Fleetwood Town F.C.

Fleetwood Town F.C. is an English football club based in Fleetwood, Lancashire. They currently play in the Conference National having been defeated in the Conference National play-off semi-final by AFC Wimbledon in the 2010–11 season.

History

The current club was officially established in 1997 but, in two previous incarnations, the club's history dates back to 1908. The original club, Fleetwood F.C., were champions of the Lancashire Combination in 1923–24, and registered a hat-trick of Lancashire Combination Cup wins in 1932, 1933 and 1934. Their goalkeeper in the first of those victories was the legendary Frank Swift, then only eighteen years old. After almost sixty years as a Lancashire Combination club, they were made founder members of the Northern Premier League in 1968. The club finished in 10th place in their first season.^[3] As the NPL was one of several leagues immediately below Division Four of the Football League, this was effectively the fifth tier of English football, and the club would not surpass this success until 2010–11. Despite winning the Northern Premier League Cup in 1971, the club languished in the lower half of the table, finishing bottom for two successive seasons (1974–75 and 1975–76) and folded in 1976 because of financial difficulties.

The club was re-established in 1977 as Fleetwood Town F.C., with many of the original personnel. Initially placed in Division One of the Cheshire League, they were moved in 1982 to the North West Counties League Division Two in its inaugural year, and promoted to Division One in 1984. They reached the final of the FA Vase in 1985, losing 3–1 to Halesowen Town in front of a 16,000 crowd at Wembley. The club was placed in Division One (second tier) of the Northern Premier League when the league established a second tier in 1987, becoming the inaugural Division One Champions in 1988. In 1990–91 the club finished 4th in the NPL Premier Division, then effectively the sixth tier.^[3] However, by 1996, this second club had also folded.

Re-formed in 1997 as Fleetwood Wanderers, the club was placed back in Division Two of the North West Counties Football League (now the tenth tier of the English League system) and a sponsorship deal saw the club's name immediately changed to Fleetwood Freeport F.C.. The club was promoted to Division One in 1999 and renamed Fleetwood Town F.C. in 2002. Tony Greenwood was appointed manager in 2003, and soon afterward, Andy Pilley took over as chairman. Successive promotions as North West Counties Football League champions in 2005 and Northern Premier League First Division runners-up in 2006 saw the club reach the Northern Premier League Premier Division.

2006-07

In the 2006–07 season Fleetwood Town won the UniBond League Challenge Cup beating Matlock Town 1–0 at Witton Albion's ground on 16 April 2007. They missed out on reaching the play-offs for the Northern Premier League Premier Division by five points, after being two points behind the play-offs with two games left to play only to lose the last two games of the season. They finished the season in 8th place with 67 points.

2007-08

In 2007–08, the club continued its successful run, and from November to April lay second in the division, trailing only long-time leaders Witton Albion. Two goals in the last three minutes to defeat Ossett Town on 1 March began a series of two draws and eleven victories (including a 3–0 win at Witton) leaving Fleetwood one point ahead of Witton going into the last game of the season on 26 April. A Northern Premier League Premier Division season record crowd^[4] of 2,666 saw Fleetwood struggle to a 1–1 draw with Frickley Athletic but Witton were defeated at home, thus securing the Championship for Fleetwood. The club gained automatic promotion to the Conference North. Fleetwood were easily the best-supported club in the Premier Division; their average home gate of 721 being 50% higher than that of the next club, Witton Albion.^[5]

