First established in November 1882, Royal Wootton Bassett Town are one of the oldest football clubs in the county of Wiltshire.
The club plays at the New Gerard Buxton Sports Ground, which was opened in the summer of 2015.
The club had previously spent the majority of its existence – between 1930, when the club was reformed, and 2014 – playing at the original Gerard Buxton Sports Ground at Rylands Way. The ground was donated by local dignitary Major Gerard Buxton for sporting activities within the town and opened in May 1930.
After its formation the club initially played friendly fixtures before entering its first competition, the Vale of the White Horse League, in 1898-99. Following a season in that division, Bassett entered the Swindon and District League in 1899. Bassett then first entered the Wiltshire County League in 1903-04. This coincided with a spell of cup success which saw Bassett make the finals of both the Advertiser Cup and the Wiltshire Senior Cup in 1902-03, losing the latter in a replay against Warminster Town, and the Wiltshire Senior Cup in 1903-04 when Bassett lost to Swindon Town Reserves.
At the time, the prestigious County League featured clubs such as Melksham Town, Devizes Town and Chippenham Town as well as – from further afield – Bath City and Yeovil Casuals (now Yeovil Town). Bassett had mixed fortunes during its spell in the division, achieving an impressive runners-up finish in 1905-06. During this period, the club's were based at ‘The Royal Oak’ public house and played its home games took place at 'The Close', upon which Tanners Close now stands.
Bassett resigned from the Wiltshire County League in the summer of 1908. With the majority of players living in Swindon, Bassett fell foul of league regulations which insisted players must reside within a specific radius of the town. Financial pressured faced at the same time also meant the club folded.
Years in the wilderness followed, thanks partly to the First World War – during which The Royal Oak was used as a barracks for German prisoners of war – and the presence of the 1920-21 FA Amateur Cup finalists Swindon Victoria, who for many years played in Wootton Bassett.
The club did reform in 1919-20, and for much of the next decade featured in the Vale of the White Horse League with limited success.
The opening of the Gerard Buxton Sports Ground in May 1930 and the desire for it to have tenants alongside the town cricket club, helped revive the football club.
Starting afresh in the Calne and District League in 1930-31, Bassett had much early success, finishing runners-up in 1930-31 before going on to win the league on three occasions. The division featured teams from numerous surrounding villages such as Clyffe Pypard, Bushton and Lyneham – a stark contrast to the sides Bassett competed against three decades earlier.
Bassett finally re-entered County football in 1935-36, playing in Wiltshire League Division Two, before gaining re-election to the now expanded Wiltshire League Division One a year later.
Bassett initially struggled to compete at this level against the likes of Westbury United, Devizes and Purton. However, the club’s fortunes began to change following the Second World War. Initially, that success came on the cup front with Bassett coming close to reaching the First Round Proper of the FA Amateur Cup in the 1946-47 season. The last Wiltshire club standing, Bassett were beaten 9–0 by Cornish side St. Austell in the final qualifying round.
Bassett then steadily rose up the Wiltshire League Division One table too during the 1950s. After narrowly missing out on the title two seasons earlier, they were crowned as champions in 1958-59. A year later, now playing in the Wiltshire Premier Division, Bassett enjoyed another successful season, embarking on a remarkable nine-game FA Amateur Cup run that saw them again fall one game short of reaching the First Round Proper.
The club generally found the going tough in its new league surroundings. However, they were up against strong opposition, which included numerous clubs from outside the county, including from Somerset and Gloucestershire.
Restructuring of the County League at the end of the 1960s then saw Bassett enter the Wiltshire Combination which pitted them against more local sides. During the eight years of this competition, Bassett's best finish was fifth in 1969-70.
In 1976 the Wiltshire County Football League was established after another reorganisation of the game in the county. Bassett were placed in Division One, but were relegated after two seasons. They secured promotion a year later, but immediately went back down in 1979-80.
Steady progress eventually led to Bassett winning the Division Two title in 1984-85. In Division One, under the stewardship of Mick Woolford, Bassett won the league and promotion to the Hellenic League in 1987-88. That same year they again finished runners-up in the final of the Wiltshire Senior Cup, losing 1–0 to Purton.
Woolford remained manager until 1995, overseeing a spell in which Bassett established themselves in Hellenic League Division One. During this period Bassett also reached the final of the Hellenic League Division One Cup three times, winning it twice in 1989-90 and 1993-94.
Bassett's success continued at the turn of the century. In 1998-99, 99 years after its first participation in the competition, Bassett won its first Wiltshire Senior Cup title, beating Pewsey Vale 3–2 after extra time in the final held at the County Ground. A year later, thanks to the installation of floodlights at Rylands Way, Bassett gained promotion to the Hellenic League Premier Division having finished third in Division One.
In its first season in the Premier Division, Bassett secured a mid-table position, finishing 13th and also won the Wiltshire Senior Cup for a second time, defeating Shrewton United 2–0 in the final. A year later the club entered the FA Vase for the first time, reaching the First Round where Bassett lost at home to Cornish side St. Blazey.
In the league Bassett became involved in numerous relegation battles, eventually falling back to Hellenic League Division One West after finishing 21st in the 2004-05 season.
Bassett came close to securing an immediate return to the Hellenic League Premier Division in 2005-06 but ultimately finished fifth, one point shy of third place and a promotion spot.
