MANGOTSFIELD UTD

Mangotsfield, once a village on the northern edge of Bristol, had its first football club in August 1888, and in 1892, it became a founder member of the Bristol & District League (later to become the Western Football League in 1895). However, the club lasted only 10 years, when it finished bottom of the Amateur section, Division 1 in 1898. It is also worth noting that in 1893, the club's chairman, Edward Colston MP, donated a trophy to Warmley FC, the first Bristol & District League winners, and to this day, the trophy is presented to the Champions of the Screwfix Direct League Premier Division.

From 1898 until the 1950s, Mangotsfield FC was disbanded & subsequently reformed on several occasions. In January 1951, the parent club dispensed with its Reserve XI for financial reasons, leaving many local players without a team to play for. These players held a meeting to discuss the formation of a new club in the village, & at the start of the 1951-52 season, a decision was made to enter the newly-established Mangotsfield United FC into the Bristol & District League, whereupon it was placed into Division VII of that competition. Five successive promotions were achieved and the club gained entry into the Bristol & District Premier Combination in 1957, where it remained until 1972-73 when the club was accepted into the Western League.

The club became established in the WL Premier Division during the 1970s, but unfortunately were relegated to the WL First Division in 1981-82. However, the club - which has always been known affectionately as "The Field" - bounced back at the first attempt just 12 months later. The club then went on to re-establish themselves in the Premier Division over the next few years, with locally-based character Ralph Miller overseeing gradual ground improvements whilst club chairman.

Having finished 3rd in 1989-90, the following season saw the Club, managed by Harold Jarman & assisted by Terry Rowles, finally achieve regional glory by winning the (then) Great Mills League Premier Division ahead of runners-up Torrington. Nine wins in a row from the start of the season set the scene for what was to come, & a 6-1 home win over Exmouth Town in April 1991 duly wrapped up the title before the Cossham Street faithful. "The Field" then went through several lean seasons after the bulk of the title-winning side followed Terry Rowles to Clevedon Town, but things gradually improved off the pitch under newly-elected chairman Richard Davis.

Terry Rowles returned to manage the club himself in 1995 and undoubtedly brought the club back into the limelight with a number of appearances in county cup finals, an appearance in the FA Vase semi-finals (losing to Clitheroe) and consistently taking Mangotsfield into the top 3 or 4 of the Great Mills/later Screwfix Direct League (SDL). However, any ambitions of promotion were constantly thwarted by the continued success of Taunton Town and Tiverton Town.

Always considered to be an ambitious club, "The Field " looked to progress to Dr Martens League (DML) football but needed to establish a sound base upon which to operate, improve ground facilities and secure a long-term tenure on its Cossham Street ground. Whilst "The Field" continued to finish as a leading Western League club, pyramid advancement had to take a back seat as the club re-assessed its priorities .

Recent years have seen many ground/social club improvements, including the erection of Conference-standard floodlights, and at the end of the 2003/04 campaign, the Cossham Street end of the ground was covered, together with more alterations ,including a new toilet block. In June 1999, ex-player Andy Black returned to the club as manager and guided the club to promotion and three successful campaigns in the DMLWD, along with twice reaching the 4th qualifying round of the FA Cup. However, last season's disappointing start to the campaign prompted a mid-season change of management with Martyn Grimshaw, assisted by Nigel Webb, taking control and it's their mission to gain promotion to the newly-created Premier division this season. Now under Chairman Roger Pullin, the club has found financial stability and with a successful Youth policy, they can look forward to raising the profile and standard of Mangotsfield United FC.



Directions

Exit the M32 at Junction 1 and follow the A4174 Ring Road, through the traffic light controlled cross roads. At the first roundabout turn left and continue on the A4174 Ring Road to a second roundabout.

At the second roundabout continue on the A4174 Ring Road until you reach the third roundabout. At this roundabout turn right onto the Westerleigh Road, past the Beefeater pub, Esso garage on your left and across the mini roundabout to a set of traffic lights. At these lights turn left into Blackhorse Road, continue along this road and across another mini roundabout into Richmond Road. At the T junction with St. James Street (Red Lion pub opposite) turn left, after approx. 100 meters take the second turning on the left (immediately past the church) this is Cossham Street, the ground is approx. 300 meters on the right

immediately after the mini roundabout.

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