2008-09

A poor start to the 2008–09 Conference North campaign saw the club rooted to the bottom of the league, with only five points from their first nine matches. After the 3–1 defeat at home to struggling Hucknall Town on 16 September 2008, the club sacked manager Tony Greenwood along with his assistant, Nigel Greenwood and coach Andy Whittaker.^[6] After a single match under the club's former physiotherapist Steve Macauley, chairman Andy Pilley appointed the Burnley youth team coach and former Blackpool midfielder Micky Mellon as manager on 23 September. Macauley was later named as his assistant. Mellon at first divided his time between coaching the Under-15 and Under-16 teams at Burnley and managing Fleetwood.,^[7] but on 12 January 2009, his position was made full-time, a first in the history of the club.^[8] A successful F.A. Cup run followed, with a 4–3 defeat of Nantwich Town in the Fourth qualifying round^[9] taking them to the First Round Proper for the sixth time in their history. In the First Round, Fleetwood defeated Eastern Counties League Premier Division club Leiston 2–0 on 18 November, after a 0–0 draw at Leiston.^[10] Playing in the Second Round for the first time in their history, on 29 November, Fleetwood's cup run ended with a 3–2 defeat by Hartlepool United at Highbury, in front of a then record crowd of 3,280.

Mellon introduced a number of new faces to the playing staff, and over the course of the season produced a settled team with increasingly improving league results. Home form was particularly strong, and included a series of six consecutive victories. Home support was also strong, with nine home games attracting crowds of over 1,000, and a season average of 920 being the third best in the Conference North.^[11] The team finished in eighth place overall, thereby securing the highest position in the club's history since the 1997 re-establishment.

2009-10

From the beginning of the 2009–10 season, Fleetwood were seen as serious promotion contenders. By the end of 2009, Southport and Fleetwood had established themselves as the two strongest teams in the league. A 5–0 defeat to Southport on Boxing Day at Haig Avenue appeared to have tipped the balance Southport's way, but this was followed by a 4–0 Fleetwood victory in the return fixture at Highbury on New Year's Day. The demise of Farsley Celtic late in the season led their entire 2009–10 playing record being expunged, thereby costing Fleetwood three points relative to Southport. (Also expunged, incidentally, was a memorable goal scored from almost 60 yards by Fleetwood skipper Jamie Milligan in the home match against Farsley in February). Fleetwood appealed against the decision but the appeal was rejected the day before the last match of the season, leaving Southport one point ahead. A final day 2–0 victory over Stalybridge Celtic proved ultimately inadequate in securing the championship as Southport defeated Eastwood Town 3–0 away from home to win the championship, and the automatic promotion place, by one point. A two-legged playoff semi-final against Droylsden was decided on penalties, as a 2–0 defeat at Droylesden was countered by a 3–1 victory at Highbury. Goalkeeper Danny Hurst saved the last penalty to put Fleetwood through 4–3. The final was played against Alfreton Town at Highbury on May 9, in front of a new record capacity crowd of 3,592. Fleetwood led for most of the game on Nathan Pond's early goal, with substitute Lee Thorpe scoring a late winner after Alfreton had equalized from the penalty spot. The team's second place finish and ultimate promotion to the Conference, the fifth tier of English football, secured the highest position in the club's history since the 1997 re-establishment.

2010-11

Chairman Andy Pilley had announced towards the end of the 2009–10 season that the players would be full-time in 2010–11. As a result of this policy, a handful of players left the club after the end of the season, the most prominent being club captain Jamie Milligan. Milligan, however, would return to Fleetwood in November 2010. During the 2010 close season, Mellon strengthened his squad, most notably with the acquisition of Brazilian striker Magno Vieira from Ebbsfleet United. Vieira and Fleetwood started the season well, and by the end of September, they lay third in the Conference. A string of poor results saw them fall to sixth by Christmas, and they remained on the edge of playoff contention for much of the rest of the season. In January 2011, a club record fee of £50,000 was paid for Plymouth Argyle striker George Donnelly, while popular goalscorer Adam Warlow left the club, and the game, for personal reasons. Donnelly struggled, and Fleetwood’s form remained inconsistent, the nadir being a home defeat to bottom club Eastbourne Borough followed by a 4–0 drubbing at Darlington in early March. However, a series of five consecutive victories lifted Fleetwood into the playoff places, as rivals Kidderminster Harriers and York City faltered. Despite a loss to Kidderminster on Good Friday, Vieira’s 22nd goal of the season secured a 1–0 home victory over Barrow on Easter Monday to confirm the club in fifth place, and in the final playoff spot. A new record Highbury crowd of 4,112 saw Fleetwood start the first leg of the playoff semi-final against Wimbledon brightly, but goals either side of half-time saw Wimbledon ultimately prevail 2–0. In the return leg at Kingsmeadow, Fleetwood were behind after 27 seconds to a goal from Kaid Mohamed. Mohamed would go on to score a hat-trick as Fleetwood were trounced 6–1 (8–1 on aggregate), the consolation goal coming from Gareth Seddon. Nevertheless, Fleetwood's fifth-placed finish in the fifth tier was their highest ever league position.

