Lancaster City F.C.
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| Full name | Lancaster City Football Club | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Nickname(s) | The Dolly Blues, City | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Founded | 1905 (as Lancaster Athletic) |
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| Ground | Giant Axe, Lancaster (Capacity 3,500 (513 seated)) |
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| Chairman |  Ian Sharpe |
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| Manager | Barrie Stimpson |
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| League | NPL Division One North | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2007-08 | NPL Division One North, 11th | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Lancaster City F.C. is a semi-professional English football team based in the city of Lancaster. They play their home games at the Giant Axe Stadium.
Until 2007 they played in the Conference North league at level 6 of the English football league system. They are now members of the Northern Premier League Division One North.
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[edit] History
[edit] Early years
The club was originally founded as Lancaster Athletic Football Club at the Temperance Hall, Lancaster, on May 31, 1905, and immediately joined the Lancashire Combination Division Two. Responsible for the birth of the football club was Mr. James A. MacGregor, who, along with other fellow football enthusiasts, held the wish for a club to represent the town, as the growth of the Association game had seen prominent local league matches attract crowds of between two and three thousand. Indeed the previous year (1904) with Mr. MacGregor the main instigator, a football club named Lancaster United Football Club had been formed, but its application to join the Lancashire Combination had been turned down in favour of Workington who promised visiting teams their expenses and an evening meal. Due to dwindling interest Lancaster Athletic resigned from the Lancashire Combination at the end of the 1909-1910 season and spent the following 1910-1911 season playing in the West Lancashire Football League. The club though failed to complete its fixtures as the shareholders decided to disband the club in March 1911. Two months later in May 1911 the club was reformed as Lancaster Town Football Club and they were admitted back into the second tier of the Lancashire Combination for the start of the 1911-12 season. Following a disastrous first two seasons in which Lancaster Town finished bottom, success started to follow, and after finishing as runners-up in 1914-15 to Rochdale Reserves, the outbreak of World War I put competitive football on hold.
[edit] From Town to City
Lancaster carried on from where they left off after the war and they soon made their presence felt by finishing as runners-up to Barrow in season 1919/20. The next season (1920-21) for Lancaster probably proved to be the most significant of all in the history of the club, as it failed with its application to join the Third Division North for its inaugural 1921-22 season. At the meeting held in London in March, 1921 fourteen applicants were accepted at once on the information supplied in various ways as to the position of the clubs, their financial standing, accessibility, ground tenure and population. Lancaster Town were amongst the applicants but were not one of the fourteen chosen. However, the sifting process was carried further to eight clubs. This information was received with the utmost disappointment by the club representatives in waiting, but their period of anxious waiting was eventually relieved by the announcement that all the aspiring clubs would be given an opportunity of making a statement in the hope of acquiring one of the final four places. However despite stressing that the Giant Axe was well located to the town centre, the main railway station was a two minute walk away, the Corporation had always been considerate to the club and this season (1920/21) had carried out improvements in grandstand and dressing accommodation, the club’s financial position since 1911 had improved, attendances had improved and support could be pulled from a town and district with a population of 80,000, the club failed. This was a great disappointment to Lancaster Town as the pioneers of the football club had from day one wanted to bring the highest standard of Association football to the town.
For the record at the end of the 1920-21 season Lancaster Town finished in a higher league position than Hartlepools United, Accrington Stanley, Ashington, Durham City, Halifax Town, Wigan Borough, Nelson and Stalybridge Celtic, all clubs who were accepted into the Third Division North.
As a result, for the next 50 years they carried on in the Lancashire Combination, becoming in the early part — along with Chorley (who despite winning the Lancashire Combination in 1920-21, were also denied admittance to the Football League) — one of the more successful non-league sides in the North of England, beating several league teams along the way. The team changed its name to Lancaster City Football Club for the 1937-38 season, to match the changed status of Lancaster itself.
