Hook Norton Football Club
History

The club was founded in 1898 as a works team for the Brymbo Ironstone Company.

Throughout the twentieth century it played in purely local leagues until the early 1980s, but did not progress beyond village level. Nevertheless it was a vibrant village side under the aegis of the Knight family which stood it in good stead for the future.

Keith Willis took on the manager`s role and transformed the club. As a result of which it quickly progressed through the local leagues.
During Keith’s reign, the club won the prestigous Oxfordshire Junior Shield for the first time in 1986/87 beating Ardley United 2-1 after extra time in the Final at Banbury United.

Neville Pearce who had long been associated with the club took over the reins.
During Neville’s reign the club’s second Oxfordshire Junior Shield was won in 1993/94 beating Brize Norton 2-1 after extra time in the Final at Banbury United.

Also during Neville’s term as manager the club progressed into the Oxfordshire Senior League.

Division 1 Runners Up in 1997/8 was enough for the club to gain promotion to the Premier Division,
The Oxfordshire Intermediate Cup was also won this season beating Oxford City Reserves 5-4 on penalties in the Final at Witney Town.

Two Oxfordshire Senior League Premier Division titles followed in 1999/2000 and 2000/2001.

Promotion followed to Hellenic League Division 1 West where, under the management of Dave Risato, the title was won at the first attempt by 9 points in 2001/2002, taking the club into the Premier Division of the Hellenic League.

Ground grading criteria forced a groundshare for the next two seasons with Banbury United, but resistance to the facilities required locally, and the lack of planning permission forced demotion into Hellenic League Division 1 West at the end of that time.

During the groundshare period also under Dave Risato’s term as manager the club were beaten in the Final of the Oxfordshire Senior Cup losing out on a “golden goal” to Oxford City at Oxford United’s Kassam Stadium, depriving the club of a unique treble in County Cup competitions.

The club fought its way back over the next three years under Ben Spiero’s management and at the same time the club achieved planning permission for the necessary facilities to meet the ground grading criteria needed for Step 5 football at The Bourne. In consequence of this and on pitch performances, promotion back to the Premier Division followed. Floodlights were installed in 2007 (not without some adventures with E-On in the process), stands built, and a new clubhouse was opened on 12th September 2008.

In parallel with the development of the senior football club, Hook Norton’s junior section had grown from virtually nothing to a full range of sides from U16s down to minis, and the club`s overall ambition of bringing on young players capable of playing at Premier Division level (and perhaps beyond) is well on the way to being realised.
Charter Standard Club status was attained in 2005.

Season 2009/10 sees the return of Dave Risato as first team manager, and the continuation of the good work being done with the second team by Layi Olubaji and Andy Rogers.

We look forward to welcoming all our visitors and supporters during the coming season

We look forward to welcoming all our visitors and supporters to a new era of football in Hook Norton.