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{{short description|Association football club in England}}
{{Football club infobox |
{{distinguish|Clitheroe F.C. (1879)}}
clubname = Clitheroe|
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
image = [[Image:Clitheroefc.jpg|100px|Club logo]] |
{{Infobox football club
fullname = Clitheroe Football Club |
| clubname = Clitheroe F.C.
nickname = The Blues |
founded = 1877 (as Clitheroe Central) |
| image = Clitheroe-FC-Badge.png
| image_size = 200px
ground = [http://stable.toolserver.org/geohack/geohack.php?pagename=Shawbridge&params=53_52_17.95_N_2_23_07.58_W_region:GB_type:landmark Shawbridge] |
| fullname = Clitheroe Football Club
capacity = 2,000|
| nickname = The Blues
chairman = Carl Garner |
| founded = {{Start date and age|1877|df=yes}}
manager = Neil Reynolds & Peter Smith|
| ground = [https://www.ecogiants.co.uk EcoGiants Stadium] (formerly Shawbridge)
league = [[Northern Premier League Division One North|NPL Division One North]] |
| capacity = 2,000
season = [[2007-08 in English football|2007-08]] |
| chairman = Dave Frost
position = [[Northern Premier League Division One North|NPL Division One North]], 13th|
| manager = [[Sean McConville]]
pattern_la1=|pattern_b1=_whitequarters23|pattern_ra1=|leftarm1=3366ff|body1=3366ff|rightarm1=3366ff|shorts1=3366ff|socks1=3366ff |
| league = {{English football updater|Clithero}}
pattern_la2=_dkgreyshoulders|pattern_b2=_blackshoulders|pattern_ra2=_dkgreyshoulders|leftarm2=ff9900|body2=ff9900|rightarm2=ff9900|shorts2=ff9900|socks2=ff9900 |
| season = {{English football updater|Clithero2}}
| position = {{English football updater|Clithero3}}
| pattern_la1 =
| pattern_b1 = _whitestripes3
| pattern_ra1 =
| pattern_sh1 = _nikewhite
| pattern_so1 =
| leftarm1 = 6495ED
| body1 = 4169E1
| rightarm1 = 6495ED
| shorts1 = 6495ED
| socks1 = FFFFFF
| pattern_la2 = _borderonblack
| pattern_b2 =
| pattern_ra2 = _borderonblack
| pattern_sh2 = _nikewhite
| pattern_so2 =
| leftarm2 = 0D111C
| body2 = FF0000
| rightarm2 = 0D111C
| shorts2 = 0D111C
| socks2 = FC0630
}}[[File:Clitheroe FC ground, 2009.JPG|thumb|right|250px|Clitheroe F.C. ground at EcoGiants Stadium]]


'''Clitheroe Football Club''' is an English football club based in [[Clitheroe]], [[Lancashire]], currently playing in the {{English football updater|Clithero}}.
}}


==History==
[[Image:Clitheroe football club.JPG|thumb|right|250px|Clitheroe F.C. ground at Shawbridge]]
===Early history===
The club was formed as '''Clitheroe Central''' in 1891 as a split from the existing [[Clitheroe F.C. (1879)|Clitheroe Football Club]],<ref>{{cite journal |title=Burnley fail to ascend the peak |journal=Burnley Express |date=4 March 1891 |page=4}}</ref> at the [[Swan Court Shopping Arcade|Swan Hotel]] in Castle Street by local businessmen. After playing in local leagues, the club joined the Lancashire Combination in 1903, and in 1910 the club was wound up and withdrawn from the Combination because of the lack of geographical exclusivity.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Sports Notes |journal=Heywood Advertiser |date=17 June 1910 |page=2}}</ref> As the board meeting had been held without reference to the shareholders, a further meeting was called,<ref>{{cite journal |title=Sports and Pastimes |journal=Manchester Evening News |date=7 July 1910 |page=6}}</ref> but Clitheroe Central's resignation from the Combination stood and the players awarded free transfers.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Lancashire Combination: Free Transfers Granted |journal=Manchester Evening News |date=18 August 1910 |page=6}}</ref>


During this period, Central played their games at the Upbrooks ground, located behind houses on Salthill Road, which is now partially built over. In 1925, the club moved a few hundred yards to its present home, now known as The EcoGiants Stadium (formerly Shawbridge).
'''Clitheroe F.C.''' are an English football club based in [[Clitheroe]], [[Lancashire]], playing in the [[Northern Premier League Division One North]]. They were established in 1877 as '''Clitheroe Central'''. After joining the [[Lancashire Combination]] in 1903, they removed Central from their name.