[edit] Success
Since then it has been a case of many ups and downs for City. The 1930s were a very successful period, with wins in the Lancashire Combination, Lancashire Junior Challenge Cup and some excellent FA Cup runs; however, Lancaster often found themselves playing second fiddle to local rivals Morecambe and Barrow as well as their more prestigious neighbours Blackpool, Blackburn Rovers, Burnley and Preston North End. Even so, their gates at times reached upwards of 5,000. Indeed, after World War II City's success continued with further triumphs in both the Lancashire Combination and the Lancashire Junior Challenge Cup.
[edit] Hard times ahead
The 1960s were for Lancaster a period of stagnation with success hard to come by and after some thought they decided to join the recently formed Northern Premier League in 1970-71. The league had been in operation since 1968-69 and although neighbours Morecambe, Chorley and Netherfield had joined from the outset, Lancaster originally opted to stay in the Lancashire Combination. Come 1970, they eventually relented and decided to join the new league. However the next twelve years became a struggle, with crowds dropping from a regular 1,500 to a lowly 250, and although City managed adequately enough on the pitch, albeit with no silverware, financial difficulties led to the club resigning from the league at the end of the 1981-82 season. Having joined as founder members of the North West Counties League for the start of the 1982-83 season, things went from bad to worse with results on the pitch worsening, ending with City being relegated, in 1984-85 for the first time in their history. Indeed the club did in fact go into liquidation only to immediately reform as City of Lancaster A.F.C. Ltd; however, the club continued to play under the banner of Lancaster City F.C.
[edit] Moving forward
The 1987-88 formation of Northern Premier League First Division represented a new start with City being accepted into the new league due mainly to their ground status rather than their recent league performances. Healthier crowds and even healthier league positions and cup runs followed over the next few seasons, culminating with the club under the management team of Alan Tinsley and Mick Hoyle winning the First Division title in 1995-96, their first league title for nearly 60 years. Numerous cup wins and cup-final appearances, as well as excellent FA Cup runs, followed and the crowds started to return. With Tony Hesketh and former player Barrie Stimpson now in charge of team affairs, results continued to improve, with gates regularly topping 500. City even managed to attract crowds of over 2,000 for the numerous cup games they played against arch rivals Morecambe, and even though, financially, things could have been easier, the club as a whole was in a much better position overall. For the 2004-05 season, the club was accepted into the newly-formed Nationwide Conference North via their league position in the Northern Premier League Premier Division.
[edit] Back from the brink
The 2006-07 season proved to be a disaster for Lancaster City. After a takeover by a local businessman at the beginning of the season it was soon realised that as important bills were going unpaid that the club could not afford the high wages some of the playing staff were earning. Due to this a mass exodus took place with not only the majority of the playing and coaching staff walking out but also with the bailiffs arriving and closing down the social club, questioning the very existence of the football club. Eventually a group led by former City official Mick Hoyle took over the running of the club but due to the debt incurred, new manager, former City player Barrie Stimpson, was forced to pick a team of local league players for over half the season just to keep costs at a minimum. Eventually the club were entered into administration incurring a ten-point penalty in the process and Lancaster finished the season bottom of the league with just one point to their name. Soon after City of Lancaster A.F.C. Ltd went into liquidation but immediately reformed as Lancaster City F.C. Ltd. Since then, the club has appointed a new board, with former directors Mick Hoyle, Ian Sharp and John Bagguley all returning to their former roles. City were then granted entry into Northern Premier League Division One North for the 2007-08 season, a drop of two divisions. Manager Barrie Stimpson has kept faith in much of last season's squad, but there have been additions in the form of experienced players such as Mark Thornley, Michael Stringfellow, Dave Foster and Ryan Zico Black, as well as local former league player Ian Stevens. City were then rewarded with a plum opening-day fixture: at home to league favourites F.C. United of Manchester where in front of 2,257 fans — their highest league gate since 1967 when 2,649 saw Lancaster host neighbours Morecambe — they won 2-1. It was their first home league victory since April 6, 2006, when they beat Harrogate Town 2-1.
