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Written by Margaret Nixon
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Monday, 10 September 2007 |
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ADDRESS
The Raymond McEnhill Stadium
Partridge Way
Old Sarum
Salisbury
Wiltshire
SP4 6PU
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SALISBURY CITY
A Salisbury Football Club has existed since the late 19th century,
the original Salisbury City Club playing in the Southern League
Second Division Between 1906 and 1911.
However, the present Club was formed on 12th February 1947, a natural
successor to the old Salisbury City and Salisbury Corinthians Clubs
who both disbanded in the difficult economic times following World
War 2. Salisbury Football Club entered the Western League and enjoyed
immediate success, winning its first 19 League matches, and
thereafter the Second Division title. During that season, the Club's
record attendance of 8,902 flocked to Victoria Park, paying ?290 in
gate receipts, to witness the Championship decider, a 1-1 draw
against Weymouth in April 1948. Salisbury Football Club remained
members of the Western League until 1968.
Salisbury reached the FA Cup First Round for the first time in
1955/56, suffering a 3-2 defeat at Weymouth. Four seasons later, they
went one better, beating Barnet before losing 1-0 in the Second Round
at home to Newport County in front of 6,800 spectators. Further
appearances in the First Round followed in 1964/65, losing 5-1 at
Peterborough United in front of a crowd of 10,095, and 1967/68,
losing 4-0 at Swindon (attendance 12,193).
In 1968 the Club was elected to the Southern League. Success was hard
to come by, and apart from 3rd, 4th and 5th places in the mid 1970's;
the team never managed a top half finish in the first 15 years of
membership.
Success in the Southern League finally came in the1985/86 season.
Salisbury finished runners up to Cambridge City. Promotion to the
Premier Division was assured although the stay was short lived as,
despite a late run, Salisbury finished fourth from bottom and were
relegated back to the Southern Division.
In 1992 the Club's name was officially changed to Salisbury City, and
later that year there was a sixth FA Cup First Round appearance, when
the team suffered a penalty shoot-out defeat in a replay against
Marlow Town. Further disappointments followed at the end of that
season when the Club finished Southern Division runners up for the
second time, but were denied promotion because of ground grading
rules. Two years later justice was done when Salisbury City won the
Southern Division Championship, losing only 5 league games out of 42
with a club record 97pts.
In 1997, under the chairmanship of Salisbury-born businessman Ray Mc
Enhill, Salisbury City FC finally realised its ambition and moved to
a purpose built stadium at Old Sarum.
The Raymond McEnhill Stadium has a capacity at present of 3,740 with
covered accommodation for 2,247 spectators. A then stadium record
crowd of 2,570 saw the FA Cup First Round 2-0 defeat by Hull City in
1998. This was bettered twice in 2006 by further FA Cup ties -
against Fleetwood Town in the first round proper, and then by
Nottingham Forest in the second round.
A troubled couple of seasons off the field eventually led to the club
parting company with long-serving manager Geoff Butler, who had been
at the helm for more than 17 seasons. A humbling relegation followed
and the club came within a whisker of being wound-up. However, thanks
to a consortium led by one of the club's sponsors, Neville Beal, the
club was saved and allowed to continue in the Southern League set up
for the 2002/03 season. Beal, a former Salisbury player, was
instrumental in attracting former Southampton star Nick Holmes, then
resident in the USA, to take over as manager in July 2002.
In the 2003/2004 season, Salisbury City gained promotion from the Dr
Martens Eastern Division after finishing sixth. The promotion meant
that Salisbury City would transfer to the Isthmian Premier League,
thus ending a 36- year membership of the Southern Football League.
The 2005/06 season proved one of the best in the club's history. They
won the Southern League Premier Division by 12 points, securing
promotion to the Conference South for the first time. They also
enjoyed their best ever run in the FA Trophy, reaching the quarter-
final stage defeating Conference side Canvey Island, Conference South
outfit Newport County and Conference North club Stalybridge en route
to their quarter-final at Exeter City where they went down 3-1.
2006/07 started positively with the Whites topping the table before
an extended run in the FA Cup hampered their league form. The club's
impressive cup form continued in the FA Trophy, with wins against
Enfield, Woking, Southport and Kettering Town again taking them into
the quarter-finals. However they met their match against Conference
outfit Stevenage Borough, who ultimately lifted the trophy.
Salisbury's league form was severely rocked by numerous injuries and
suspensions to key players. However, despite a number of poor
results, they still closed their first season in the Conference South
comfortably in the play-offs.
They reached the play-off final by defeating Bishop's Stortford and
then returned to Stevenage Borough (the scene of their FA Trophy
exit) on Sunday, May 13 where an 84th minute goal by top goalscorer
Matt Tubbs secured promotion.
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Last Updated ( Saturday, 22 September 2007 )
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