2011-12

The 2011–12 is currently looking likely to be the most successful season in the club's history. In the FA Cup Fleetwood are having their most successful season ever. After beating Mansfield Town 5-0 in the replay of the final qualifying round Fleetwood earned themselves a place in the first proper round against Football League One club Wycombe Wanderers which they won comfortably 2-0. The second round draw saw them play a home match against Football League One side Yeovil Town which Fleetwood looked likely to lose, being 2-0 down until the very last nine minutes of the match when two late goals from Kieran Charnock and Jamie Milligan earned them a trip to the Somerset town in the replay. The following day the draw for the third round drew the winners of the replay at home to Football League Championship side Blackpool. This news massively motivated players and fans as it is seen as a dream match to be drawn at home against the much higher placed local club. Fleetwood went to win the replay 2-0 and secured their place in the third round. The third round match against Blackpool is expected to sell out the 5,500 capacity Highbury Stadium and therefore be a record attendance since the club re-formed in 1997. Results in the league lead to the team being second only on goal difference as of the very end of November only having lost three matches. Newcomer Jamie Vardy who had joined the club in the summer from F.C. Halifax Town soon became the club's top goal scorer and one of the top goal scorers of the league, netting 15 goals in the league as of New Years Day 2012.

Reserves, youth and juniors teams

Fleetwood Town have a reserve team in the Lancashire League, as well as youth and junior teams. The reserves were runaway winners of the 2008–09 Lancashire League West Division, having only dropped 9 points over a 20–match season.^[12] In the 2010–11 season the reserves finished second in the league, losing out to Bamber Bridge reserves.

In March 2007 it was announced that the football section of Fleetwood Gym would leave the club and join Fleetwood Town at the end of the 2006–07 season, to create the Fleetwood Town Football Academy, with teams ranging from Under-7s to Under-18s. Club chairman Andy Pilley said, "I am thrilled to welcome the Fleetwood Gym Football Section to the club. We have long aspired to have our own Academy and we look forward to the day when academy products make the breakthrough to first-team level. "^[13]

Highbury Stadium

The original 1908 club played on a pitch next to the North Euston Hotel, where the police station now stands. Apart from two years after World War I when the club played on a temporary ground behind the Queen's Hotel on Poulton Road, they remained at the Euston ground until moving to the present ground next to the Memorial Park in 1934.

In February 2007 the new Percy Ronson Stand was opened. A £500,000–plus development the stand is all terracing. Originally stated to have a capacity of 1,240, this has since been revised downwards by Lancashire County Council to 621.^[2] In July 2007, further plans for the stadium development were announced which included three new stands. The plans were finalized in December 2007 and in March 2008, planning permission was given for the first phase, construction of the north and west stands. Construction began in May 2008, and the two stands were opened for Fleetwood's first home game of the 2008–09 season, on 22 August 2008. The west stand, known as the Highbury Stand, has 550 seats together with disabled and press facilities and the north stand, known as the Memorial Stand, is a terraced stand with an official capacity of 1,473.^[2] A new Football League standard floodlight system and perimeter fencing were also installed. The second phase development, the construction of a new East Stand, to bring the ground capacity over the 4,000 minimum required for Conference National football, was originally scheduled for the 2009 close season, but was postponed, and a £125,000 project to re-lay the pitch and improve drainage was instead implemented.^[14] Plans for the stand were revised and resubmitted in December 2009, and approved in March 2010 The capacity was increased to 2,000, increasing the ground capacity to over 5,500, meeting the requirements of Football League membership. The stand has a proposed price tag of £4 million.^[15] Construction began in May 2010, ahead of Fleetwood's successful Conference North play-off final against Alfreton Town. The stand, now named the Parkside Stand, was completed in Spring 2011, and fully opened on 16 April for Fleetwood's game against Altrincham, which they won 3–1. The stadium's capacity is now 5,500; it is the 115th largest stadium by capacity in England and the 8th smallest in their division.^[2]

