Non league club who dissolved in 2013 are reborn ready for the 2024/25 season

Non league club Witney Town, who dissolved in 2013, are reborn with everything in place ready for the 2024/25 season.

They were founded in 1885 and previously known as Witney FC, Witney United FC and Witney Town AFC being adopting the name Witney Town in 1922.

The club’s most successful period was in the 1970s and 80s when they competed in the Southern League Premier Division, finishing 5th in 1983–84.

They sadly folded in 2001, but a phoenix club arose under the name Witney United in 2002 and obtained the lease of the former club’s ground

The club brought back the Witney Town name in 2011, but again they dissolved during the 2012–13 season while playing in the Hellenic League Premier Division.

It’s third time lucky for the club, who are back again, with a manager is in place, and have been allocated to play in the Oxfordshire Senior League for 2024/25.

The club said in a quick reintroduction: “Football helps to build stronger communities by bringing people together. Witney Town FC is a not-for-profit club, committed to being the flagship institution within our community, fostering unity & inspiring people through the beautiful game.

“We strive to build a sustainable legacy that goes beyond victories on the pitch, emphasising community engagement and ensuring a lasting impact for generations to come.

“We aren’t going to rely on a single wealthy benefactor.

“Our members & partners will be the beating heart of our club.”

“Our first three jobs for the new chapter in the Witney Town FC history were;

“1. Find a central location to call home. ✓

” 2. Build relationships with our councils & councillors ✓

“3. Wave the changing rooms updated to be used by us and the community. ✓

“We’d like to place on record our thanks to the following councillors & council members for their hardwork & support in helping achieve this.

Cllr Enright, Cllr Crouch, Cllr Coles, Cllr Aitman, Cllr Sumnor, Nicky Mellings, WTC, WODC, CEO of WTC Mrs Groth & Mayor Owen Collins.”

“We nave found out today that our new chapter will begin in Division Two of the Oxford Senior League (13th tier of English football).

“We are super proud of our efforts and cannot wait for the new season to test ourselves against some great opposition.

“Thank you again for all of your support and kind words. We look forward to welcoming you all to some of our games.”

Their division: Oakley, Chinnor Reserves, Woodstock Town, Launton Development, East Oxford, Kennington Reserves, Oxford Irish, Saxton Reserves, Bletchington, Summertown Reserves, Dorchester, Hornton, Hanwell United, Witney Town.

A big, warm welcome to our new supporters and a nod to our existing fan base.#upthetown #witneytownfc #witneyoxfordshire pic.twitter.com/Z6rzKZKc4o

— Witney Town FC (@witneytown) June 26, 2024

CLUB HISTORY:

*1885: THE CLUB WAS FOUNDED AS WITNEY FOOTBALL CLUB.

*1885/1900: THREE TIME WINNERS OF THE COUNTY SENIOR CUP

*1922: THE CLUB ADOPTED THE NAME WITNEY TOWN, PLAYING IN THE OXFORDSHIRE SENIOR LEAGUE AND FINISHING AS CHAMPIONS FIVE TIMES.

*1953: THEY WERE FOUNDER MEMBERS OF THE HELLENIC LEAGUE.

*1954: HELLENIC LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION WINNERS

*1965-67: HELLENIC LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION WINNERS

*1971-73: HELLENIC LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION WINNERS

*AFTER TWENTY YEARS OF SUCCESS AT HELLENIC LEAGUE LEVEL, APPLIED FOR MEMBERSHIP OF THE SOUTHERN LEAGUE AND WERE ADMITTED AT THE FIRST ATTEMPT TO DIVISION ONE NORTH.

*1977/78: LEAGUE WINNERS

*1979: SIR TREVOR FRANCIS (BRITAIN’S FIRST £1 MILLION POUND PLAYER: MAKES HIS FIRST APPEARANCE FOR NOTTINGHAM FOREST IN A TESTIMONIAL AT WITNEY TOWNS GROUND. ARRANGED BY FORMER . MANAGER RON ATKINSON.

*1987/88: THE CLUB SUFFERS ITS FIRST RELEGATION IN ITS HISTORY.

*1992: THE CLUB MAKE THE ILL FATED MOVE FROM MARRIOTTS CLOSE STADIUM TO THE DOWNS ROAD.

*1994: OXFORDSHIRE SENIOR CUP WINNERS.

*1995: OXFORDSHIRE SENIOR CUP WINNERS.

*1998: OXFORDSHIRE SENIOR CUP WINNERS.

*2000/01: CLUB FOLDED. NOT BEFORE A GROUP OF SUPPORTERS CALLED THE 1885 SUPPORTERS GROUP FOUGHT VALIANTLY TO TRY & SAVE THE CLUB.

*2001/12: REBIRTH AS WITNEY UNITED FC & THEN WITNEY TOWN FC.

*2024: CLUB ARE BACK.

This is how fans reacted as the non league club who dissolved in 2013 are reborn ready for the 2024/25 season…

@jon_adaway: The only way is up for Witney!

@MadeInTheManor_: Congratulations 🙌🏻, that’s massive

@AlunFarrimond: Great news

@ady_hanson: Fantastic news 👏👏

@WillOUFC23: Is this being run by fans of the old Witney team that went in 2013?

Jemma Foster: Amazing!! 🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽

Derek Mackenzie: Brilliant! Looking forward to the “Away Day” on the S7 to Woodstock

Paul Foster: Division 2 it is then…..🙌🏻

Jemma Foster: Well done 👏🏼

Richard Foster: Brilliant , well done 👏

Chrisanne Massetti: Congrats 🙌

Richard Newman: This brilliant news. Well done to all involved 🙏

Neil Rushby: Well done. Looking forward to it

Gavin Hyatt: Wow, so glad you pulled this off!!!!

Ian Rigsby: Well done to everyone who pulled this off

Ady Bircher: Great work by everyone involved, and it’s so good to see that this community project has the backing of the local council

Andrew Clarke: Good to see Witney Town FC back, hopefully this doesn’t impede the use of the ATP for the local youth teams as there is a lack of facilities including changing rooms in the area.

Kevin Vickers: great news and good luck

Kieren Bushnell: Dorking Wanderers started in the Surrey County League, had an ambition, and an ambitious owner, and got all the way to the National League. Dreams can come true, believe this can happen for Witney Town FC I’m sure it can.

Steven Slaughter: Brilliant, a legendary name in non league football.

Michael Hole: When I haven’t got a game I will be there to watch. Well done everyone , the hard work is paying off.

Chris Keating: Congratulations! That’s sorted Saturday afternoons!