Hucknall Town F.C. Explained

Clubname:Hucknall Town
Fullname:Hucknall Town Football Club
Nickname:The Yellows or The Town
Founded:1943
(as Hucknall Colliery Welfare)
Ground:Aerial Way (RM stadium)
Capacity:4,000 (270 seated)
Chairman:Bob Scotney
Manager:Reece Limbert
Website:https://www.hucknalltownfc.co.uk
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Hucknall Town Football Club is a football club based in the town of Hucknall, Nottinghamshire, England. The club is a member of the and plays at the RM Stadium.

History

Hucknall Town were renamed from Hucknall Colliery Welfare in 1987 and for the next two seasons finished first in the Notts Alliance. They moved into the Central Midlands League where they finished first in both 1989–90 and 1990–91 and runners up in 1991–92 to Lincoln United. The league cup was also won in all three seasons with the losing finalists being the now defunct Crookes, Nottingham neighbours Arnold Town and Nettleham.

Hucknall Town were promoted to the Northern Counties East League Division One and then to the Premier Division where they struggled in the Premier Division until 1996–97, when they recovered from a poor start to finish sixth. However, the League Cup and President's Cup made their way to Watnall Road with Hucknall beating Pontefract Colleries and Belper Town in the respective finals. It was the second time they had won the League Cup, having beaten Thackley in 1994.

In 1997–98, they won the Northern Counties East League and retained the league cup with North Ferriby United finishing second in both competitions. The following season came as a major surprise as Hucknall finished second in the Division One, behind Droylsden. The title would have been won but for an early season points deduction.

From 1999 to 2004 they played in the Northern Premier League Premier Division, winning the championship in the 2003–04 season. However, as their Watnall Road ground did not meet the standards of the Football Conference they were refused promotion to the Conference National division and had to settle for a place in the new Conference North.

They were due to be relegated from the Conference North to the Northern Premier League Premier Division following the 2007–08 season. This would have been the first relegation from any league in the club's history. However, Halifax Town's financial woes meant that they were reprieved.[1] The club were eventually relegated at the end of the 2008–09 season.

Relegation following the 2010–2011 season saw them drop into the Division One South and further financial woes lead to them relegated again, three levels in 2012–13 to Central Midlands League South Division.

In the 2014–15 season Hucknall Town finished 4th in the Central Midlands League and won the Central Midlands League Cup, beating Clifton All Whites 3–0 at Alfreton Town's North Street ground.

Hucknall Town became Central Midlands League South divisional champions in the 2018–19 season.

Following the 2022–2023 season, with Andy Ingle as the first team manager, Hucknall Town were promoted from the United Counties following two penalty shoot-out wins during the end of season promotion play-offs. The semi-final was against Bourne Town and the final against Birstall United[2]

Stadium

The club played at the Watnall Road ground, which has a 5,000 capacity with 270 seats with the development side. Hucknall Town Sunday and the Vet's team also played home fixtures at Watnall Road on the training pitch.

In May 2008, Worksop Town of the Northern Premier League became Hucknall's tenants, although the agreement was not renewed after the 2008–09 season.[3] [4]

In May 2015, it was announced that work had started on a new stadium. The club had hoped to move into the new stadium just off Aerial Way (across the road from the current stadium) for the 2017–18 season.[5] Their final games were both 2–0 defeats, the last league game was against Aylestone Park, 806 fans attended the match, then 4 days later on 19 October 2022, 290 fans watched the yellows play at Watnall Road for one final time, against Basford United in the Nottinghamshire Senior Cup.

Hucknall Town finally moved to their new stadium off Aerial Way, called RM Stadium (sponsored by RM Resources) and was opened by Nigel Clough, The Yellows won their first game 3-2 vs Harrowby United on 7 January 2023 in front of 392 fans.

First Team squad

[6]

Managers

The manager from 1995 to 2001 as Town rose from the Northern Counties East League to the Northern Premier League Premier Division was Geordie John Ramshaw. He was followed by Phil Starbuck and then Steve Burr. Former Leek Town and Gainsborough Trinity boss Ernie Moss was manager for a short spell during the first part of the 2004–05 season.

Former Bury player Dean Barrick was player-manager until January 2006. Dean Barrick was popular amongst the club's fans, and was voted BBC Radio Nottingham Sports Personality of the year in 2005 having led the club to the FA Trophy final.

Barrick was replaced in February 2006 by Kevin Wilson, the former Northampton Town and Kettering Town manager.

