Wath Athletic F.C.

Wath Athletic
Full name Wath Athletic Football Club
Founded (as Wath)

Wath Athletic F.C. was an English football club based in Wath-upon-Dearne, South Yorkshire.

History

The club was formed as Wath F.C. in the late 1880s, entering the Hallamshire League in 1891. They played in local Sheffield leagues and entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1893 (as Wath-upon-Dearne[1]), before changing their name to Wath Athletic in 1899. This name change reflected their move to the new Athletic Ground in the village.[2]

In 1904 the club became defunct, but returned again three years later and rejoined the Sheffield Association League, winning the league title at the first time of asking in 1908. They won the Association League on a further three occasions before the First World War, and when hostilities ended Wath joined the Yorkshire League, though only for the 1920–21 season.

In the summer of 1921 Athletic were admitted into the Midland League, and they would spend a total of nine seasons in the competition. Although their highest league finish (fourth) came in 1926–27, they had arguably their most successful season a year earlier when they reached the 1st Round of the FA Cup for the only time, losing 0–5 to Chesterfield, before winning the Sheffield & Hallamshire Senior Cup for the for the first time after losing the final in 1897.

They left the Midland League in 1930 after finishing bottom of the 26 team table, returning to the Association League. They won the Association League again in 1932 but the club fell on hard times and disbanded before the outbreak of the Second World War.

Notable former players

Players that have played in the Football League either before or after playing for Wath Athletic –

League and cup history

Wath Athletic League and Cup history[3][4][5][6]
Season Division Position FA Cup
1891–92
Hallamshire League
2nd/8
-
1892–93
Sheffield & District League
9th/14
-
1893–94
Sheffield & District League Division 2
3rd/5
2nd Qualifying Round
1894–95
Wharncliffe Charity Cup Shield North Division
1st/5
2nd Qualifying Round
1895–96
Sheffield Challenge Cup League
1st Qualifying Round
1896–97
Sheffield Association League
3rd Qualifying Round
1897–98
Sheffield Association League
2nd Qualifying Round
1898–99
Sheffield Association League
2nd Qualifying Round
1899–00
Sheffield Association League Division 1
1st Qualifying Round
1900–01
Sheffield Association League
2nd Qualifying Round
1901–02
Sheffield Association League
2nd Qualifying Round
1902–03
Sheffield Association League
3rd
-
1903–04
Sheffield Association League
Preliminary Round
1907–08
Sheffield Association League
1st
2nd Qualifying Round
1908–09
Sheffield Association League
3rd Qualifying Round
1909–10
Sheffield Association League
1st Qualifying Round
1910–11
Sheffield Association League
1st
2nd Qualifying Round
1911–12
Sheffield Association League
1st
1st Qualifying Round
1912–13
Sheffield Association League
1st
1st Qualifying Round
1913–14
2nd Qualifying Round
1914–15
2nd Qualifying Round
1919–20
Preliminary Round
1920–21
Yorkshire League
3rd/13
Preliminary Round
1921–22
Midland League
18th/22
Preliminary Round
1922–23
Midland League
7th/22
5th Qualifying Round
1923–24
Midland League
17th/22
1st Qualifying Round
1924–25
Midland League
10th/15
1st Qualifying Round
1925–26
Midland League
6th/21
1st Round
1926–27
Midland League
4th/20
3rd Qualifying Round
1927–28
Midland League
6th/23
1st Qualifying Round
1928–29
Midland League
19th/26
Preliminary Round
1929–30
Midland League
26th/26
1st Qualifying Round
1930–31
Preliminary Round
1931–32
Sheffield Association League
1st
2nd Qualifying Round
1932–33
2nd Qualifying Round
1933–34
Preliminary Round
1934–35
Extra Preliminary Round

Honours

League

Cup

Records

References

  1. Sheffield Independent, 23 August 1898
  2. Sheffield Independent, 22 August 1899
  3. Wath Athletic Football Club History Database
  4. Wath Football Club History Database
  5. Wath Athletic WildStat
  6. British Newspaper Archive