Chelmsford City vs Gosport Borough - Visitors write up for match day programme 8/2/14

Today we welcome Gosport Borough FC to the Melbourne Stadium, with the Claret's looking to get revenge for a 2-1 defeat earlier in the season - this was the two teams first ever meeting in all competitions. Today's visitors are currently 21^st in their first campaign at this level, with games in hand on several of the surrounding teams.

Gosport Borough were founded just two weeks after the D-Day landings in 1994, driven by an initiative to bring back sport to the local community after a break of several years. In their first competitive season, the club won the Portsmouth and District League Division One under the guidance of former Southampton winger, Stan Cribb. This was a team that boasted two future internationals in the form of wing half Jimmy Scouler and midfielder Peter Harris, who then went on to guide the club to Hampshire League Division One title the following season. This feat was not repeated for a further thirty one seasons, despite the club being a major force in Hampshire football. After a long wait, 'the Boro' finally retained the Division One Crown, managing to win the Division in successive seasons (1976/77 & 1977/78). After attaining this feat, they were then elected to the Southern Football League, finishing in the top four consistently before the league was restructured for the start of the 1982/83 season. Through this restructure, Gosport were placed in the Premier Division.

Two years later Boro' lost their Premier Division status and was relegated to the Southern Division. However the next season saw the team bounce straight back after an incredible run of sixteen wins in the final nineteen matches earned them the runners-up spot and promotion. Relegation loomed once more in the 1987/88 season, but victory in the final of the Hampshire Senior Cup, saw spirits within the club lifted. The players transferred their cup form into the league and secured their place in the Premier Division for another season. The Boro' enjoyed their highest ever league finish in the 1988/89 season, when seventh placed was achieved. Unfortunately they could not build upon this finish, as a mass exodus of players and staff the following season saw the club relegated to the Southern Division, before a further relegation to the Wessex League in 1992.

Chairman Ian Hay. bought in Roger Sherwood as manager to try and turn around the team's fortunes. Sherwood won the Wessex League Cup in his first season in charge, but this was to be his only success and he parted company with the club before the 1995/96 season. After Sherwood's departure, the Management Committee decided upon a period of financial consolidation and re-structuring after a review of the club's policies. A new emphasis was placed on developing the club's youth policy and forming a team out of local player's, with three former Gosport player's, John Hawes, Dave Pitt and Barry Cook taking up the running of the side.

Despite these changes, the clubs league form continued to deteriorate, with Dave Pitt and Barry Cook resigning in October 1999 after a poor start to the campaign. John Hawes went on to become club Chairman, lasting just one season before returning to his coaching role at the club. During this period, Ian Hay had completely re-structured the clubs finances, implementing a unique Trustee Scheme which gave the club a solid financial foundation for the future. Reserve team manager Mick Marsh was promoted to first team manager and it was agreed that the club would continue to develop young, local talent but also add a sprinkling of more experienced player's to the side. This proved to be a sound decision as the club's decline was halted and the team began to head in a more positive direction.

John Robson was bought in to replace the retiring Mick Marsh, but this tenure lasted a matter of months before Alex Pike was appointed manager in December 2005. In his first full season, Pike lead the team to the Wessex League Championship – Gosport's first title in 29 years, with the title being decided on a nail biting last day of the season. The Boro' had to ensure they avoided defeat by two goals at title rivals AFC Totton, they lost the game one nil but had won the title on goal difference only. The nerves didn't end there for the club, as they had to await the FA's decision on their application for promotion back to the Southern League. Two weeks after lifting the title, The FA agreed to re-elect Gosport Borough into the Southern League for the start of the 2007/08 season.

The Boro' got off to a good start on their return to the Southern League, despite form dipping over Christmas and New Year, the club eventually finished a respectable 11^th position. The following season saw a promising start and by Christmas the club were occupying a play-off place, however the 2008 recession hit the club hard and the board were forced to dramatically reduce the playing budget in order to avoid being pushed into debt. The last few months were a struggle for Pike's men as they drifted away from the play-off picture before finishing 12^th. A few seasons of mid-table finishes followed before attaining one of the coveted play-off spots in the 2011/12 season. Boro' won their semi-final against neighbours Sholing, which lined up a meeting with Poole Town in the final for a place in the Southern League Premier Division. An injury time equaliser by veteran striker Steve Claridge, took the tie into extra time where Gosport scored twice to secure promotion to the Southern Premier for the first time since 1990.

The 2012/13 season started as many had predicted, with the side looking set to battle against relegation. This all changed after a record levelling FA Cup run to the fourth qualifying round, the team went on a 23 game unbeaten run in the league to help secure a play-off place. A win against second placed Stourbridge in the semi finals, was followed by a 5-4 win on penalties against Hemel Hempstead in the final. The club were promoted to the Skrill Conference South for the first time in their history.

After two successive promotions, this was always going to be a big step up for today's visitors and a home tie against Dover Athletic on the opening day of the season was their first test. Despite a spirited performance, a mix up between keeper Nathan Ashmore and defender Jamie Brown lead to the only goal of the game for Dover. Defensive mistakes would cost the Boro' once again as they lost 2-1 away at Basingstoke Town before landing their first point of the season away at Bath City with a hard earned 1-1 draw. A draw with fellow early season struggler’s Dorchester Town followed, despite a dominant performance by Gosport, leaving Pike to rue his sides inability to convert their chances into goals. The month of August ended with a 2-1 defeat away at promotion chasing Bromley meaning a two point haul from their opening five games.

September started as August had ended for Gosport, two further defeats against Maidenhead United and Boreham Wood left the club still chasing that first win at this level. This all changed at home to Tonbridge Angels, where goals from former Southampton midfielder Jamie Brown and local lad Rory Williams secured a 2-0 win and the clubs first three points of the season. With manager Pike hoping this could kick start a run of results, they were bought back down to earth by back to back league defeats against Bishops Stortford and Ebbsfleet United. Gosport welcome the Clarets to Privett Park next, Jamie Brown produced a spectacular overhead kick to net the opener for the Boro' before striker Tim Sills scored on his debut to double their lead. Despite being reduced to ten men in the 75^th minute, the home side managed to hold on for a 2-1 win.

Once again, Gosport couldn't build upon this win and struggled in November, picking up just one point in their next three games before an impressive 2-0 win at home to Staines Town lifted the club off the bottom of the table. Boyd by this result, the club managed back to back wins for the first time this season, with another 2-0 win away at Concord Rangers, with goals from striker's Dan Wooden and top scorer Williams. The Boro' finished the year with a disappointing 3-0 boxing day defeat at local rivals Havant & Waterlooville.

Like many in the league, Gosport have suffered a distinct lack of league games since the turn of the year due to bad weather. Having played just twice, a 2-1 defeat away at Eastleigh and a 1-0 away win at Weston-Super-Mare. Pike has however, recently guided the club to the quarter final of the FA Vase, where they face North Ferriby United for a place in the semi finals. Manager Pike, produced an upset against Skrill Premier Nuneaton Town, after a replay and 210 minutes of goalless football. Veteran midfielder Sammy Igoe calmly tucked away the winning penalty to seal a 4-2 shoot out win and created a bit of Gosport Borough history in the process, as they reached their first ever FA Vase quarter final. Confidence will be high in the Boro' squad but Claret fans will be hoping they have one eye on the cup when the two teams meet at the Melbourne.