Goole A.F.C.
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| Full name | Goole AFC | ||
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| Nickname(s) | The Vikings | ||
| Founded | 1997 (Goole AFC) | ||
| Ground | Victoria Pleasure Grounds Goole East Riding of Yorkshire | ||
| Capacity | 3,000 (300 seated)[1] | ||
| Chairman | Chris Woodhouse | ||
| Manager | Lee Morris | ||
| League | Northern Counties East League Premier Division | ||
| 2023–24 | Northern Counties East League Premier Division, 18th of 20 | ||
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Goole A.F.C. is a semi-professional English football club based in the town of Goole, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1997. They currently compete in the Northern Premier League Division One South, which is at Level 8 on the English football league system pyramid.
History
Goole A.F.C. was formed in 1997, a year after Goole Town had disbanded.
They started life in the Central Midlands League, where they spent two seasons before joining the Northern Counties East League (NCEL). They won the Division One title at the first time of asking, and the Premier Division title in 2005, enabling them to take promotion to the Northern Premier League Division One. A re-organisation of the non-league structure during the summer of 2006 saved them from an immediate return to the Northern Counties East League, as they finished in the relegation places at the end of the 2005–06 season.
The club announced that they planned to change their name to Goole Town F.C. in June 2006, however the West Riding FA rejected the name change thus forcing them to remain as Goole AFC.
The 2006–07 season saw a major upturn in form, with a 7th-place finish earned after collecting just 5 less points than was needed to reach the play-offs, and 2007–08 was much the same with Goole missing out on the play-offs again after a faltering last quarter to the season.
Just before the start of the 2008–09 season it was announced that Goole A.F.C. had an unpaid bill of £30,000 to HM Revenue and Customs, which issued a Winding-Up Notice on 17 July 2008. Goole A.F.C. decided to enter into administration to enable a CVA to be agreed with HM Revenue and Customs. In that season, Goole A.F.C. were deducted 11 points (−1 for an illegible player and −10 points for going into administration.)
On 14 October 2013, Baron Bloom took over as chairman of the club. Baron also immediately announced the appointment of David Holdsworth as first team manager and Curtis Woodhouse as his assistant.
On Saturday 25 January 2014, Goole A.F.C. captain Karl Colley tried to confront a fan after receiving a red card. Colley was sacked by the club later that day.
Players
- As of 4 February 2016.[2]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Notable former players
Leigh Jenkinson
Clint Marcelle
Andy Saville
Zeph Thomas- Andy Flounders
- Clive Freeman
- Jason Blunt
- Gary Bradshaw
Cecil Nyoni- Mick Norbury
- Ashley Jackson
Records
- Goole AFC's top attendance in any game since formation was against a Leeds United side in 1999, when 976 turned up to watch Leeds win the game 5–3.
- Goole AFC's top attendance for a competitive game was against FC United of Manchester in the Unibond President's Cup Semi-Final in 2008 when 967 fans turn out, FC United of Manchester won the game 3–1.
- Goole AFC's biggest win came in their very first competitive game when they beat Blackwell Miners Welfare 8–0.
- Goole AFC's biggest Northern Premier League win was against Kidsgrove Athletic when they won 6–2 in 2008
Ground and Colours
They play their home games at the ageing Victoria Pleasure Grounds ("VPG"). Plans to upgrade the VPG to Football Conference standards were drawn up but later shelved. There is an option is available to move the club to the proposed new Westfield Banks Sports Academy but the board do not feel this is right for Goole AFC in the long term.
The team's colours are red shirts, with red shorts and red socks. The away colours are yellow shirts, with yellow shorts and yellow socks.
Honours
- Northern Counties East League Premier Division
- Winners: 2004–05
- Northern Counties East League Division One
- Winners: 1999–2000
- Northern Counties East League Wilkinson Sword Trophy
- Winners: 1999–2000
- Central Midlands League Supreme Division
- Promoted 1998–99
- Central Midlands League Premier Division
- Winners: 1997–98
- West Riding County Cup
- Winners: 2007
References
- ^ The seated accommodation comprises 162 plastic seats and 150 wooden benches
- ^ "First Team". Goole A.F.C. Retrieved 4 November 2011.