Club History
Cove Football Club was formed in 1897 by a group of local people playing on a field behind their favourite Public House.
Moving to a more central location, Cove Green became their home until 1973, when they moved to their present ground at Oak Farm. Playing their football in the Surrey Leagues, Cove enjoyed success for many years, winning more than their fair share of silverware in this time, including the League Championship three years in succession and a double in that period.
In 1973, the club decided to upgrade and were accepted into the Hampshire Leagues, but had to leave ‘The Green’ for safety reasons. The Division 4 Championship was won at the first attempt, and the Division 3 title followed two years later. After a couple of seasons, Cove finished Runners-Up in Division 2, but decided to withdraw from this league due to the time taken travelling to away matches in Portsmouth or Southampton, before the M3 motorway was built.
Thus they returned to the more local Combined Counties League in 1980, and won the League Cup beating close neighbours and rivals Ash United. Since moving into their new home, many changes have taken place at Oak Farm with the installation of floodlights, a concrete perimeter wall and stand in their quest to house senior non-league football. These achievements are the more remarkable with Farnborough Town (then Conference League) and Aldershot Town (then Football League) just a couple of miles down the road.
In 1990, Cove were given the chance to join the Vauxhall League (now Ryman League) after finishing third. New manager ‘Chick’ Botley assembled a squad strong enough to finish a respectable fourth in their first season. Two more successful seasons followed, narrowly missing out on promotion, one a final day defeat by the new Aldershot Town.
Due to the ever spiralling cost of football at this level, Cove were forced to withdraw from their league and after 3 unsuccessful attempts to join the Wessex League, had to revert back into The Combined Counties League, where they remained with little success.
After finishing bottom of the league two years running, Cove Football Club appointed Steve Beeks, a young man with no managerial experience, but a good playing record which included a period as professional at Aldershot until their demise in 1990. Within 12 months Cove were on their way back, having regained some respect among the local clubs, and were no longer the ‘Whipping Boys’ finishing a creditable 8th, allowing entry back into the top competitions. Season 2000-2001 saw Cove reach the 5th round of the FA Vase beating some more senior clubs along the way, before losing out to Chippenham Town, and an FA Cup victory at Ryman Division One side Bognor Regis. The Premier Challenge Cup was won with a 3-0 victory over Walton Casuals. This was soon followed by the victory over closest rivals AFC Wallingford, that ensured the League Championship, breaking all league records on the way, which included reaching the magic 200 goals scored in all competitions to complete a memorable season.
After a few unsuccessful seasons and a series of managerial changes, the club is looking forward a bright new era under the guidance of Senior Team Manager Koo Dumbuya.
No resume of Cove Football Club would be complete without mentioning the late Club President Ron Brown, who in 1990 received an FA award for 50 years service to Cove FC, including 35 years as secretary. Ron retired in 1982 passing the reins to his son Graham who still remains in the post.
Club Honours
HAMPSHIRE FA
Div.4 winners 1973-74
Div.3 winners 1977-78
Div.2 Runners-up 1979-80
SURREY FA
Premier League winners.
1949-50-51-52-53-54
Premier League Runners-up
1948-49, 1961-62
Premier Cup winners
1959-60, 1964-65
Sportsmanship winners
1964-65-66, 1969-70
Reserve League wunners
1959-60-61-62, 1964-65
Reserve League Runners-up
1963-64, 1966-67-68-69
Challenge Cup winners
1960-61-62
ALDERSHOT FA
Senior Cup winners
1971-72, 1977-78, 1979-80
1990-91-92
Senior Shield winners
1937-38-39, 1946-47, 1971-72
Senior Cup Runners-up
1972-73
Div.1 winners 1953-54
Div.2 winners 1932-33
1937-38-39
Div.2 Cup winners 1950-51
Div.4 Cup winners 1930-31
COMBINED COUNTIES LEAGUE
League Cup winners 1981-82
Promoted-Vaxhall Lge 1989-90
Premier League winners
2000-01
Premier League Cup winners
2000-01
Southerrn Combination Cup Winners 2008 – 2009
Premier League Cup Winners 2009-2010
Club Badge
This was original and was designed by Ron Brown as a shield which can be seen within the outer circle of the current badge. The background was amber with a black inverted “T” and the words Cove Football Club in an arc around the point of the shield.
The symbols are:
The Red Rose – the rose of the County of Hampshire
The fern and cross signify the cross of St Swithan, the patron saint of Wessex (before it became Hants, Dorset and Wiltshire). The fern relates to Ferneberga which later through time and translation became Farnborough.
The Book and Date – the Doomsday Book in which Cove and Farnborough are both mentioned with 1897 being our year of foundation
The new revised version was designed in 1990 with the outer circle added and the shield colour changed. This new design was later to be awarded the “Non-League Club badge of the Year” and is supported by the commemorative plaque hanging in the Football Club boardroom.
Past Memories
The attached reminiscences of Frank Bisby, who played for Cove FC from 1936 to 1939 make interesting reading, particularly for those of us who are interested in the local history of Cove and Farnborough.