Garforth Town A.F.C.
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| Full name | Garforth Town Association Football Club | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | The Miners | ||
| Founded | 1964, as Miners Arms | ||
| Ground |
Wheatley park, Garforth Leeds | ||
| Capacity | 3,000 | ||
| Chairman | Brian Close | ||
| Manager | Graham Nicholas | ||
| League |
Northern Counties East League Premier Division | ||
| 2013–14 |
Northern Counties East League Premier Division, 14th | ||
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Garforth Town Association Football Club are an English football team based in Garforth, West Yorkshire. They currently play in the Northern Counties East League Premier Division, the 9th level of the English football pyramid.
History
The club was formed during 1964 by people from the Yorkshire town of Garforth, as a local pub team called Miners Arms. At the time Garforth had no pitch to play on, so their home games were played in nearby Swillington. The team stepped up to the West Yorkshire League, a Saturday football league, in 1976. At the same time they acquired their own ground in Garforth, a former rubbish dump on Brierlands Lane.
The team were forced to change their name to Garforth Miners to gain election into the Yorkshire Football League in 1978, pub teams not being allowed in the league. Garforth Miners won promotion from Division 3 in 1980. They finished 3rd in 1982, one point behind champions Harrogate Town. On joining the newly formed Northern Counties East Football League (NCEL), Garforth were placed in Division 1 North. They changed their name again in 1985 to their current name. Also that year, after a league reshuffle, Garforth were placed in Division 2 and won promotion at the first attempt.
In 1987 Garforth reached the 6th round of the FA Vase, losing 1–2 to London side Collier Row (now known as Romford). It is the furthest the club has reached in the competition and remains one of their biggest achievements. They managed the 4th round in 1999, going out to Sudbury Wanderers.
During the 1990s a few ex-Leeds United players turned out for Garforth, including Brendan Ormsby and Gary Williams. Wrexham player-manager Andy Morrell played a few games for Town in 1998–99 before signing for the Welsh club, and in the same season Andy Watson was signed by Doncaster Rovers for £25 000, a club record.
In the league Town remained in Division 1 until winning the title in 1998, gaining promotion to the NCEL Premier Division.
In the same year Garforth moved to their current stadium, Wheatley Park. Named after Michael Wheatley, whose company built it in conjunction with a new housing estate built around the same time. It was renamed The Genix Healthcare Stadium in 2006, this time being sponsored by a local dentist, although this deal ended in Summer 2012. In the 2012-13 season it was known as the BSS Stadium, but currently the club is looking for a new name or sponsorship deal. The main stand itself (which has won architectural awards for its design) is currently named The Norman Hebbron Stand in honour of the long-serving club president.
In 1998-99 the team started brightly and finished in 8th position, also reaching the final of the NCEL Presidents Cup losing to North Ferriby United on aggregate. Town won two cups in 1999-2000 but league-wise this and following seasons were spent battling relegation. They finished bottom of the table in 2001-02 but were reprieved after South Yorkshire club Denaby United folded. This was despite the influence of ex Sheffield United, Burnley and Scunthorpe United striker John Francis who scored 11 goals.
At the end of the following season Town were not so fortunate, despite occupying mid-table for the first half of the season their performances worsened in the second, sliding into bottom spot on the last day and were relegated.
During 2003 Simon Clifford bought the club, eliminating the club's debts and made clear that he had strong ambitions for the club's future with hopes of climbing up the league pyramid.[1] Clifford is known for his strong connections to Brazilian football; he has brought Brazilian coaching methods to the United Kingdom with his string of ICFDS (International Confederation of Futebol de Salão) footballing academies.
After the resignation of Jimmy Martin early in 2004–05 he took over management of the first team himself (assisted by coach Steve Nichol). Despite the Yorkshire club's low level in terms of leagues, they gained massive press attention, both national and international with the signing of Brazil player Sócrates on a one month deal as a player-coach.[1] He played just once, coming on as a substitute 12 minutes from time, against Tadcaster Albion, in front of a crowd of 1,385. Also in that campaign, former England and Manchester United winger Lee Sharpe played for the club, scoring 4 goals.[1] At the end of this campaign the team earnt promotion back to the Premier Division. Another former Brazilian international, Careca, came out of retirement and spent time at the club during the 2005–06 season.
ICFDS graduate Jason St Juste made a few appearances for Garforth before signing for Darlington and then Southampton. St Juste returned for a second stint during the 2006–07 season, scoring 11 times. In 2008–09 he moved to Norwegian Second Division side Sandnes Ulf, but returned to England in December 2010. He played one game for Garforth before moving to Chester F.C. on loan until the end of the season.