==History==
===20th century===
The club was re-founded in 1924, and, after a season in the North-East Lancashire Combination, rejoined the Lancashire Combination for the 1925–26 season.<ref>{{cite journal |title=report |journal=Guardian |date=24 March 1925 |page=4}}</ref> Clitheroe remained there until the end of the 1981–82 season. They won the Lancashire Combination Cup in the 1934–35 season and the League Championship in the 1979–80 season.
===Early History===

The club was formed as Clitheroe Central in 1877 at the [[Swan Court Shopping Arcade|Swan Hotel]] in Castle Street by local businessmen. After playing in local leagues the club joined the Lancashire Combination in 1903 and dropped Central from their name.
For the 1982–83 season the Lancashire Combination amalgamated with the [[Cheshire County League]] to become the [[North West Counties Football League|North West Counties League]]. Clitheroe became one of the founder members, however the state of the ground meant they started in the third division. There then followed one of the most successful periods in the club's long history when under the guidance of manager Eric Whalley, they won the Third, Second and First Divisions in consecutive seasons, as well as securing the Lancashire Cup in 1985.
The first major trophy won was the Lancashire Junior Cup in 1893 - a trophy they had to wait 92 years to win again. In 1985 at Deepdale, home of Preston North End, they defeated Barrow 1-0 with local lad Eric Geldard scoring in extra time

In the 1995–96 season when under the joint managership of Dennis Underwood and Gary Butcher they played at [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley Stadium]] in the final of the [[FA Vase]]. Some 7,500 people watched the game against [[Brigg Town F.C.|Brigg Town]] and although Clitheroe won against them earlier in the season in the [[FA Cup]] the club was beaten 3–0 in the Vase Final. A public appeal to help with the visit to Wembley saw £7,400 donated by townspeople and businesses.

The last decade of the 20th century saw most of the ten years spent getting the ground up to scratch with £130,000 being spent in the process. The sale of two players, Jon Penman and [[Carlo Nash]], helped considerably with the expenditure on the ground. The club saw little success on the pitch after the Wembley visit until manager Steve Parry led them to the Floodlight Trophy by beating [[Kidsgrove Athletic]] 2–1 in the 1998–99 final.

===21st century===

Dave Burgess took over the management of the first team in 2000–01 after several successful years running the second string, with player Lee Sculpher as his assistant. In their first season they finished as league runners-up and FA Vase semi-finalists.

Work commitments led to Burgess standing down in 2001–02. Sculpher took over and again finished as league runners-up before losing 2–1 to [[Mossley A.F.C.|Mossley]] in the League Cup final at [[Bury F.C.|Bury's]] [[Gigg Lane]] ground.


Early cup exits the following season enabled the Blues to concentrate on the league and their away form saw the 2003–04 NWCFL championship won on the final day of the season with a 3–2 victory at [[Nantwich Town F.C.|Nantwich Town]] – a late goal from Neil Reynolds sealing the title, the trophy lifted by captain Adam Gardner and club stalwart Keith Lord. With the title came the reward of promotion to the [[Northern Premier League]] for the 2004–05 season.
===20th Century===
Except for breaks during the first and second World Wars (1914-18 and 1939-45) Clitheroe played in the Lancashire Combination until the end of the 1981-82 season. They won the Lancashire Combination Cup in the 1934-35 season and the League Championship in the 1979-80 season.


===Northern Premier League===
For the 1982/83 season The Lancashire Combination amalgamated with the Cheshire County League to become the North West Counties League. Clitheroe became one of the founder members, however the state of the ground meant they started in the third division. There then followed one of the most successful periods in the club's long history when under the guidance of manager Eric Whalley they won the Third, Second and First Divisions in consecutive seasons.
One of the highlights of the clubs history was in the 1995-96 season when under the joint managership of Dennis Underwood and Gary Butcher they played at Wembley Stadium in the final of the FA Vase. Some 7,500 people watched the game against Brigg Town and although beating them earlier in the season in the FA Cup the club was beaten 3-0 in the Vase Final. However the club was given a great welcome back to the town when the streets were lined with supporters waving their blue and white flags. A public appeal to help with the visit to Wembley saw a magnificent £7,400 donated by townspeople and businesses.


