Shortwood United • Club History
Shortwood United FC were founded in 1900 and since then have played at four different grounds, Nailsworth Playing Field, Table land, Wallow Green and finally our current ground, Meadowbank.
Shortwood 2nds, as they were then known, were founded in 1948/49 and started off in the Stroud & District League. After gradually progressing through the divisions they became champions in 1980/81. They were then promoted to the Gloucestershire Northern Senior League Div 2 in 1981/82. After coming runners up in 1983/84 they were promoted to Div 1.
In 1988/89 the Reserves had their first real taste of success, winning the Glos County Cup, beating Brockworth Albion in the final, at Slimbridge's Wisloe Road.
TheyrepeatedthefeatundermanagerSteveHurn,winningagainin1990/91,thistimebeatingKings Stanley at Gloucester City’s Meadow Park. They also won the Stroud Charity Cup in the same year, again beating Kings Stanley in the final. Steve Hurn was promoted to 1st team manager and Ian Freebrey then took over as Reserve team manager, taking them to the final of the Senior Amateur Cup,wheretheycamerunnersuptoLydrookAthletic.Freeb’slaterleftduetoworkcommitments,and Tim Wilkins took thereins.
At the end of the 2008/09 season, with no manager and only a few players left it appeared to be curtains for Shortwood United Reserves. However, at the last minute, former U18’s manager and ex Shortwood United player, Paul ‘Des’ Meredith, stepped in and agreed to manage the team for the 2009/10season.HewaslaterjoinedbyanotherexWoodplayer,NickAckland,asassistantmanager. Ahastilyassembledteamofformeryouthteamplayerswasputtogetherandfinishedacreditable9th out of 16 in 2009/10. The following season they were 3rd after being pipped to runners up by Broad- wellAmateurs.
In2011/12ShortwoodUnitedReserveswerecrownedGloucetershireNorthernSeniorLeaguecham- pionsforthefirsttimeintheirhistory.TheybeatGalaWiltonintheirlastgameoftheseason,tosnatch the title from Frampton United, having lost only 3 games allseason.
This led to promotion to the Hellenic League Div 2 (West) in 2012/13, which they duly won as well. Dessie’sRessiesamassed55pointsoutof66,scoring70goals,onthewaytotheleaguetitle.Anoth- erpromotionfollowed,toUhlsportHellenicLeagueDivision1(West),thehighestlevelthattheyhave ever playedat.
At the start of the 2015/16 season manager Des Meredith resigned and his assistant Nick Ackland took over.