Bishop's Cleeve Football Club is a semi-professional football club based in Bishop's Cleeve, near Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England. They are currently members of the and play at Kayte Lane. Nicknamed 'The Mitres', the club are affiliated to the Gloucestershire County FA.
Formed in 1905, the club initially played in the Cheltenham League. They won Division Two in 1924âÂÂ25 and again in 1930âÂÂ31. After being promoted to Division One, they won the league title in 1931âÂÂ32 and 1934âÂÂ35. After World War II they won Division Two in 1958âÂÂ59, before going on to win Division One in 1961âÂÂ62 and 1963âÂÂ64. Following back-to-back titles in 1965âÂÂ66 and 1966âÂÂ67, the club moved up to Division Two of the Gloucestershire Northern Senior League. They won Division Two at the first attempt, and after earning promotion to Division One, went on to win back-to-back titles in 1968âÂÂ69 and 1969âÂÂ70. A third Division One title was won in 1972âÂÂ73.
In 1983 Bishop's Cleeve moved up to Division One of the Hellenic League. They won the division in 1986âÂÂ87, earning promotion to the Premier Division. They won the Premier Division Cup in 1987âÂÂ88, but were relegated back to Division One after finishing bottom of the Premier Division in 1991âÂÂ92. League restructuring in 2000 saw them placed in Division One West, and after finishing as runners-up in 2000âÂÂ01, they were promoted back to the Premier Division. In 2005âÂÂ06 the club finished as Premier Division runners-up, earning promotion to Division One Midlands of the Southern League. They were transferred to Division One South & West in 2008. After finishing bottom of the division in 2017âÂÂ18, the club were relegated to the Premier Division of the Hellenic League. In 2021âÂÂ22 they won the Hellenic League title, earning promotion back to Division One South of the Southern League.
The 2024âÂÂ25 season saw Bishop's Cleeve finish third in Division One South, qualifying for the promotion play-offs. They went on to lose 3âÂÂ2 after extra time to Malvern Town in the semi-finals.
The club originally played at a ground on Stoke Road. It was redeveloped in the early 1970s, and was officially reopened by FA Secretary Ted Croker in 1971. However, by the 1990s the club were required to leave Stoke Road to maintain their Hellenic League status, resulting in them spending several seasons groundsharing at Moreton Town, Wollen Sports, Forest Green Rovers and Evesham United. Permission was given for a new ground at Kayte Lane in 1997 and following a new stand and floodlights being installed, the club returned to the town in 2002. A new clubhouse was completed in 2004. It has a capacity of 1,500, of which 50 is covered seating.
During refurbishments in 2021âÂÂ22, including the installation of an artificial pitch and new floodlights, the club played at Evesham United's Jubilee Stadium.