HAMMER UNITED FOOTBALL CLUB HISTORY

Hammer United Football Club fields two sides in the West Sussex League, the first eleven playing in Division 3 South and the second eleven in Division 5 South. The club also has a veterans team which plays its football in the Farnham Sunday veterans League Division 4

The Club can trace its origins to 1919, when a group of local lads formed a side and obtained the use of an Army ground at Bramshott Camp.

In 1924, the Club amalgamated with the Chummy Club, who played in Camelsdale and the combined sides became known as Hammer and Camelsdale United, playing their fixtures in what was then known as Camelsdale Park.

It was in 1928 that the Club moved to its present ground off Hammer Lane. The land, which is registered with the Charity Commissioners, was donated to Lynchmere Parish Council by the owner, Mrs. D. M. Paul for use as a sports facility and since that time the Football Club has had sole use of the site.

The first fixture to be played on the ground was in April 1928 against Fernhurst, with Hammer recording a narrow 5-4 victory.

It was not long before honours came along. In 1930, the Club were champions of the Liphook and District League; in 1935 they won the Midhurst and District League 6-a-side Charity Cup and the Liphook Charity Cup. In the following year, they won the prestigious Haslemere Hospital Trophy and in 1938 became champions of the Surrey Junior League. Before the Second World War brought the temporary termination of their activities, the Club won the Wartime Emergency Cup and the Poland Cup.

The end of the War saw the return of many stalwarts to the Club and during the next fifteen years Hammer United could claim to be one of the strongest in the district. They won the Haslemere Hospital Trophy in 1947 and 1956 and in 1958 became champions of the Surrey Intermediate League First Division.

Thereafter followed a period of depression, with the Club playing in the Guildford and District League. Gradually, the Club improved its playing strength with many local youngsters fulfilling their early promise and in 1973, after coming runners-up in the Guildford and District League First Division, the Club was promoted to the Surrey Intermediate League, where it has remained ever since.

The Club obtained immediate success in the Surrey Intermediate League sweeping to the championship of the Premier League Division B in 1973/74. The success continued during the following season, when the Club challenged strongly for the Premier League Division A, but further honours eluded the Club and, with the departure of many of its most talented players to other Clubs in the district, the fortunes of Hammer United declined.

Apart from a Hospital Trophy Cup Final appearance against Fernhurst in 1978, which Hammer lost 2-1 after extra time, the next thirteen years proved to be a lean period. Nevertheless, the spirit at the Club remained excellent, with its reputation as a sporting Club coming to the fore and in the six years between 1981 and 1987 Hammer United won the Surrey County Intermediate League Sportsmanship Trophy three times.

Off the field, things began to develop and in 1984 the Club decided to build a new Clubhouse. After some serious fund-raising and aided by grants from the Sports Council and Chichester District Council work began on the new premises. By dint of a lot of hard work by a small nucleus of Committee Members and players the new Clubhouse was completed in two years.

In 1992, Hammer reached the final of the Haslemere Hospital Trophy, only to be beaten 2-0 by old rivals Shottermill. The nadir of the Club came in 1993, when both the first and second elevens came bottom of their respective Divisions, then began a period of consolidation. Both sides established themselves in Premier Division 2 and Reserves Division 2 respectively. In 1997 the first team again reached the final of the Haslemere Hospital Trophy, this time losing 2-1 to Chiddingfold, but the second eleven gained some success in 1999 when they won the Midhurst Invitation Cup. It would be a trophy they would win again in 2001 and 2010.

In 2002/2003 season the first team reached the Haslemere Hospital Trophy final again, and again were runners up this time losing 1-0 to Chiddingfold. They were also promoted that year to Premier Division 1 with the reserves going up to, unfortunatly both teams were religated the next season. Over the last few seasons the club has gone through a number of changes on and off the pitch, with new committee members and players joining and keeping this proud local club going we hope for years to come.