[edit] Current squad
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[edit] Honours
- Lancashire Combination Champions, 1921-22, 1929-30, 1934-35, 1935-36.
- Northern Premier League Division 1 Champions, 1995-96.
- Lancashire Junior Cup Winners, 1927-28, 1928-29, 1930-31, 1933-34, 1951-52.
- Northern Premier League Challenge Cup Winners, 1999-2000, 2000-01.
- Northern Premier League Presidents Cup Winners, 1994-95.
- Northern Premier League Division 1 Challenge Cup Winners, 1995-96.
[edit] Club records
- Record attendance: 7,500 v. Carlisle United, FA Cup, 1926.
- Record win: 17-2 v Appleby, FA Cup preliminary round, 1915.
- Record defeat: 0-10 v Matlock Town, Northern Premier League, 1974.
- Most career appearances: Edgar Parkinson 550, 1949 -1964.
- Most career goals: Unknown.
- Most goals in a season: Unknown.
- Record transfer fee paid: £6,000 to Droylsden for Jamie Tandy, July 2006.
- Record transfer fee received: £50,000 from NAC Breda for Peter Thomson, 1999.
[edit] Timeline
- 1904: Lancaster United F.C. formed but denied entry into the Lancashire Combination. Club immediately disbanded.
- 1905-06: A new club is formed as Lancaster Athletic F.C. Joined Lancashire Combination Division Two.
- 1909-10: Resign from the Lancashire Combination at the end of the season.
- 1910-11: Join West Lancashire Football League for the 1910-11 season but disband in March 1911, failing to complete their fixtures.
- 1911-12: Reformed in May 1911 as Lancaster Town F.C. Re-admitted to Lancashire Combination Division Two.
- 1914-15: Lancashire Combination Division Two runners-up.
- 1914-18: Football suspended due to outbreak of World War I.
- 1919: Lancashire Combination reduced to one division.
- 1919-20: Lancashire Combination runners-up.
- 1921: Denied entry into Football League Division 3 North.
- 1921-22: Lancashire Combination champions.
- 1922-23: Lancashire Combination runners-up.
- 1927-28: Lancashire Combination runners-up. Lancashire Junior Challenge Cup winners.
- 1928-29: Lancashire Junior Challenge Cup winners.
- 1929-30: Lancashire Combination champions.
- 1930-31: Lancashire Junior Challenge Cup winners.
- 1933-34: Lancashire Junior Challenge Cup winners.
- 1934-35: Lancashire Combination champions.
- 1935-36: Lancashire Combination champions.
- 1937: Changed name to Lancaster City F.C.
- 1939-45: Football suspended due to outbreak of World War II.
- 1947-48: Lancashire Combination extended to two divisions.
- 1951-52: Lancashire Combination Division 1 runners-up. Lancashire Junior Challenge Cup winners.
- 1970-71: Joined Northern Premier League.
- 1982-83: Founder members of North West Counties League.
- 1984-85: Relegated to North West Counties Football League Division Two.
- 1987-88: Rejoined Northern Premier League Division One.
- 1994-95: Northern Premier League Presidents Cup winners.
- 1995-96: Northern Premier League Division One champions. Promoted. Northern Premier League Division One Challenge Cup winners.
- 1999-00: Northern Premier League Challenge Cup winners.
- 2000-01: Northern Premier League Challenge Cup winners.
- 2004-05: Promoted to Conference North.
- 2006-07: Relegated from Conference North.
- 2007-08: Admitted to Northern Premier League Division One North
[edit] FA Cup and FA Trophy
- 1928-29: R1 Lancaster Town 1 Lincoln City 3.
- 1929-30: R1 New Brighton 4 Lancaster Town 1.
- 1930-31: R1 Accrington Stanley 3 Lancaster Town 1.
