Welwyn Garden City

1921 to 1979

Founded in 1921, the club began by playing friendlies before entering the Mid-Hertfordshire League (Division 2) for the 1922–23 season. In 1926, the club changed leagues to the Bedfordshire & District County League for one season. A year later, they joined the Spartan League where they stayed until the end of the 1934–35 season. The 1926 season was the first time that the club entered into the FA Amateur Cup. The club first entered the FA Challenge Cup in the 1927/28 season, losing 7–4 away to Hampstead in the 1st qualifying round (NB the FA Archive erroneously states that the club entered the FA Cup in the 1922/23 season, however, this was in fact Welwyn FC. The FA has been informed). In the 1927–28 campaign, the club won its first-ever silverware, winning the Hertfordshire FA Charity Shield, beating Hoddesdon Town 5–2.

The club had a very successful 1934–35 season, where they reached its highest ever league position. However, Welwyn were forced to resign from the Spartan League as the club couldn't find a suitable ground on which to play. With problems collecting money at the venue, they were wound up before the start of the 1935–36 season with debts of over £20.

In 1937, rivals Shredded Wheat FC was wound up which allowed Welwyn Garden City with a grant of £50 from the Shredded Wheat company to be re-established. They then entered the Spartan League for the 1937–38 season. Due to the Second World War, the Spartan League was suspended, with the club only playing one league game and an FA Cup tie (that competition was also suspended). For the remainder of the 1939/40 season, the club competed in the East, North & Mid-Hertfordshire Combination and then the Hertfordshire & Bedfordshire Combination. At a meeting held in August 1940, it was agreed "to carry on the club with the present committee".

The club returned to league competition in the 1944–45 season to compete in the Mid-Hertfordshire League. The 1945–46 season saw the club return to the Spartan League, where they remained until joining the London League for the 1950–51 season. Their brief stay in the London League lasted until 1955 and during that time they enjoyed their best run in the FA Amateur Cup by reaching the 3rd round qualifying. The club rejoined the Spartan League in 1955, where they stayed until 1959. During this period, the club was managed by former England goalkeeper international Harry Hibbs.

The next stop was county football with a move to the Herts County League in 1959.

In 1968, the club moved to its present home, Herns Way, with their first fixture at senior level against Knebworth in the Aubrey Cup, on 16 November that year.

In 1970, the club joined the Greater London League and the following season was a founder member of the Metropolitan London League, where it remained for two seasons before joining the South Midlands League. In the 1972–73 season, after a merger with Welwyn Garden United to form Welwyn Garden FC, they won the Premier Division championship at the first attempt under the guidance of former Scottish international Alex Massie. The following season they reached the final of the League Challenge Trophy, only to be beaten by Barton Rovers, 3–1 on aggregate.

1976–77 saw the club lose their top-flight status, and there began a five-year battle to reclaim it. During these First Division years the club was to finish no lower than 5th and in 1981–82, won the league and with it a return to the Premier Division.

In the championship year, the club also reached the final of the League Challenge Trophy, but once again had to settle for runners-up, this time losing 3–0 on aggregate to Stotfold.

1980s to 1999

In the 1984–85 season, under the guidance of John Sneddon as manager, the club had success lifting the first ever Hertfordshire FA Senior Centenary Trophy beating Pirton 2–0. Sneddon decided to leave the club at the end of that season and former Sudbury Court manager Ray Sullivan took over the role. In the 1985–86 season, Welwyn finished second in the table missing out on the title.

In the 1986–87 and 1987–88 seasons, the club lifted the Herts FA Charity Shield, making them only the sixth team to retain the Shield. The close of the 1986–87 season also saw floodlights installed at the Herns Way ground.

The 1988–89 season saw Welwyn finish in the top six of the league, with an appearance in two cup-finals, the League Challenge Trophy and the Hertfordshire FA Senior Centenary Trophy. However, these were both lost in the space of five days.

The 1990–91 season saw Ray Sullivan step down and so began a lean spell during which the Club tried several combinations, amongst those being Dave Lawrence, Jock Bruce, former player Pat Maslen and Ian Priest. During these years the closest the Club came to anything was another Hertfordshire FA Charity Shield final appearance, during Pat Maslen's reign. However, the trophy slipped through their fingers when losing out to Sawbridgeworth Town on penalties after a 2–2 draw.

In 1996–97, City looked to local man Malcolm Doctor, who the previous year had guided City's archrivals Hatfield Town to second place in the South Midlands League. Everyone at the club was optimistic about further glory days returning to Herns Way. Four cup-finals were reached, the League Challenge Trophy, the Hertfordshire FA Charity Shield, the Southern Combination Cup and the O’Brien Challenge Trophy but all four were lost. However, there was some consolation with the Reserve team winning the Southern Combination Reserve Challenge Cup.

The 1997/98 season saw the formation of the Spartan South Midlands League, with the club joining the Premier Division North, finishing high enough (6th) to qualify for the Premier Division the following season.

In 1998, upon the departure of Malcolm Doctor, the Citizens forged a link with near neighbours, Stevenage Borough FC and strengthened their squad with Boro's EFCO youngsters along with the management pairing of Dave Bullock and Bill Bannister. However, despite reaching the third qualifying round of the FA Cup for the first time the season collapsed midway through and with the break-up of the squad and a battle with relegation followed.

1999 to present

The 1999–00 season marked the beginning of a rebuilding process, with former Somersett Ambury V&E manager Dave Steadman appointed to lead the Citizens into the new millennium. However, the club's decline continued, and in 2001–02 they were relegated to the First Division, ending one of the longest uninterrupted spells in the Premier Division.