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| Full name | Havant & Waterlooville Football Club | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname | The Hawks | ||
| Founded | 1998; 28 years ago (1998) | ||
| Ground | Westleigh Park,Havant | ||
| Capacity | 5,300 (710 seated) | ||
| Chairman | Derek Pope | ||
| Manager | Aaron Martin | ||
| League | Southern League Premier Division South | ||
| 2024–25 | Southern League Premier Division South, 6th of 22 | ||
| Website | www | ||
 Current season | |||
Havant & Waterlooville Football Club is a professionalassociation football club based inHavant,Hampshire, England. The club participates in theSouthern League Premier Division South, the seventh level of English football, after relegation from theNational League South in the2023–24 season. The club formed in 1998 after a merger betweenHavant Town andWaterlooville. Nicknamed "The Hawks", they play at Westleigh Park.
In 1998,Havant Town andWaterlooville merged to play at Havant Town's Westleigh Park ground. In their first season as a merged team, Havant & Waterlooville won theSouthern League Southern Division under the management of formerCrystal Palace andPortsmouth defenderBilly Gilbert. There was also instant success in theFA Cup, a penalty shoot-out defeat toHayes was all that denied the Hawks an opportunity to visit league sideMansfield Town in the first round proper.
AfterBilly Gilbert left Havant & Waterlooville, Mick Jenkins andLiam Daish were appointed joint managers in April 2000. Jenkins and Daish guided the Hawks to notable successes in theFA Cup where they reached the first round, the first of four occasions achieved by the club. In2000–01, Havant & Waterlooville lost 2–1 at home toSouthport of theConference North, and 3–2 away to another Conference side,Dagenham & Redbridge in2002–03. The2002–03 season was also notable for the Hawks'FA Trophy run when Havant & Waterlooville 'giant-killed'Forest Green Rovers en route to the semi-final where Hawks lost 2–1 on aggregate toTamworth.[1]
During a 5-year stay in theSouthern League Premier Division from 1999–2000 to 2004–05, Havant & Waterlooville's best season came in2001–02, finishing 3rd after leading the table during September. In the2003–04 season, the club struggled and this led to Jenkins and Daish being dismissed in January 2004. However, the club recovered and finished 12th in the Southern League Premier Division and thereby qualified for a place in the re-structuredConference South.[citation needed]
Ian Baird took over the part-time managerial post at Havant & Waterlooville in November 2004. In2005–06, the club missed out on a place in the end of season play-offs by a single point because of a controversial three-point deduction for breaking a gentleman's agreement withWeymouth that Havant & Waterlooville's ex-Weymouth player Tony Taggart would not play against his former club. Hawks managerIan Baird claimed that an injury crisis had forced him to field Taggart in the home game with Weymouth.[2][3]
In the2006–07 season, the Hawks qualified for the promotion play-offs but were beaten in the semi-final byBraintree Town. The club met aFootball League club in a competitive match for the first time in the2006–07 competition, losing 2–1 toMillwall in a 'home' match which was played atFratton Park.[4]
Baird resigned as manager on 1 October 2007 to become manager ofEastleigh and was replaced byShaun Gale.[5] In the2007–08 FA Cup, the Hawks beatBognor Regis,Fleet Town,Leighton Town, Conference Premier teamYork City and League Two clubNotts County,[6] before causing an even bigger upset by defeatingLeague One sideSwansea City 4–2 in a third round replay.[7] In the fourth round, they playedPremier LeagueLiverpool atAnfield and caused a sensation by leading twice before eventually losing 5–2.[8][9] Havant & Waterlooville playerAlfie Potter, on loan at the time fromPeterborough United, was voted 'Player of the Round'.[citation needed]
The Hawks were involved in a relegation battle in the2008–09 season despite being among the favourites to win the league at the start of the season,[10] but ultimately securedConference South survival with three games remaining. 2008–09 did, however, see diverting runs in theFA Cup (ending with a first-round home defeat to League TwoBrentford) and in theFA Trophy (ending with a 2–0 defeat away toYork City in the quarter-finals).