- 1931-32: R1 Lancaster Town 0 Blyth Spartans 3.
- 1933-34: R1 Lancaster Town 0 Stockport County 1.
- 1937-38: R1 Accrington Stanley 1 Lancaster City 1, R1 Replay Accrington Stanley 1 Lancaster City 1, R1 2nd Replay Lancaster City 0 Accrington Stanley 4 (played at Deepdale, Preston North End).
- 1938-39: R1 Scunthorpe United 4 Lancaster City 2.
- 1946-47: R1 Lancaster City 1 Spennymoor United 0, R2 Gateshead 4 Lancaster City 0.
- 1947-48: R1 Oldham Athletic 6 Lancaster City 0.
- 1972-73: R1 Boston United 1 Lancaster City 2, R2 Notts County 2 Lancaster City 1.
- 1998-99: R1 Northampton Town 2 Lancaster City 1.
- 2001-02: R1 Altrincham 1 Lancaster City 1, R1 Replay Lancaster City 1 Altrincham 4 aet.
- 2003-04: R1 Lancaster City 1 Cambridge United 2.
- 2004-05: R1 Milton Keynes Dons 1 Lancaster City 0.
The furthest Lancaster City have gone in the FA Trophy was in 2004-05 when the club reached the fourth round. They lost 2-1 to local rivals Morecambe at Giant Axe in front of 2,000 fans. This despite taking a first-half lead through Ryan Elderton.
[edit] Managerial history
- Listed in order from 1970-71:
[edit] Notable players
- Stan Mortensen - Former Blackpool and England striker.
- Peter Thomson - Former NAC Breda and Luton Town striker.
- John Coleman - Former City and Morecambe striker and current manager of Accrington Stanley.
- Chris Ward - Striker sold to Birmingham City for £25,000 in 2001.
- Alan Suddick - Former Newcastle United and Blackpool midfielder who ended his career at City.
- Oshor Williams - Former Preston North End, Port Vale and Man Utd winger who extended his playing career at Giant Axe in 1991.
- Glen Johnston - City goalkeeper who moved to Preston North End in 1993 only to have his career wrecked by injury.
- Mark Thornley - Goalkeeper who has made more than 400 appearances over three spells during the 1990s and 2000s.
- Edgar Parkinson - City legend who played over 600 career games for the club between 1946 and 1961.
Jimmy Graham - Former Bradford City, Hull City and Rochdale left back who was a consistent performer in the late 1990s. Also the younger brother of former Aberdeen, Leeds United, Man Utd and Scotland winger Arthur Graham.- Dean Martin - Former Scunthorpe United, Halifax Town and Rochdale midfielder who served the club well in the latter part of last century and early part of this.
Farrell Kilbane - Influential former Preston North End defender and elder brother of Republic of Ireland winger Kevin Kilbane.
[edit] Giant Axe
Lancaster City F.C.'s home since their 1905 founding has been Giant Axe, currently with a 3,500 capacity.
[edit] "The Dolly Blues"
Lancaster City's nickname is "the Dolly Blues", due to the fact that the colour of their original kit was the same as that of the Dolly Blue washing tablets.
[edit] References
1. Football Club History Database Website - Lancaster Athletic
2. Football Club History Database Website - Lancaster Town
3. Football Club History Database Website - Lancaster City
4. John Downham - Lancaster City F.C. Historian
5. John Downham - Lancaster City F.C. Historian
6. Tony Kempsters English Football Website
7. Port Pie Unnoficial Southport F.C. Website
8. Lancaster City F.C. Official Website
9. BBC Guide to Lancaster City F.C.
10. Soccerfactsuk Website
11. Soccerbase Website
12. Allfootballers Website
[edit] External links
- Official Website
- Official Website Forum
- Giant Axe Information
- Ground Directions
- Full Record of Lancaster City League Positions
- Unofficial Fans Forum
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