The Gloucestershire Football Association recognize the club as being established in 1896, however, the Club’s real birthday remains shrouded in mystery.

In the 19^th century Hanham was a small mining village bordering the South East of Bristol, and in the early days the players were almost certainly local to the area, many of them coming straight from a shift down the pits to play for the club.

Having checked with the Bristol Central Library there is evidence to suggest that the club were playing as early as 1891. Evidence of this was a match played on Monday 7^th December 1891 between Hanham and Wesley Society.

Between the years of 1891 and 1893, fixtures were played by Hanham Victoria FC (1^st & 2^nd XI) and Hanham Rovers FC, although there is no evidence to suggest either way that the club underwent any name changes during this period.

The club is shown for the first time as playing league football in 1895 in the South and Bristol District League Division 1 under the name of Hanham Football Club.

In 1897/8 the club won its first honours, Winners of the Gloucestershire Junior Cup, Champions of the Western League, and Runner-Up in the Bristol & District Alliance League.

It was to be another decade before Hanham won any more honours, but when success arrived again in 1907 it proved to be one of the most successful periods in the clubs history, cut short only by the outbreak of the 1^st World War in 1914. During this period the club won four Bristol & District League titles, finished as Runner-up once, won the Gloucestershire Senior Amateur Cup three years in succession, and finished Runner-up in the same cup twice losing out to Dominicans in 1908/9 and St. Michaels in 1912/13.

In 1919 after the end of World War One, the club changed it’s name to Hanham Athletic AFC and continued where it left off by winning honours on a regular basis, right up until 1968.

In 1968 the Club were founder members of the Gloucestershire County League and in their first season finished in a respectable 3^rd position. The league consisted of many clubs that have gone on to achieve a higher standard of football since, with clubs like Yate Town, Forest Green Rovers, Bristol Rovers “A”, and arch rivals Bristol St George FC.

In 1982 the club took control of Mount Hill Enterprise FC another Hanham Club who themselves were formed in 1889. Mount Hill Enterprise became the “Reserves” and as a result of the amalgamation the club again underwent a name change becoming Hanham Mount Hill Athletic FC. The club reverted back to the name of Hanham Athletic FC in 1984 to avoid confusion with another local club Hanham Mount FC.

During the 1980’s Hanham came as close as they did in 1968 by finishing 3^rd twice under the managerial guidance of former Bristol Rovers and West Bromwich Albion winger Kenny Stephens.

The club continued to play in the Gloucestershire County League up until 1988/9 when they were relegated (for the first time in the clubs history) to the Bristol Premier Combination (although the club did survive a relegation from the County League in 1971/72 after re-election).

In 1980 the club started it’s own Charity Shield Competition to celebrate the club’s 85^th birthday. The competition ran over a fortnight with 16 teams entering. The final was won by Almondsbury Greenway who beat Oldland 1-0 with a goal from Dave Bruno. Watched by over 500 spectators the club raised over £100 for Bristol Children’s Hospital. The competition was such a success that it has continued to run to the present day changing its format several times along the way. It now runs over two weekends and is played in groups. Several Charities have benefited from this competition, most notably St. Peters Hospice.

In 1989 the club formed its “A” side with the intention of attracting younger players to the club and forming a closer link with Hanham Boys FC. The plan was to bring players to the club who would learn the game together and eventually play for the 1^st XI.

Although not a total success, current 1^st team players Chris Strawford, Jamie Baker and Simon Newman have all played their way through the ranks.

In 1999/00 the club were relegated to the Bristol Premier Combination Div 1, but bounced straight back in 2000/01 by winning their first league championship since 1955/6 under the guidance of current manager Robert Higgins. Success continued in 2001/02 with the club finishing as Runner-Up in the Bristol Premier Combination Premier Division.