In November 2004 Lee Sculpher resigned as manager and short spells in charge by Paul Byron, Tommy Lawson and Mark Smitheringale followed before Chris Stammers was appointed manager in September 2006. After the 10–1 loss to [[Kettering Town F.C.|Kettering Town]] in the [[FA Trophy]], Stammers tendered his resignation stating that he had taken the club as far as he could. His assistant Ash Berry took temporary charge of team affairs before the club appointed Neil Reynolds and Kendal's veteran player Peter Smith as the new management team in December. Smith took over sole managerial duties at the end of the 2008–09 season, going on to lead the club to 8th (2009–10) and 6th (2010–11) place finishes, the highest league placings in the club's history to date.
===21st Century===
The last decade of the 20th Century saw most of the 10 years spent getting the ground up to scratch with £130,000 being spent in the process. The sale of 2 players, Jon Penman and Carlo Nash, helped considerably with the expenditure on the ground.
The club saw little success on the pitch after the Wembley visit until manager Steve Parry led them to the Floodlight Trophy by beating Kidsgrove Athletic 2-1 in the 1998-99 final.


The end of the 2010–11 season saw Pete Smith replaced as manager by Carl Garner, club chairman of four years' standing. The vacant position of chair was taken over by Garner's long-standing deputy Anne Barker, who remains in the role. Early success for Garner in 2011-12 (including the Manager of the Month award) was followed by a tailing off in form. He resigned with ten games to go, Dave Burgess and Lee Sculpher returning on a temporary basis to see the season out.
Local lad Dave Burgess took over the management of the First Team in 2000/01 after several successful years running the second string, with player Lee Sculpher as his assistant. In their first season they finished as league runners-up and FA Vase semi-finalists.


Paul Moore took over the reins in 2012–13, leading Clitheroe to their record points haul and an 8th-place finish. In contrast, a poor start to the 2013–14 season, with early exits from the FA Cup and Trophy, saw Moore replaced by ex-Blue Simon Garner, son of former chairman/manager Carl. With his assistant (and another ex-Blue) Ryan Parr, Garner secured safety with a 17th-place finish, improving on this for 2014–15 with 13th place and an appearance in the Lancashire Challenge Trophy final (a 3–0 defeat to Chorley). The good work continued into 2015-16 when a strong playoff push only faltered in the closing weeks of the season, resulting in a creditable 7th-place finish. Garner and Parr stood down at the season's end, citing family reasons.
Work commitments led to Dave standing down in 2001/02 and Lee took over and again finished as league runners-up before losing 1-2 to Mossley in the League Cup final at Bury's Gigg Lane ground.


In April 2016, [[Simon Haworth]] was appointed manager, assisted by [[Gareth Roberts (footballer)|Gareth Roberts]], with coaches [[Ian Johnson (footballer, born 1983)|Ian Johnson]] and Irfan Kawri. In May 2017 the management team were joined by Ben Kay, former joint manager at Ashton Athletic. In June 2017, Gareth Roberts left the role of Assistant Manager to join Skelmersdale United.
==The Club Information==
Early cup exits the following season enabled the Blues to concentrate on the league and superb away form saw the 2003/04 NWCFL championship won on the final day of the season with a 3-2 victory at Nantwich Town - a memorable late goal from Neil Reynolds sealing a fantastic achievement.


==Honours==
Shock news was received November '04 when Lee Sculpher resigned as manager and short spells in charge by Paul Byron, Tommy Lawson and Mark Smitheringale followed before Chris Stammers was appointed manager on 18th September 2006. A further shock was received immediately after the 1-10 loss to Kettering Town in the FA Trophy on 25th November when Chris tendered his resignation citing he had taken the club as far as he could. His assistant Ash Berry took temporary charge of team affairs before the club appointed popular Neil Reynolds and Kendal's veteran player Peter Smith as the new management team on December 6th
* '''[[Lancashire FA Challenge Trophy]]'''
** Winners: 1984–85
* '''[[Lancashire Combination]] Division Two'''
** Champions: 1959–60
* '''[[Lancashire Combination]] Division One'''
** Champions: 1979–80
* '''[[North West Counties Football League]] Division Three'''
** Champions: 1983–84
* '''[[North West Counties Football League]] Division Two'''
** Champions: 1984–85
* '''[[North West Counties Football League]] Division One'''
** Champions: [[1985–86 North West Counties Football League|1985–86]], [[2003–04 North West Counties Football League|2003–04]]
* '''North West Counties Floodlit Trophy'''
** Winners: 1998–99


