Nelson F.C.
Full name | Nelson Football Club | ||
---|---|---|---|
Nickname(s) | The Admirals, Blues | ||
Founded | 23 October 1882 | ||
Ground | Victoria Park, Nelson | ||
Capacity | 1,500 (150 seated)[1] | ||
Chairman | Fayyaz Ahmed | ||
Manager | Darren Thornton | ||
League | North West Counties League Division One North | ||
2022–23 | North West Counties League Division One North, 13th of 18 | ||
|
Nelson Football Club is an English
In 1931, the club lost their Football League status and returned to the Lancashire Combination, where, following the summer reformation of 1934, they played on until ceasing all activity in 1936. A new amateur club, Nelson Town, was assembled, playing at Seedhill until the outbreak of World War II in September 1939. Following the resumption of football at the end of the war, Nelson FC reformed again in 1946. The reconstituted club joined the Lancashire Combination; they played until it merged with the Cheshire County League to form the North West Counties League in 1982. Nelson dropped out of the league for the seasons between 1988 and 1992, playing in the West Lancashire League. Although the club left again in 2010, they returned the following year and are currently members of the North West Counties League Division One North, playing home matches at Victoria Park.
History
Early years (1882–1921)
On 23 October 1882, a meeting was held between members of Nelson Cricket Club at the Victoria Hall on Scotland Road; John Greenwood presided over the meeting and enrolled around 25 members to the newly formed Nelson Football Club before a trial match held on 11 November 1882 saw the Probables[clarification needed] beat a team of Improbables[clarification needed] 3–0. The new Nelson FC first reported game was a 3–1 home defeat to Burnley Olympic on 2 December 1882.[2][3]
Nelson were founder members of the
Football League years (1921–1936)
In 1921, the club joined the Football League as a founder member of the Third Division North.[4][6] Their first league game, a 2–1 defeat to the now-defunct Wigan Borough, attracted a record attendance of 9,000 on 27 August 1921. The team finished 16th in their first season in the Football League, although they struggled with comparatively low attendances.[4][6][7]
The following season of 1922–23 was when they finished as champions of the Third Division North, earning a promotion on 24 April 1923 with a 2–0 home win over
Within three years, continuing financial pressures saw the Football League directors ordering that the club must permanently close, following a meeting on 17 May 1934. A new company was quickly formed that summer with the Nelson Leader of 3 August 1934 further reporting a change of kit to white shirts and black shorts; yet just two years later, Nelson ceased football activities on 4 August 1936 on the eve of the new season after once again "incurring a big financial loss". The club subsequently endured a ten-year hiatus before returning in 1946.[4][6][9][11]
Nelson Town (1936–1939)
A new hastily formed amateur club, Nelson Town, entered the local Nelson and Colne League in time for the 1936–37 season and duly lost their first fixture at Seedhill against James Nelson SC 3–2 with receipts totaling £3 15s 6d (admission being 2d)[clarification needed]. The first team would go on to complete two seasons in the Lancashire Amateur League — which they had joined in time for the new season beginning in September 1937. Nelson Town also continued to field a side in the Nelson and Colne League. Following their final game of the 1938–39 campaign, Town announced a first venture into senior football for the coming season as new members of the West Lancashire League. However, only two games of the 1939–40 season were played before the outbreak of World War II. Town lost 3–2 at home to Netherfield Reserves on 2 September, following a 0–0 draw at Astley Bridge in their opening game on 26 August. Nelson Town declined to join the wartime Lancashire Cominbation. Seedhill hosted for the Nelson Home Guard team members of the newly formed Burnley Wartime League.
Post-Second World War (1946–1982)
Following the
Modern era (1983)
Nelson became founder members of the new North West Counties Football League, joining the Third Division. They finished 10th out of 18 in their first season, 1982–83. The 1986–87 season placed them in fourth place. The following season, the Third Division was scrapped, and Nelson were moved up to the Second Division, finishing in 16th. However, the frailty of the Victoria Park Stadium as well as problems getting it up to the standard required by the league, the club was forced to drop down to the
They finished 20th out of 22 in 2006–07 and last place in 2007–08, although they were not relegated. In 2008–09, the First Division was renamed the Premier Division; Nelson finished in 17th position out of 22 despite winning just three home games, The Blues finished 16 points clear against Atherton Collieries.[4][6] On 15 July 2010, the North West Counties League announced that Nelson had resigned from the league with immediate effect. Nelson F.C. continued to operate junior teams, however, and made an application to rejoin the North West Counties League for the 2011–12 season, later approved by the FA.[13] Mark Fell was appointed 1st team manager in November 2012 after Michael Morrison and Robert Grimes were sacked. Fell led the side to 10th place in the NWCFL. In Fell's first full season in charge, Nelson were crowned champions of the NWCFL Division One, being promoted to the Premier Division in the process.
Playing grounds
Early years (1882–1889)
From 1882 to 1884, Nelson F.C. played at the Seedhill Cricket Ground.
