TEAM OF THE WEEK: Officials of Imperial are looking forward to Saturday, March 27 when the club's two sides are contesting in cup semi-finals, with high hopes of collecting silverware for the first time in many years.

The first team face a trip to Berrow in the Somerset County League Division II Trophy, while the reserves are at home to unbeaten De Veys in the Bristol and Avon League's Temple Colston Cup.

The club was formed at the start of the 1995-96 season when Imperial United and Imperial Bristol merged, two of the many teams associated with the tobacco and printing industry in Bristol.

Although Imperial FC's history only covers the last 15 years, the roots of the club can be traced back to 1960, when a group of work-mates launched Wills No 1 Engineers FC in Division VII of the Suburban League.

The team's name was changed to Wills United six years later, then to Imperial Athletic in 1969 and again to Imperial Bristol, playing in Division I of the Somerset Senior League, before the amalgamation with Imperial United.

Ivor Grimstead became involved in 1984, later filling the positions of treasurer, secretary and chairman at different times, and he was Imperial Bristol's clubman of the year for the 1992-93 season.

"The club came close to folding a couple of times but this is now the 40th anniversary," said local historian Grimstead.

Other clubs which used to play under a similar banner include Mardon's Temple Gate, winners of the Bosley Cup in 1954, Imperial Athletic, members of the Bristol Premier Combination from 1961 to 1966, and Imperial Nomads, of the Suburban League.

Imperial Mardons were champions of Suburban League Division V in 1972, Imperial St Annes took the Division III title in 1979 but, following mergers and resignations, Imperial Saints, the current leaders of Division I are the only other survivors.

Imperial FC's original first team was built around players from Imperial United, including Sean Copps, defender Terry Bamford, goalkeeper "Edgar", right winger Ian "Cas" Claypole and evergreen Jon Scrase, who is still scoring regularly for Nicholas Wanderers, together with the introduction of new blood.

The team kicked off in Division I of the Somerset Senior League and the reserves started in Division III with a new committee of Grimstead and present chairman Doug Gillett, who helped to keep the club alive during the period of consolidation.

Gillett was joined by his sons Darren and Lee the following season, when the squad was also strengthened by the recruitment of Dave Turner and Simon Downs, whose father Joe is now the secretary.

The first team finished second in the table in 1997 to earn promotion to the Premier Division, while the reserves continued in mid-table for the next few seasons until folding in 2001.

The first team's fall from grace began in 1999 with relegation to Division I, then to Division II a year later and finally to Division III in 2005.

Following a re-organisation of the league for the 2006-07 campaign, Imperial transferred to Division II (East), where the team has been hovering around mid-table for the last three years.

Although there have been plenty of ups and downs over the last decade, somethings never change.

As always, Doug Gillett and Joe Downs provide encouragement and entertainment on the touchline, arguing or jousting one minute, then dancing with joy the next to celebrate a goal!

This season has seen the club expand again, with the introduction of a reserve side in the Avon League, thanks to the arrival of a new group of promising young players.

The spirit within the club is reflected by a regular attendance of 25 or more at training each week, which is taken in professional style by Mark Shields on the new 3G pitch at the South Bristol Sports Centre, West Town Lane.

Manager of the first team is Leigh Portch, with the assistance of Mark Shields, who is also club coach, while the reserves come under the wing of Allan Jones, and they are in charge of developing the younger players.

Headed by chairman Gillett and secretary Downs, the committee has grown to eight this season and they plan to improve facilities at the ground during the summer.

This includes up-grading the pitch, erecting barriers around the playing area and the addition of advertising boards for local sponsors of the club.

Wesley Smith has been a regular in goal behind a defence which includes Darren Gillett, his brother Lee, Paul Hynam, James Langridge and seasoned 50-plus campaigner Colin Dickinson

Brothers Darren and Paul Kew are joined in midfield by Matt Lewton, Sean Pearce, Kevin Gale, Paul Westerside and Mark Shields to support strikers Neil Hook and newcomer Callum Hodge, the top scorer with 15 this season.

Former first-teamer Mark Spiller is providing the experience in the newly-launched Avon League Reserves, for whom striker Matt Wood, Wesley Hawkins and Stuart Ames are among the regulars in the squad.

With the recruitment of young players this season, the future is looking much brighter for Imperial FC, who would welcome new sponsors and they can contact Lee Gillett on 07850 178318.