Stalybridge Celtic F.C.

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Stalybridge Celtic
Full nameStalybridge Celtic Football Club
Nickname(s)Celts
Founded1909; 115 years ago (1909) (possibly 1905)
GroundBower Fold, Stalybridge
Capacity6,500 (1,300 seated)
ChairmanNigel Jones
ManagerJames Kinsey
LeagueNorthern Premier League Division One West
2022–23Northern Premier League Premier Division, 20th of 22 (relegated)

Stalybridge Celtic Football Club is an English football club based in Stalybridge, Greater Manchester. They are currently members of the Northern Premier League Division One West and play at Bower Fold. The team traditionally plays in a blue and white strip.

In 1921, Stalybridge Celtic became a founder member of the Football League's Third Division North. After only two seasons in the new league, they became the first club to leave the new division.

History

The club's formation is usually given as 1909. However, it may have been as early as 1905 when an amateur club with the same name was formed.[1] There were players called Storrs and Manwood who played in the 1906 and 1909 teams, and a player called Rhodes who played in the amateurs' first game; a Herbert Rhodes was a significant benefactor of the 'later' Celtic.[2]

The club played for two seasons in the

Central League. In an attempt to progress the club joined the Southern League. The club rejoined the Central League for the 1919–20 season and in 1921 became one of the founder members of the Football League's Third Division North. However the club resigned after two seasons, as it was felt that it could not attract enough support to justify a League side – in spite of the fact that average attendance of 5,480 in 1922 was almost 2,000 more than neighbouring Rochdale, who played in the same Division.[3]: 172–178  The full Celtic story in the League is detailed in Manchester A Football History where Celtic are given the same level of analysis and research as the Manchester region's other sides.[3]

They joined the

Football Conference
, playing at that level for six seasons to 1998 before being relegated to the NPL again, after finishing bottom.

In 2000–01, the club had one of the best seasons in its history, achieving a treble of the

Harrogate Town
. On 30 May 2007 Steve Burr was appointed as a manager.

Hyde
in 2012

The 2007–08 season was one of the best in recent times; after finishing 18th the previous year, a third-place finish in the league meant a promotion opportunity to the

play-offs. After reaching the final, Stalybridge were denied after a 1–0 defeat to Barrow
.

The club continued in the Conference North for the three seasons; placing 6th in the 2008–09 season[4] in which manager Steve Burr left for Kidderminster, 10th in the 2009–10[5] season and 10th again in the 2010–11 season.[6]

In the 2011–12 season,[7] they were a huge contender for a promotion place as late as February before a poor set of results saw their hopes slip away towards the end of the season, finishing sixth, just below the last playoff place.

In the 2012–13 season,[8] after languishing near the relegation zone for most of the year, they finished 11th following a 9-game unbeaten run. Stalybridge also reached the final of the Cheshire Senior Cup, losing 2–1 to Chester F.C.[9]

The 2013–14 season

Bradford Park Avenue
in the penultimate game of the season.

The 2014–15 season[12] was arguably the worst for a long time. Stalybridge struggled to keep their heads above water, which led to the resignation of Keith Briggs in March 2015. He was replaced by 3-time Conference North winning manager, Liam Watson.[13] This brought a turn around in results, with Watson only losing 1 of his 7 games in charge, winning 4. Survival came down to the final game against Gainsborough, with Stalybridge needing to better Colwyn Bay's and Brackley's results. A pulsating match finished 4–4,[14] and they survived on goal difference.[15] The club were relegated from the NPL Premier Division in the 2022–23 season.[16]

Stadium

There has been a ground at Bower Fold since 1906. The current main stand was built in 1996, with the covered stand at the Town End (Joe Jackson Stand) dating from 1994. The main stand, replaced a wooden one dating from 1909, which held 500 fans, before being converted to tip-up seating with a reduced capacity of around 400 persons. The Lord Pendry Stand opened in 2004, replacing a covered terrace dating from the 1950s. The Mottram End cover stems from construction starting in the 1970s and finishing in the mid '80s. The main stand, holding about 700 people, is all seated. Its opposite stand, the Lord Pendry stand has 652 seats.

