AFC Totton
This Saturday we face Sholing in FAC Cup First Round Qualifier actions at the Snows Stadium. Always a spicy affair and not to be missed!
Get your tickets now and save: afctotton.ticketco.events/uk/en/e/afc_totton_v_sholing_fa_cup
THE STAGS ARE BACK AT HOME in the Emirates FA Cup 1st Qualifying Round this weekend, against local rivals Sholing. Let’s find out a bit about our opponents...
THE BASICS
Formerly known as Vosper Thorneycroft FC and later VTFC, the club changed its name in 2010 to Sholing FC. In 2013/14 they won both the FA Vase and the Wessex League Premier Division and have three times been Runners-Up in the Wessex Premier in 2007, 2009 and 2016. They won the Hampshire League in 2001 and 2004. Sholing have also won the Southampton Senior Cup eight times.
HAVE THEY GENERALLY BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN THE LEAGUE?
After four years in the Southern League Division One South & West, where they finished Runners-Up in 2011 and reached the Play-Offs in all four of those campaigns, the club resigned from the Southern League in 2013 for financial reasons and stepped back into the Wessex League Premier Division.
During the 2013/14 season Sholing won the FA Vase for the first time in their history, beating West Auckland Town in the Final at Wembley Stadum, with Marvin McLean scoring the only goal in the game in the 71st minute. They also finished as champions of the Wessex League Premier Division and secured promotion back to the Southern League for 2014/15.
Three players retired after the Wembley final and three more moved to other clubs in higher leagues, so 2014/15 was going to be a transition season. The club finished 17th and reached the final of the Hampshire Senior Cup, losing 0-3 to Gosport Borough. At the end of the season, it was revealed that the club's ground did not meet the new FA Step 4 grading criteria and, once again, Sholing were placed in the Wessex League for 2015/16.
Sholing finished as Runners-Up to Salisbury in the Wessex League Premier Division in 2015-16. The Boatmen won 10 of their last 11 games to pip Blackfield & Langley and Andover to second place. Dan Mason finished as the club's top scorer with 39 goals, placing him second in the League Golden Boot competition.
The Boatmen achieved two cup wins in the space of three days at the end of the 2016/17 season, firstly winning the Wessex League Cup, beating Baffins Milton Rovers 2-1, then lifting the Southampton Senior Cup with a 3-1 victory over Team Solent at St Mary's Stadium. In the Wessex Premier Division, they finished third.
Sholing, once again, finished in 3rd place in the Wessex Premier Division in 2017/18 season. Despite the Runners-Up, Andover Town, declining promotion, Sholing's Points Per Game (PPG) was less than other clubs in Step 5, so the club was not offered promotion by the FA. The following season, however, the club won the Wessex League championship. During the course of the season, manager Dave Diaper reached the milestone of 1,000 games in charge of the team.
HOW DID THEY GET ON LAST SEASON?
Sholing were promoted via the play-offs from the Southern League Division One South, beating Hamworthy United 2-0. They were top of the league for large swathes of last season, however, The Stags managed to overtake them to win the title.
HAVE AFC TOTTON PLAYED THEM RECENTLY?
There have been plenty of meetings between the two sides in both league and cup competitions over the years. The sides met three times last season for example, with Sholing winning both of the league encounters by single goals and Totton winning the Southampton Senior Cup Final at St Mary’s in front of a crowd of over 2,000. One of our heaviest victories over The Boatmen in recent times came in the form of a 4-1 win with goals from Jordan Ragguette (2), Brett Williams and Ethan Taylor. Conor Whiteley replied for Sholing, prior to his switch to the Snows Stadium. One of Sholing’s heaviest victories over us in recent times came in the same round of the F.A Cup in which we meet this weekend, back in 2013. Sholing won the game 4-0 with goals from Lee Wort (2), Tyrone Bowers and Lewis Fennemore.
DO WE HAVE CURRENT OR FORMER PLAYERS IN COMMON?
There have been more than a few over the years. Sholing assistant manager Marc Diaper had two spells with Totton, the first dating back to 1998/99 and the second in 2015. Nick Watts, Conor Whiteley, Stuart Green, Robin Nicholls, Rob Flooks and, most recently, Jake Adams have all played for both clubs in the past 10 years or so.
WHO IS THEIR MANAGER NOW?
Long-reigning manager Dave Diaper is still at the helm at Sholing, now surpassing 1,200 games in charge of The Boatmen. It’s an incredible achievement and he has earned the club many successes over the years, as mentioned above.
WHEN AND WHERE IS THE GAME?
Saturday 02 September at 3:00pm at Snows Stadium, Salisbury Road, Totton SO40 2RW.
CAN I BUY TICKETS?
Tickets will be available at the turnstile on the day. You can also purchase tickets in advance online from the club directly if you head to https://afctotton.ticketco.
By Adi Rose and Malcolm Tombs (Club Historian)