==Records==
[[Carlo Nash]], the former [[Preston North End F.C.|Preston North End]] goalkeeper also started his career here too, before being spotted by [[Crystal Palace F.C.|Crystal Palace]]. [http://www.carlonash.com/]
* Best [[FA Cup]] performance: 3rd Qualifying Round 1959–60, 1965–66, 1967–68, 2007–08, 2022–23
* Best [[FA Trophy]] performance: 1st Round 2005–06, ''2024–25''
* Best [[FA Vase]] performance: Finalists 1995–96, Semi-finalists 2000–01
* Record attendance: 2,050 (vs [[Mangotsfield United F.C.|Mangotsfield United]], [[FA Vase]] semi-final 1995–96)
* Record transfer: £45,000 for [[Carlo Nash]] to [[Crystal Palace F.C.|Crystal Palace]]


==References==
They have reached the third qualifying round of the [[FA Cup]] in seasons 1959-60, 1965-66 and 1967-68.
{{Reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
{{commons category}}
*[http://www.clitheroefc.co.uk/ Clitheroe FC Unofficial website]
*[http://www.clitheroefc.co.uk/peterfc2/newmbody.html Official Website]
* {{official website|http://www.clitheroefc.co.uk/}}
* [http://www.blueswayedviews.co.uk/ Clitheroe FC Unofficial website]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130415145041/http://blueswayedviews.co.uk/ |date=15 April 2013 }}.


{{Northern Premier League}}
{{fb start}}
{{Borough of Ribble Valley culture}}
{{Northern Premier League North}}
{{fb end}}


[[Category:English football clubs]]
[[Category:Clitheroe F.C.| ]]
[[Category:Northern Premier League]]
[[Category:Football clubs in England]]
[[Category:Sport in Lancashire]]
[[Category:Football clubs in Lancashire]]
[[Category:Football (soccer) clubs established in 1877]]
[[Category:1877 establishments in England]]
[[Category:Clitheroe]]
[[Category:Association football clubs established in 1877]]
[[Category:Sport in Ribble Valley]]
[[Category:Lancashire League (football)]]
[[Category:Lancashire Combination]]
[[Category:North West Counties Football League clubs]]
[[Category:Northern Premier League clubs]]

Latest revision as of 09:26, 18 December 2024

Not to be confused with Clitheroe F.C. (1879).

Clitheroe F.C.
Full nameClitheroe Football Club
Nickname(s)The Blues
Founded1877; 147 years ago (1877)
GroundEcoGiants Stadium (formerly Shawbridge)
Capacity2,000
ChairmanDave Frost
ManagerSean McConville
LeagueNorthern Premier League Division One West
2023–24Northern Premier League Division One West, 7th of 20
Clitheroe F.C. ground at EcoGiants Stadium

Clitheroe Football Club is an English football club based in Clitheroe, Lancashire, currently playing in the Northern Premier League Division One West.

History

[edit]

Early history

[edit]

The club was formed as Clitheroe Central in 1891 as a split from the existing Clitheroe Football Club,[1] at the Swan Hotel in Castle Street by local businessmen. After playing in local leagues, the club joined the Lancashire Combination in 1903, and in 1910 the club was wound up and withdrawn from the Combination because of the lack of geographical exclusivity.[2] As the board meeting had been held without reference to the shareholders, a further meeting was called,[3] but Clitheroe Central's resignation from the Combination stood and the players awarded free transfers.[4]

During this period, Central played their games at the Upbrooks ground, located behind houses on Salthill Road, which is now partially built over. In 1925, the club moved a few hundred yards to its present home, now known as The EcoGiants Stadium (formerly Shawbridge).

20th century

[edit]

The club was re-founded in 1924, and, after a season in the North-East Lancashire Combination, rejoined the Lancashire Combination for the 1925–26 season.[5] Clitheroe remained there until the end of the 1981–82 season. They won the Lancashire Combination Cup in the 1934–35 season and the League Championship in the 1979–80 season.

For the 1982–83 season the Lancashire Combination amalgamated with the Cheshire County League to become the North West Counties League. Clitheroe became one of the founder members, however the state of the ground meant they started in the third division. There then followed one of the most successful periods in the club's long history when under the guidance of manager Eric Whalley, they won the Third, Second and First Divisions in consecutive seasons, as well as securing the Lancashire Cup in 1985.