It is possible for the ground to be segregated with self-contained areas which include separate turnstiles, refreshment facilities and toilets (though this is rarely necessary). The away fans' area in this case is uncovered. The next area (clockwise from the away fans' area) around the ground is the Lockwood and Greenwood stand which is a covered standing area. This area is popular with home fans when Stalybridge are kicking towards this goal. Next is an uncovered standing area, followed by the Lord Tom Pendry Stand (a seated area) with a capacity of approximately three hundred. Next is a small uncovered area followed by the covered Joe Jackson stand. The club shop and bar are behind this stand. Away fans are allowed to use the bar and there is no admission charge. Next are the main turnstiles, refreshment facilities and disabled spectators' area.

The ground's capacity of 6,500 has not been reached recently. The attendance was nearly 4,000 when Chester visited for an FA Cup 1st round match in 1999.

Current squad

As of 23 January 2024

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
— GK England ENG Luke Hewitson (on loan from Liverpool)
— GK England ENG Conor Leach
— DF Republic of Ireland IRL Connor O'Grady
— DF England ENG Jack Tinning
— DF Australia AUS Jai-Curran Nicholls
— DF England ENG Cole Lonsdale (on loan from Ashton United)
— DF England ENG Pawel Zuk
— DF Fiji FIJ Scott Wara
— DF England ENG Max Leonard
No. Pos. Nation Player
— MF England ENG Obua Mugalula
— MF England ENG Leon Arnasalam
— MF England ENG Greg Wilkinson (player-coach)
— MF England ENG Michael Brewster
— MF England ENG Jack Irlam
— MF England ENG Brad Byrne
— MF England ENG Joe Edwards
— MF England ENG Jordan Burton
— MF England ENG Joe Robbins (on loan from Ashton United)
— FW England ENG Darius Palma
— FW England ENG George Omokua
— FW England ENG Darius Osei
— FW England ENG Aaron Dwyer

Backroom staff

Position Name
First Team Manager England James Kinsey
Assistant Manager England Dan Whiteside
First Team Coach England Tom Conroy
Player/Coach England Greg Wilkinson
Goalkeeping Coach England Reece Bogart
Sports Therapist England David Pover
Student Sports Rehabilitator England Ethan Cust

Honours

See also

References

  1. ^ "Stalybridge Reporter – Sat 4 November 1905 - Page 7". Retrieved 12 July 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  2. ISBN 1-874427-00-3
    .
  3. ^
    ISBN 978-0-9558127-0-5
    .
  4. ^ "Stalybridge Celtic – 2008/09". stalybridgeceltic.co.uk. Retrieved 16 December 2015.
  5. ^ "Stalybridge Celtic – 2009/10". stalybridgeceltic.co.uk. Retrieved 16 December 2015.
  6. ^ "Stalybridge Celtic – 2010/11". stalybridgeceltic.co.uk. Retrieved 16 December 2015.
  7. ^ "Stalybridge Celtic – 2011/12". stalybridgeceltic.co.uk. Retrieved 16 December 2015.
  8. ^ "Stalybridge Celtic – 2012/13". stalybridgeceltic.co.uk. Retrieved 16 December 2015.
  9. ^ "Stalybridge Celtic v Chester". stalybridgeceltic.co.uk. Retrieved 16 December 2015.
  10. ^ "Stalybridge Celtic – 2013/14". stalybridgeceltic.co.uk. Retrieved 16 December 2015.
  11. ^ "Bradford PA V Stalybridge Celtic". stalybridgeceltic.co.uk. Retrieved 16 December 2015.
  12. ^ "Stalybridge Celtic – 2014/15". stalybridgeceltic.co.uk. Retrieved 16 December 2015.
  13. ^ "Stalybridge Appoint Liam Watson". nonleague.pitchero.com. 20 March 2015. Retrieved 16 December 2015.
  14. ^ "Stalybridge Celtic – V Gainsborough Trinity". stalybridgeceltic.co.uk. Retrieved 16 December 2015.
  15. ^ "Stalybridge Celtic – 2014/15". stalybridgeceltic.co.uk. Retrieved 16 December 2015.
  16. ^ "Premier Division Round-Up: Stalybridge Celtic Relegated & Liversedge Go Down Fighting". www.thenpl.co.uk. 19 April 2023. Retrieved 21 April 2023.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Stalybridge Celtic F.C..
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Stalybridge_Celtic_F.C.&oldid=1208719144"