Kidsgrove Athletic F.C.

Kidsgrove Athletic

Full name

Kidsgrove Athletic Football Club

Nickname(s)

The Grove

Founded

1952

Ground

The Novus Stadium, Hollinwood Road

Capacity

2,000

Chairman

Mick Fitzjohn

Manager

Peter Ward

League

Northern Premier League
Division One South

2015–16

Northern Premier League
Division One South, 15th

Home colours

Kidsgrove Athletic F.C. is an English football club based in Kidsgrove, Staffordshire, England currently playing in the Northern Premier League Division One South. The team, nicknamed "The Grove", play their home games at The Novus Stadium.^[1]

History

Football was played in the town of Kidsgrove before the outbreak of World War II saw the team disband. Football was resurrected in when Kidsgrove United was formed which brought a number of players from further afield.^[1] Local young men unhappy with this structure formed their own club in 1952 under the name Kidsgrove Athletic. The club joined the amateur Burslem and Tunstall League.^[1] They played on the Vickers and Goodwin pitch next to the A50 before deciding not to play football in 1961 in order to develop a ground on Hollinwood Road, Clough Hall. The club won the Burslem and Tunstall League in 1962 and joined the Staffordshire County League in 1963.^[1]

They won the Division Two title in 1963–64 before winning the Division One title in 1965–66.^[1] Kidsgrove moved to the Mid-Cheshire League in 1966 a move which caused some controversy.^[1] The team thrived in the new league and were crowned champions in 1970–71, 1977–78, 1986–87 and 1987–88 and also won the Mid-Cheshire League Cup in 1968, 1970 and 1986. The club joined the North West Counties Football League in 1990 and were promoted to the Premier Division in 1991–92 due to ground grading.^[1] After several seasons of struggle at this level they won the title in 1997–98 and 2001–02 which earned them promotion to the Northern Premier League.^[1] Kidsgrove struggled with the step up to the eighth tier narrowly avoiding relegation in 2002–03 and 2003–04. Under the management of Ant Buckle and Darren Twigg they finished in mid-table in 2004–05 and 2005–06. Peter Ward re-joined the club in the summer of 2006 which saw Kidsgrove begin to mount a promotion challenge and they reached the play-offs in 2009–10 but lost out to Glapwell. In 2010–11 Grove missed out on a play-off spot by four points finishing in 7th position.

In 2011–12 Kidsgrove reached the fourth-qualifying round of the FA Cup where they lost 2–0 to Bradford Park Avenue. In the summer of 2012 Peter Ward left the club and was replaced by Shaun Hollinshead however he was sacked in April 2013.^[2] Ant Buckle and Darren Twigg took control of the side for the 2013–14 season. Grove had a poor 2013–14 season finishing bottom of the table which saw Ant Buckle replaced by Neil Gill in May 2014.^[3] However after a poor start to the 2014–15 campaign Gill was sacked on 7 September 2014,^[4] being replaced by Paul Moore four days later.^[5] However Moore quit on 22 October 2014 blaming board interference.^[6] In his place came former manager Peter Ward.^[7]

Club records

Kidsgrove have yet to reach the first round of the FA Cup, but did reach the semi-finals of the FA Vase in 1997–98. Athletic have won the Staffordshire Senior Cup five times in 2004, 2007, 2009, 2011 and 2012.^[8]

Best FA Cup performance: 4th qualifying round achieved during the 2011–12 season
Record Attendance: 1,903 v Tiverton Town, FA Vase Semi-Final, 21 March 1998
Record Victory: 23–0 v Cross Heath WMC, Staffordshire Cup 1965
Record Defeat: 0–15 v Stafford Rangers, Staffordshire Senior Cup, 20 November 2001

Players

As of 12 October 2015^[9]

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

No.		Position	Player
		GK	Ben Chapman
		DF	Lewis Bergin
		DF	Ryan Brown
		DF	Ryan Dicker
		DF	Paul Donnelly
		DF	Karl Espley
		DF	Tom Morris
		DF	Paul Taylor
		MF	Will Bailey (on loan from Macclesfield Town)
		MF	Will Booth

No.		Position	Player
		MF	Ross Davidson
		MF	Ben Matthews
		MF	Dan Skelton
		MF	Jack Sherrat
		FW	Jordan Johnson
		FW	Andy Kinsley
		FW	Ant Malbon
		FW	Nick Wellecomme
		FW	Joe Woolley