In January 2007, Wilson was sacked as manager, and former Welsh international player Andy Legg was appointed as the new player-manager. Legg remained as manager until September 2007, when he resigned following six consecutive defeats at the start of the season. David Lloyd replaced Legg, but having failed to avoid a relegation position was sacked before the final game of the 2007–08 season and replaced by Mick Galloway and Andy Miller.In November 2008 former Eastwood Town manager Brian Chambers was appointed as Director of Football. Galloway and Miller were appointed as coaches.[7] However, the clubs stated that he was to work with Galloway, rather than replace him.[8] Although after a further defeat against King's Lynn, Galloway and Miller were dismissed and replaced by Chambers[9] [10] Chambers resigned as manager in January 2010[11]

Former reserve team manager Andy Ingle took over first-team affairs with former player Michael Banister taking up the role of assistant manager, with the help of Darren Jubb the trio achieved promotion via a 3-5 penalty shoot out win, in the play-off final against Birstall United.

Hucknall struggled after the promotion, on 8 September assistant manager Micheal Banister stepped down as he felt that he could no longer commit the enormous amount of time that is required for the role of Assistant Manager going forward and then almost a week later on the 14th, manager Andy Igles also stepped down due to the significant demands of the role, Andy was no longer able to commit the time needed to address the current and ongoing challenges of step 5 football. Phil Henry and Darren Jubb took charge of a couple of games before Hucknall appointed joint managers Reece Limbert & Louis Bland on 3 October. The joint appointment was short-lived as Louis Bland received an offer from step 4 club Grantham Town in the capacity of First Team Manager on a full-time basis. Reece Limbert took full charge of the first team.

YearsManager
1987–1988Ted Mullane
1988–1990Roger Dawkins
1990–1991Steve Dykes
1991–1995Ted Mullane
1995–2001John Ramshaw
2001–2003Phil Starbuck
2003–2004Steve Burr
2004Ernie Moss
2004–2006Dean Barrick
2006–2007Kevin Wilson
2007 Andy Legg
2007–2008 David Lloyd
2008Mick Galloway and Andy Miller
2008–2010Brian Chambers
2010–2010Danny Bryant
2010–2012Tommy Brookbanks
2012–2012Des Lyttle
2012–2012Brett Marshall
2012–2012Gary Sucharewycz
2012–2012Jason Truscott
2012–2013Darren Kelk
2013Duncan Russell
2013–2022Andy Graves
2022–2023Andy Ingle
2023Reece Limbert & Louis Bland
2023- Reece Limbert

Honours

Notable former players

Several players have played or gone on to play in the Football League:

Nottingham Forest, Lincoln City, MK Dons, Cambridge United, Notts County, Chersterfield; Walsall, Portsmouth, Mansfield Town

External links

53.0262°N -1.2149°W

Notes and References

  1. http://www.hucknalldispatch.co.uk/local-sport-news/Town-saved-from-the-drop.4092791.jp Town saved from the drop
  2. Web site: Hucknall Town 2022-23 results . FA Full Time . 9 May 2023.
  3. Web site: Groundshare to end. Hucknall Town. https://web.archive.org/web/20091028001108/http://www.hucknalltownfc.com/news-article.asp?item=812. 28 October 2009.
  4. Web site: Town end groundshare scheme with Worksop. Daily Dispatch. 6 May 2009.
  5. Web site: Club Statement – New Stadium. pitchero.com. 3 June 2015.
  6. Web site: Hucknall Town FC . 21 July 2024.
  7. Web site: New Town chief declares:. hucknalldispatch.co.uk. 3 June 2015.
  8. Web site: Hucknalltownfc.com. hucknalltownfc.com. 3 June 2015.
  9. Web site: Hucknalltownfc.com. hucknalltownfc.com. 3 June 2015.
  10. Web site: Chambers: I made decision to axe Hucknall Town duo. https://archive.today/20120912025421/http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/homesport/Chambers-decision-axe-Hucknall-duo/article-465042-detail/article.html. dead. 12 September 2012. Nottingham Post. 3 June 2015.
  11. Web site: CHAMBERS QUITS AS HUCKNALL TOWN BOSS. hucknalldispatch.co.uk. 3 June 2015.
  12. Web site: Former Mansfield, Hucknall and Gainsborough winger leaves Notts County . www.chad.co.uk . 10 January 2019 . 10 January 2019.
  13. Web site: 'Keeper vacancy filled by Nelson . https://web.archive.org/web/20080928003959/http://www.canaries.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetails/0%2C%2C10355~1356373%2C00.html . 3 August 2008 . 28 September 2008 . dead .
  14. Web site: Aberdeen sign goalkeeper . https://web.archive.org/web/20091003092843/http://www.afc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/clubNewsDetail/0%2C%2C10284~1734471%2C00.html . 3 October 2009 . 27 July 2009 . dead .
  15. News: Nelson signs two-year deal . Notts County FC . 23 June 2010 . 23 June 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100626232317/http://www.nottscountyfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0%2C%2C10426~2077272%2C00.html . 26 June 2010 .