Brize Norton Football Club 1940's to date

Brize has had a Football team on & off since around 1900 playing in a "Shi|ton" League although there doesn't seem to be any details other than a few faded pictures & some medals.

The Witney & District F A started in 1908 but Brize didn't join until the 1923/4 season and then only sporadically up to the second world war.

Brize rejoined the League when it reformed for the 1946/7 Season.

Home matches were played in "Gassons” field (opposite the ”Manor") which is big field & must have been very bleak on a cold winters day.

Where they changed ,l don't know, probably in one of the "Manors" barns.

During this period the Parish council was looking to rent "Benny" field opposite the Chequers to use as a recreation & sports field & the football pitch moved here although there were no changing rooms and the Chequers barn (not there now) was used for changing and storage. The Football team was a mixture of all ages and achieving little success & in 1959 the club lacked enthusiasm and folded,

However in 1963 the club was reformed & rejoined the Witney League, later adding a reserve team.  Although there was still no proper changing facilities on the rec, this was rectified in the late 60's by the building of the pavilion thanks to the generosity of a local builders merchant whose firm have also sponsored the club over the years

Success came slowly but the club thrived & although not having much success in the early years it became one of the Counties top clubs in the 80's, 90's & into the new century, moving up through the divisions finally becoming WDFA Premier League Champions on several occasions, winning most of the WDFA Cups & the prestigious Oxfordshire Junior Shield & Charity Cup.

In the 80's and 90's Brize had 2 Saturday teams & a Sunday Friendly team plus the “Chequers” had a Team playing in the Sunday League.

Also 2 other teams played at Brize (both semi-offshoots of Brize)  Haddon Utd played in the field next to the RAF dogpound. Brizedean played off the Lower Haddon Road

A very busy time for football in Brize Norton
 

Fred Bellenger 2020