Cammell Laird 1907 F.C.
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| Full name | Cammell Laird 1907 Football Club | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | The Lairds, The Camels, The Shipyarders | ||
| Founded | 1907 (as Cammell Laird Institute) | ||
| Ground | MBS Stadium (formerly Kirklands Stadium), Birkenhead | ||
| Capacity | 2,000 (250 seated) | ||
| Chairman | Frank Games | ||
| Manager | Paul McNally | ||
| League | North West Counties Football League Division One | ||
| 2013–14 | Northern Premier League Division One North, 11th | ||
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Cammell Laird 1907 Football Club is an English semi-professional football club based in Birkenhead, Merseyside. The club are members of the North West Counties Football League Division One, the tenth tier of English football, and play at the MBS Stadium. The club changed its name from Cammell Laird in 2014.[1]
History
1907–21 Beginnings and Early West Cheshire League Era
Cammell Laird Institute Association Football Club was established in June 1907 and was based in Conway Street, Birkenhead. Originally playing at the Old Prenton Park on Temple Road, the club played in white shirts and blue Socks and joined the West Cheshire League that year.
In September 1909, the club moved to their newly enclosed ground in Park Road North, Birkenhead Park where they stayed until 1921.
At the end of their first season in the Park, Lairds finished bottom but retained their Division One status after being successful with their re-election speech.
After World War I ended and shipbuilding decreased, the Cammell Laird company decided to take the football club in-house, and organised a company league for twelve teams, with a representative team playing in the Wirral FA cups at Park Road North, whilst the league games were played at Bebington Oval.
1922–2004 Move to Kirklands and West Cheshire dominance
In 1922 the club was re-established as Kirklands F.C. and joined Division Two of the Birkenhead League. They won the Wirral Minor B Cup in 1924, Division Two in 1924–25 and the Regent Cup in 1927. However, they club folded in 1935.
In September 1944 the club was re-established for a second time, and again joined the West Cheshire League. They won Division Two in 1957–58 and 1958–59, and were promoted to Division One. After winning their first Division One title in 1968–69, the club went on to win it a further eighteen times between 1970–71 and 2001–02.
In 2003–04 the club finished second, and applied to join Division Two of the North West Counties League. They were successful, and therefore joined the English football pyramid for the first time in their history.
2004–08 The rise up the pyramid
Lairds won the division in their first season in 2004–05 to earn promotion to Division One. They also won Division One at the first attempt in the 2005–06 season, a season in which they also reached the semi-finals of the FA Vase, only to be beaten by Nantwich Town 5–0 on aggregate. The Lairds earned promotion to Division One of the Northern Premier League for the 2006–07 season for the first time in their history
The 2006–07 season was also successful for Lairds, as they won the Cheshire Senior Cup for the first time. After finishing runners-up in 2006–07, Lairds missed out on a fourth successive promotion after losing the play-off final to Eastwood Town.
The club finished second again in the 2007–08 Season, but this time were given automatic promotion to the Premier Division because 1st Place Retford failed to meet ground criteria. However, despite finishing eighteenth in 2008–09, this rule came back to haunt Lairds and the club were relegated to Division One North due to their Kirklands Stadium failing to meet the ground grading criteria. The club lost their appeal.[2]
2009–14 Northern Premier League era
In the 2009–10 season Lairds were back in the Northern Premier League Division One South, and finished 16th. In the 2010–11 season Lairds were transferred to the Northern Premier League Division One North to satisfy the restructuring process. Lairds finished 19th in 2010–11 but survived the drop. In the 2011–12 season, Lairds finished bottom after what was a very testing season with a lack of funds and a depleted squad. However, Durham City's request to leave the league coupled with the ground grading failure for Woodley Sports, meant Lairds were reprieved and played in the Northern Premier League for the 2012–13 season.
