Waterlooville F.C. was a long running semi-professional football club based in Waterlooville, Hampshire.
They were known as "The Ville" and played at Jubilee Park until 1998 when they merged with Havant Town to form Havant & Waterlooville.
In 2025, a new club, Waterlooville AFC, was formed.
Waterlooville F.C. was established in 1902 and initially played in the local Waterlooville & District League. Shortly before World War II they joined the Portsmouth League, immediately winning the Division Three title. After the war they won Division Two and after a few years in Division One they won three consecutive titles. In 1953 they joined the Hampshire League and in 1968âÂÂ69 reached the first round of the FA Cup for the first time, where they lost 2âÂÂ1 to Kettering Town.
In 1971 Waterlooville were promoted to Division One South of the Southern League. They won the division in their first season and were promoted to the Premier Division. However, they finished bottom of the Premier Division the following season and were relegated back to Division One South. In 1976âÂÂ77 they reached the first round of the FA Cup again, losing 2âÂÂ1 at home to Wycombe Wanderers in a match which set the Jubilee Park attendance record of 4,500. When the league was reorganised in 1982 they were placed in the Premier Division, but were relegated back to Division One South in 1982âÂÂ83, despite also reaching the final of the Southern League Cup, losing to Alvechurch. The following season, under the stewardship of manager John Milkins, they again reached the first round of the FA Cup, holding Northampton Town to two 1âÂÂ1 draws, before losing a second replay 2âÂÂ0.
Ville lifted the Southern League Cup in 1986âÂÂ87 after winning both legs of the two-legged final against Hednesford Town. The following season they finished second and were promoted back to the Premier Division. In 1988âÂÂ89 they reached the first round of the FA Cup for the fourth and final time, losing 4âÂÂ1 at home to Aylesbury United. They remained in the Premier Division until relegation at the end of the 1993âÂÂ94 season.
Following the sale of Jubilee Park in 1998, the club merged with neighbours and league rivals Havant Town to form Havant & Waterlooville.
Notable former players include three who went on to play professional football in England, Paul Hardyman (transferred to Portsmouth in 1983), Guy Whittingham (to Portsmouth via Yeovil Town in 1989) and Paul Moody (to Southampton in 1991). Additionally, several players joined Ville after a professional career, including Vince Hilaire, Billy Gilbert, Joe Laidlaw, Gary Stanley, and Ray Pointer. Calvin Hore holds the club record for player appearances, with 801. He made his debut, aged 16, in September 1980, and aside from one season on the books of Portsmouth (1981âÂÂ82), was a regular first team member until the club played its last match in May 1998. He was also club captain for most of the 1990s.
Waterlooville played at Jubilee Park, Aston Road, Waterlooville, Hampshire, PO7 7SZ.
Opened in 1957, the stadium had a 6,000 capacity with a large 500 seater grandstand, along with a covered terrace behind both goals. The record attendance of 4,500 was recorded in 1976 for the FA Cup meeting against Wycombe Wanderers.
Jubilee Park closed in 1998 after being sold. Residential housing, known as Coronation Road, has since been built on the site. The rows of poplar trees which marked the southern and western boundaries of the football ground remain.
The merged club play at Havant Town's Westleigh Park. Over the years, the ground has seen significant developments - enabling 'the Hawks' to progress further up the pyramid system.
Waterlooville enjoyed a long-running rivalry with a number of local clubs, most notably Horndean and neighbours Havant Town - with whom they eventually merged.
In 2025, a new club, Waterlooville AFC, was formed to restore the town's footballing identity.