Underachievement in the league followed during the next two seasons, although 2007-08 saw Bassett advance to the First Qualifying Round of the FA Cup for the first time ever after wins over local rivals Highworth Town and then-Southern League side Bracknell Town.
Bassett were again battling for promotion and having cup success in 2008-09. That year Bassett advanced to the Second Round of the FA Vase and were promotion candidates before finish fourth.
A return to the Hellenic League Premier Division was finally achieved in 2009-10 as Bassett finished runners-up to Slimbridge in Division One West on goal difference after losing just three league games all season.
The club enjoyed another successful FA Cup run in the 2010-11 season, making it to the First Qualifying Round. In the league Bassett enjoyed a good start, but soon became engaged in a battle against relegation before finishing 15th. The club were eventually demoted after Rylands Way was deemed not to have met ground grading criteria.
Back in Hellenic League Division One West, Bassett’s spell in the division would last just two seasons. After finishing fifth in 2011-12, a runners-up finish in 2012-13 – their final year at Rylands Way – secured a return to step five football. That year, the last of five successful years under manager Dave Turner, also saw Bassett advance to the FA Cup Second Qualifying Round for the first time ever, with Bassett eventually knocked out by step two side Dorchester Town.
With plans for the club's and Sports Association's new facility finally moving ahead, the Men’s First Team began a two year groundshare with Cirencester Town, finishing 14th and 11th in the Hellenic League Premier Division during their short spell outside the town.
Bassett moved into the New Gerard Buxton Sports Ground in the summer of 2015 and established themselves as a mid-table Hellenic League Premier Division side, Bassett were typically a mid-table side.
The onset of the 2020s ushered in another period of success under manager Sam Collier. In 2020-21, Bassett reached the FA Cup Second Qualifying Round for a second time, losing narrowly at home to National League side Oxford City, and Second Round of the FA Vase. A season later, Bassett reached the FA Vase Third Round for the first time ever – a feat they would repeat in 2022-23 and 2023-24. In the league, Bassett secured a first ever Hellenic League Premier Division top half finish in 2022-23, finishing fifth. In 2023-24, Bassett finished fourth and reached the Hellenic League Premier Division playoff final, losing at home against Cinderford Town in front of a record crowd.
The opening of the New Gerard Buxton Sports Ground was necessitated by the significant expansion in size of the club with the establishment of a thriving Women’s Section, large Youth Section and Veterans Section.
Bassett first fielded a Women’s side in 2002-03 which played for four seasons in the Wiltshire County Women’s League. The Women’s team was re-established in 2009-10 in the Gloucestershire County Women’s League, achieving consecutive runners-up finishes in their first two seasons. Bassett then finished as Division Two runners-up in 2011-12 before earning promotion to the South West Regional Women’s Football League after a second place finish in Division One in 2016-17 – a year in which the team also won the Gloucestershire County Women’s Football League Cup.
Bassett then achieved the double in 2018-19, winning the South West Regional Women’s Football League Division One Eastern and Wiltshire County Women’s Cup. Their league title meant Bassett were promoted to the competed in the South West Regional Women’s Football League Premier Division, the fifth tier of women’s football, where they would remain for four seasons before suffering relegation. An immediate return was almost secured in 2023-24 when Bassett finished as South West Regional Women's Football League Division One Eastern runners-up.
The club now operates more than 30 teams from under 7s upwards. This growth led to the club being awarded Charter Development Club status by the FA before this was upgraded to Community Club status. Bassett were the first club in Wiltshire to achieve this. Bassett are now an England Football Two Star Accredited Club.
International ties have also been established, with three youth section teams touring Holland annually since 2001. This has led to a relationship with amateur side FC 's-Gravenzande, who are based near The Hague.
Founded:
1882
Largest Attendance:
2103 vs Swindon Town (July 1991)
All-Time Top Goalscorer (Men's):
Brian 'Toby' Ewing
All-Time Top Goalscorer (Women's):
Hayley Huckin
Most All-Time Appearances (Men's):
Steve Yeardley
Most All-Time Appearances (Women's):
Laura Jefferies
Charter Standard Award:
Development Club Status - 2008
Community Club Status - 2008
England Football Accredited Status:
Two Star
Highest National League System Finish (Men's):
4th in Hellenic League Premier Division (Step 5) – 2023/24
Highest National League System Finish (Women's):
6th in South West Regional Women's Football League Premier Division (Step 5) – 2021/22
Best FA Amateur Cup Performance:
3rd Qualifying Round - 1946/47, 1959/60
Best FA Cup Performance:
2nd Qualifying Round - 2012/13, 2020/21
Best FA Vase Performance:
3rd Round - 2021/22, 2022/23, 2023/24
Best FA Women's Cup Performance:
3rd Qualifying Round - 2022/23, 2023/24
Best FA Youth Cup Performance:
2nd Qualifying Round - 2003/04, 2005/06
Life Members:
Mick Woolford (1995)
Rod Carter (2008)
Roger Williamson (2008)
Paul Harrison (2012)
Pete Yeardley (2012)
Ron Stone (2013)
Mark Smedley (2016)
Dave Topping (2016)
Bryan Wood (2017)
Scott Smedley (2018)
Stuart Smedley (2018)
Gordon Reeves (2019)
Paul Burke (2020)
Dave Thomas (2021)