Holt FC, one of the UK's oldest football clubs, reforms

By Marie Indge & Harriet RobinsonBBC News, Wiltshire

One of the country's oldest football clubs has reformed after a three-year break.

Holt FC was established in 1864, registering a year after the world's oldest professional club, Notts County.

The club withdrew from the Trowbridge & District league in 2020, but has since re-entered after it was reformed with the support of the local community.

The club is second in Division Two, and chairman and manager Nigel Tripp said: "We've overachieved really this year."

He told BBC Radio Wiltshire the first year was meant to be "all about getting the club going, not the team".

Despite a keen team of good players from the village, he said there is a lot of work to do on the club house and changing rooms, which have no hot water.

"It's so old", explained secretary Joy Bloomfield.

The parish council decommissioned the shower block in 2014, and the club is hoping to have a new one rebuilt with funding from the council and the Football Association.

"Because we've applied to be in the Trowbridge and District league they very kindly have let us start in the league without having the showers, even though it's a prerequisite really," Ms Bloomfield explained.

"And they've been really helpful as well in supporting us and working out what we can get in here and what we can do."

She said from documents they have seen, the club was "obviously always part of the village".

"We've been really lucky with village support and local business support," she added.

Future ambitions

The pair said that after deciding to kickstart the club, they went to the parish council with the plan and then the league.

"Suddenly it was all action stations and we had our first season and hopefully it will be the first of many," said Ms Bloomfield.

"Once we have the showers up and running we can address other things, if needed or as and when."

Mr Tripp said the players understood the situation "and want to grow with us".

"The good thing is that we could fill the whole side from the village, all capable of playing at this level, which is brilliant," he added.

Training sessions are held on Wednesday, and even on frosty nights about 20 people have turned up.

"Next year we'll be looking to progress. We've overachieved really this year because we're second at the moment."

Holt FC is also hoping to launch a youth and a women's team.

Follow BBC West on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: bristol@bbc.co.uk

ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7o67CZ5qopV%2Bjsri%2Fjq6iZp2enLmiusNmrqKkpKi1qr7EZm1xaGRmgHmD