In2009–10, Havant & Waterlooville made a late run that almost got them to the playoffs butWoking pipped them to the post by one point.[citation needed]
In July 2011, the club played a "once in a lifetime" game againstLa Liga sideReal Betis, losing 7–0, after the Spanish club's original friendly opponents (Portsmouth) found themselves unable to play the game.[11]
The2011–12 season was a poor one for Havant & Waterlooville, and after dropping to second from bottom in the league following a defeat atBasingstoke Town,Shaun Gale was sacked on 1 April.[12] Assistant manager Steve Johnson and stadium manager/fitness coachAdrian Aymes were placed in charge on a caretaker basis.[13] In a tense finale, the Hawks avoided relegation with literally the last kick by a Havant & Waterlooville player in the entire season;[14]Joe Dolan's 93rd-minute winner in the final match againstStaines Town ensuring thatMaidenhead United (who believed themselves to be safe having scored a last-minute winner themselves) would fill the final relegation spot.
On 8 May 2012, the Hawks appointedStuart Ritchie as manager and Sean New as his assistant, the combination having been successful in partnership during eight years atAFC Totton.[15] Ritchie played 53 games for the Hawks in their first two seasons as a combined club (1998–2000). Sean New was replaced just one month later by Barry Blankley over a "failure to disclose particular information" scandal. Just ten games into his reign, Stuart Ritchie was dismissed after just one win in those ten and a shock loss to Southern League South & West sideNorth Leigh F.C. in the FA Cup.[citation needed]
On 9 October 2012,Lee Bradbury was appointed manager.[16] leading the club to 10th place at the end of that2012–13 season.
The2013–14 season was an eventful one, with the club reaching theFA Trophy semi-finals, losing 3–1 on aggregate over two-legs against local rivalsGosport Borough. As a result of the Trophy run as well as weather-related postponements, the Hawks were required to play over half of their league campaign (22 games) within the final 57 days of the season.[17] Despite this the Hawks went into the final game of the season againstTonbridge Angels with a chance of making the play-offs. When the final whistle blew in that game, a 0–0 draw was enough, however in their match still on-goingDover Athletic scored a goal to mean that the Hawks would miss out on goal difference. In addition to theFA Trophy andConference South disappointments, the Hawks also lost in the final of theHampshire Senior Cup toBasingstoke Town 3–2 after extra time, despite battling back from a two-goal deficit to equalise in the final minute of injury time.[citation needed]
The Hawks went one better in their2014–15 Conference South campaign, finishing 5th and making the playoffs. However, the Hawks lost 4–2 on aggregate to eventual winnersBoreham Wood. During this season, the Hawks also made the first round proper of theFA Cup, losing eventually toLeague One sidePreston North End.[citation needed]
Despite starting the2015–16 Conference South season as favourites, the Hawks were relegated on goal difference. They did, however, win theHampshire Senior Cup, beatingWinchester City 5–3 on penalties[18] atSt Mary's Stadium, Southampton.
Placed into theIsthmian League following relegation, the Havant & Waterlooville board kept faith with managerLee Bradbury, who led the team to the title on the final day of the season. TrailingBognor Regis Town by a point prior to the penultimate round of matches, the Hawks won 1–0 at home against their title rivals, in front of new league record crowd for the Hawks of 3,455.[19] This result meant the Hawks needed to win their final game atKingstonian or match Bognor's result. The Hawks drew 0-0 but, despite leading 1–0 with 20 minutes left, Bognor could only draw at home toMetropolitan Police, allowing a sizeable contingent of travelling Hawks fans to watch their team collect the trophy as2016–17 Isthmian League champions.[citation needed]
After being promoted the previous season, the Hawks won the2017–18 National League South, winning it on the final day with a win againstConcord Rangers whereJason Prior scored the 89th minute winning goal.[20]Prior was also the Hawk's leading scorer in their successful league campaign and the 5th top scorer in the league that season with 23 goals.
