Highbury Stadium, Fleetwood

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Ground Name: Highbury Stadium

The new club was originally the brainchild of former Chairman Jim Betmead who, along with a number of other local people, set about clearing a disused Highbury Stadium, the home of previous clubs Fleetwood FC and Fleetwood Town.

The task was enormous. In fact the ground looked just like a bombsite with almost all facilities vandalised. In a very short period of time the perseverance and commitment of the volunteers delivered a minor miracle and an amazed North West Counties Football League grading committee recommended the club for membership at the leagues’ AGM in June 1997 as Fleetwood Wanderers.

Fleetwood were duly accepted but before a ball was kicked in earnest, the club was celebrating the successful signing of a huge sponsorship deal, resulting in a quick change of name to Fleetwood Freeport FC.

Looking back, it has to be said that the town of Fleetwood has endured a chequered football history.

The first representative side emerged in the mid 1880’s but the original Fleetwood FC did not come into existence until 1908. Just 5 years later they lifted the coveted Lancashire Junior Cup for the first time and in 1923-24 they were crowned Lancashire Combination Champions for the only time in their history.

Arguably the best spell came in the early 1930’s when Fleetwood won the Combination Cup three years in succession and were league runners’ up twice.

After that tremendous period, the club fell on hard times but they still remained prominent enough in the mid 1960’s to become founder members of the Northern Premier League in 1968. In the third season of the new competition they lifted the NPL Cup by defeating Macclesfield in the Final.

But in 1976, after several rocky years, Fleetwood were finally forced into extinction; the victim of a winding up petition served by the Inland Revenue.

A year later Fleetwood Town FC was formed, carrying all before them in their inaugural season, prompting a move into the Cheshire League.

In 1980 the club reached the First Round of the F.A. Cup where they met Fylde neighbours Blackpool. The Seasiders triumphed 4-0 but the glory belonged to Fleetwood.

On the formation of the North West Counties Football League in 1982, Fleetwood Town were placed in Division Two despite having previously been a member of the top division of the Cheshire League.

At their second attempt, Fleetwood were crowned 2nd Division Champions and earned promotion to the top Division.

A year later, Town enjoyed their greatest day ever when they reached the Final of the F.A. Vase. Sadly, the fairytale ended in defeat as Fleetwood lost the Wembley final against Halesowen; Norman Moran scoring Fleetwood’s goal in a 3-1 defeat watched by a crowd of 16,715.

In 1987 Fleetwood joined the exodus of NWCFL clubs to form the new First Division of the Northern Premier League, winning the title in the very first season.

Promotion to the Premier Division saw them compete favourably when they finished 4th in season 1990-91.

However, the joy was short-lived and after a period of severe instability the club again folded in ignominious fashion in 1976.

A new club was formed in 1997 and during their 2nd year of existence, season 1998-1999, Fleetwood once again found themselves on the trophy trail when they clinched a magnificent North West Counties League and Cup double; earning promotion to Division One as a result.

The following two seasons saw Fleetwood finishing 7th and 5th, respectively, in the North West Counties Football League First Division under the management of Mick Hoyle.

Season [2001/2002] was a traumatic campaign for the club both on and off the pitch but after a late revival Fleetwood finally finished in a respectable 14th position. Betmead resigned as chairman, and ownership of the club transferred to former manager Mick Hoyle whose departure in the build up to the 2001/2002 campaign had been the catalyst for the turmoil which followed.

In July 2002, Fleetwood Freeport reverted to the club’s former title of Fleetwood Town after the 5-year sponsorship deal with Freeport PLC ceased.

The 2002/03 season that followed saw further mid table mediocrity but the club’s fortunes improved immeasurably when, firstly, Tony Greenwood was appointed as manager and then a few months later Hoyle stood down as chairman to be replaced by Andy Pilley.

With the long serving Phil Brown and Kevin Pennington alongside him, Pilley inspired a dramatic and immediate transformation in the club’s fortunes.

Greenwood was working his magic on the football side and after a 3rd place finish in season 2003/2004, only a failed ground grading denied Fleetwood promotion to the Unibond Northern Premier League 1st Division.

Fleetwood finally made it to the Unibond League by winning the North West Counties Division One title in record winning style during season 2004/2005.

12 months on, Town were celebrating back-to-back promotions when a sensational 5-1 victory over Brigg Town on the final day of the season saw them pip Kendal Town for 2nd place and automatic promotion to the UniBond League Premier Division.

Fleetwood Town’s latest shirt sponsors are BES Gas, a Bispham based company owned by chairman, Andy Pilley