Lancaster City F.C.
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| Full name | Lancaster City Football Club | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nickname(s) | The Dolly Blues, City | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Founded | 1905 (as Lancaster Athletic) |
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| Ground | Giant Axe, Lancaster |
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| Capacity | 3,500 (513 seated) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chairman |  Mick Hoyle |
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| Manager | Barrie Stimpson |
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| League | Nationwide Conference North | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2005-06 | Nationwide Conference North, 15th | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Lancaster City F.C. is a semi-professional English football team based in the city of Lancaster. They play their home games at the Giant Axe Stadium.
They play in the Nationwide Conference North league at level 6 of the English football league system.
[edit] Early years
The club was originally founded as Lancaster Athletic Football Club in 1905 and immediately joined the Lancashire Combination Division Two, but disbanded at the end of the 1909-10 season only to reform as Lancaster Town Football Club the same year. After playing one season in the West Lancashire Football League in 1910-11 they were admitted back into the second tier of the Lancashire Combination. Success soon followed and after finishing as runners-up in 1914-15 big things were expected. However the outbreak of World War 1 put this on hold.
[edit] Dissapointment
Lancaster did though carry on from where they left off after the war and after a succession of healthy league positions in the now single division Lancashire Combination the club applied for entry to become founder members of the newly formed Football League Third Division North for its inaugural 1921-22 season. However the club was to be denied admittance despite in the decisive 1920-21 season registering a better league position and attracting better crowds in the Lancashire Combination than many of the other clubs who were admitted did in their respective leagues. One cannot help thinking things may have been different had Lancaster's City status already been in place. However for the next few seasons they carried on in the Lancashire Combination becoming along with Chorley (who were even more unfortunate not to gain Football league status having won the Lancashire Combination in 1920-21) one of the more successful non-league sides in the North of England beating several league teams along the way. The team changed its name to Lancaster City Football Club for the 1937-38 season, to match the changed status of Lancaster itself, albeit perhaps, eight years too late.
For the record, at the end of the 1920-21 season Lancaster finished in a higher league position than Hartlepools United, Accrington Stanley, Ashington, Durham City, Halifax Town, Wigan Borough, Nelson and Stalybridge Celtic, all clubs who were accepted into the Third Division North which just goes to show how unlucky Lancaster were not to gain entry into the Football league.
[edit] A golden period
Since then it has been a case of many ups and downs for City. The 1930s were a very successful period, with wins in the Lancashire Combination, Lancashire Junior Challenge Cup and some excellent FA Cup runs; however, Lancaster often found themselves playing second fiddle to local rivals Morecambe and also their more prestigious neighbours Preston North End, Blackpool, Burnley and Blackburn Rovers. Even so, their gates at times reached 3,000. Indeed after the World War II City's success continued with further triumphs in both the Lancashire Combination and the Lancashire Junior Challenge Cup.
[edit] Current first team squad
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[edit] Hard times ahead
City joined the Northern Premier League in 1970-71. However the next twelve years became a struggle, with crowds dropping from a regular 1,500 to a lowly 250, and although City managed adequately enough on the pitch, financial difficulties led to the club resigning from the league at the end of the 1981-82 season. Having joined as founder members of the North West Counties League for the start of the 1982-83 season, things went from bad to worse with results on the pitch worsening, ending with City being relegated, in 1984-85 for the first time in their history. Indeed the club did in fact go into liquidation only to immediately reform as City of Lancaster A.F.C. However the club continued to play under the banner of Lancaster City F.C.
[edit] Moving forward
The 1987-88 formation of Northern Premier League First Division represented a new start with City being accepted into the new league due mainly to their ground status rather than their recent league performances. Healthier crowds and even healthier league positions and cup runs followed over the next few seasons, culminating with the club under the management team of Alan Tinsley and Mick Hoyle winning the First Division title in 1995-96, their first league title for nearly 60 years. Numerous cup wins and cup-final appearances, as well as excellent FA Cup runs, followed and the crowds started to return. With Tony Hesketh and former player Barrie Stimpson now in charge of team affairs, results continued to improve, with gates regularly topping 500. City even managed to attract crowds of over 2,000 for the numerous cup games they played against arch rivals Morecambe, and even though, financially, things could have been easier, the club as a whole was in a much better position overall. For the 2004-05 season, the club was accepted into the newly-formed Nationwide Conference North via their league position in the Northern Premier League Premier Division.
[edit] A false dawn
The start of the 2006-07 season saw Gary Finley and ex-Blackpool and Tranmere Rovers midfielder Micky Mellon taking over team affairs from Phil Wilson and Peter Ward. Also, new owners Charlie Moore and Ian Clarke promised some much-needed financial stability via new sponsorships and wise investment, enabling the club to go out and sign the players they need to mount a serious challenge on the league.
