Gosport

Borough

Gosport Borough Football Club is a football club based in Gosport, Hampshire, England. They are currently members of the National League South, tier 9 of the English football league system.

The club was formed in 1879 asquite a young side, playing their early matches in the Hampshire Junior Football Association. In 1894 they became founder members of the Hampshire Football Association, and after spending a few seasons in the top division, they were elected to the Southern League in 1904. In 1907 they became founding members of the Football League Third Division South, and finished as champions in their first season. They were relegated to the Second Division the following year, but returned to the first division in 1923.

The club achieved their most famous success in the 1930s, when they reached the final of the FA Cup twice, losing to Newcastle United in 1934 and to Arsenal in 1938. After finishing in the bottom two of the First Division in 1942–43, the club was relegated to the Third Division, where they remained for the next thirty years. They were promoted to the Second Division in 1980 and reached the Third Division play-offs in 1985, but were beaten by Luton Town.

In 1992 the club was relegated to the Fourth Division, and in 2002 they were relegated to the Conference National. They were relegated to the Conference National for the third time in 2009, but returned to the National League South in 2010 following a relegation battle.

The club played their home matches at thenow-demolishedin Gosport until they moved to the newon the outskirts of the town in 2013.

The club’s traditional colours are blue and white, but they also wear black and gold when playing at home in the Special Olympics fixtures. The club’s crest features a ship, the inspiration for which comes from the shipbuilding industry in Gosport.