Havant & Waterlooville F.C.
| Full name | Havant & Waterlooville Football Club | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | The Hawks | ||
| Founded | 1998 | ||
| Ground | West Leigh Park, Havant | ||
| Capacity | 5,250 | ||
| Chairman | Peter Demott | ||
| Manager | Ian Baird | ||
| League | Conference South | ||
| 2005-06 | Conference South, 6th | ||
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Havant & Waterlooville F.C. is an English non-league football team based at West Leigh Park in Havant, Hampshire and nicknamed The Hawks. Formed in 1998 after a merger between Havant Town F.C. and Waterlooville F.C.. West Leigh Park was home to Havant Town F.C. from 1982 onwards, Waterlooville F.C. having played at the now extinct Jubilee Park. Havant & Waterlooville currently play in the Conference South.
History
In their first season as a merged team, Havant & Waterlooville won the Southern League Southern Division under the management of former Crystal Palace and Portsmouth defender Billy Gilbert. There was also instant success in the FA Cup, a penalty shoot-out defeat to Hayes denying the Hawks an opportunity to visit league side Mansfield Town F.C. in the first round proper.
In subsequent years Havant & Waterlooville have managed to reach the FA Cup first round proper on two occasions but on both occasions were drawn against fellow teams from the non-league ranks, albeit at a higher level. In 2000/2001, Havant & Waterlooville lost 2-1 at home to Southport F.C., and 3-2 away to another Football Conference side Dagenham & Redbridge F.C. in 2002/03.
The latter season was also notable for the Hawks' FA Trophy run which was dashed at the semi-final stage by Tamworth F.C. 'giant-killing' Forest Green Rovers F.C. en route.
During a 5 year stay in the Southern League Premier Division, Havant & Waterlooville's best season came in 2001/02, finishing 3rd after leading the table during September.
The Hawks just made the 'cut' for the inauguration of Conference South by finishing 12th in the Southern League in 2003/04 after a season of struggle. In 2005/06, H&W missed out on a place in the end of season play-offs by a single point because of a controversial three-point deduction for breaking a gentleman's agreement with Weymouth F.C. that H&W's ex-Weymouth player Tony Taggart would not play against his former club. Hawks manager Ian Baird claimed that an injury crisis had forced him to field Taggart in the home game with Weymouth.
Many former stars of the Premiership and Football League have turned out for H&W over the years including Dean Holdsworth; Fitzroy Simpson; Paul Wood; Liam Daish; Alan Knight; Gareth Hall; David Lee; David Howells and Robbie Pethick.
An in depth history can be found here
Managers
Billy Gilbert (June 1998 - April 2000 )
Mick Jenkins & Liam Daish (April 2000 - January 2004 )
Dave Leworthy (January 2004 - November 2004)
Ian Baird (November 2004 - present)
Player records
(as at 1st May 2006)
Appearances: James Taylor, 295 (254+41)
Goals: James Taylor, 138
England National Game XI internationals: James Taylor, Tim Hambley
2005/06 Players' player of the year: Rocky Baptiste
2005/06 Supporters' player of the year: Rocky Baptiste
2005/06 leading goalscorer: Rocky Baptiste, 29
Season records
1998/1999 - Southern League Southern Division - 1st
1999/2000 - Southern League Premier Division - 13th
2000/2001 - Southern League Premier Division - 6th
2001/2002 - Southern League Premier Division - 3rd
2002/2003 - Southern League Premier Division - 8th
2003/2004 - Southern League Premier Division - 12th
2004/2005 - Conference South - 13th
2005/2006 - Conference South - 6th
Getting there
Directions information taken from www.havantandwaterlooville.net
By Rail
- Leave Havant station by the north exit (that being the side that doesn't have the main ticket office).
- Walk north up Leigh Road, directly ahead of you on leaving the station. After half a mile the road eventually comes to a dead end by a junction onto a dual carriageway.
- Cross the road and walk along the right hand side of the dual carriageway (this is pavemented, the route runs along a housing estate).
- Continue up to the next set of traffic lights, just before a petrol station and opposite the Heron pub, and looking right you should see a dead end road and the ground's floodlights. Turn into the road and the ground entrance is a hundred yards on the left.
By Road
From the North: (A3/A3M)
- Follow the A3 south until it becomes the A3M.
- Just after it does take the B2149 turning, signposted to Emsworth. At the top of the sliproad turn left along Dell Piece East, follow the road to a small roundabout and turn right.
- Continue along this road into Rowlands Castle and you'll be confronted by a small double roundabout with a Harvester restaurant on the left. Go straight over the first and right at the second, taking the road running down the right hand side of the Shell petrol station.
- Follow this road round until it becomes a dual carriageway. At the first set of traffic lights turn left into Bartons Road. The ground will be on your right.
- At the top of the hill immediately after a pedestrian crossing, turn right into Martin Road. The entrance to the ground is several hundred yards along the road on your right.
From the East/West: (A27)
- Turn off the A27 into Havant at the Hayling Island roundabout (A3023). If coming from the west this is the first exit after the A3M split.
- Follow the road through the town centre crossing three sets of traffic lights until you go over the railway and come to a roundabout.
- Go straight on, through another four sets of lights. At the fifth, (after a petrol station on your right and the Heron pub on your left), turn right into Bartons Road.
- The ground will be on your right. At the top of the hill immediately after a pedestrian crossing, turn right into Martin Road. The entrance to the ground is several hundred yards along the road on your right.