Our history

Wincanton Town Football Club was founded in 1890 and played most of its football in the Yeovil and District Football League at Dancing Lane on West Hill. In the early to mid-1990’s the West Hill ground was sold to fund Wincanton’s new Sports ground development on Moor Lane to the south-west of the town. The club continues to play here still today.

During the club's recent history, Wincanton progressed significantly in the late 1980's winning the Yeovil and District League Division 2 in 1988/89, winning Division 1 the following season before completing a notable hat-trick in 1990/91 by becoming Yeovil and District Premier Division Champions. Wincanton remained within the Yeovil league set up for the next few years and in 2002/03 with Mike Hatcher as the first team manager the side finished as runners up in the Premier Division. The club applied for promotion into the Somerset County League to which they were accepted. The club adapted well to the new ‘Senior’ level of football and won promotion as runners up in Division 3 at the first time of asking. Following two seasons of mid table finishes in Somerset Division 2, the club made the decision to move over the border to play in the Dorset County League and were allocated a space in the Dorset Senior League for season 2006/07. The side managed by Wayne Jerome stormed to the league title winning a 20-game league season by a 10-point margin and as a result were promoted into the Dorset Premier League.

The club finished in a respectable 5th position in its first season in the DPL, and then followed this up with three mid table finishes of 8th, 9th and 7th. Paul Down was appointed as first team manager in the summer of 2010, and in his second season (2011/12) the club finished in 4th position losing just 3 league matches all season. The following season (2012/13) saw the club do even better, finishing as runners up to Portland United. This allowed the club to apply for promotion to the Toolstation Western League. Wincanton also won the Somerset Senior Cup beating Brislington Reserves 1-0, in the final that was played at Street F.C. To complete a memorable season, a few weeks later Wincanton received confirmation they had been accepted into the Western League for the following season. A busy summer ensued as big changes at the club had to be made both on and off the pitch. The committee worked hard ensuring floodlights, hard standing and fencing was all installed on time to achieve the league’s ground grading rules. Gary Johnson, then manager of Yeovil Town officially switched on the club’s new floodlights in October 2013, ahead of a friendly match where most of his then Championship squad took part. Yeovil won easily but a crowd of over 450 enjoyed the evening. The team finished its first season in the Western League in a creditable fourth scoring 116 goals along the way.

Season 2014/15 saw the club enter the F.A. Vase for the first time, however Wessex League Bemerton Heath Harlequins proved too strong. The team repeated their 4th position finish in the league and were one of only two sides to defeat champions Barnstaple Town. A run to the quarter finals of the Les Phillips Cup was ended by the eventual Cup winners Willand Rovers. At the end of the season manager Paul Down announced he would be standing down after five successful seasons in charge.

Season 2015/16 saw Chris Wise and Andy Mitchell take charge of the club as joint managers. A tough first half to the season with a completely new look team saw the side struggle, however the New Year saw the side enjoy better fortunes and a strong second half to the campaign saw the Wasps climb well clear of relegation. The Club also entered the F.A. Cup for the first time and Wincanton beat Wessex League Premier division side (1 step higher) Whitchurch United 3-1 in a replay at Moor Lane. That victory earned the club an away tie at Southern league side Winchester City, a tie we would eventually lose 5-1 but a good experience for all concerned.  Chris took sole control as manager in 2017/18, with Andy Mitchell and Gary Chapman his playing assistants.

Three seasons of mid table finishes then followed - 13th, 14th and 10th, and when the covid pandemic curtailed the 2019/20 season Town were sat in 8th. Season 2021/22 saw Wincanton make a sluggish start with just 11 points from the opening 11 games. The team then did not lose another match in the regular league season as they embarked on a 29-game undefeated run winning 24 of these games and drawing just 5. The side scored 126 league goals and achieved the club’s highest ever league position of 3rd. This allowed the club to join the inaugural end of season promotion play offs, but it was one game too far as we lost 2-0 at Welton Rovers.

Season 2022/23 saw Wincanton reach the first qualifying round of the FA Cup for the first time in their history. Wins against higher ranked opposition - 6-2 at Tadley Calleva and 3-0 in a replay against Camberley Town. This set up a tie against ambitious Southern League side AFC Totton who as expected were too good for us, but it was a good experience. Wincanton again qualified for the end of season play offs but lost 10-9 on penalties against Oldland Abbotonians. The season also saw the start of the Ladies section of the club with the side competing in Somerset League Division 2.

Season 2023/24 once more saw Wincanton reach the end of season play offs with a fourth-place finish. A dramatic semi-final with Wells City saw Town 3-1 down inside just 15 minutes, but they battled back to win an outstanding game 6-4. This set up a final at home to Brislington. A record crowd at Moor Lane for a competitive fixture saw Town storm into a 2-0 lead, but there was more play off heartbreak as Brislington battled back in the second half, winning the game 3-2 and promotion with a 90th minute goal. Two weeks later though the club received the surprise news from the F.A. that following their annual pyramid re-structuring process we were to be promoted to step five but also moved laterally into the Velocity Wessex League. We enjoyed our 11 years in the Western League, but very much look forward to visiting new places in the Wessex League and the challenge of step 5 football.