Chippenham Town Football Club is a semi-professional football club based in Chippenham, Wiltshire, England. They are currently members of and play their games at Hardenhuish Park.
The club states it was established in 1873, although local newspaper reports state the club was founded on 3 December 1884, with the first game played on 17 December 1884 against Melksham. In 1894 they were founder members of the Wiltshire League. The 1901âÂÂ02 season saw them finish joint top of the table with Warminster Town, but the club lost the championship play-off replay 1âÂÂ0, following a 1âÂÂ1 draw in the first match. They joined Division Two of the Western League in 1904, but also continued to play in the Wiltshire League. The 1904âÂÂ05 season saw them finish bottom of the Western League and second in the Wiltshire League. At the end of the 1905âÂÂ06 season the club withdrew from the Western League, and went on to win the Wiltshire League in 1907âÂÂ08 and 1908âÂÂ09, before finishing as runners-up in 1909âÂÂ10. They were runners-up again in 1912âÂÂ13, 1921âÂÂ22 and 1922âÂÂ23, before winning the league in 1928âÂÂ29.
In 1930 Chippenham rejoined Division Two of the Western League. The league was reduced to a single division in 1939, and the club were runners-up when the league resumed in the 1945âÂÂ46 season. The 1951âÂÂ52 season saw them win the Western League for the first time, and they also reached the first round of the FA Cup for the first time, losing 3âÂÂ0 at Leyton. They were Western League runners-up again in 1954âÂÂ55. However, they left the Western League at the end of the 1964âÂÂ65 season, dropping back into the Wiltshire League. In 1968 the club joined the Premier Division of the Hellenic League, where they played until rejoining the Western League in 1973. When the league gained a second division in 1976, the club were relegated to the new Division One. They were Division One champions in 1980âÂÂ81, earning promotion to the Premier Division. In 1999âÂÂ2000 the club reached the final of the FA Vase, eventually losing 1âÂÂ0 to Deal Town at Wembley Stadium.
After finishing as runners-up in 2000âÂÂ01, Chippenham were promoted to Division One West of the Southern League. Their first season in the division saw them finish as runners-up, resulting in promotion to the Southern League Premier Division. In 2004âÂÂ05 they were Premier Division runners-up, qualifying for the promotion play-offs. However, after beating Bedford Town 5âÂÂ4 on penalties following a 2âÂÂ2 draw in the semi-finals, they lost the final 1âÂÂ0 to Hednesford Town. The following season saw them reach the first round of the FA Cup for a second time, eventually losing 1âÂÂ0 at Worcester City in a replay. They also qualified for the promotion play-offs again after finishing fourth, beating King's Lynn 3âÂÂ1 in the semi-finals before losing 3âÂÂ2 to Bedford Town in the final. Another fourth-place finish in 2007âÂÂ08 led to another play-off campaign, this time ending with a 2âÂÂ1 defeat to Halesowen Town in the semi-finals. In 2009âÂÂ10 the club finished third, and after beating Hednesford Town 2âÂÂ0 in the play-off semi-finals, lost the final 2âÂÂ1 to Nuneaton Town.
In 2016âÂÂ17 Chippenham won the Southern League's Premier Division with a league record 103 points, earning promotion to the National League South. They reached the first round of the FA Cup again in 2019âÂÂ20, losing 3âÂÂ0 at home to Northampton Town. The 2021âÂÂ22 National League South season saw the club qualify for the promotion play-offs after finishing seventh, going on to beat Dartford 3âÂÂ2 on penalties (after a 0âÂÂ0 draw) in the quarter-finals, before losing 1âÂÂ0 to Ebbsfleet United after extra time in the semi-finals. In 2022âÂÂ23 the club reached the FA Cup first round again; after beating Lincoln City 1âÂÂ0, they lost 6âÂÂ1 at Burton Albion in the second round.
The club moved to Hardenhuish Park in 1919, having previously played at at least four other grounds. A main stand was erected and subsequently added to on several occasions. A clubhouse was opened in 1979, which has since been turned into hospitality suites, and floodlights were installed in 1986. Additional covered standing is, as of 2021, now provided behind one goal whilst covered standing is along the opposite side of the pitch to the main stand. This was built in 1993, replacing an earlier stand that had been damaged by storms. The pitch at Hardenhuish Park has a noticeable slope, downwards towards the Town End. A new, bigger clubhouse at pitch level was opened in 2020, housing a bar and is a year-round community facility. The ground currently has a capacity of 3,000, of which 300 is seated.
As of 17 January 2026