CONFERENCE
Brief accounts of aspects of the history
of a number of the clubs from two of the
Conference’s 3 sections appear below. Those clubs included appear in alphabetical
order. If anyone can help extend coverage
by supplying short pieces of information
on clubs not currently included, please contact
the site. With a whole section of the
Conference not ‘touched on’ yet,
there’s plenty to go at. Also,
if you think a longer piece on YOUR club
is needed, you can help that happen by getting
in touch. Thanks to Barrow for being the first to submit a longer piece.
ALFRETON TOWN
Alfreton Town played in the Midland League 1925-1927. The club reappeared in the new Midland League in 1961, winning the title three times in the 1970s.
Town were founder members of the Northern Counties (East) League in 1982 and they entered the Northern Premier League in 1987 after becoming NCEL champions. Alfreton
returned to the NCEL in1999, but won promotion to the Northern Premier League in 2002 having won the NCEL title again. Another
move was made when the club joined Conference North in 2004. For the 2009-2010 season, Town were installed as one of the favourites
to challenge for promotion, but took some
time to get into their stride. A ‘second
chance’ seemed to be offered when the club made the ‘play-offs’, but Alfreton were beaten in the Final.
ALTRINCHAM
Founded as Broadheath F.C., the club were
founder members of the Manchester League
in 1893, changing their name to Altrincham
in 1903. Eight years later, in 1911, Alty joined the Lancashire Combination Division Two, finishing their first campaign
in second place and missing out on the title
only on goal average. Promotion to
Division 1 was some consolation.
In 1919, Altrincham became founder members of the
Cheshire County League. Once again inferior goal average cost
the club the title, when the team finished
runners-up in 1935 and this position was
reached again a year later. After another
second place finish in 1940, Altrincham were
finally crowned champions in 1966, taking
the Cheshire League title. This success
was repeated a year later, though the club
had to settle for the runners-up berth in
1968, prior to its joining the Northern Premier League.
A 4-game marathon F.A. Trophy semi-final
against Scarborough in 1977 ended in disappointment
for the Moss Lane men, but in 1978 the Final
was reached ... and won. In 1979, Altrincham finished as runners-up in the
Northern Premier League and had no problem
being invited to join the Alliance Premier League for the 1978-1980 inaugural season.
Champions in the first two seasons of the
new competition, Alty should have been elected
to the Football League at this time, but
missed out in bizarre circumstances at the
League A.G.M..
After reaching the F.A. Trophy semi-finals
in 1985, the club won non-league soccer’s
premier knock-out prize for the second time
in 1986. After this, however, fortunes became
rather mixed. Another Trophy ‘last
4’ was achieved in 1991, but league form disappointed and resulted
in a return to the Northern Premier in 1997. Champions in 1999, Altrincham rose to the Conference again, only to drop down again in 2001. It took 4 years to climb back up this time around, via end-of-season play-offs,
and the club has clung precariously to its
status since, aided by the misfortunes of
others, including, in 2006, 1977 Trophy semi-final
opponents, Scarborough. Having survived
a number of scares, however, Altrincham completed
the 2009-2010 campaign well enough to suggest
that they have at last become an established
Conference club again.
BARROW
Barrow started in the Lancashire League in
1893, making it as far as November 20th when they resigned. Another attempt began in 1901 and
this time things went rather better.
Barrow moved to the Lancashire Combination in 1903, staying there until they became champions
in 1921 – the year the Holker Street side
joined the new Football League 3rd Division (North). For the next half century it was Barrow Reserves
who were prominent in non-league circles
to the west of the Pennines. In 1972 the club lost its place in
the Football League and were members of the
Northern Premier League 1972-1979. The 30 years since have seen the
club moving between the Conference and the
Northern Premier. The years spent in
the Conference have been 1979-1983, 1984-1986,
1989-1992, 1998-1999 and 2004-the present
day, the period 2004-2007 being spent in Conference North. When not a Conference club, Barrow played
in the Northern Premier League.
In 2010 Barrow surprised many followers of
the non-league game by outwitting Conference
champions at Wembley and lifting the F.A.
Trophy.
Coming all the way from its base in New Zealand,
HOLKER STREET NEWS is a detailed independent newsletter which comes out on a daily basis
giving a thorough and wide-ranging breakdown
of anything and everything relating to Barrow
FC, their games, their opponents, their past. It makes fascinating reading, so,
if you’ve got the time, get in touch
with ralph@inspire.net.nz and learn more about it.