However problems regarding the paying of players wages, led to the walk out of several players and coaching staff. It also led to the resignation of Ian Clarke and Honorary Vice President John Bagguley a man who had proudly served the club for 25 years, many of them as chairman. This has left the club at the wrong end of the table and in very serious danger of being relegated. Only an immediate upturn in fortunes both on and off the pitch can deter this possibility. Another setback came when due to the difficult circumstances he was having to work under, manager Finley walked out on the club on October 19 to take up a full time coaching role with Southport. In an attempt to improve there standing City quickly appointed former Bury, Chester City and Morecambe coach Dave Bell as manager. However a transfer embargo imposed on the club by the league due to an unpaid bill for 100 footballs had meant that the new management team had been unable to add to the much depleted squad forcing Bell to play many of his young reserve team. The transfer embargo has though now been lifted and the club are bringing in new players in an effort to avoid relegation. However with attendances rarely going above 250, the clubs financial situation still looks in serious doubt.
[edit] A fresh start
Thankfully though at an emergency AGM chairman Moore was ousted after being given a unanimous vote of no confidence by the rest of the directors. His place as chairman has been taken by Mick Hoyle, a loyal servant of the club who has served in a number of capacities since first getting involved nearly 15 years ago. He had originally left the club in 1998 and had spells as manager of both Kendal Town and Fleetwood Town but the popular local businessman has returned to Giant Axe and hopefully this will begin a new dawn with the club enabling them to hopefully pull away from the relegation zone, the minimum target surely. One of Hoyle's first moves after taking charge was to replace manager Dave Bell with former player, assistant manager and City legend Barrie Stimpson, a move that will no doubt be welcomed by the City faithful. However with the club now having to make serious cut backs the hard work really does start now.
[edit] Honours
- Lancashire Combination Champions, 1921-22, 1929-30, 1934-35, 1935-36.
- Northern Premier League Division 1 Champions, 1995-96.
- Lancashire Junior Challenge Cup Winners, 1927-28, 1928-29, 1930-31, 1933-34, 1951-52.
- Northern Premier League Challenge Cup Winners, 1999-2000, 2000-01.
- Northern Premier League Presidents Cup Winners, 1994-95.
- Northern Premier League Division 1 Challenge Cup Winners, 1995-96.
[edit] Club records
- Record Attendance
- Record Win 17-2 v Appleby FC, FA Cup preliminary round, 1915.
- Record Defeat
- Career Appearances Edgar Parkinson 550, 1949 -1964.
- Career Goalscorer
- Record Transfer Fee Paid £6000 to Droylsden for Jamie Tandy, July 2006
- Record Transfer Fee Received £25,000 from Birmingham City for Chris Ward in 2001, £25,000 from NAC Breda for Peter Thomson, 1999
[edit] Timeline
- 1905-06 Formed as Lancaster Athletic F.C. Joined Lancashire Combination Division 2.
- 1909-10 Disbanded. Reformed as Lancaster Town F.C.
- 1910-11 Join West Lancashire Football League for the 1910-11 season.
- 1911-12 Re-admitted to Lancashire Combination Division 2.
- 1914-15 Lancashire Combination Division 2 runners-up.
- 1914-1918 Football suspended due to outbreak of World War I.
- 1919 Lancashire Combination reduced to one division.
- 1919-20 Lancashire Combination runners-up.
- 1921-22 Denied entry into Football League Division 3 North. Lancashire Combination champions.
- 1922-23 Lancashire Combination runners-up.
- 1927-28 Lancashire Combination runners-up. Lancashire Junior Challenge Cup winners.
- 1928-29 Lancashire Junior Challenge Cup winners.
- 1929-30 Lancashire Combination champions.
- 1930-31 Lancashire Junior Challenge Cup winners.
- 1933-34 Lancashire Junior Challenge Cup winners.
- 1934-35 Lancashire Combination champions.
- 1935-36 Lancashire Combination champions.
- 1937 Change name to Lancaster City F.C.
- 1939-1945 Football suspended due to outbreak of World War II.
- 1947-48 Lancashire Combination extended to two divisions.
- 1951-52 Lancashire Combination Division 1 runners-up. Lancashire Junior Challenge Cup winners.
- 1970-71 Joined Northern Premier League.
- 1982-83 Founder members of North West Counties League.
- 1984-85 Relegated to North West Counties Football League Division Two.
- 1987-88 Rejoined Northern Premier League First Division.
- 1994-95 Northern Premier League Presidents Cup winners.
- 1995-96 Northern Premier League First Division champions. Promoted. Northern Premier League Division 1 Challenge Cup winners.
- 1999-2000 Northern Premier League Challenge Cup winners.
- 2000-01 Northern Premier League Challenge Cup winners.
- 2004-05 Promoted to Nationwide Conference North.
[edit] FA Cup and FA Trophy
- 1928-29 R1 Lancaster Town 1 Lincoln City 3.
- 1929-30 R1 New Brighton 4 Lancaster Town 1.
- 1930-31 R1 Accrington Stanley 3 Lancaster Town 1.
