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As we wind down with our Then and Now series in Warminster we take a look at the town's football club.

Warminster Town Football Club's grandstand, as pictured in our archive photograph, was opened on December 15, 1923.

Mrs H Buxton officially opened the grandstand prior to a match between Warminster and Devizes Town.

Warminster Football Club dates back to at least 1898.

In those days all the players, by their individual play and thorough understanding with each other, proved that they were in the game for the love of it.

In those days there was no five-day week. Working hours on five days were 6am until 6pm with a couple of one-hour breaks. On Saturdays work was 6am until 2pm.

Therefore, in every away match, loss of hours were up to three hours and in addition all players paid a sum of 6d to assist with rail costs.

Considering that 6d was the charge for spectators it would appear that players were paying for the privilege of playing for their town.

And their dedication paid off, winning either the Wiltshire Senior Cup or being awarded runners-up each year from 1898 until 1903.

By 1911 Warminster had won the County cup three times in 10 years.

No club, except Swindon Town, it was reported had ever won three times during the previous 20 years.

One of the highlights of Warminster Town was making it to the fourth preliminary round of the FA Cup and they were drawn at home against Bath.

Half the population of the town, 3,500, turned out to watch their local heroes - the team lived and worked in the town- put on a memorable display before accepting defeat through a disputed penalty by one goal to nil.

In April 1991 the club negotiated a new lease for the ground and a new clubhouse with dressing rooms and seating area was built. This was opened in 1994 with lights installed in October 1996.

8:00am Thursday 8th May 2008

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