BLYTH SPARTANS
Spartans became members of the North Eastern League in 1913 winning the title in 1936. After the competition folded the club
joined the Midland League in 1958, then the Northern Counties League in 1960. Blyth continued as members
of this competition under its new name ‘North-Eastern League’ 1962-1964, but when it again folded Spartans moved
to the Northern League in 1964. After 10 championships, the club
looked for a new challenge and moved to the
Northern Premier League in 1994. As Premier Division title winners
in 2005, Blyth moved to the Conference North.
BOSTON UNITED
Boston Town joined the Midland League in 1921, playing there until 1933 when the club had to be wound up, being
re-formed as Boston United and continuing in the same competition until 1958, when a move was made to the Southern League. The club rejoined the Midland League
in 1962 but left in 1964. Brief spells
in the United Counties League and the West
Midlands (Regional) League, where three successive
league titles were won, United became members
of the Northern Premier League in 1968 and emerged as champions 4 times in the
next few years. The club was a founder
member of the Alliance Premier League (Conference) in 1979, but had to rejoin the Northern Premier League in 1993 before switching to the Southern League
in 1998. Boston returned to the Conference in 2000, earning promotion to the Football League
in 2002. After a few uneventful years, the
Lincolnshire club returned to the Conference
in 2007, ending up in Conference North because of the major financial difficulties
being faced by this time. Another demotion
followed to the Northern Premier League where
the club played the 2009-2010 season which ended in triumph with victory in the play-off final seeing United promoted.
DROYLSDEN
Droylsden joined the Cheshire County League in 1939, taking part in the league’s wartime
set-up. The club joined the competition proper
in 1945, but left in 1950. In 1949 Belle Vue FC of the Lancashire Combination changed its name to Droyslden United, merging with Droylsden in 1951 and playing under the simpler name in the
Lancashire Combination from then on, until moving to the Cheshire League in 1968. Droylsden became founder members
of the North West Counties League in 1982. The next move was to the Northern Premier League in 1987 and success there led to a place in Conference North in 2004. Champions in 2007, Droylsden spent
the 2007-2008 season in Conference National, returning to Conference North in 2008.
FLEETWOOD TOWN
The original Fleetwood Town joined the Lancashire Combination in 1910. Despite some gaps in membership, the
club remained there until joining the Northern Premier League in 1968, folding not long after this. A new
club was set up in 1977 and joined the Cheshire County League in 1978. Four years later the Fleetwood club
became founder members of the North West Counties League in 1982, switching to the Northern Premier League in 1987 before folding again in 1996. The
name Fleetwood was quick to reappear in football
again, however, in the North West Counties League. In 2005 the Northern Premier League was joined, with promotion to Conference North following in 2008. During the 2009-2010, Fleetwood mounted
a strong campaign for automatic promotion
to the Conference’s national division,
but ended up having to earn their elevation
via the play-offs, following victory over
Alfreton Town.
GAINSBOROUGH TRINITY
Founder members of the Midland League in 1889, Trinity spent the years 1896-1912 in the Football League Division 2. Loss of League status saw the club
return to the Midland League in 1912, with 3 titles won by the time the old competition
disbanded in 1960. Gainsborough had one uneventful season
in the Yorkshire League 1960-1961 before joining the re-formed Midland League in 1961, with a fourth title won in 1967.
A year later, the club joined the new Northern Premier League and were members 1968-2004. In 2004, Trinity moved into Conference North for its first season.
GATESHEAD
There was a Gateshead Town playing in the North Eastern League 1911-1915. The Football League arrived in the
Tyneside town when South Shields changed
home and name in 1930. Voted out of
the League to make way for Peterborough United
Gateshead joined the Northern Counties League in 1960, moving to the North Regional League two
years later. The club were founder
members of the Northern Premier League in 1968, but left
in 1970. In the years 1971-1973 Gateshead played in the Midland
League, prior to folding. A year later, however,
South Shields FC moved to Gateshead and under
the name ‘Gateshead United’ the town had a club in the Northern Premier League once more 1974-1977.