In the2018–19 season, Havant & Waterlooville struggled to adjust to life in theNational League and were relegated with three matches remaining. On 22 April 2019, Havant & Waterlooville released a statement confirmingLee Bradbury had left by mutual consent.[21] The next day, assistant managerShaun Gale was appointed caretaker manager for their final two games of the season. On 29 April, it was announced that formerSutton United manager Paul Doswell had signed a three-year contract, bringingIan Baird back to the club as his assistant.
In2019–20 National League South, the Hawks switched to morning training, three days a week.[22] As a result, the squad was transformed with only three players remaining from that which completed the previous season. The new look Hawks challenged at the top of the division until the season was curtailed in March due to theCOVID-19 pandemic. At first, it appeared as though the League would only promote the leading club, given the circumstances. As the Hawks stood second in the division they, along with the similarly placedYork City of theNational League North, started the #promote2 campaign[23] for play-offs to take place or the second place club to be promoted. Eventually, play-offs did take place but the club lost 2–1 to Dartford in their home semi-final.
On 10 March 2023, Paul Doswell moved into a Director of Football role, withJamie Collins becoming manager. However, after a poor start to the2023–24 National League South season, Collins was sacked on 8 September. On 1 December 2023, Steve King was sacked. The2023–24 season ended in relegation to the seventh tier.[24] On 1 May 2024, Shaun North was appointed as first team manager.[25] On the 11th of November, 2025, Shaun North was sacked.[26]
Due to managerial, player and administrative issues between the clubs, matches againstEastleigh F.C.Worthing F.C. andWeymouth F.C. have been particularly feisty in the past. The Hawks main rival however is usually considered to beGosport Borough F.C.[citation needed]
The club play at Westleigh Park. Located on Bartons Triangle, Martins Road, West Leigh,Havant. It was home to Havant Town from 1982 onwards whileWaterlooville F.C. played at the now extinct Jubilee Park. It currently has a capacity of 5,300, of which 710 is seated. The record attendance at the ground is 4,400, for the 4–2 third round FA Cup replay win against Swansea City on 16 January 2008. The record attendance for a league fixture was set on 17 April 2017, when 3,455[19] watched a penultimate2016–17 Isthmian League fixture againstBognor Regis Town F.C., when the two clubs were placed first and second in the table. The club's record attendance for any home game is 5,793, for the FA Cup first round defeat toMillwall F.C. on 13 November 2006. They played atPortsmouth.[citation needed]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Havant & Waterlooville now has an academy team for the club's most promising youth players, run in conjunction with South Downs College and playing in the Conference Academy League Southern Section. For the 2009–10 season, this has increased to include two more reserve teams, playing in the Hampshire and Sussex College leagues. They also have a team who play in Boulters Lane,Southwick. Nathan Ashmore, who left to joinGosport Borough, was the first player to be promoted from the academy team to the first team in the 2008–09 season.[citation needed]
Managers
| Assistant Managers
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Caretakers
Cliff de Gordon (Nov 2025) Cliff de Gordon, Ross Betteridge & Richard Pope (Dec 2023 – April 2024)Shaun Gale (Sep 2023)Shaun Gale (Apr 2019)Adrian Aymes (Sep 2012 – Oct 2012) Steve Johnson &Adrian Aymes (Apr 2012 – May 2012)Shaun Gale (Nov 2004)(as at 7 February 2026)
Records for league and all cups, appearance totals are starting + substitute
*= still at club
150+:
| 125-149:
| 100-124:
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(as at 7 February 2026)
Records for league and all cups, appearance totals are starting + substitute
*= still at club
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England C^ internationals:
^ formerly 'England National Game XI' | Full internationals:(only those capped whilst at club shown) |
League
Cup
50°52′01.48″N0°58′26.90″W / 50.8670778°N 0.9741389°W /50.8670778; -0.9741389