Through 1884 to 1885 and 1886 to 1887, they played in the Flower Show Field off Scotland Road, on the opposite side of the road to The Derby Inn.
Between 1885 and 1886, the sporting area was an unknown site outside of town. In March, despite a Lancashire FA suspension, an agreement was made to return to Nelson Cricket Club.
Between 1887 and 1889, they played once again at the Seedhill Cricket Ground — now renamed as the Seedhill Football Ground — until 16 March when the new enclosure was opened.
Seedhill Football Ground (1889–1971)
Nelson are often cited as playing at the Park Ground or Parkside Ground, a move reflected in oft-used contemporary reference to the club as The Parksiders. Given the location adjacent to both the park and the existing
Nelson played their final home game at Seedhill on 28 March 1971 when a crowd of over a thousand gathered to witness the first Sunday fixture at the stadium. They were duly rewarded with an eight-goal thriller as Clitheroe were beaten 5–3. Seedhill, having hosted the Nelson Admirals speedway team between 1967 and 1969, latterly became a well known stock car venue before its eventual demolition in the early 1980s when the M65 motorway cut through the area. The site of Seedhill remains clearly visible today.
Victoria Park (1971)
Nelson moved to Victoria Park (known locally as Little Wembley) in time for their opening home fixture of the following 1971–72 Lancashire Combination season; it was a time when the Nelson Leader reported a "good crowd" attended to see them lose 1–0 to Accrington Stanley on 28 August 1971. Victoria Park now has a capacity of 2,000 with 1,700 standing. It is bordered by trees on two sides in surrounding parkland. Along one side, there is a low-roofed wooden stand with seating in the centre section. The side opposite has the dugouts with a grass area. Behind one goal are the clubhouse and changing rooms at the top end of the ground.[6][15]
In January 2009, Nelson launched an appeal, the £10K Floodlight Appeal, to help improve the
Honours
- Football League
- Third Division North champions 1922–23
- Lancashire Combination
- Champions 1949–50, 1951–52
- League Cup winners 1949–50, 1950–51, 1959–60
- Bridge Shield winners 1975–76, 1981–82
- George Watson Trophy winners 1978–79
- Lancashire League
- Champions 1895–96
- North-East Lancashire Combination
- Champions 1899–1900
- North-East Lancashire Shield
- Winners 1899–1900
- North West Counties League
- Division One champions 2013–14
- Division Two Trophy winners 1996–97
- Lancashire FA Challenge Trophy
- Winners 1907–08, 1954–55
Records
Nelson has been awarded the best FA Cup performance in the second round for the 1926–27, 1930–31, and 1950–51 seasons.[17] Additionally, they have won the Best FA Trophy performance during 1975–76 in the second qualifying round.[17] They have gotten the Best FA Vase performance in the third round for the 2009–10 season.[17] Their record attendance has 14,979 people watching the Third Division North game at Seedhill on 27 April 1929 against Bradford City.[1]
See also
References
- ^ ISBN 978-1869833695
- ^ "A Football Club For Nelson". Burnley Express & Advertiser. 28 October 1882. p. 3. Retrieved 7 January 2020.
- ^ Nelson: History North West Counties League
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Nelson". Football Club History Database. Retrieved 12 January 2009.
- ^ "Nelson FC: 1881–1921". Nelson F.C. 19 March 2005. Archived from the original on 21 April 2013. Retrieved 12 January 2009.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Nelson FC". Pyramid Passion. Retrieved 12 January 2009.
- ^ a b "Nelson FC: 1921–1923". Nelson F.C. 8 April 2005. Archived from the original on 7 July 2007. Retrieved 12 January 2009.
- ^ "Football League 1924–25". Football Club History Database. Archived from the original on 27 December 2008. Retrieved 12 January 2009.
- ^ a b "Nelson FC: 1923–1931". Nelson F.C. 29 April 2005. Archived from the original on 21 April 2013. Retrieved 12 January 2009.
- ^ a b "Honours & Information". Nelson F.C. Archived from the original on 13 February 2009. Retrieved 12 January 2009.
- ^ a b "Nelson FC: 1931–1982". Nelson F.C. 17 May 2005. Archived from the original on 13 February 2009. Retrieved 12 January 2009.
- ^ "Nelson FC: 1982–2006". Nelson F.C. 5 June 2006. Archived from the original on 7 July 2007. Retrieved 12 January 2009.
- ^ Applications to join our league – NWCFL website
- ^ "Wigan County paid their visit to Park Ground, Nelson. on Saturday afternoon". Wigan Examiner 23 March 1898 page 4, column 2
- ^ Broughton, Gary (30 March 2005). "Victoria Park". Nelson F.C. Archived from the original on 13 February 2009. Retrieved 12 January 2009.
- ^ "Nelson FC £10K Floodlight Appeal". Nelson F.C. 10 January 2009. Archived from the original on 22 April 2013. Retrieved 12 January 2009.
- ^ a b c Nelson at the Football Club History Database