Coaching staff

Manager	Peter Ward
Assistant managers	Ant Buckle
Goalkeeping coach	Dave Windley
Player coach	Andrew Kinsey
Physiotherapist	John Davies
Kitman	Graham Plant^[10]

Honours

Leagues

North West Counties Football League Premier Division

Champions: 1997–98, 2001–02

Mid-Cheshire League

Champions: 1970–71, 1977–78, 1986–87, 1987–88
Runners-up: 1968–69, 1985–86

Staffordshire County League

Champions: 1965–66

Staffordshire County League Division Two

Champions: 1963–64

Cups

Staffordshire Senior Cup

Winners: 2004, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2012
Runners-up: 2008

Northern Premier League Chairman's Cup

Winners: 2005

North West Counties League Challenge Cup

Winners: 1998

North West Counties League Floodlit Trophy

Runners-up: 1999

Mid Cheshire League Cup

Winners: 1968, 1970, 1986
Runner-up: 1985, 1987

League history

Season	League	Played	Wins	Draws	Losses	Goals F	Goals A	Points	Position	FA Cup	FA Trophy	FA Vase
1966–67	Mid-Cheshire League	30	12	3	15	71	74	21	11/16
1967–68	Mid-Cheshire League	34	16	6	12	76	62	38	8/18
1968–69	Mid-Cheshire League	38	27	5	6	114	49	59	2/20
1969–70	Mid-Cheshire League	34	24	4	6	104	41	52	3/18
1970–71	Mid-Cheshire League	34	26	4	4	115	27	56	1/18
1971–72	Mid-Cheshire League	34	21	10	3	110	48	52	3/18
1972–73	Mid-Cheshire League	34	14	3	17	59	63	31	11/18
1973–74	Mid-Cheshire League	36	14	15	7	58	44	43	7/18
1974–75	Mid-Cheshire League	38	22	7	9	78	51	51	4/20
1975–76	Mid-Cheshire League	32	11	8	13	50	50	30	9/17
1976–77	Mid-Cheshire League	30	19	4	7	69	33	42	3/16			R1
1977–78	Mid-Cheshire League	30	14	5	11	49	51	33	7/16			R1
1978–79	Mid-Cheshire League	30	22	6	2	70	24	50	1/16			R2
1979–80	Mid-Cheshire League	30	8	10	12	46	39	26	12/16			PR
1980–81	Mid-Cheshire League	30	12	6	12	30	30	30	9/16			PR
1981–82	Mid-Cheshire League	30	12	7	11	35	35	31	8/16			PR
1982–83	Mid-Cheshire League	28	11	5	12	49	43	27	10/15
1983–84	Mid-Cheshire League	34	11	10	13	51	41	32	12/18
1984–85	Mid-Cheshire League	32	16	9	7	53	40	41	5/17
1985–86	Mid-Cheshire League	34	24	6	4	107	38	54	2/18
1986–87	Mid-Cheshire League	32	23	6	3	91	25	52	1/17
1987–88	Mid-Cheshire League	30	24	5	1	87	24	53	1/16
1988–89	Mid-Cheshire League	28	12	7	9	56	51	51	5/15
1989–90	Mid-Cheshire League	30	14	2	14	54	66	44	8/16
Joined North West Counties League Division Two
1990–91	NWCFL Division Two	34	7	10	17	37	65	31	14/18
1991–92	NWCFL Division Two	34	14	7	13	44	45	49	10/18			R1
Promoted to Division One ahead of higher-placed teams due to ground grading
1992–93	NWCFL Division One	42	9	8	25	53	94	35	20/22
1993–94	NWCFL Division One	42	16	10	16	70	61	58	10/22
1994–95	NWCFL Division One	42	14	8	20	66	78	50	15/22			PR
1995–96	NWCFL Division One	42	15	9	18	61	64	54	13/22	QR1		R1
1996–97	NWCFL Division One	42	10	14	18	53	73	44	16/22	PR		QR2
1997–98	NWCFL Division One	42	32	3	7	127	50	99	1/22	PR		SF
1998–99	NWCFL Division One	40	24	7	9	90	47	79	5/21	QR1		R4
1999–00	NWCFL Division One	42	14	9	19	47	66	51	13/22	PR		R2
2000–01	NWCFL Division One	42	24	10	8	81	46	82	6/22	EPR		R1
2001–02	NWCFL Division One	42	31	9	4	125	47	102	1/22	PR		R4
Promoted to Northern Premier League First Division
2002–03	NPL First Division	42	9	11	22	49	71	38	19/22	QR2	R1
2003–04	NPL First Division	42	10	9	23	45	67	39	22/22	PR	PR
2004–05	NPL First Division	42	15	15	12	60	55	60	10/22	PR	R2
2005–06	NPL First Division	42	14	9	19	66	69	51	17/22	QR1	QR2
2006–07	NPL First Division	42	21	7	18	91	80	70	8/24	QR3	QR2
Inaugural members of the Northern Premier League Division One South
2007–08	NPL Division One South	42	7	10	25	61	90	31	17/18	QR2	PR
2008–09	NPL Division One South	38	12	5	21	49	62	41	15/20	QR1	QR1
2009–10	NPL Division One South	42	22	12	8	93	50	78	4/22	QR1	PR
2010–11	NPL Division One South	42	23	6	13	88	59	75	7/22	QR2	PR
2011–12	NPL Division One South	42	13	16	13	62	59	55	13/22	QR4	QR1
2012–13	NPL Division One South	42	12	7	23	75	86	43	18/22	PR	QR1
2013–14	NPL Division One South	40	7	9	24	41	80	30	21/21	QR1	QR2
2014–15	NPL Division One South	42	9	9	24	48	96	36	20/22	PR	PR
2015–16	NPL Division One South	42	12	14	16	81	78	50	15/22	PR	QR2

