A Brief History of Shortwood United
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.

Form
After a really good start to the season Shortwood have fallen away a bit as of late. They won 10 of their first 15 games in the league but have only managed to win two of their last 11. Shortwood have however wont their last two fixtures with a league win over Bridgwater and a Gloucestershire cup triumph over Gloucester City on Monday night. Shortwood United are 12th in Division One South & West (W12 D4 L10).

Shortwood United's last six (LLLLWW)
13/02/17 Gloucester City 1 Shortwood United 2 (Gloucs Senior Cup R1)
11/02/17 Bridgwater Town 1 Shortwood United 2 (League)
07/02/17 Salisbury 4 Shortwood United 3 (League Cup R3)
28/01/17 AFC Totton 2 Shortwood United 0 (League)
14/01/17 Shortwood United 1 Paulton Rovers 3 (League)
07/01/17 Winchester City 4 Shortwood United 3 (League)

Bideford are now on their best run of an inconsistent season going five games without a loss. They come into Saturday's game off the back of two wins and two clean sheets over Larkhall Athletic and Yate Town. Bideford are 10th (W13 D7 L10), six points above Shortwood but have played four games more.

Bideford's last six (LDWDWW)
11/02/17 Bideford 2 Yate Town 0 (League)
04/02/17 Larkhall Athletic 0 Bideford 1 (League)
28/01/17 Bideford 2 Didcot Town 2 (League)
14/01/17 Bideford 1 Slimbridge 0 (League)
07/01/17 Bishop's Cleeve 3 Bideford 3 (League)
02/01/17 Bideford 2 Taunton Town 4 (League)

Previous meetings:
2016/17 Bideford 1 Shortwood United 3 (Southern Div 1 S&W)
1988/89 Bideford 1 Shortwood United 1 (FA Cup Preliminary Round)
1988/89 Shortwood United 2 Bideford 1 (FA Cup Preliminary Round replay)

Shortwood United vs Bideford
Southern League Division One South & West
Saturday 18th February 2017
3:00pm kick off
Meadowbank, Shortwood

Shortwood United
Meadowbank
Shortwood
Nailsworth
Stroud
Gloucestershire
GL6 0SJ
Tel: 01453 833936
Web: http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/shortwoodunited
Twitter: @ShortwoodUtdFC