Talk:Bosham F.C.

message: I (Steve Shepherd) first remember my association with Bosham Football Club from around the mid 50's,when the 'Manager' (who was actually the Secretary)was Ernie Holmes, and in those early days the club had teams in the Chichester League and Bognor League prior to the formation of the West Sussex League. Ernie was pretty much a one-man band, but because of my interest in the club I would help Ernie to erect the goalposts and mark the pitch on a Saturday morning, and assist in any other way in preparation for the afternoon match.
The Club was successful in the league and also won the Sussex Junior Cup. I am now unsure of exact years, but I do remember several of the players from that era. George Westwell was a goalkeeper who had once played for Crewe Alexandra, and was therefore considered to be the 'Crown Jewels', but there were also many other excellent players I recall. Full backs John Ford and Ted Spicer, Half Backs Peter Robinson, Ken Blythman an Derek (Nobby) Smith, and forwards Ron Smith, Joe Edney, Archie Hills, Cecil Robinson and Doug Jamieson. Other names that spring to mind from the same era were Dennis Roman and Frank Bone, who would also be part of the 'squad'.
When Ernie retired,his position was taken on by one Bill Ede who, with the assistance of John Ford, maintained the continuity of the club for the next few years. It's probably fair to say that support for the club, and the strength of the teams deteriated during this period, for in those earlier successful years I remember travelling to away matches in coaches, but those times had gone, and now the travelling team would do so in the back of a fairly large van!
It was in 1959 when I approached Bill to say I'd like to play for Bosham, and I was selected for the Reserve team for three games at the end of the season. We lost all three, the first against local rivals Southbourne by 9-4, the second was a home game against the strong Selsey side when the score was 10-1, and finally on a very wet afternoon in Wick (Littlehampton), with ten men including a centre forward, Jock Holden, wearing plimsoles on a rain sodden pitch, we lost 17-2. (Jock scored both goals!)
It was in the early sixties when Bill left the club, and in quite dire straits. It looked like the club would actually fold. However, I and my partner at the time, Gwyn Gilby, decided to make a last gasp effort to keep the club alive. We sent many 'begging' letters to residents within the Village inviting them to become Vice Presidents of the Club, and to invest in its wellbeing for the future. The response was amazing, and we were able to meet all the club commitments to ensure that the club survived. One team only was entered, and by this time the West Sussex League had been formed, and in that first season the team actually won the league. The League, like the club, grew in stature and we eventually entered a reserve side in Division 6 of the league.
It is probably right to say that, at this stage, we had developed a social side to the club and, in order to raise funds, we would hold dances in the local village hall with bands like The Fenmen, The Transatlantics and The Ronny Day Band to name but a few.
The club progressed with myself as Secretary for several years, until I was superceded by Brian Kearvell, when I took up the post of Registrations Secretary for the West Sussex League.
For those that are interested, and any that can remember, I hope that gives an insight into those earlier years.84.69.121.8 (talk) 08:07, 27 December 2008 (UTC)
thread_title:  More History of Bosham Football Club 

message: This page has been tagged as not notable as it has not been shown that this football team has competed in the FA Cup which is one of the criteria of Football team notability in England.Delusion23 (talk) 00:12, 25 February 2011 (UTC)
thread_title: Notability