Manager Tony Sullivan was awarded his first managerial accolade in January 2013, when he was named Manager of the Month for the Evo-Stik Northern Premier Division One (North) after a fine run of results during that month. Wins over Northern Premier League Sides Marine and Chorley away in the cup helped win the award and set up a Doodson Sport Cup Quarter-final tie against Northwich Victoria.
In May 2013 Lairds finished the season as runners-up to Skelmersdale United, and a semi-final win over Mossley at Kirklands set up a play-off final with Trafford on 10 May, again at Kirklands. The game finished 0–0 after full-time and 30 minutes of extra-time, so the game went to penalties, in which Lairds ultimately lost. On 17 April 2014, the Northern Premier League announced that Cammell Laird had resigned from the league and that they would drop to Step 6 of the National League System for 2014–15.[3]
2014 onwards North West Counties League
Under its present name, the club was accepted into Division One of the North West Counties League for the start of the 2014–15 season.[4]
League history
(Since Joining the National League System)
| Season |
Division | Tier |
Pld |
W |
D |
L |
GF |
GA |
GD |
Pts |
League Position | Average Lge Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joined the North West Counties League | ||||||||||||
| 2004–05 | North West Counties League Division Two |
10 | 36 | 27 | 6 | 3 | 142 | 34 | +108 | 87 | 1st of 19 Promoted | 83 |
| 2005–06 | North West Counties League Division One |
9 | 42 | 35 | 3 | 4 | 126 | 36 | +90 | 102 | 1st of 22 Promoted | 114 |
| 2006–07 | Northern Premier League Division One |
8 | 46 | 28 | 10 | 8 | 105 | 56 | +49 | 94 | 2nd of 24 Play-Offs | 171 |
| 2007–08 | Northern Premier League Division One South |
8 | 42 | 27 | 5 | 10 | 82 | 54 | +28 | 86 | 2nd of 18 Promoted | 148 |
| 2008–09 | Northern Premier League Premier Division |
7 | 42 | 12 | 11 | 19 | 58 | 70 | −12 | 47 | 18th of 22 Relegated | 161 |
| 2009–10 | Northern Premier League Division One South |
8 | 42 | 13 | 11 | 18 | 49 | 64 | −15 | 50 | 16th of 22 | 93 |
| 2010–11 | Northern Premier League Division One North |
8 | 44 | 13 | 8 | 23 | 66 | 94 | −28 | 47 | 19th of 23 | 126 |
| 2011–12 | Northern Premier League Division One North |
8 | 42 | 8 | 4 | 30 | 34 | 103 | −69 | 28 | 22nd of 22 | 65 |
| 2012–13 | Northern Premier League Division One North |
8 | 42 | 26 | 8 | 8 | 86 | 58 | +28 | 86 | 2nd of 22 Play-Offs | 57 |
| 2013–14 | Northern Premier League Division One North |
8 | 42 | 15 | 9 | 18 | 65 | 64 | +1 | 54 | 11th of 22 | 55 |
Stadium
| formerly known as Kirklands | |
| Full name | MBS Stadium |
|---|---|
| Location |
St. Peters Road Birkenhead Wirral England |
| Capacity | 2,000 (250 seated) |
| Surface | Grass |
| Opened | 1922 |
| Tenants | |
|
Cammell Laird FC (1922–present) Tranmere Rovers Reserves (2009–2010) (2012-2013) | |
Cammell Laird currently play at the MBS Stadium (also known as Kirklands) in Rock Ferry. It was first in use by the club in 1922,[5] and currently has a capacity of 2,000 with 250 Seats.
The ground is also used for several local Sunday League cup finals.