In the 1995–96 season when under the joint managership of Dennis Underwood and Gary Butcher they played at Wembley Stadium in the final of the FA Vase. Some 7,500 people watched the game against Brigg Town and although Clitheroe won against them earlier in the season in the FA Cup the club was beaten 3–0 in the Vase Final. A public appeal to help with the visit to Wembley saw £7,400 donated by townspeople and businesses.

The last decade of the 20th century saw most of the ten years spent getting the ground up to scratch with £130,000 being spent in the process. The sale of two players, Jon Penman and Carlo Nash, helped considerably with the expenditure on the ground. The club saw little success on the pitch after the Wembley visit until manager Steve Parry led them to the Floodlight Trophy by beating Kidsgrove Athletic 2–1 in the 1998–99 final.

21st century

[edit]

Dave Burgess took over the management of the first team in 2000–01 after several successful years running the second string, with player Lee Sculpher as his assistant. In their first season they finished as league runners-up and FA Vase semi-finalists.

Work commitments led to Burgess standing down in 2001–02. Sculpher took over and again finished as league runners-up before losing 2–1 to Mossley in the League Cup final at Bury's Gigg Lane ground.

Early cup exits the following season enabled the Blues to concentrate on the league and their away form saw the 2003–04 NWCFL championship won on the final day of the season with a 3–2 victory at Nantwich Town – a late goal from Neil Reynolds sealing the title, the trophy lifted by captain Adam Gardner and club stalwart Keith Lord. With the title came the reward of promotion to the Northern Premier League for the 2004–05 season.

Northern Premier League

[edit]

In November 2004 Lee Sculpher resigned as manager and short spells in charge by Paul Byron, Tommy Lawson and Mark Smitheringale followed before Chris Stammers was appointed manager in September 2006. After the 10–1 loss to Kettering Town in the FA Trophy, Stammers tendered his resignation stating that he had taken the club as far as he could. His assistant Ash Berry took temporary charge of team affairs before the club appointed Neil Reynolds and Kendal's veteran player Peter Smith as the new management team in December. Smith took over sole managerial duties at the end of the 2008–09 season, going on to lead the club to 8th (2009–10) and 6th (2010–11) place finishes, the highest league placings in the club's history to date.

The end of the 2010–11 season saw Pete Smith replaced as manager by Carl Garner, club chairman of four years' standing. The vacant position of chair was taken over by Garner's long-standing deputy Anne Barker, who remains in the role. Early success for Garner in 2011-12 (including the Manager of the Month award) was followed by a tailing off in form. He resigned with ten games to go, Dave Burgess and Lee Sculpher returning on a temporary basis to see the season out.

Paul Moore took over the reins in 2012–13, leading Clitheroe to their record points haul and an 8th-place finish. In contrast, a poor start to the 2013–14 season, with early exits from the FA Cup and Trophy, saw Moore replaced by ex-Blue Simon Garner, son of former chairman/manager Carl. With his assistant (and another ex-Blue) Ryan Parr, Garner secured safety with a 17th-place finish, improving on this for 2014–15 with 13th place and an appearance in the Lancashire Challenge Trophy final (a 3–0 defeat to Chorley). The good work continued into 2015-16 when a strong playoff push only faltered in the closing weeks of the season, resulting in a creditable 7th-place finish. Garner and Parr stood down at the season's end, citing family reasons.

In April 2016, Simon Haworth was appointed manager, assisted by Gareth Roberts, with coaches Ian Johnson and Irfan Kawri. In May 2017 the management team were joined by Ben Kay, former joint manager at Ashton Athletic. In June 2017, Gareth Roberts left the role of Assistant Manager to join Skelmersdale United.

Honours

[edit]

Records

[edit]
  • Best FA Cup performance: 3rd Qualifying Round 1959–60, 1965–66, 1967–68, 2007–08, 2022–23
  • Best FA Trophy performance: 1st Round 2005–06, 2024–25
  • Best FA Vase performance: Finalists 1995–96, Semi-finalists 2000–01
  • Record attendance: 2,050 (vs Mangotsfield United, FA Vase semi-final 1995–96)
  • Record transfer: £45,000 for Carlo Nash to Crystal Palace

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Burnley fail to ascend the peak". Burnley Express: 4. 4 March 1891.
  2. ^ "Sports Notes". Heywood Advertiser: 2. 17 June 1910.
  3. ^ "Sports and Pastimes". Manchester Evening News: 6. 7 July 1910.
  4. ^ "Lancashire Combination: Free Transfers Granted". Manchester Evening News: 6. 18 August 1910.
  5. ^ "report". Guardian: 4. 24 March 1925.
[edit]
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