Believed to be one of the oldest clubs in the county of Somerset, Radstock Town Football Club’s official year of foundation, as recognised by the FA was 1895, although there is clear evidence that a Radstock team was playing competitive games much earlier, maybe as far back as 1860!
The club was hewn out of the coal seams of the Radstock mines by the hard working, hard playing miners who founded the club to provide them with a much needed way to relax after a hard week working underground. They would probably find it hard to believe but very gratifying to know that their early efforts in starting the club would be such a benefit to the community over 110 years later.
In the early years home games were played at Roundhill, where our ‘A’ team and 7’s to 14’s still play! It was in the early 1920’s that the club moved to Southfield where much effort and hard work was put into getting a farmers field ready to play football. A railway carriage was acquired from the old ‘Marcroft’ wagon works and a steam engine used to haul it up the hill to the ground, where it served the club for many years as dressing rooms. The land had been purchased through a share issue, which unfortunately failed to be fully subscribed to and after a number of years of trying to maintain the costs the playing fields reverted to the control of the miner’s welfare organisation and was subsequently transferred to the then Urban District Council. After the Second World War the club were forced to move to Southhill Park because Southfield had been requisitioned by an American Tank division! When the club moved back home they were able to make use of a hut left behind by the ‘yanks’ as changing rooms.
As founder members of the Western League the clubs playing history has been one of many ups and quite a few downs! As well as competing in the Western League the club has enjoyed spells in both the Somerset and Wiltshire County Leagues with varying degrees of success. Relegation from the Western League came in 1994 and it took ten years to regain National League status. The club were promoted to the Premier Division at the end of the first season back in the Western league, losing only one game away from home throughout the campaign and just missed out on the runners up spot on goal difference! Since arriving back in the Premier the last three seasons have been difficult and although good football has been seen the club has lacked the resources to force its way into the top half of the table.
With thirteen victories to its name the club has won the Somerset County Senior Cup on more occasions than any other team in the county. The first time coming in the competitions inaugural year of 1895, when the team defeated Wells City 4-0 in a replayed final, which took place in Midsomer Norton, in front of an estimated crowd of 2000. It’s interesting to note that only 59 teams were affiliated to the county FA in that season.
In the FA Cup the club have never made it through to the competition proper but have reached the 4th qualifying round on a number of occasions, with probably the biggest game coming against Yeovil in the 30’s, a game played at Southfield in front of 3000 people!
The club has held the FA’s Charter Standard Community Club status for a number of years and continues to pride it’s self on delivering the very highest quality football experience for everyone who wants to take part irrespective of age, gender, colour, religious belief, capability or disability, we will find a way to ensure their desire to be part of the game will be satisfied.
The club started a youth section in the mid-nineties with a single team and today boasts a junior section with teams from under 7 through to under 16, an under 18 side and three adult teams. The reserves were, last season, promoted into the Somerset County League and with a nucleus of local players are expected to do well and continue to provide young lads the opportunity to progress from the junior ranks into the first team squad.
