A Look Into Histories

A LOOK INTO HISTORY TWO HUNDRED AND FORTY

SUPERMARINE FC

It is always nice for a change to write about a club that still exits albeit in its present name of Swindon Supermarine FC.

Supermarine FC were founded in 1945 at the South Marston Aircraft Factory of Vickers Armstrong Limited and, at first, just known as Vickers FC playing in local Swindon and Wiltshire Leagues, in fact, were founder members of the County League in 1976, until, due to the run down of the Vickers factory, changed their name to Supermarine 1982-83 when they joined the Hellenic League and achieved runners up spot to Rayners Lane FC in Division One with elevation to the Premier Division.

Our Match Programme priced 20p is for a League game v Avon Bradford on Saturday 22nd October 1983. Avon Bradford, another Works team originated from the Rubber Factory ( Avon tyres ! ) . The very chatty programme gave plenty of space for the home side and visitors alike, a quiz, some soccer oddities, full fixtures, appearences and a League table all of which brought reward in the Wirral Programe Awards. On this date they were 8th in the table and Avon 14th of 16 with Moreton Town leading. At the end of the season, Almondsbury Greenway took the title, Supermarine moved up one place to 7th with Avon Bradford relegated.

Sadly the late eighties and early nineties brought no luck for Supermarine and they struggled in the Hellenic League then, in 1989-90 were second bottom with another club called Swindon Athletic, who had been called Penhill up to 1989, in mid table. Our club were relegated to Division One for 1990-91 with Swindon Athletic still in the Premier Division. Supermarine finished last in 1991-92 so, prior to season 1992-93, merged with Swindon Athletic taking their Premier place as Swindon Supermarine. This was a good arrangement as it saved Supermarine from County football plus Swindon Athletic’s ground at Southbrook didn’t conform to League ground grading.

Since the merger, Swindon Supermarine regularly finished in the top eight Hellenic League places then in season 1997-98 won the Hellenic League but couldn’t be promoted for ground reasons but sorted themselves out, won it again in 2000-01 and rose to Southern League status even reaching the Premier Division but as our story is about Supermarine FC, the latter days are for another time.