Founded in 1900 Shortwood United played local league football until joining the Gloucestershire County League for the 1975/76 season. They became champions in 1981/82 and won promotion to the Hellenic Premier Division but were relegated to Hellenic Division One after one season. However The Woods bounced straight back finishing runners-up and in their first season back in the Premier Division were crowned champions. Over the next ten years Shortwood continued to be one of the league's top contenders, winning the title again in 1991/92, before spending the next decade or so in mid-table. After finishing runners-up in 2011/12 for the third time in four seasons, Shortwood made the step up to Southern League Division One South & West and have fared reasonably well with finishes of 8th, 6th, 11th and 7th. 2012/13 could be considered Shortwood's best ever season as they achieved their highest league finish of 6th in Southern League Division One and also reached the first round proper of the FA Cup where they faced Port Vale. The game was broadcast live on BT Sport and drew a record crowd of 1,247 to the Meadowbank Ground. Bideford's only previous meetings with Shortwood United came in the late 80's when The Woods progressed at the expense of The Robins in the FA Cup Preliminary Round after a replay.

Most recent meetings:
1988/89 Bideford 1 Shortwood United 1 (FA Cup Preliminary Round)
1988/89 Shortwood 2 Bideford 1 (FA Cup Preliminary Round replay)

Bideford and Shortwood have made similar starts to the 2016/17 league season. Shortwood sit 9th (W5 D1 L3) with Bideford just behind them in 10th (W4 D1 L4). Bideford have won three out of their four home league fixtures while Shortwood have taken 10 points from a possible 15 away, their only defeat coming at Swindon Supermarine. Saturday's fixture should prove to be a tight encounter.

Bideford's last six (WLDWLW) League Pos 10th
26/09/16 Bideford 3 Torquay United 1 (St Luke's Bowl)
24/09/16 Didcot Town 4 Bideford 2 (League)
17/09/16 Bideford 2 Bishop's Cleeve 1 (League)
10/09/16 Salisbury 4 Bideford 4 (League)
03/09/16 Bideford 1 AFC Portchester 2 (FA Cup Q1)
29/08/16 Bideford 2 Barnstaple Town 1 (League)

Shortwood United's last six (LWWLWD) League Pos 9th
27/09/16 North Leigh 2 Shortwood United 2 (League)
24/09/16 Shortwood United 2 AFC Totton 1 (League)
13/09/16 Swindon Supermarine 4 Shortwood United 0 (League)
10/09/16 Barnstaple Town 0 Shortwood United 1 (League)
29/08/16 Shortwood United 2 Evesham United 0 (League)
20/08/16 Shortwood United 0 Ashford Town 2 (FA Cup Pre)

Bideford vs Shortwood United
Evo-Stik Southern League Division One South & West
Saturday 1st October 2016
3:00pm Kick off
The Sports Ground, Bideford

Admission Prices
£8 - Adults
£5 - Concessions
£2 - Under 16s
FREE - Under 12s (Accompanied by an adult)