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Hungerford Town Football Club is a football club based in Hungerford, Berkshire, England. Affiliated to the Berks & Bucks Football Association, they are currently members of the National League South, the sixth tier of English football, and play at Bulpit Lane.
History:
The club was established in 1886, initially playing friendlies as there were no local league or cup competitions. After two practice matches in October 1886, the first game against another club was played on 6 November, a 62 defeat to Earley. In 190405 they won their first honours, the Newbury Challenge Cup, by beating Newbury Union Jack 21 in the final. They won the trophy again in 190809 with a 21 win over Thatcham in the final. The club was now playing in the Hungerford League, but later joined the Newbury League. They won the Newbury League in 191213, retaining the title the following season. After World War I the club won the title again in 191920 and for a fourth time in 192122. They later joined the Swindon & District League.
In 1958 Hungerford moved up to the Premier Division of the Hellenic League. The club won the Hellenic League Benevolent Cup in 196061. They finished bottom of the division in 196465, resulting in relegation to Division One. In 197071 the club won the Division One Cup and the Division One title, earning promotion back to the Premier Division. In 197576 and 197677 they reached back-to-back finals of the Berks & Bucks Senior Cup, losing to Chesham United and Slough Town respectively. In 197778 they won the Hellenic League's Challenge Cup and reached the semi-finals of the FA Vase, eventually losing 31 to Barton Rovers in a replay after the original two-legged tie had ended 33 on aggregate. Their cup exploits and a third-place finish that season was enough to earn promotion to Division Two of the Isthmian League.
In their first season in the Isthmian League Hungerford reached their third Berks & Bucks Senior Cup final, losing to Wycombe Wanderers. In 197980 they reached the first round of the FA Cup for the first time, losing 31 to Slough Town in the first round proper. The club also reached the semi-finals of the FA Vase again, this time losing 53 to Guisborough Town. In 1981 they were one of four British clubs to compete in the Anglo-Italian Talbot Challenge Cup, which included a 10 defeat away to Modena in front of 20,000 fans who had stayed after an Italy under-21 match. The 198182 season saw them finally win the Berks & Bucks Senior Cup, beating Wycombe Wanderers 10 in the final. Between 197980 and 198182, they had finished third in the league for three consecutive seasons, missing out on promotion by one place. League restructuring in 1984 led to Hungerford being placed in Division Two South. They again just missed out on promotion in 198485, finishing fourth. Another FA Vase semi-final appearance in 198889 saw a record attendance of 1,684 in the first leg against Sudbury Town, which finished in a goalless draw. However, they lost 60 in the second leg at Sudbury. Further league reorganisation in 1991 saw them return to Division Two.
At the end of the 200203 season Hungerford finished fifth in Division Two of the Isthmian League, but dropped back into the Premier Division of the Hellenic League. The club won the Hellenic League's Supplementary Cup in 200405 and the Challenge Cup in 200607 and 200708. They were Premier Division champions in 200809, earning promotion to Division One South & West of the Southern League. A fifth-place finish in 201112 saw the club qualify for the promotion play-offs, losing 21 to Poole Town in the semi-finals. They were Division One South & West runners-up the following season, again qualifying for the play-offs; after beating Paulton Rovers 42 in the semi-finals, they defeated Merthyr Town 31 in the final to secure promotion to the Premier Division.
The 201415 season saw Hungerford finish fourth in the Premier Division. In the subsequent play-offs they lost 10 to Truro City in the semi-finals. However, after another fourth-place finish the following season, they defeated Hitchin Town 32 in the semi-finals before beating Leamington 21 in the final, earning promotion to the National League South.
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