It appears that a new club was formed in1977 and playing in the NPL, which was won in 1983, so Gateshead became
members of the Alliance Premier League (Conference) 1983-1985. In the years which followed, fortunes
were a little mixed. The NPL was rejoined for years 1985-1986, 1987-1990 and 1998-2008. The club had two spells in the ‘gap
years’ (1986-1987 and 1990-1998) in the Conference. For 2008-2009 Gateshead played in Conference North while the club’s unique history saw
it promoted to Conference National in 2009.
GUISELEY
The club joined the Yorkshire League in 1968 and became a founder member of the Northern Counties (East) League in 1982. Guiseley joined the Northern Premier League in 1991 and are currently members of the league’s
Premier Division. F.A. Vase winners
in 1991, Guiseley were runners-up in that
competition in 1992 and semi-finalists in
1994.
In a remarkable finish the Unibond Premier campaign 2009-2010, Guiseley eased ahead of Boston and Bradford
to take the title and win the automatic promotion place to Conference North.
HARROGATE TOWN
Probably having no connection with the Harrogate club which played in the Yorkshire League in the 1920s, Town joined the competition in 1957. Entering the Northern Counties (East) League in 1982, Harrogate Town rose to the Northern Premier League in 1987 and became members of Conference North in 2004. Despite finishing bottom of the pile
in the 2009-2010 season, Town won a reprieve
from relegation.
HINCKLEY UNITED
The club was formed by a merger between Hinckley Athletic and Hinckley Town, who had played in the Midland League 1900-1904. The merger took place in 1997 and
the club played in the Southern League until
the setting up of Conference North in 2004. As one of the most northerly Southern
League clubs had to go with this.
HYDE UNITED
The club joined the Cheshire County League in 1930, becoming champions in 1955 and 1956. United were founder members of the
Northern Premier League in 1968, but re-joined the Cheshire League in 1970, only to return to the NPL in 1982. Three times runners-up in this competition,
Hyde United were Northern Premier League
champions in 2005 and joined Conference North.
ILKESTON TOWN
Ilkeston joined the Midland League 1894, but were expelled during the 1902-1903
season. The club re-joined the Midland League in 1925, only to leave in 1928. A third entry into the Midland League, in its new form, occurred in 1961, with the title being won in 1968.
Town left for the Southern League in1971, but were back 2 years later, re-joining the Midland League in 1973. Founder members of the Northern Counties (East) League in 1982, Ilkeston were on the move again in 1986
when they joined the Central Midlands League.
Next stop proved to be the West Midlands
(Regional) League 1990-1994, before a further
Southern League adventure 1994- 2004.
Ilkeston joined the Northern Premier League in 2004, finished runners-up in the Premier Division
in 2009 and emerged successful from the play-offs
and were promoted to Conference North.
MANSFIELD TOWN
A club named ‘Mansfield Town’ joined
the Midland League in 1892, absorbing neighbours Mansfield Greenhalghs
two years later. This team then ‘sank below the
horizon’ and Mansfield Town was not
seen again until the Midland League was joined in 1921. The club won the title twice (1924
and 1925), left the competition in 1926,
re-joined in 1927 and became champions for a third time in
1928. After several attempts, Mansfield
Town joined the Football League in 1931,
leaving their reserve side to carry the club’s
flag in non-league circles. It was
not until relegation from League 2 that the
club’s first team was back in non-league
soccer, joining the Conference National in 2008.
SOUTHPORT
Southport Central were founder members of
the Lancashire League back in 1889. The club joined the Lancashire Combination
in 1903, having been the last champions of
their previous competition. In
1911 they moved to the Central League and
played in the same section as a number of
Football League clubs in the latter stages
of the Great War, changing their name first
to ‘Southport Vulcan’ and then
to ‘Southport’ in 1918.
Founder members of the Football League Division
3 (North) in 1921, the Sandgrounders played
in the lower levels of the League for the
next 50+ years. When League status
was eventually lost Southport joined the
Northern Premier League in 1978. Fifteen years later, the club were
champions and joined the Conference in 1993 before re-joining the NPL in 2003. When a Conference North was established in 2004, Southport joined and won the title.
In 2005 Conference National was joined again, but it was back to Conference North in 2007. Last season Southport edged out Fleetwood
Town in a close title-race and automatic
promotion back to the national division of
the Conference was the club’s reward.
