It’s a long trip to Southampton on Saturday for The Robins as they take on Sholing in what will be the first meeting between the sides for eight years. On that day back in October 2011 Sholing came out on top by three goals to one in a season where Bideford would end up Division One South & West champions. This season has been much more difficult for The Robins with much chopping and changing to the squad forced upon Sean Joyce. As a result Bideford are on a really poor run of eight defeats in nine games. Sholing are in a worse position in the league currently but are in much better form with three wins in their last four outings. Those wins all came in cup competitions though, most recently a win over Bristol Manor Farm in the FA Trophy.

Form Guide

Sholing’s last six: (LLWLWW) Pos 18th W2 D0 L6 Pts 6
12/10/19 Sholing 2 Bristol Manor Farm 1 (FA Trophy PR)
08/10/19 Sholing 5 Hythe & Dibden 1 (Southampton Cup R2)
05/10/19 Sholing 1 Winchester City 2 (League)
01/10/19 Sholing 2 Moneyfields 1 (League Cup R1)
28/09/19 Willand Rovers 2 Sholing 0 (League)
21/09/19 Sholing 0 Weymouth 3 (FA Cup Q2)

Bideford’s last six (LWLLLL) Pos 12th W3 D1 L5 Pts 10
15/10/19 Bideford 0 Bristol Manor Farm 2 (League)
12/10/19 Frome Town 2 Bideford 1 (FA Trophy PR)
05/10/19 Slimbridge 2 Bideford 1 (League)
01/10/19 Bideford 2 Taunton Town 5 (League Cup R1)
28/09/19 Bideford 2 AFC Totton 1 (League)
18/09/19 Plymouth Parkway 4 Bideford 3 (St Luke’s Cup R1)

A Brief History of Sholing FC
Sholing FC were originally founded as Vosper Thornycroft in 1960 initially playing in the Southampton Junior League. The club joined Hampshire League Division Three in 1991 and were promoted to Division Two after finishing third in 1992/93. After five seasons at that level Thornycroft finished as runners-up meaning promotion to Division One in 1998. They were Division One runners-up in 1999/00 which brought them to the Premier Division where they were crowned Hampshire League champions in their first season at that level. In 2003 the club changed their name to VTFC and won their second Hampshire League title in 2003/04. The club were promoted to the Wessex League in 2004 where they spent five seasons before finishing as runners-up in 2007/08 and again in 2008/09 and making the step up to the Southern League in Division One South & West. After finishing fourth in their first season the club changed their name to Sholing as their parent company VT Group ceased to exist. After four seasons in the Southern League, three of which the club finished in the Play-Off’s, Sholing resigned from the league and rejoined the Wessex League Premier Division. The came storming back in 2013/14 in what must be regarded as their finest ever season by winning the Wessex League title and the FA Vase after beating West Auckland Town 1-0 at Wembley Stadium. Sholing rejoined Southern League Division One South & West for one season but after finishing 17th the club were demoted for not meeting the FA’s new ground requirements. Three top three finishes back in the Wessex League Premier Division was followed by a second Wessex League title in 2018/19 and another return to the Southern League for 2019/20.

Sholing FC
Mackoy Stadium
Portsmouth Road
Southampton
Hampshire
SO19 9PW
Tel: 07496 804555
Website: http://www.sholingfc.co.uk
Twitter: @sholingfc

Previous meetings:
15/10/11 Sholing 3 Bideford 1 (Southern Div 1 S&W)
10/09/11 Bideford 3 Sholing 2 (Southern Div 1 S&W)
12/03/11 Sholing 2 Bideford 0 (Southern Div 1 S&W)
06/11/10 Bideford 2 Sholing 5 (Southern Div 1 S&W)