AFC Totton
HAVING BEEN TOGETHER in the Southern League Div.1 South just two seasons ago, AFC Totton and Winchester City will renew acquaintances when The Stags make the short trip up the M3 on Saturday.
THE BASICS
The club was formed in 1884 as Winchester Swallows FC. They adoped the name Winchester FC in 1894, after another club by that name had folded a year earlier. In 1907, the name changed again to Winchester City Football Club. Their nickname is The Citizens. Their home ground is the City Ground – known for sponsorship purposes as the Charters Community Stadium – which has a total capacity of 4,500 with a seated capacity of 180.
HAVE THEY GENERALLY BEEN SUCCESSFUL?
Winchester City experienced a purple patch of success in the early 2000s, when they enjoyed success in the Hampshire League and Wessex League. They won the FA Vase in 2003/04, beating AFC Sudbury in the Final. They have won the Hampshire Senior Cup twice (1930/31 and 2004/05) and the Southampton Senior Cup once (2002/03).
HOW DID THEY GET ON LAST SEASON?
After having gained promotion to Step 3 through the Play-Offs at the end of the 2021/22 season, The Citizens hovered around the relegation zone for much of last season until their form improved towards the end to lift them to three places and 11 points clear of the drop zone, with a total of 48 points from 42 games.
In the Emirates FA Cup, they overcame Baffins Milton Rovers with a 5-1 away win the First Round Qualifier, only to be beaten at home by Weymouth. They knocked Poole Town out of the Isuzu FA Trophy in a Third Round Qualifier, but Swindon Supermarine won 5-0 at Winchester in the subsequent round.
Bashley ended Winchester’s involvement in the Hampshire Senior Cup at the Third Round stage, The Bash coming out winners by the odd goal in seven at their own GlenMex Arena. Winchester City did not enter the Southampton Senior Cup last season, which AFC Totton went on to win for the second consecutive season.
HAVE AFC TOTTON PLAYED THEM RECENTLY?
The sides met three times during the 2021/22 season. The first occasion was a 2-2 draw at the Snows Stadium, in a game the showcased the free-kick goalscoring ability of the visitors’ Ollie Balmer. The return match was held on the freezing first Friday night of 2022. Ade Olumuwiya gave The Stags the lead but Winchester hit back to win the game 3-1. And the two sides came head-to-head in the Semi-Final of the Southampton Senior Cup at Sholing’s ground when a Hisham Kasimu penalty and a strike from Shaquille Gwengwe saw Totton through to the St. Mary’s Stadium Final, despite a late scare that saw them lose goalkeeper Lewis Noice to a damaged shoulder and City halve the deficit from the penalty spot.
Of the last 30 meetings in all competitions since the 2003/04 season, Winchester have triumphed on 13 occasions, while Totton have done so 9 times. There have been 8 draws.
WHO IS THEIR MANAGER?
Ex-AFC Totton central defender Craig Davis became Winchester City boss, initially in an interim capacity, during the 2016/17 season. His playing career began at Cardiff City, before spells at Bashley, Salisbury, Gosport Borough and AFC Totton. Having won both divisions during his time as a player, Manager Davis took The Citizens up via the Southern League Div.1 South Promotion Play-Offs in 2021/22, and then guided them to survival in the Southern League Premier Division South last term.
EX-STAGS defender Callum Baughan.
DO WE HAVE MANY PAST/PRESENT PLAYERS IN COMMON?
The close geographical proximity between the two clubs makes it inevitable that many players have played for both teams. Within the current AFC Totton squad, keeper Lewis Noice and the versatile midfielder Adam Tomasso have both represented The Citizens in the past.
Winchester City’s current squad includes former AFC Totton defender Callum Chugg, right-back Callum Baughan, who made the switch from Totton to Winchester at the beginning of last season, and midfielder Patrick ‘Pip’ Nolan, who had two spells with The Stags either side of a title-winning stint at Blackfield & Langley. Striker Tommy Wright spent the second half of last season on loan at AFC Totton from Havant & Waterlooville, contributing five goals to The Stags’ treble-winning campaign.
Former AFC Totton fans’ favourite Craig Feeney had a short second spell at Winchester City after leaving the Snows Stadium during the 2021/22 season.
WHEN AND WHERE IS THE GAME?
The game takes place at the Charters Community Stadium, Hillier way in Winchester SO23 7SR. Kick-off is at 3:00pm.
By Ben Rochey-Adams
Image courtesy of Craig Hobbs Photography