STAFFORD RANGERS
After a short period in the Shropshire league
1891-1893, Stafford Rangers joined the Birmingham
& District League for the next 3 seasons. Voted out of this competition in 1896,
Rangers regained their place in 1900 and
stayed for 12 seasons before leaving.
Unable to stay away, it seems, the club rejoined
in 1921 and remained as members until the
Second World War. After six post-war
seasons in the Birmingham Combination Stafford
Rangers joined the Cheshire County League in 1952, not moving again until the Northern Premier League was joined in 1969. This was the start of a period of
outstanding success for the club, which was
styled ‘the Leeds United of non-league
football’ because its achievements
in the non-league game were comparable with
those of Don Revie’s side at a higher
level. NPL title and runners-up honours
were taken and there were 2 successful campaigns
in the F.A. Trophy (1972 and 1979), with
Rangers also losing a Wembley Final in the
last minute of extra time to Scarborough
in 1977. Founder members of the Alliance
Premier League (Conference) in 1979, Rangers never made the impact some expected
at this level, but had the pleasure of depriving
Barnet of the title in 1987 by winning at
Underhill 2-1 – which handed the honour
of being the first non-league club automatically
promoted to the Football League to Northern
side, Scarborough. Stafford slipped
down to the Southern League in 1995, but
proved good enough to earn a place in Conference North in 2004 and win promotion to Conference National in 2006. In 2008, however, the club returned to Conference
North.
STALYBRIDGE CELTIC
During its first few years, the Stalybridge
Celtic did not seem sure which league it
wanted to play in. Starting in the Lancashire Combination in 1911, the Bower Fold side switched to the Central
League a year later and the Southern league
two years after that. Founder members
of Division 3 (North) of the Football League
in 1921, Celtic resigned after two seasons
and moved to the Cheshire County League in 1923 in place of
their reserves. Remarkably the club remained in that
competition until it ended. In 1982, Stalybridge became members of the new
North West Counties League, twice winning the title before moving to
the Northern Premier League Division 1 in 1987 as founder members of that. Champions
of the Premier Division in 1992, Celtic joined the Conference. A return to the Northern Premier in 1998, was followed by a further season in the
Conference 2001-2002, another NPL spell 2002-2004 and acceptance into Conference North in 2004.
WORKINGTON
Workington FC joined the Lancashire League
in 1901, moving to the Lancashire Combination Division 2 in 1904. In 1910 the club switched to the North Eastern League, replacing its own reserve
side. At the end of the season the first
Workington club disbanded (1911). Re-formed in 1921, Workington joined the North Eastern League of which they were members until 1951 when the first-team was elected to the Football
League. The Reds failed to be re-elected
to Division 4 in 1977 and joined the Northern Premier League. A series of barren years followed
and the club slipped down to the North West Counties League in 1998. Recovery began almost at once with
a return to the Northern Premier League in 1999 and a place won in Conference North in 2005.
WREXHAM
About 1880, Wrexham Town changed its name
to ‘Wrexham’ and the club played
in a competition known as The Combination
from 1890 to 1905, being champions 4 times. A switch was then made to the Birmingham
& District League, though honours were
largely restricted to winning the Welsh Cup
– something which had been done 12
times by the time the Red Dragons were admitted
to the new 3rd Division (North) of the Football League
in 1921. After spells in both The Combination
and the Birmingham & District League
the club’s reserve side joined the Cheshire County League
in 1945 and stayed in that competition until 1968, after the Welsh National league was joined.
The Welsh Cup was won for the 23rd time in 1995, with success achieved since
in the F.A.W. Premier Cup 5 times by 2004
and the Football League Trophy in 2005.
Then came relegation to the Conference in 2008.
YORK CITY
The original York City joined the Northern League in 1908, but left for the Yorkshire Combination in 1910. In 1912 the club moved to the Midland League, before folding in 1917. After the
Great War a new club was formed and joined
the Midland League in 1922. City were elected to the Football
League in 1929 and remained there until they were relegated
to the Conference in 2004. Non-League followers had seen the
club’s reserve side in the Yorkshire League 1923-31, 1934-1938 and 1966-1968 + in the Midland League 1931-1934 and 1947-1958.
A successful run in the F.A. Trophy in 2009 saw the Minstermen reach the Final and sensible
investment in the team following this meant
that City made the Conference play-off Final in 2010 after beating Luton Town in the semis. Defeat by Oxford United prevented
a return to the Football League, however.
