tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1362713152207826725.post3189886726501343928..comments2024-03-04T02:35:42.028+00:00Comments on Hopping Around Hampshire: 32. Sholing FCAndrew Ormerodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05056455206054228722noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1362713152207826725.post-50799735776718125152013-01-01T11:04:03.352+00:002013-01-01T11:04:03.352+00:00I played 5-a-side football in my twenties with a l...I played 5-a-side football in my twenties with a lad who said he played for Sholing Sports. He told me he was paid £10 a game, which I found flabbergasting, it being around a quarter of my weekly wage at the time. Not only that, but he wasn't particularly good at football. I never actually went to watch them play, as he knew I was a Pompey fan, which would have made the experience a little dangerous for me.<br /><br />Sholing Sports played at Birch Lawn - their ground was sold for housing on the eve of a season in which they were expected to do well in the Wessex League (they may even have won it the previous season - I'll have to check...). Birch Lawn was in the middle of Sholing itself, which would have raised their profile locally.<br /><br />As for Sholing, their fortunes on the pitch have broadly mirrored those of AFC Totton on the other side of the city up until the last couple of seasons, and yet Totton's crowds have quadrupled, whereas Sholing's have barely grown at all. the position of the ground, several hundred yards outside of the urban area can't help, but I think you're right, in that they're still perceived as a works team locally - and who goes to watch a works team other than the people who work there? It could take quite a few years before they establish themselves as a separate entity from the old VT. Good luck to them anyway. I still say they're in a false position in the league from what I saw against Tiverton, however they're now 7 points adrift, which must be ringing a few alarm bells. With Winchester's purse having recently sprung a leak, the result of today's derby could be crucial come season's end.Andrew Ormerodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05056455206054228722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1362713152207826725.post-33215600557132653062012-12-31T21:38:03.768+00:002012-12-31T21:38:03.768+00:00Love the pictures. You always seem to hear Sholing...Love the pictures. You always seem to hear Sholing Sports talked about in hushed tones around Southampton. One of my sisters old boyfriends who was quite a handy player claimed to have played for them in his youth. From what I've been able to find they folded as their round was sold from under them. I think there's also a bit of controversy about Sholing FC assuming, or at least appearing to assume the Sholing Sports legacy when they were in fact the works team of the Vosper's yard in Woolston. As a side they've been punching above their weight which must be due to good management and the fact that they managed to keep the core of their team together for so long, but I think the legacy as a works team has meant that they have struggled to get people through the gates which creates a bit of uncertainty for the future. Personally I think they should have chosen a name like 'Woolston and Sholing' or 'Solent something-or-other' which might have broadened their appeal.Row Zhttp://www.rowzfootball.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1362713152207826725.post-49452851979945695402012-12-20T21:36:17.141+00:002012-12-20T21:36:17.141+00:00Thanks Dave. I've enjoyed visiting all these g...Thanks Dave. I've enjoyed visiting all these grounds, quite often for the first time, never knowing what I'm going to find. I'll keep it up until at least the end of this season!Andrew Ormerodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05056455206054228722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1362713152207826725.post-35654552339316541472012-12-20T14:17:59.190+00:002012-12-20T14:17:59.190+00:00Excellent piece as usual Andrew, I'm really en...Excellent piece as usual Andrew, I'm really enjoying the blog. It's really interesting to get a picture of what's going on at the real grass roots of football. Keep up the good work. Dave @ Bassett Locksmiths Hampshirehttp://www.bassettlockandkey.co.uk/locksmiths-hampshire.phpnoreply@blogger.com