A complete list of the clubs honours is shown below: -

1897/8 - Winner Glos. Junior Cup

1897/8 - Winner Western League

1897/8 - Runner Up Bristol & District Alliance

1907/8 - Winner Bristol & District League - Div II

1908/9 - Runner Up G.S.A Cup to DOMINICANS

1909/10 - Winner G.S.A Cup

1909/10 - Winner Bristol & District League - Div I

1910/11 - Winner G.S.A Cup

1910/11 - Winner Bristol & District League - Div I

1911/12 - Winner G.S.A Cup

1911/12 - Winner Bristol & District League - Div I

1912/13 - Runner Up G.S.A Cup to ST. MICHAELS

1913/14 - Runner Up Bristol & District League – Div I to NETHAM

1919/20 - Runner Up Bristol & District League – Div I

1920/21 - Winner G.S.A Cup

1920/21 - Winner Bristol & District League - Div I

1921/22 - Winner Warminster Cup

1921/22 - Winner Bristol & District League - Div I

1923/24 - Winner G.S.A Cup

1923/24 - Winner Bristol & District League - Div I

1924/25 - Runner Up G.S.A Cup to KINGSWOOD

1927/28 - Runner Up G.S.A Cup to KINGSWOOD

1927/28 - Runner Up Bristol & District League – Div I to VICTORIA ATHLETIC

1929/30 - Runner Up Bristol & District League – Div I to VICTORIA ATHLETIC

1930/31 - Runner Up G.S.A Cup to ST. PHILLIPS ATHLETIC

1931/32 - Runner Up Bristol & District League – Div I to MOUNT HILL

1945/46 - Runner Up G.S.A Cup to DOUGLAS

1947/48 - Runner Up Bristol & District League – Div I to SEA MILLS

1948/49 - Runner Up G.S.A Cup to SOUNDWELL

1948/49 - Runner Up Bristol & District League – Div I to SEA MILLS

1955/56 - Winner Bristol Premier Combination

1956/57 - Runner Up G.S.A Cup to SOUTHMEAD SPORTS

1959/60 - Runner Up G.S.A Cup to BRISTOL ROVERS “A”

1960/61 - Runner Up Bristol Premier Combination to HAMBROOK

1967/68 - Runner Up Bristol Premier Combination to BRISTOL ST. GEORGE

1967/68 - Winner Cossham Cup

1983/84 - Runner Up Hanham Athletic Charity Shield to LAWRENCE WESTON HALLEN

1984/85 - Runner Up Fry’s Sixes

1987/88 - Runner Up G.F.A Junior Cup to DOWNEND 5 OLD BOYS

1988/89 - Runner Up Hanham Athletic Charity Shield to PUCKLECHURCH SPORTS

1992/93 - Winner Hanham Athletic Charity Shield

1992/93 - Runner Up Bristol Premier Combination Premier Division to BRISTOL ST. GEORGE

1992/93 - Winner Bristol & District League - Div VI

1994/95 - Winner Hanham Athletic Charity Shield

1995/96 - Winner Hanham Athletic CharityShield

2000/01 - Winner Bristol Premier Combination – Div I

2000/01 - Winner Hanham Athletic Charity Shield

2001/02 - Runner Up Bristol Premier Combination Premier Division to THORNBURY TOWN

2001/02 - Winner Hanham Athletic Charity Shield

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Home Grounds of Hanham Athletic FC

The club always played on the Swan Ground (now known as Vicarage Road the clubs present ground) (or The Playing Field pavilian at Vicarage Road), until the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939. When the club started playing again after the war they played their home games at Hanham Common for a while, moving later to Creswicke Avenue up until 1952 when the ground was sold for a housing development. At that time the Swan Ground had been taken over by Bristol City Colts and Hanham played for a while at Greenbank Road. They had a spell of six months without a ground of their own, and played wherever they could for home fixtures. Bitton and Bristol St George often came to the club’s aid and let Hanham use their grounds for home games. Eventually the club played at Dundridge Lane Playing Fields up until 1962, when they returned to their “Ancestral Home” at the Swan Ground. During their time at Dundridge Lane all Amateur Cup games had to be played away from Home as it was not possible to take gate money in a public park. This was unfortunate as their stay at Dundridge Lane coincided with one of the club’s best periods in cup competitions and a number of fine games had to be played away from home. In 1982 a site was proposed for a new ground to be built near to the Bristol Diecasting Factory in Memorial Road on a piece of waste ground. Although the ground could be bought for a nominal fee, access to the site was somewhat restricted and so the idea fell through. Recently the club have signed a lease with South Gloucestershire Council at Vicarage Road, but the chances of Hanham actually owning their own ground seems to be fading.

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Site Updated: 8/12/2010