Gornal Athletic F.C.
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| Full name | Gornal Athletic Football Club | ||
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| Nickname(s) | The Peacocks | ||
| Founded | 1919 (as Lower Gornal Athletic) | ||
| Ground |
Garden Walk Stadium Lower Gornal Dudley West Midlands | ||
| Capacity | 2,000 | ||
| Manager | Andy Wyton | ||
| League | West Midlands (Regional) League | ||
| 2013–14 | Midland Alliance, 22nd (relegated) | ||
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Gornal Athletic F.C. are a football club based in Lower Gornal, Dudley, in the West Midlands county in England. Established in 1919, they have reached the 1st round of the FA Vase six times in their history. They are currently members of the West Midlands (Regional) League.
History
Gornal Athletic were formed in 1919, the successor to an earlier club in the district, Gornal Wood Excelsior. Prior to 1972 they were known as Lower Gornal Athletic. They joined the Worcestershire Combination in 1951, then moved to the West Midlands (Regional) League in 1962. In 1993–94 they were runners-up in Division One, earning promotion to the Premier Division where they spent nine seasons. After relegation in 2003 they bounced back at the first attempt, claiming the Division One title and a return to the League's top flight. In the 2011–12 season, the club won the Premier Division championship under the management of Ian Rowe.
The club followed promotion to the Midland Alliance with a placing of third in their first season in the new division. The club also reached the quarter finals of the FA Vase (losing to eventual winners Spennymoor Town), another club record, as well as the FA Cup second qualifying round, losing to Worcester City.
Manager Ian Rowe departed the club in May 2013, replaced by former Redditch United youth team manager Brian Knight. Andy Wyton joined as manager late in the 2013-14 season from local rivals Dudley Town to try and save the team from relegation from the Midland Alliance, but was unsuccessful. The club finished the season in 22nd place, resulting in relegation back to the West Midlands (Regional) League.
The highest transfer fee the club has ever received was in 1965 when George Andrews and Gary Bell joined Cardiff City in a deal worth £2,100. Andrews later played for Walsall and scored the winner in a famous giant-killing of Newcastle United in the 1974–75 FA Cup.
Ground
Unlike many non-league teams, Gornal Athletic own their own stadium, although they do have to rent the social club and changing rooms.
Honours
- West Midlands (Regional) League
- Premier Division Champions 2011–12
- Division One Champions 2003–04
Club records
- Best League performance: 3rd in Midland Alliance, 2012–13
- Best FA Cup performance: 3rd Round Qualifying, 1975–76
- Best FA Trophy performance: 3rd Round Qualifying, 1971–72
- Best FA Vase performance: 5th Round, 2012–13
External links
- Official website
- Gornal Athletic at the Football Club History Database
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Coordinates: 52°30′55.88″N 2°07′32.47″W / 52.5155222°N 2.1256861°W