References

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Kidsgrove Athletic FC - a brief history". Kidsgrove Athletic.co.uk. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
↑ "Kidsgrove fire boss Hollinshead after run of five defeats". The Sentinel. 19 April 2013. Retrieved 19 April 2013.
↑ "Kidsgrove's new manager Neil Gill looking forward to a fresh challenge". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 29 May 2014.
↑ "Gill departs Kidsgrove". KAFC. Retrieved 7 September 2014.
↑ "Paul Moore appointed manager". KAFC. Retrieved 11 September 2014.
↑ "Paul Moore quits as Kidsgrove Athletic manager". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 22 October 2014.
↑ "Peter Ward is back in town as manager of Kidsgrove Athletic". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 31 October 2014.
↑ Grove Pick Up Staffordshire Senior Cup
↑ "The Team - First Team - Kidsgrove Athletic FC". pitchero.com.
↑ "Graham Plant - First Team - Kidsgrove Athletic FC". pitchero.com.

External links

Official Site
Kidsgrove Athletic FC at pitchero.com

Coordinates: 53°4′51.895″N 2°15′2.077″W / 53.08108194°N 2.25057694°W / 53.08108194; -2.25057694

Northern Premier League

Premier Division	Ashton United Barwell Blyth Spartans Buxton Colwyn Bay Darlington 1883 Frickley Athletic Grantham Town Halesowen Town Hyde United Ilkeston Marine Matlock Town Mickleover Sports Nantwich Town Ramsbottom United Rushall Olympic Salford City Skelmersdale United Stamford Stourbridge Sutton Coldfield Town Whitby Town Workington

Division One North	Bamber Bridge Brighouse Town Burscough Clitheroe Droylsden Farsley Celtic Glossop North End Harrogate Railway Athletic Kendal Town Lancaster City Mossley New Mills Northwich Victoria Ossett Albion Ossett Town Prescot Cables Radcliffe Borough Scarborough Athletic Spennymoor Town Trafford Warrington Town Witton Albion

Division One South	Basford United Belper Town Carlton Town Chasetown Coalville Town Daventry Town Goole Gresley Kidsgrove Athletic Leek Town Lincoln United Loughborough Dynamo Market Drayton Town Newcastle Town Romulus Rugby Town Shaw Lane Aquaforce Sheffield Spalding United Stafford Rangers Stocksbridge Park Steels Tividale

Seasons	1968–69 1969–70 1970–71 1971–72 1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17

See also: Northern Premier League Challenge Cup, Northern Premier League President's Cup, Northern Premier League Chairman's Cup, Peter Swales Shield

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Tuesday, May 03, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.