Bitterne Guild F.C.
Bitterne Guild F.C. were an amateur football club, based in Bitterne - an eastern suburb of Southampton, Hampshire. They disbanded during World War I and did not reform once the conflict was finally over.
History
Bitterne Guild were established circa 1896 and spent their early days playing friendlies before joining a variety of short lived local Leagues.In 1905 the club took up residence at The Veracity Ground on Sholing Common, joined the Hampshire League and also began entering national cup competitions.
In those days, it was not uncommon for teams to play in more than one league in the same season, and in 1908 Bitterne Guild became founder members of the Southampton Football Association - winning the inaugural Senior League title and retaining it a year later. Further success arrived in 1911 when they won the Southampton Senior Cup, after reaching the two previous finals.
In order to attract wider support, the club was re-branded as Woolston F.C. in 1912 and again won the Senior League title. Two years later they again won the Southampton Senior Cup before the Great War stopped them playing, sadly never to reform.
Honours
- Hampshire League
- *South Division Runners-up 1912/13
- Southampton League
- *Senior Division 1 Champions 1908/09, 1910/11 and 1912/13
- Southampton FA
- *Senior Cup Winners 1910/11 and 1913/14. Finalists 1908/09 and 1909/10
- *Junior 'A' Cup Winners 1908/09
Ground
Bitterne Guild played at the original Veracity Ground, Sholing Common, Southampton. The land was originally owned by the Chamberlayne family - close to the present day site off Spring Road, which is known by the same name.The pitch was enclosed with a stand and frequently hosted large crowds. In 1919 Thornycrofts (Woolston) moved in and also enjoyed success, until the site was closed in 1926 and sold for housing.