Ryde Sports F.C.

Before their tragic demise Ryde Sports were for many years a major force in football on the Isle of Wight and in Hampshire.

Ryde Sports F.C. were founded in 1888 and became one of the eight founder members of the Hampshire League in 1896. Although finishing at the foot of the table they soon improved by twice finishing runners-up before winning the title in 1899-1900. Success returned to the Partlands club in 1925-26 when they completed the double by winning the league title and Hampshire Senior Cup.

The Thirties continued to be very succesful for the club as they won the County Senior Cup five seasons running from 1935 to 1939. The league title eluded them during this period although a top five final position was achieved each season. It was also during this period that Ryde recorded some fine runs in the FA Cup, most notably when they reached the 1st Round proper in 1936-37 when they lost 1-5 to Gillingham.

It was not until the 1952-53 season that Ryde suffered their first setback when, for the first time, they were relegated from the Hampshire League's top flight. After several years of consolidation they returned as Division 2 runners-up five years later, only to be relegated straight back again. Worse was to follow in 1963-64 when they were relegated again to Division 3 but they made a good recovery by winning immediatley winning promotion back as champions and in 1967-68 they finished runners-up in Division 2, which was enough to return to the top-flight.

The Seventies continued to up and down for Ryde. After two seasons in Division 1 they were again relegated in 1969-70 and in 1976-77 they again dropped down into Division 3. The early Eighties saw troubled times for Ryde as they twice finished bottom of the league, having to apply for re-election. Luckily Ryde regained their place and slowly rebuilt, with the Division being renamed Division 2 in 1986 following the formation of the Wessex League.

Finally, Ryde's fortunes changed and with a powerful side they won the Division 2 and Division 1 titles in successive seasons 1988-89 and 1989-90. In 1990 the club vacated their famous Partlands home to play at a new multi-purpose Sports Complex at the Smallbrook Stadium and were elected to the Wessex League that year.

Ryde initially did well in the Wessex League where they were frequently in the top half of the table with their highest positions being 3rd in 1995-96 and 4th a year later. Sadly Ryde ran into financial problems and a player exodus saw the club struggle badly during the 1997-98 campaign. A local appeal for support was unsuccesful and tragically the club, rock bottom of the table, withdrew from the competition in December 1997 with their playing record being expunged.

A new club, Ryde '98 was formed to play in the local Isle of Wight League but the new team never climbed out of the basement division and folded in 2005.

Ryde Sports F.C. remain sadly missed in local football. Their old ground, Partlands was sold for housing whilst Smallbrook Stadium is still used for various sporting events, most notably for Speedway.

The town of Ryde is now represented by Ryde Saints F.C. who run two sides in the Isle Of Wight League.