- 1931-32 R1 Lancaster Town 0 Blyth Spartans 3.
- 1933-34 R1 Lancaster Town 0 Stockport County 1.
- 1937-38 R1 Accrington Stanley 1 Lancaster City 1, R1 Replay Accrington Stanley 1 Lancaster City 1, R1 2nd Replay Lancaster City 0 Accrington Stanley 4 (played at Deepdale, Preston North End).
- 1938-39 R1 Scunthorpe United 4 Lancaster City 2.
- 1946-47 R1 Lancaster City 1 Spennymoor United 0, R2 Gateshead 4 Lancaster City 0.
- 1947-48 R1 Oldham Athletic 6 Lancaster City 0.
- 1972-73 R1 Boston United 1 Lancaster City 2, R2 Notts County 2 Lancaster City 1.
- 1998-99 R1 Northampton Town 2 Lancaster City 1.
- 2001-02 R1 Altrincham 1 Lancaster City 1, R1 Replay Lancaster City 1 Altrincham 4.
- 2003-04 R1 Lancaster City 1 Cambridge United 2.
- 2004-05 R1 Milton Keynes Dons 1 Lancaster City 0.
The furthest Lancaster City have gone in the FA Trophy was in 2004-05 when the club reached the 4th round only to lose 2-1 to local rivals Morecambe at Giant Axe in front of 2000 fans. This despite taking a first half lead through Ryan Elderton.
[edit] Managerial history
- Listed in order from 1970-71:
[edit] Notable former players
- Stan Mortensen - Former Blackpool and England striker.
- Peter Thomson - Former NAC Breda and Luton Town striker.
- John Coleman - Former City and Morecambe striker and current manager of Accrington Stanley.
- Chris Ward - Striker sold to Birmingham City for £25,000 in 2001.
- Oshor Williams - Former Preston North End, Port Vale and Man Utd winger who ended his playing career at Giant Axe in 1990.
- Glen Johnston - City goalkeeper who moved to Preston North End in 1993 only to have his career wrecked by injury.
- Mark Thornley - Goalkeeper who made over 400 appearences during the successful period of the 1990's and 2000's.
- Edgar Parkinson - City legend who played over 600 career games for the club between 1946 and 1961.
- Phil Horner - Former Blackpool, Halifax Town and Leicester City defender who skippered the side late in his career.
Jimmy Graham - Former Bradford City, Hull City and Rochdale left back who was a consistant performer in the late 1990s. Also the younger brother of former Aberdeen, Leeds United , Man Utd and Scotland winger Arthur Graham.- Dean Martin - Former Scunthorpe United, Halifax Town and Rochdale midfielder who served the club well in the latter part of last century and early part of this.
Farrell Kilbane - Influential former Preston North End defender and elder brother of Republic of Ireland winger Kevin Kilbane.
[edit] Giant Axe
The club's home ground, Giant Axe, is located just downhill from Lancaster railway station, and is overlooked by Lancaster Castle and the Lancaster Priory Church. The reason for the idiosyncratic name is that when the ground was first built it was the centrepiece of a sports club, the exterior wall of which was, when viewed from above, the same shape as an axe head. In those early years, tennis was also played at the ground, and the football pitch was the centrepiece of a huge circle of grass called 'the sixpence' which also featured cricket pitches. The ground has been the club's home since the early days, but was renovated in the 1990s, and now features a stand of modern plastic seating. The ground is a typical non-league ground with the focal point being the 500 seater main stand that stands adjacent to the clubs changing, refreshment and toilet facilities. At one end of the ground is a newly built, but uncovered terrace, a older smaller covered terrace, The Shed stands at the opposite end of the ground. The other side of the ground is a long, small open terrace which also plays host to a raised corporate box, club souvenir shop and the dug outs which means that as they are situated opposite the changing rooms the coaching and playing staff have to walk across the pitch to get to there location. The reason behind this is that when the dug outs were situated in the main stand they were constantly getting flooded whenever heavy rain appeared making it nigh on impossible for the managers to take up there position. The club took the decision to move the dug outs to the other side of the pitch in the 1990's.
[edit] The Dolly Blues
Lancaster City's nickname is the Dolly Blues, due to the fact that the colour of their original kit was the same as that of the "Dolly Blue" washing tablets.
[edit] External links
- Official site
- Lancaster Guardian
- Full Record of Lancaster City League Positions
- Unnofficial Fans Forum
- Ground Directions
- Virtual Lancaster
- Lancaster & Lune Valley Tourism Site
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Alfreton Town | Barrow | Blyth Spartans | Droylsden | Farsley Celtic | Gainsborough Trinity | Harrogate Town | Hinckley United | Hucknall Town | Hyde United | Kettering Town | Lancaster City | Leigh RMI | Moor Green | Nuneaton Borough | Redditch United | Scarborough | Stalybridge Celtic | Vauxhall Motors | Worcester City | Workington | Worksop Town edit |
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