the club, amid protests from a supporters' group known as 1885 who claimed that credible bids to buy the club were dismissed.
29:
398:
In March 2024 Witney Town confirmed that they would be playing again from the 2024â25 season. The idea to resurrect the club was fronted by new chairman Paul Foster, who installed Ben
Reardon as the new manager, alongside Steve Potts and Ashley Edwards as the coaching team for the new side. Witney
123:. The club was founded in 1885 (as Witney Football Club) and adopted the name Witney Town in 1922. The club's most successful period was in the 1970s and 80s when they competed in the Southern League Premier Division, finishing 5th in 1983â84. The club folded in 2001, but a
389:
F.C. fell through, and following lengthy discussions between the
Hellenic League and the club's trustees, no persons came forward to offer their services to take over responsibility as officers and the club's resignation was tendered. The club then liquidated and folded.
313:). During this period they survived a winding-up petition and were converted to a limited company in 1993, and local businessman Brian Constable was appointed as chief executive. They finished no higher than 3rd, through they narrowly missed out on promotion in
345:
in 2001, with the aim of returning to
Southern League football within five seasons. In 2002 the club obtained a lease on the original Witney Town stadium and were accepted into Division One (West) of the Hellenic League for the
246:
and were promoted to the
Premier Division. At the end of their first season (in which they finished 10th), the league was reorganised and Witney were placed in the Midland Section of the Southern League for
402:
Witney Town played their first game, a preseason friendly with Didcot Town, on
Saturday 3 August 2024. They lost 6â1, but Harry Furlong scored the team's first goal of their new era in the second half.
309:
Witney Town were to remain in the second tier of the
Southern League until their demise 13 seasons later (although the Northern and Southern divisions were renamed Eastern and Western in
837:
127:
arose under the name Witney United in 2002 and obtained the lease of the former club's ground. The club readopted the Witney Town name in 2011, but was dissolved during the
937:
321:, who thereby pipped them to second place and promotion to the Premier Division) and won the Oxfordshire Senior Cup three times in the 1990s (in 1994, 1995 and 1998).
306:, initially named Oakey Park after a former chairman, Aubrey Oakey, and later renamed the Marriotts Stadium after the family who sold the old ground to the club.
927:
218:, its second year. They topped the Premier Division for three successive seasons in the 1960s (1965â67) and repeated the feat the following decade (1971â73).
878:
243:
239:
466:
138:
Witney Town re-formed for the 2024â25 season and appointed Ben
Reardon as manager. They will compete in the Oxfordshire Senior League.
942:
594:
640:
The former
Manchester United, Aston Villa, West Brom and Sheffield Wednesday boss...first cut his coaching teeth at Marriotts Close.
841:
957:
932:
426:
As of the 2024â25 season, Witney Town will be playing their home games at the Witney
Artificial Pitch on Gordon Way in Witney.
952:
811:
314:
310:
385:
The club was evicted from their stadium in
February 2013 because they were unable to pay the rent. A plan to groundshare with
411:
160:
370:
366:
362:
351:
347:
299:
268:
264:
256:
252:
248:
215:
128:
962:
947:
922:
567:
342:
176:
298:
They suffered the first relegation in their history, to the Southern League South Division, at the end of the
226:
623:
709:
260:
763:
373:
the club, now under its former name of Witney Town, finished in 19th place; only the forced demotion of
238:
and were admitted at the first attempt to Division One North. Their first season at this level was in
917:
287:
369:
saw a decline in their fortunes, and they finished 18th, one place above the relegation places. In
235:
211:
132:
655:
495:
420:
386:
303:
279:
156:
789:
186:
124:
419:
Witney Town played their home games at Marriotts Close in Witney, and later at Downs Road,
234:
After twenty years of success at Hellenic League level, they applied for membership of the
200:
180:
8:
423:(known successively as Oakey Park, the Marriotts Stadium, and Witney Community Stadium).