In 2006–07 they finished 4th and a second promotion in three years was achieved. This was to the Northern Premier League after Durham City of the Northern League decided against promotion.
In their first season in the higher division Town finished 10th. Also in this campaign Garforth played their first FA Trophy game, although losing at the first attempt. The furthest Town have managed is the 1st Qualifying Round in 2008-09 and 2010-11, losing in replays to Romulus and Radcliffe Borough respectively.
In the FA Cup, Garforth have never been beyond the 2nd Qualifying Round, although came close to bettering this in 2008–09, losing in a replay to Guiseley.
In other cups Garforth have won the West Riding County Cup in 1998, 2000 and 2009, overcoming in the final Liversedge, Eccleshill United and Bradford Park Avenue respectively. The trophy was successfully defended in 2010, the Miners defeating North West Counties League side Barnoldswick Town. In 1997 Town won the Northern Counties East Football League Trophy (more commonly known as the Wilkinson Sword Trophy).
In October 2009 Clifford stepped down from first team duties, leaving Steve Nichol and Richard Sutherland in charge.
On 26 September 2010, it was announced that former England player Paul Gascoigne had become manager of the club. However Gascoigne apparently changed his mind at the last minute and it was announced on 7 October 2010 that the deal had fallen through. In 2010–11 and 2011–12 former Carlisle and Northern Ireland U21 international defender Darren Kelly played at the club, making 39 appearances and scoring 8 goals.
To comply with ground-grading regulations covered terracing was built behind one goal in March 2011 and is nicknamed "The Strawberry End" by supporters after the fruit grown in the adjacent field.
The 2011-12 campaign saw The Miners make a serious push for a play-off place and achieved this by beating Skelmersdale United on the last day to finish 5th, the highest placing in the pyramid in the club's history. Sadly they went out in the Semi-Final, being defeated on penalties at Curzon Ashton.
Despite these achievements, June/July 2012 saw the resignation of the entire back-room staff and manager Steve Nichol replaced by his assistant Vernol Blair. This prompted the departure of nearly all the first team squad. New staff were brought in by Clifford, and Blair managed to assemble a new team at short notice for the 2012-13 season. However the season started poorly with Town slipping into bottom spot at the end of September. In December Rupert Lowe purchased the club linking up again with Clifford, who had been employed as Southampton coach in 2005.[2] Clifford was appointed manager but results barely picked up and by early February Blair was back at the helm. Other than a few days in February The Miners remained rooted to the bottom until the end of the season, the total of 16 points after 42 games the lowest in the club's recorded history. Relegation back to the NCEL followed.
In May/June 2013 Clifford left the club, ending his 10-year involvement. Lowe entered into a partnership with American soccer academy RIASA, who were already involved with Eccleshill United.[3] RIASA agreed to release funds into the club in return for establishing a Garforth reserve team in which their students could play (the previous reserve side had dispanded a few years earlier). Another change of backroom staff saw the replacement of manager Vernol Blair with Graham Nicholas.
Current squad
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Notable players
The following former international players have played for Garforth Town:
Honours
- NCEL Division One
- Champions: 1997–98
- Runners-up: 1996–97, 2004–05
- NCEL Division Two
- Runners-up: 1985–86
- Northern Counties East League League Cup
- Winners: 1999–2000
- Runners-up: 2006–07
- Northern Counties East Football League Presidents Cup
- Runners-up: 1998–99
- Northern Counties East Football League Trophy
- Winners: 1996–97
- Runners-up: 2003–04
- Yorkshire League Division Three
- Runners-up: 1979–80[4]
- FA Vase
- Quarter-finalists: 1986–87
- West Riding County Cup
- Winners: 1997–98, 1999–2000, 2008–09, 2009–10
Records
- Best season
1997–98 – NCEL Division 1 Champions – Played 28, Won 23, Drew 3, Lost 2, Scored 77, Conceded 17, Points 72.
- Attendance
2,428 v Chester FC, 29 April 2011.
- Biggest win
11–0 v Blidworth Welfare, 8 November 1997.
- Biggest defeat
2-9 v New Mills 19 November 2012.
- Top Scorer
Greg Kelly – 75 goals (65 league) in 6 seasons (2003–04 to 2008–09).
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 BBC.co.uk
- ↑ Gree, Wendy (17 December 2012). "Rupert Lowe makes football return". Daily Echo. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
- ↑ http://sportsperformer.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/riasa-and-bradford-city-ceo-david.html
- ↑ FCHD.co.uk
External links
Coordinates: 53°47′55.871″N 1°21′44.381″W / 53.79885306°N 1.36232806°W