R.S. Basingstoke F.C.


RS Basingstoke F.C. was a long running amateur football club based in Basingstoke, Hampshire.

History

The club were founded in 1971 as a pub side, Soldiers Return, and originally played Sunday football before switching to Saturday where they joined the Basingstoke League. After successfully climbing up through the divisions the side became founder members of the Chiltonian League in 1984 where they remained for two seasons before joining the North Hants League, which they won in 1986–87 resulting in their application to join Hampshire League Division 2 being successful.
Upon election the team then became known as SR Basingstoke and promptly proceeded to win promotion as champions in their debut season and soon established themselves in Division 1. In 1990 the club became known as DCA Basingstoke and finished runners-up in 1990–91.
In 1992 the club successfully applied to move up to the Combined Counties League where they maintained a steady mid-table position but, unable to develop their basic Whiteditch Playing Fields home they dropped out of the league after four seasons to rejoin the Chiltonian League in 1996 - a year later the club was renamed again as RS Basingstoke.
When the Chiltonian League was absorbed by the extended Hellenic League in 2000, RS Basingstoke joined and were placed in Division 1 East where they finished runners-up in their first season, but again due to ground grading were unable to apply for promotion.
In 2003 RS Basingstoke returned to the Hampshire League where they were placed in Division 2. The side finished 3rd and like most of the leagues other clubs they moved into the extended Wessex League in 2004 where they were placed in Division 3. This was the seventh league that they had played in during their existence.
2004–05 was sadly to prove the last season for the club as, despite being in a comfortable mid-table position, a player exodus resulted in the side withdrawing from the competition in January 2005 and folding.

Honours

  • Hellenic League
  • *Division 1 East Runners-up 2000/01
  • Hampshire League
  • *Division 1 Runners-up 1990/91
  • *Division 2 Champions 1987/88
  • North Hants FA
  • *Senior League Champions 1986/87
  • *Senior Cup Winners 1988/89
  • Basingstoke & District League
  • *Premier Division Champions
  • *Senior Cup Winners

League Career

SeasonDivisionPositionSignificant events
1984/85Chiltonian League8/17Founder Members
1985/86Chiltonian League4/10Left competition
1986/87North Hants League1/14Champions, promoted
1987/88Hampshire League Division 21/19Champions, promoted
1988/89Hampshire League Division 18/17
1989/90Hampshire League Division 112/18
1990/91Hampshire League Division 12/19Runners-up, not promoted
1991/92Hampshire League Division 16/18Promoted
1992/93Combined Counties League13/19
1993/94Combined Counties League6/21
1994/95Combined Counties League9/18
1995/96Combined Counties League14/22Demoted on ground grading
1996/97Chiltonian League6/18
1997/98Chiltonian League3/18
1998/99Chiltonian League7/13
1999/00Chiltonian League5/17Competition absorbed by Hellenic League in 2000
2000/01Hellenic League Division 1 East2/17Runners-up, not promoted
2001/02Hellenic League Division 1 East3/17
2002/03Hellenic League Division 1 East11/17Left competition
2003/04Hampshire League Division 23/15Competition absorbed by Wessex League in 2004
2004/05Wessex League Division 221/22Left competition

Ground

RS Basingstoke played at Whiteditch Playing Fields, Sherborne Road, Basingstoke, RG21 5UT. The venue remains in use today.

Local rivals

Having played in such a variety of leagues, RS Basingstoke had many rivalries during their existence, but neighbours Basingstoke Town and Tadley Calleva were always considered as their main rivals.