195:
in 1922, playing in the Oxfordshire Senior League and finishing as champions five times.
355:
341:
by a group of Witney Town supporters. The Witney United name was registered with the
318:
302:
season. In 1992, the club moved from Marriotts Close to a purpose-built stadium near
204:
168:
179:
in 1905 and 1906, and helped win a goal medal for his country as a left-back at the
374:
358:(4th), were promoted to the Premier Division, ahead of the teams in the top three.
164:
322:
172:
684:
467:"Non league club who dissolved in 2013 are reborn ready for the 2024/25 season"
326:
275:
868:
911:
893:
880:
377:(whose ground did not meet league requirements) kept them in the division.
283:
187:
1922â1973: Witney Town F.C. in the Oxfordshire Senior and Hellenic Leagues
28:
350:. In its first year the club finished 15th of 20 in the division, but in
278:, Britain's first ÂŁ1m player, made his first appearance for his new club
255:, where they remained for six seasons (with reprieves from relegation in
196:
120:
267:
when the league was expanded). Their highest finish was 5th place in
738:
530:
282:
in a testimonial held at Witney Town's ground, a match arranged by
399:
will compete in the Oxford Senior League for the 2024â25 season.
251:. Another reorganisation placed them in the Premier Division for
116:
67:
365:
and finished in the top 10 for the next five seasons. The
595:"ÂŁ1 Million Man Makes Debut Under Strange Circumstances"
146:
332:
221:
293:
155:and within 15 years of their formation had won the
361:The club finished 11th in the Premier Division in
199:, a goalkeeper from this era, went on to play for
938:Association football clubs disestablished in 2013
733:
731:
601:. West Bromwich Albion Former Players Association
909:
441:Hellenic League Premier Division Challenge Cup
70:Up to 2013 Witney Artificial Pitch 2024 onwards
928:Association football clubs established in 1885
728:
290:, who had coached at Witney during the 1970s.
840:. Didcot Town FC. 18 May 2006. Archived from
317:(losing the final match of the season 2â1 to
490:
488:
838:"The History of Didcot Town Football Club"
792:. Nonleague.pitchero.com. 13 February 2013
27:
812:"Episode One: What next for Witney Town?"
592:
210:In 1953 they were founder members of the
485:
415:The main stand at Marriott's Close, 2008
410:
225:
618:
616:
565:
910:
650:
648:
525:
523:
521:
519:
517:
515:
513:
163:, a successful full-back who moved to
679:
677:
561:
559:
557:
555:
553:
551:
147:1885â1922: Early years as Witney F.C.
613:
380:
645:
566:Whitney, Steve (20 February 2021).
510:
333:2001â2012: Rebirth as Witney United
13:
674:
624:"Atkinson leads tributes to Oakey"
548:
222:1973â1987: Southern League success
14:
974:
943:2013 disestablishments in England
860:
593:Lepkowski, Chris (6 April 2020).
294:1988â2001: Relegation and closure
343:Oxfordshire Football Association
151:The club was founded in 1885 as
830:
804:
782:
756:
568:"The Sad Demise of Witney Town"
958:Southern Football League clubs
933:1885 establishments in England
743:Football Club History Database
702:
689:Football Club History Database
586:
535:Football Club History Database
496:"Witney Town Info and History"
459:
434:
177:England national football team
175:, appeared four times for the
1:
953:Football clubs in Oxfordshire
452:
242:, and they won the league in
230:Witney Town in action in 1980
354:they finished 5th and, with
7:
103:(known at various times as
10:
979:
963:Witney and District League
710:"Rodgers was a Blanketman"
429:
141:
66:Witney Community Stadium,
948:Football clubs in England
656:"The Witney Town FC saga"
406:
337:The club was reformed as
90:
82:
74:
62:
54:
46:
42:Witney Town Football Club
38:
26:
923:Hellenic Football League
894:51.7872583°N 1.5267306°W
685:"Oxfordshire Senior Cup"
393:
214:, winning the league in
115:) is a football club in
446:Runners-up (1): 1965â66
899:51.7872583; -1.5267306
416:
286:, the then-manager of
231:
207:in the 1930s and 40s.
