Winchester is beginning to realise that it once again has a successful soccer team after years in the doldrums.

Not since the days 30 years ago when they played in the Southern League have Winchester City been a force to be reckoned with.

The club that gave local boy, Terry Paine, the start of a career that earned him 19 England caps and a place in the World Cup-winning squad in 1966 was down and almost out of business only four years ago.

But now they sit on top of the Premier Division of the Hampshire League, having won all 15 of their matches this season and public support is returning to the only non-professional club in the county to be a full member of the Football Association.

The rescue act began when Southampton businessman, Mike Smith and his son, Rob, took control of the club and its debts and starteded up the dilapidated council-owned ground at Abbotts Barton.

City stalwart, Dave Rattey, now a director, admits the club was on Death Row after existing since 1884. "If Mike and Rob hadn't stepped in, we would have folded.

"But since then, things have certainly moved on and now we're aiming to move up the football ladder."

With the finance to attract better players, the club won promotion to Division 1 18 months ago and then topped that league last April.

They merged with old rivals, Castle FC and the combined resources of the Smiths and Castle's entrepreneurial chairman, Richard Newsome, has provided floodlights at a cost of £40,000 and a complete revamp of the existing clubhouse.

The aim now is to win promotion yet again and gain entry to the Jewson Wessex League, which includes Eastleigh and Andover.

The squad has been strengthened and includes several with Football League experience.

Said director of football, David Malone: "We know money can't buy or guarantee success, but it's certainly helping to revitalise this great old club.

"We're getting a lot of interest from local businesses who see the attraction of being associated with our success.

"We run four senior teams and have youth teams, too, in addition to our own academy. We want to make this a club the entire area can be proud of once more."