Wikipedia

Ryde Sports F.C.

Ryde Sports(1888–1997) were an Englishfootballclub based inRyde,Isle of Wight.

Ryde Sports
Full nameRyde Sports Football Club
Founded1888
Dissolved1997
GroundSmallbrook Stadium,Ryde

Before their untimely demise, Ryde Sports was for many years a successful and significant club on theIsle of Wightand inHampshire,and an important part of the town.

History

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Ryde Sports F.C.was founded in1888and became one of the eight founder members of theHampshire Leaguein1896.Although finishing at the foot of the table in the inaugural season, the club soon improved by twice finishing runners-up, they also spent the1898–99season in theSouthern Leaguewhere they finished as runner-up in the short lived Division 2 South & West Section. The1899-1900season was a highly successful one in which they won the Hampshire League and Hampshire Senior Cup double. After the Great War, Ryde joined theIsle of Wight League,twice being champions before returning the county fold in 1923 when they promptly won the East Division title at the first attempt. Further success soon arrived, in1925-26they were league champions andHampshire Senior Cupwinners the following year.

The thirties continued to be very successful for the club, twice more winning County Senior Cup1935–36and1938–39.The league title eluded Ryde during this period, although a top five final position was achieved each season. It was also during this period that Ryde recorded some fine runs in theFA Cup,most notably when they twice reached the 1st Round proper; in1932–33they lost 0–5 away v Margate, then in1936–37,when they lost 1–5 at home toGillinghamin front of a record 5,000 crowd. They nearly made it again in1947–48,when after navigating their way past some tough opponents they heartbreakingly lost 0–1 at home against Trowbridge Town in the final qualifying round.

It was not until the1952–53season that the club suffered its first setback when, for the first time, they were relegated. After several years of consolidation Ryde returned as Division 2 runners-up in1957–58,only to be relegated straight back again. Worse was to follow in1963–64when Ryde were relegated again to Division 3 but made a good recovery by immediately returning as champions; and in1967–68they finished as runners-up in Division 2, which was enough to clinch promotion back to the top flight.

The seventies continued to up and down for Ryde. After two seasons in Division 1 the club was again relegated in1969–70and in1976–77again dropped down into Division 3. The early Eighties saw troubled times for Ryde, twice finishing bottom of the league and having to apply for re-election. Luckily Ryde regained its place and slowly rebuilt, and in 1986 were placed in restructured Division 2 following the formation of theWessex League.

Finally, Ryde's fortunes changed and with a powerful side the club won the Division 2 and Division 1 titles in successive seasons1988–89and1989–90.For a number of years, developers had been eyeing up the clubs much loved Partlands home, and in 1990 the club vacated the premises to play at a new multi-purpose Sports Complex atSmallbrook Stadium,on the outskirts of the town. The team was elected to theWessex Leaguethat year.

Ryde initially did well and were frequently in the top half of the table, with their highest positions being 3rd in1995–96and 4th a year later. They also hosted a series of prestigious friendly matches against Premier League opposition, most noticeablySheffield Wednesday,Aston VillaandSouthampton.

Sadly this did not last and a combination of poor attendances and high overhead costs put them in financial difficulty, resulting in a player exodus. For the1997–98campaign, Ryde appointed former Bournemouth FC Coach Larry Clay, who in turn brought with him a youthful group of players from the mainland to help rebuild the club. The younger players included Hose Edin, Peter Williams and Lee Johnson of who all ended up playing in the first team far sooner than intended. Ryde played a friendly against Bristol City at Smallbrook Stadium with the professional side winning 7–0 with a certainShaun Goaterscoring 5 goals. That season he left to join Manchester City.

After an unsuccessful appeal for local support and enduring some heavy defeats, Ryde, rock bottom of the table, withdrew from the competition in December 1997 with their playing record (just 2 points gained from 17 games) being expunged.

The Reds remain much missed. Many blame their tragic demise on their relocation and over ambition.

Honours

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  • Southern LeagueDivision 2 South & West Section
    • Runners-up 1898/99
  • Hampshire LeagueDivision 1
    • Champions 1899/1900, 1925/26 and 1989/90
    • Runners-up 1897/98, 1898/99 and 1932/33
  • Hampshire LeagueDivision 2
    • Champions 1988/89
    • Runners-up 1957/58 and 1967/68
  • Hampshire LeagueDivision 3
    • Champions 1964/65
  • Hampshire LeagueEast Division
    • Champions 1923/24
  • Isle of Wight LeagueChampions
    • Winners 1919/20 and 1920/21
  • Hampshire FASenior Cup Winners
    • Winners 1899/1900, 1903/04, 1926/27, 1936/37, 1938/39
    • Finalists 1925/26 and 1935/36
  • Isle of Wight Senior Cup
    • Winners 1926/27 and 1980/81
  • Isle of Wight Gold Cup
    • Winners 1926/27, 1946/47, 1948/49, 1955/56, 1961/62 and 1962/63
    • Finalists 1927/28, 1928/29, 1929/30, 1930/31, 1932/33, 1933/34, 1947/48, 1950/51, 1956/57, 1960/61 and 1963/64
  • Portsmouth Senior Cup
    • Winners 1899/1900, 1900/01, 1905/06, 1919/20, 1953/54, 1966/67 and 1989/90
  • FA Cup
    • 1st Round Proper 1932/33 and 1936/37

Playing records

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League

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FA Cup

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FA Vase

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Successor clubs

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A phoenix club,Ryde '98was immediately formed to play in the localIsle of Wight Leaguebut the new team never climbed out of the basement division and folded in2004.

The town is now represented byRyde Saintswho currently run three sides in theIsle of Wight League.In 2014 they began using the Smallbrook Stadium for their 1st Team home fixtures and are ambitious to regain past glories.

Wessex League football returned to Smallbrook for the 2022/23 season, whenNewporttook up temporary residence whilst their new ground was being built. The venue is also used for speedway.

Famous Players

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Ryde Sports had many fine players during their long history, but there are two local lads worthy of special mention:Reg Flewin– who would later go on to famously captain thePortsmouthchampionship-winning sides of 1948/49 and 1949/50, andRoy Shiner,who enjoyed success in the 1950's withSheffield Wednesday,where he scored an incredible 93 goals in 153 appearances. He also played forHuddersfield TownandHull City.

References

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  • "Football Club History Database - Ryde".
  • "Football Club History Database - Ryde Sports".
  • https://www.islandecho.co.uk/ryde-sports-the-biggest-isle-of-wight-football-club-to-have-folded.HTM
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