Football has been a popular sport around academic institutions from its inception, one of the early succesful FA Cup sides being Old Etonians. In this article we take a look at a few other university and school old boys teams that are or have been playing in the pyramid.
Team Bath
We start down in the West Country with a team that existed for just 10 short years yet managed to secure four promotions and climb up into the sixth tier of English football. Team Bath was the football team of Bath University. Founded in 1999, they joined the Western League Divison 1 (Step 6) in 2000, gaining promotion to the Premier League at the first attempt. Two seasons later they won the division and progressed into the Southern League Division 1 West. A sixth place finish the following season was enough to gain promotion to the Southern League Premier Division. Progress slowed a little at this point, but after two lower half finishes they were then runners-up two seasons running, achieving promotion to the Conference South nine years after their foundation. Unfortunately, their demise was as rapid as their rise. After their first season at Step 2 they were informed by the FA that because of their club structure (they were not a limited company) they wouldn't be able to climb any higher or compete in the FA Cup. The club took the decision to resign from the league and the club was no more.
Loughborough University
Founded in 1920 as Loughborough College, the club mainly played in local football in the Lecistershire area. They joined the Leicestershire Senior League in 1966 but then left senior football six years later. In 2007 the club made a return to the pyramid after promotion to the Midland Combination Premier League. This was followed by a further promotion two years later, seeing the club rise to the Midland Alliance. After ground-sharing with fellow Loughborough side, Dynamo, The Scholars moved into the new 3,300 capacity University Stadium in 2012 and are now successfully plying thir trade in the Midland League Premier Division.
Solent University (Team Solent)
The Sparks, as Solent University FC are known, were formed in 2005 and became founder members of the Hampshire Premier League in 2008, finishing runners-up twice before gaining promotion to the Wessex League in 2012. Known as Team Solent until the Summer of 2019, promotion to the Wessex Premier League was gained on the back of the Division One title in 2015. In the 2016-17 season they made it to the Fifth Round of the FA Vase before going down 5-2 at home to eventual winners South Shields.
Team Northumbria F.C.
Northumbria University's football club started life in the Northern Alliance League Division Two, progressing through the Alliance with promotion to Division One in 2002 and then into the Premier League the following season. They finished runners-up in the fiurst season, third the following year and then won the Division in 2006 gaining promotion to the Northern League Division Two. Teh Divisio0n Two title was sealed in 2012 and the club made the lead into Step 5 football. There followed a relegation after two seasons and a further promotion three years later. Although the club maintained their Step 5 status, they resigned from the Northern League in the close-season at the end of the 2017-18 campaign and now play in the British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) Northern Premier League
Northampton ON Chenecks
The ON in Checnecks name stands for Old Northamptonian and refers back to the ONs Association that was created towards the end of World War I in memory of 94 staff memebers, pupils and former pupils Northampton School who had perished in the conflict. The football team was founded as Chenecks FC in 1946. The name comes from letters taken from the school's four houses, CHipseys, SpENcer, BECKett and St Crispins. It's fair to say that Chenecks have not set the footballing world alight in the last 70+ years. Two United Counties Division One titles and three Northants Junior Cup wins are their highlights. However, after over 40 years in Division One, the club has now seemingly stabilised at Premier Division level and, who knows, titles and cups could be just round the corner.
Team Bath
We start down in the West Country with a team that existed for just 10 short years yet managed to secure four promotions and climb up into the sixth tier of English football. Team Bath was the football team of Bath University. Founded in 1999, they joined the Western League Divison 1 (Step 6) in 2000, gaining promotion to the Premier League at the first attempt. Two seasons later they won the division and progressed into the Southern League Division 1 West. A sixth place finish the following season was enough to gain promotion to the Southern League Premier Division. Progress slowed a little at this point, but after two lower half finishes they were then runners-up two seasons running, achieving promotion to the Conference South nine years after their foundation. Unfortunately, their demise was as rapid as their rise. After their first season at Step 2 they were informed by the FA that because of their club structure (they were not a limited company) they wouldn't be able to climb any higher or compete in the FA Cup. The club took the decision to resign from the league and the club was no more.
Loughborough University
Founded in 1920 as Loughborough College, the club mainly played in local football in the Lecistershire area. They joined the Leicestershire Senior League in 1966 but then left senior football six years later. In 2007 the club made a return to the pyramid after promotion to the Midland Combination Premier League. This was followed by a further promotion two years later, seeing the club rise to the Midland Alliance. After ground-sharing with fellow Loughborough side, Dynamo, The Scholars moved into the new 3,300 capacity University Stadium in 2012 and are now successfully plying thir trade in the Midland League Premier Division.
Solent University (Team Solent)
The Sparks, as Solent University FC are known, were formed in 2005 and became founder members of the Hampshire Premier League in 2008, finishing runners-up twice before gaining promotion to the Wessex League in 2012. Known as Team Solent until the Summer of 2019, promotion to the Wessex Premier League was gained on the back of the Division One title in 2015. In the 2016-17 season they made it to the Fifth Round of the FA Vase before going down 5-2 at home to eventual winners South Shields.
Team Northumbria F.C.
Northumbria University's football club started life in the Northern Alliance League Division Two, progressing through the Alliance with promotion to Division One in 2002 and then into the Premier League the following season. They finished runners-up in the fiurst season, third the following year and then won the Division in 2006 gaining promotion to the Northern League Division Two. Teh Divisio0n Two title was sealed in 2012 and the club made the lead into Step 5 football. There followed a relegation after two seasons and a further promotion three years later. Although the club maintained their Step 5 status, they resigned from the Northern League in the close-season at the end of the 2017-18 campaign and now play in the British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) Northern Premier League
Northampton ON Chenecks
The ON in Checnecks name stands for Old Northamptonian and refers back to the ONs Association that was created towards the end of World War I in memory of 94 staff memebers, pupils and former pupils Northampton School who had perished in the conflict. The football team was founded as Chenecks FC in 1946. The name comes from letters taken from the school's four houses, CHipseys, SpENcer, BECKett and St Crispins. It's fair to say that Chenecks have not set the footballing world alight in the last 70+ years. Two United Counties Division One titles and three Northants Junior Cup wins are their highlights. However, after over 40 years in Division One, the club has now seemingly stabilised at Premier Division level and, who knows, titles and cups could be just round the corner.
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