History
Westland Sports FC was founded in 1939. The Club's home was the Westbourne Grove ground which was to remain until 2003. Until the move from Westbourne grove, the stand there had the original wooden goalposts forming two of the end timbers !
With the Club being formed at an unfortunate time, the second world war prevented regular competitive football, but by 1946, the club was fielding two sides, one Yeovil League team, and one youth side, the latter winning the clubs first honours in the form of league titles, in both 1946/47 & 1947/48.
Despite a growing reputation for attractive football, further honours eluded the club, until a Yeovil League charity cup win, in 1962/63.
In 1964/65 the club withdrew from the league, due to loss of players to YeovilTown. The situation was short-lived, and the club reformed under the guidance of Dave Topping in the Yeovil league in the 1966/67 season with the intention of entering senior football as soon as possible. This happened the following year when the club was elected to the Somerset Senior league.
In its second year since reformation the club, now fielding a reserve side, had an exceptional year. The Somerset Senior league was won with a record 70 points (2pts for a win), with only one defeat. The Somerset Charity cup was won, and also the Yeovil Hospital cup against Bristol City. The reserves also won the Yeovil League. Senior league runners up was to follow in the next two seasons, as did the Yeovil Division One cup.
In 1974 the club realized their ambition by gaining admittance to the (then) Rothmans Western league on a semi professional basis under the management of Roy Lambden. After several seasons in the Western league with little success, except for the notable win against YeovilTown over two legs in the Somerset Professional Cup, mounting financial concerns forced the club to fold.
In 1980 the club reformed again in the Yeovil League. After one season the club was elected into the Dorset Combination league (Now the Dorset Premier League). After a couple of lean seasons, in 1983/84 the Dorset Combination cup was secured with a memorable victory over Parley Sports.
With improving finances, by the mid 1980’s Sports werefielding five teams. The Youth teams in particular had great success, with 10 league and cup wins and a Somerset Cup final appearance under Tony Pounder, who was with the club for many years.
In 1987 Sports made the Somerset Senior cup final, under the guidance of Stuart Housley. The reserves were Yeovil League division one champions in 1987/88 and gained Les King Cup victories in 1986/87 & 1987/88.
Phil Chant took over the reins 1988/89, after a couple of third places, and a runners up, in 1992/93 took Sports to an elusive double, of both the Dorset Combination league title and the Dorset Combination cup. This was nearly repeated the following year but Sports had to settle for runners up spot in the cup. Meanwhile the reserves won the charity cup in 1989/90 and the hospital cup in 1990/91 and the league knock out cup in 1992/93.
1999 was a time of change for the club. Pete Watts took over as manager, and the rumours were confirmed that Westbourne Grove had been sold for redevelopment. The Club played at Bunford Lane for a couple of seasons before moving to its present home at Alvington Lane in 2003/04. With the building of new changing rooms and with three pitches available the club looked forward to an exciting future. The Youth teams certainly had unprecedented success with at least winning the league and cup double every year under the guidance of Pete Hockin, Rick McQueen and Phil Wells. Rick McQueen also winning the Somerset Youth Shield with his side in 2002.
In the 2004/05 season the club again reached new heights. A great cup run culminated in Sports winning the Somerset Senior Cup for the first time in their history, 2-1 against Hengrove Athletic. The reserves won the Yeovil League Division One title and cup. Our youth sides who have now transferred to the Dorset Youth leagues to provide more of challenge were also successful, with the under 18’s taking the league title in their first season.
At the start of the 2006/07 season Neil Waddleton and Pete Tutton were appointed as joint managers for the new season. And what a season it turned out to be ! Westland Sports taking the league title for the first time in over 25 years. The reserves picked up the Hospital Cup, and the under 16’s won the Somerset Youth Shield ! A very successful season.
The 2008 season saw some significant changes taking place in the running of the club. The recently formed Yeovil Town Community Sports Trust took over the management of the football facilities at Alvington Lane, owned by AgustaWestland and home of Westland Sports FC. The Community Sports Trust, fully supported by both AgustaWestland and Yeovil Town Football Club, had been established to provide recreational, educational and amateur sporting activities to support and benefit people living in the surrounding area.
Westland Sports Football Club will continue to operate from these facilities. Dudley Miller, president and chairman of the management board of the Westland Leisure Complex, said: "The Westland football teams have enjoyed success for many years. Following considerable investment with the move to Alvington Lane their success has been even greater. An opportunity has arisen where the football section can be integrated into mainstream football through the Yeovil Town Community Sports Trust. This will enable the Westland Sports Football Club to become closer to Yeovil Town Football Club under its youth football umbrella."
And so a new era began, and with Stuart Smith becoming joint manager with Neil Waddleton we again won the Somerset Senior Cup in season 2009/10 beating Cheddar 3-1 in the final at Street. The reserves also had a good season winning the Les King and the Premier Division Cups in the Yeovil & District League.
In season 2010/11, a new manager, ex Westlands player Kevin Leigh, was appointed with Neil Waddleton staying on as assistant manager.
The following season 2011/12 proved to be a memorable one in the history of the club when we won a unique 'treble' of Dorset Premier League Championship, Dorset Premier League Cup and Somerset Senior Cup. During the whole season we only suffered two defeats and won every trophy we entered, a remarkable achievement and one that may never be repeated. This season also saw our Reserve team leave the Yeovil & District League and enter the Dorset League for the first time. Playing in Division 1 the team finished as runners-up and were promoted to the Dorset Senior League for the following season.