191:The club re-formed as
157:Oxfordshire Senior Cup
574:. The Southern League
414:
229:
131:while playing in the
288:West Bromwich Albion
181:1908 Summer Olympics
153:Witney Football Club
94:Oxford Senior League
33:Club badge from 2011
890: /
325:, later manager of
167:, later played for
23:
790:"Witney Town Fold"
770:. 13 February 2013
764:"Witney Town fold"
417:
339:Witney United F.C.
232:
216:the 1954â55 season
135:Premier Division.
113:Witney Town A.F.C.
109:Witney United F.C.
21:
630:. 3 November 2001
381:2013: Liquidation
280:Nottingham Forest
98:
97:
970:
918:Witney Town F.C.
905:
904:
902:
901:
900:
895:
891:
888:
887:
886:
883:
872:
871:
869:Official website
854:
853:
851:
849:
834:
828:
827:
825:
823:
808:
802:
801:
799:
797:
786:
780:
779:
777:
775:
760:
754:
753:
751:
749:
735:
726:
725:
723:
721:
706:
700:
699:
697:
695:
681:
672:
671:
669:
667:
652:
643:
642:
637:
635:
620:
611:
610:
608:
606:
590:
584:
583:
581:
579:
563:
546:
545:
543:
541:
527:
508:
507:
505:
503:
492:
483:
482:
480:
478:
463:
101:Witney Town F.C.
31:
24:
20:
978:
977:
973:
972:
971:
969:
968:
967:
908:
907:
898:
896:
892:
889:
884:
881:
879:
877:
876:
867:
866:
863:
858:
857:
847:
845:
844:on 8 March 2012
836:
835:
831:
821:
819:
810:
809:
805:
795:
793:
788:
787:
783:
773:
771:
762:
761:
757:
747:
745:
739:"Witney United"
737:
736:
729:
719:
717:
708:
707:
703:
693:
691:
683:
682:
675:
665:
663:
654:
653:
646:
633:
631:
622:
621:
614:
604:
602:
591:
587:
577:
575:
564:
549:
539:
537:
529:
528:
511:
501:
499:
494:
493:
486:
476:
474:
465:
464:
460:
455:
437:
432:
409:
396:
383:
335:
323:Brendan Rodgers
296:
263:folded, and in
261:Hastings United
236:Southern League
224:
212:Hellenic League
201:Birmingham City
189:
149:
144:
133:Hellenic League
34:
19:
12:
11:
5:
976:
966:
965:
960:
955:
950:
945:
940:
935:
930:
925:
920:
874:
873:
862:
861:External links
859:
856:
855:
829:
818:. 7 March 2024
803:
781:
755:
727:
701:
673:
662:. 28 June 2001
644:
612:
585:
547:
509:
484:
457:
456:
454:
451:
450:
449:
448:
447:
436:
433:
431:
428:
408:
405:
395:
392:
382:
379:
367:2010â11 season
348:2002â03 season
334:
331:
295:
292:
276:Trevor Francis
253:season 1982â83
223:
220:
188:
185:
148:
145:
143:
140:
129:2012â13 season
96:
95:
92:
88:
87:
84:
80:
79:
76:
72:
71:
64:
60:
59:
56:
52:
51:
50:The Blanketmen
48:
44:
43:
40:
36:
35:
32:
17:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
975:
964:
961:
959:
956:
954:
951:
949:
946:
944:
941:
939:
936:
934:
931:
929:
926:
924:
921:
919:
916:
915:
913:
906:
903:
882:51°47â˛14.13âłN
870:
865:
864:
843:
839:
833:
817:
813:
807:
791:
785:
769:
765:
759:
744:
740:
734:
732:
716:. 2 June 2012
715:
711:
705:
690:
686:
680:
678:
661:
657:
651:
649:
641:
629:
625:
619:
617:
600:
596:
589:
573:
569:
562:
560:
558:
556:
554:
552:
536:
532:
531:"Witney Town"
526:
524:
522:
520:
518:
516:
514:
497:
491:
489:
472:
468:
462:
458:
445:
444:
442:
439:
438:
427:
424:
422:
413:
404:
400:
391:
388:
378:
376:
372:
368:
364:
359:
357:
356:Ardley United
353:
349:
344:
340:
330:
328:
324:
320:
316:
312:
307:
305:
301:
291:
289:
285:
281:
277:
272:
270:
266:
262:
258:
254:
250:
245:
241:
237:
228:
219:
217:
213:
208:
206:
202:
198:
194:
184:
182:
178:
174:
170:
166:
162:
161:Herbert Smith
159:three times.