Rivalry

Fleetwood have no natural permanent rivals and fans often choose the closest teams in the same league as rivals. Their current local rivals are generally considered by supporters to be near neighbours Southport and Barrow. There has also been a rivalry in recent years with A.F.C. Telford United. Past rivalries with nearby clubs have included those with Accrington Stanley, Chorley, Kendal Town, Lancaster City and Morecambe. Although only having played once in 1980 in the F.A. Cup and due to play for the second time ever in January 2012 in the third round proper of the F.A. Cup, Fleetwood fans often chant songs about the much higher placed local team Blackpool.

Players

As of 30 December 2011.^[16][17]

Current squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

Management

Sponsors

Fleetwood Town FC's main kit sponsors include, Commercial Power Ltd,^[18] Business Energy Solutions, 2am Media^[19] Cowgill Holloway

Honours

1997 foundation

1976 foundation

1908 foundation

Records

• Record Victory (since 1997 re-establishment): 13–0 v Oldham Town on 5 December 1998. North West Counties League Division Two
• Record Defeat (since 1997 re-establishment): 0–7 v Billingham Town on 15 September 2001. FA Cup first qualifying round, 2001–02
• Best League performance: Fifth in the Conference National (fifth tier) 2010–11
• Best FA Cup performance: Third Round 2011-12
• Best FA Trophy performance: Second Round 2009–10
• Best FA Vase performance: Runners-up 1984–85
• Transfer fee paid: £50,000 - George Donnelly (from Plymouth Argyle)
• Most appearances: 416 – Percy Ronson (1949–1964), 266 - Nathan Pond (2003?-Present)

Attendances

• Largest attendance (before 1997 re-establishment): 6,150 vs Rochdale on 13 November 1965. FA Cup first round, 1965–66
• Largest attendance (since 1997 re-establishment): 4,112 vs AFC Wimbledon on 6 May 2011. Conference National play-off semi final, 2010–11
• Largest league attendance (since 1997 re-establishment): 3,029 vs Southport on 26 December 2011. Conference National 2011-12

Averages

• 2011-12: 1,781 (as of 26 December 2011)
• 2010–11: 1,766
• 2009–10: 1,355
• 2008–09: 920
• 2007–08: 721
• 2006–07: 537
• 2005–06: 466
• 2004–05: 206
• 2003–04: 134

The 2010–11 average in terms of percentage of ground capacity (which is currently given as 5,500) is 31%. It is a 29% increase over the previous seasons average attendance.

Source: English football site

Notable former players

• Adrian Alston – Cardiff City striker with 62 caps for Australia. Captained the team during the 1974 World Cup.
• Ken Cooper – goalkeeper with Dallas Tornado in the North American Soccer League (1970–79). Twice selected for the All-Star team..
• Herbert Jones – Blackpool and Blackburn Rovers full-back. Capped six times for England.
• Peter Ollerton – striker with 31 caps for Australia. Played during the 1974 World Cup.
• Frank Swift – Manchester City goalkeeper. Capped nineteen times for England. Died in the Munich Air Disaster on 6 February 1958.
• Frank Haydock – Manchester United defender

References

External links

• Fleetwood Town official website