History

June 1998 saw the two rivals in Havant Town FC and Waterlooville FC join forces. Jubilee Park was sold and the newly renamed Havant & Waterlooville FC was created.

On the 22nd August 1998, the new look team beat Chelmsford City 2-0 to begin a new era in the Club’s history. The team duly won the Southern League Southern Division, earning promotion to the Premier Division at their first attempt. With success came more financial backing and £500K was spent to bring the ground up to Conference standard. The Club had now improved both their Stadium and fan base as the local community flocked to see their local heroes in action.

In 2004 the Club were part of the new restructuring of the Conference South. Season 2006-2007 witnessed the highest placing for the Club, earning a play-off spot. A hard-fought Semi-final against Braintree Town ended with the Hawks remaining in the Division.

Perhaps the most famous moments in the history of Havant and Waterlooville Football Club came in the 2007/08 season when the Hawks made it to the Fourth Round of the FA Cup. In the 2007/08 FA Cup, Shaun Gale’s Hawks side beat Bognor Regis, Fleet Town, Leighton Town, York City and Notts County, before causing a shock by defeating League One side Swansea City 4–2 in a third-round replay. In the fourth round, they played Premier League Liverpool at Anfield, and caused a sensation by leading twice before losing 5–2.

The 2015/16 season saw Havant have the tag of favourites to gain promotion to the promised land that was The National League. And despite decent runs in both The FA Cup and FA Trophy, a season of despair was on the cards at Westleigh Park. The Hawks were left in a situation where they had to beat Weston Super Mare on the final day to secure their status in the sixth tier or be faced with relegation. However, a 1-1 draw was all that they could muster and the Hawks would drop into the Ryman League Premier Division. A first Hampshire Cup title did lighten the mood at Westleigh Park after a dramatic penalty shootout win over Winchester City at St. Mary’s Stadium.

Lee Bradbury stayed on at the Hawks and going into their first season in the Ryman Premier League decided to move to a more local based squad of players. After a long title race with Bognor Regis, the Hawks got themselves back into The National League South at the first attempt.

In their first season back in the sixth tier, the Hawks were in another title race, this time with Dartford. An 89th minute final day winner from Jason Prior meant the Hawks won The National League South, and with it a place in Non-League Football’s top tier for the first time. The season also saw the Hawks win an unprecedented treble after winning both the Hampshire and Portsmouth Senior Cups.

The following season would be the Hawks’ first in The National League. A barren run after Christmas seemed to be the Hawks’ downfall, victories against Barrow and Boreham Wood in consecutive league games was met with a run which saw the Hawks win just one league game afterwards. Defeat at Solihull Moors on April 13 ultimately sealed Havant’s fate and relegation back into The National League South.

Last season saw Havant relegated from the National League South. Now, under the guidance of Shaun North, the Hawks are looking to return to the sixth tier at the first attempt once again.

 

Form

The Hawks have made an unbeaten start in the Southern League Premier South after six matches. Despite their unbeaten start however, Shaun North’s side have won just one out of their six league matches.

They have played previously in the Emirates FA Cup this season, beating Wallingford & Crowmarsh 3-0 at home in the First Qualifying Round.

Last Six
07/09 – Bracknell Town (A) – Drew 1-1
31/08 – Wallingford & Crowmarsh (H) – Won 3-0 (Emirates FA Cup)
26/08 – AFC Totton (H) – Drew 1-1
24/08 – Swindon Supermarine (A) – Drew 1-1
17/08 – Plymouth Parkway (H) – Drew 1-1
14/08 – Chertsey Town (H) – Won 3-0

 

The Gaffer

Shaun North was appointed as Head Coach at Havant & Waterlooville back in May this year, joining from Portsmouth.

Shaun originally departed Portsmouth in 2007 as he undertook a job at Oxford United as their Reserve’s Manager. A move to Torquay United would follow in preparation for the 2007/08 season as he worked as Assistant Manager under Paul Buckle. Ahead of 2011/12, Shaun was appointed Assistant Manager under Buckle once more, this time at Bristol Rovers.

Shaun also had a short stint at The Gas as Caretaker Manager in January 2012 before the appointment of Mark McGhee which followed Paul Buckle’s departure. During his time as Caretaker Manager, Shaun faced off against then Premier League side Aston Villa at The Memorial Stadium in the FA Cup Third Round as well as going undefeated in his two EFL League Two fixtures against Hereford United and Crawley Town. After leaving Bristol Rovers in 2013, spells as an Assistant Manager would follow with Cheltenham Town, Eastbourne Borough and Eastleigh.

A return to Pompey would follow for Shaun in 2016 as he returned to the club to work in the Academy where he would continue to work with a number of the Fratton Park outfit’s prospects until he was appointed First-Team Kitman in September 2021. Shaun maintained coaching duties with the First Team utilising his experience under Mousinho for the Pompey side that secured promotion back to the EFL Championship in April.

 

The Captain

Joe McNerney, 34, signed for the Hawks in the summer of 2023 having joined from Woking, a club where he spent the vast majority of his career.

The experienced Central Defender came through the U18s at the Cards before moving into the senior set-up in 2009. McNerney had 2 short loan spells during his 6 years at Woking with Corinthian Casuals and Ashford Town before making the step up to play EFL League Two Football with Crawley Town in 2015.

Joe would remain with Crawley for the following 6 years where he amassed over 150 appearances for ‘The Red Devils’ before rejoining the club where it all began Woking for an additional 2 years. In his second spell at The Cards, McNerney managed to hit the 300 appearance milestone at Woking where he was a fan favourite. A switch to the Hawks followed where he brought pedigree to the Hawks and an experienced head to the defensive line.

 

Key Player

Harvey Bradbury rejoined the Hawks this summer after a loan spell with the club back in 2017. He claimed the August Player of the Month award this season after kicking off the season with 5 goals and an assist.

Bradbury has EFL and EFL Academy Pedigree under his belt having played for Portsmouth, Watford, Oxford United, Millwall and Morecambe but also knows the rigours of Non-League having been with St Albans City, Hungerford, Woking, Oxford City, Welling United, Gosport Borough, Dorchester, Dartford, Farnborough and most recently Chatham Town.

Harvey made his EFL League One Debut for Oxford United in a 1-0 victory over Gillingham FC in November 2018 as a 20-year-old. He refined his trade on loan with Woking before heading to Millwall’s academy set-up where he spent half a season on loan in EFL League Two with Morecambe.

Time in Non-League would follow as Harvey established himself in Step 2 football in recent years with shorter stints elsewhere in the pyramid.

 

Familiar Faces

Saturday will see returns to the Sussex Transport Community Stadium for Callum Kealy, Reuben Livesey Austin and Suk-jae Lee.

Ex-Rebels striker Callum Kealy returned to the Hawks last season after a brief spell with Eastbourne Borough. The striker netted a hattrick for Worthing against Havant at Westleigh Park in the 2022/23 season as the Rebels completed a remarkable 5-1 win.

Livesey Austin came through the ranks at Worthing but decided to move on this summer as he made the move to Westleigh Park. He made 28 first-team appearances during his time at Woodside Road.

Former Rebel Suk-jae Lee joined the Hawks from Baffins Milton Rovers. He had a brief spell with Chichester City after leaving Worthing in 2023.