158:
154:
139:
136:
134:
130:
126:
122:
118:
114:
110:
106:
102:
93:
89:
85:
81:
77:
73:
69:
65:
61:
57:
53:
49:
45:
41:
37:
30:
25:
18:Football club
16:
885:1°31â˛36.23âłW
875:
846:. Retrieved
842:the original
832:
820:. Retrieved
815:
806:
794:. Retrieved
784:
772:. Retrieved
767:
758:
746:. Retrieved
742:
718:. Retrieved
713:
704:
692:. Retrieved
688:
664:. Retrieved
659:
639:
632:. Retrieved
627:
603:. Retrieved
598:
588:
576:. Retrieved
571:
538:. Retrieved
534:
500:. Retrieved
475:. Retrieved
470:
461:
440:
425:
418:
401:
397:
384:
360:
338:
336:
319:Sudbury Town
308:
297:
284:Ron Atkinson
273:
233:
209:
205:Bristol City
192:
190:
169:Derby County
152:
150:
137:
125:phoenix club
112:
108:
104:
100:
99:
15:
897: /
848:12 December
816:Oxford Mail
768:Oxford Mail
714:Oxford Mail
660:Oxford Mail
628:Oxford Mail
599:Old Baggies
572:Pitching In
435:Cup honours
375:Henley Town
197:Frank Clack
193:Witney Town
165:Oxford City
121:Oxfordshire
105:Witney F.C.
86:Ben Reardon
78:Paul Foster
47:Nickname(s)
22:Witney Town
912:Categories
774:7 February
748:7 February
720:7 February
694:7 February
666:7 February
634:7 February
605:7 February
578:7 February
540:7 February
502:7 February
471:Fan Banter
453:References
173:Stoke City
796:23 August
421:Curbridge
387:Carterton
327:Liverpool
311:1999â2000
304:Curbridge
274:In 1979,
39:Full name
75:Chairman
822:12 July
477:12 July
430:Honours
371:2011â12
363:2004â05
352:2003â04
315:1993â94
300:1987â88
269:1983â84
265:1985â86
257:1984â85
249:1979â80
244:1977â78
240:1973â74
142:History
83:Manager
55:Founded
498:. 2000
473:. 2024
407:Ground
117:Witney
91:League
68:Witney
63:Ground
394:2024â
259:when
203:and
850:2012
824:2024
798:2014
776:2022
750:2022
722:2022
696:2022
668:2022
636:2022
607:2022
580:2022
542:2022
504:2022
479:2024
171:and
111:and
58:1885
914::
814:.
766:.
741:.
730:^
712:.
687:.
676:^
658:.
647:^
638:.
626:.
615:^
597:.
570:.
550:^
533:.
512:^
487:^
469:.
443::
271:.
183:.
119:,
107:,
852:.
826:.
800:.
778:.
752:.
724:.
698:.
670:.
609:.
582:.
544:.
506:.
481:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