Capacity: 2,000[6]
Seating: 250
Average attendances
- 2013–14: 55
- 2012–13: 57
- 2011–12: 65
- 2010–11: 126
- 2009–10: 92
- 2008–09: 161
- 2007–08: 148
- 2006–07: 171
- 2005–06: 114
- 2004–05: 83
Records
- Highest home attendance: 1,700 vs Harwich & Parkeston, FA Vase fifth round, 1990–91
- Highest home league attendance: 1,128 vs Chester F.C., Northern Premier Division One North, 2010–11
- Biggest Home league win: 10–0 vs Stone Dominoes, North West Counties Division One, 2005–06
Squad
First Team
As of 2013–14 season Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
|
Managers
| Manager | Nationality | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Ian Doran |  England | June 2004 – June 2008 |
| Ken McKenna | England | June 2008 – September 2008 |
| Derek Ward | England | September 2008 – November 2009 |
| Alex Hay | England | November 2009 – November 2010 |
| Tony Sullivan | England | November 2010 – October 2014 |
| Paul McNally | England | October 2014 – |
Honours
League
- Division One
- Runners-Up: (2) – 2006–07, 2012–13
- Division One South
- Runners-Up: (1) – 2007–08
North West Counties League
- Division One
- Champions: (1) – 2005–06
- Division Two
- Champions: (1) – 2004–05
West Cheshire League
- Division One
- Champions: (19) – 1968–69, 1970–71, 1974–75, 1975–76, 1976–77, 1977–78, 1978–79, 1980–81, 1981–82, 1982–83, 1983–84, 1986–87, 1988–89, 1989–90, 1990–91, 1991–92, 1993–94, 1998–99, 2001–02
- Division Two
- Champions: (2) – 1957–58, 1958–59,
Birkenhead & Wirral League
- Division One
- Champions: (1) 1924–25
Cup
- Chairman's Cup
- Runners-Up: (1) – 2006–07
North West Counties League
- Challenge Cup
- Winners: (1) – 2004–05
- Division Two Cup
- Winners: (1) – 2004–05
West Cheshire League
- Pyke Challenge Cup
- Winners: (10) – 1969–70, 1975–76, 1976–77, 1977–78, 1978–79, 1991–92, 1992–93, 1993–94, 1998–99, 2001–02
- West Cheshire Bowl
- Winners: (1) – 1957–58
- Winners: (1) – 2006–07
Cheshire Amateur Cup
- Winners: (8) – 1972–73, 1975–76, 1980–81, 1981–82, 1992–93, 1993–94, 2000–01, 2002–03
Wirral Senior Cup
- Winners: (11) – 1971–72, 1976–77, 1977–78, 1978–79, 1979–80, 1987–88, 1989–90, 1990–91, 1994–95, 1999–2000, 2001–02,
Shipley Cup
- Winners: (1) – 1920–21
Regent Cup
- Winners: (1) – 1926–27
Records
- Highest League Finish: 18th in the Northern Premier League Premier Division, 2008–09
- Best FA Cup Performance: Third qualifying round replay, 2005–06
- Best FA Trophy Performance: Third qualifying round replay, 2008–09
- Best FA Vase Performance: Semi-final, 2005–06
- Highest home attendance: 1,700 vs Harwich & Parkeston, FA Vase fifth round, 1990–91
- Highest home league attendance: 1,128 vs Chester F.C., Northern Premier Division One North, 2010–11
- Highest away attendance: 1,714 vs FC United, Northern Premier Premier Division, 2008–09
- Biggest league win: 10–0 vs Stone Dominoes, North West Counties Division One, 2005–06
References
- ↑ "New Phoenix Club formed as Cammell Laird 1907 FC". Non League Daily. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
- ↑ http://www.thefa.com/Leagues/NationalLeagueSystem/NewsAndFeatures/2009/KingsLynnCammellLaird The FA dismissed Cammell Laird's appeal on being relegated.
- ↑ Evo-Stik League - Press Statement
- ↑ "Allocation Of Clubs Update". NWCFL. 10 June 2014. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
- ↑ History Cammell Laird FC
- ↑ http://evostikleague.pitchero.com/club-info.php?id=1631&team_id=23550&Submit=Select Stadium Capacity
External links
- Club site
- Cammell Laird at the Football Club History Database
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