The club was established in September 1905.[1] They joined the Salisbury & District League after World War I and were promoted to Division One at the end of the 1919–20 season. However, the club were relegated back to Division Two in 1923–24.[1] The following season saw them win the league's Norman Court Cup, which they won again five times before World War II and three times after the war. The club also won the Wiltshire Junior Cup in 1949–50.[1] In 1950 they joined the Bournemouth League, quickly gaining promotion to Division One. After winning Division One on five occasions, the club was promoted to Senior Division One at the end of the 1958–59 season and went on to win the league seven times in the next nine seasons, also winning the League Cup in 1961–62, 1963–64 and 1966–67, as well as the Bournemouth Senior Cup in 1962–63.[1]
In 1968 Downton moved up to Division Three West of the Hampshire League.[2] League reorganisation saw them become members of Division Three in 1971 as the regional divisions were abolished and replaced with a third and fourth tier.[3] In 1978–79 the club were Division Three runners-up, earning promotion to Division Two.[3] A third-place finish in Division Two the following season saw them promoted to Division One,[3] with the club also winning the Bournemouth Senior Cup and the Wiltshire Senior Cup.[1][4] They retained the Wiltshire Senior Cup the following season.[4] Although the club avoided relegation after finishing bottom of Division One in 1984–85, they finished bottom of the division again the following season and were relegated to Division Two.[5]
Downton were Division Two runners-up in 1987–88, securing an immediate return to Division One. After finishing third in Division One in 1992–93, the club moved up to the Wessex League.[5] They won the League Cup in 1994–95, a season that also saw them win the Hampshire FA's Russell Cotes Cup.[1] When the league gained a second division in 2004, Downton became members of Division One. However, after finishing bottom of the division in 2004–05 they were relegated to Division Two. The following season saw the club finish fourth, earning promotion back to the renamed Premier Division.[5] They were relegated again in 2007–08, having finished bottom of the Premier Division. The club went on to win the Division One title in 2010–11 to earn promotion back to the Premier Division, but were relegated to Division One in 2013–14.[5]
Honours
Wessex League
Division One champions 2010–11
League Cup winners 1995–96
Bournemouth League
League Cup winners 1961–62, 1963–64, 1966–67
Salisbury & District League
Norman Court Cup winners 1924–25, 1931–32, 1933–34, 1934–35, 1935–36, 1938–39[1]
