THE LANCIT HAULAGE
LANCASHIRE FOOTBALL LEAGUE
FLEETWOOD TOWN FC
A History of Fleetwood Town
F.C Formed: 1997
Ground Name: Highbury Stadium
The new club was originally
the brainchild of former Chairman Jim Betmead who, along with a
number of other local people, set about clearing a disused Highbury
Stadium, the home of previous clubs Fleetwood FC and Fleetwood Town.
The task was enormous. In
fact the ground looked just like a bombsite with almost all
facilities vandalised. In a very short period of time the
perseverance and commitment of the volunteers delivered a minor
miracle and an amazed North West Counties Football League grading
committee recommended the club for membership at the leagues' AGM in
June 1997 as Fleetwood Wanderers.
Fleetwood were duly accepted
but before a ball was kicked in earnest, the club was celebrating the
successful signing of a huge sponsorship deal, resulting in a quick
change of name to Fleetwood Freeport FC. Looking back, it has to be
said that the town of Fleetwood has a chequered football history.
The first representative side
emerged in the mid 1880's but the original Fleetwood FC did not come
into existence until 1908. Just 5 years later they lifted the coveted
Lancashire Junior Cup for the first time and in 1923.24 they arguably
the best spell came in the early 1930's when Fleetwood won the
Combination Cup three years in succession and were league runners' up twice.
After that tremendous period,
the club fell on hard times but they still remained prominent enough
in the mid 1960's to become founder members of the Northern Premier
League in 1968. In the third season of the new competition they
lifted the NPL Cup by defeating Macclesfield in the Final.
But in 1976, after several
rocky years, Fleetwood were finally forced into extinction; the
victim of a winding up petition served by the Inland Revenue.
A year later Fleetwood Town
FC was formed, carrying all before them in their inaugural season,
prompting a move into the Cheshire League.
In 1980 the club reached the
First Round of the F.A. Cup where they met Fylde neighbours
Blackpool. The Seasiders triumphed 4-0 but the glory belonged to Fleetwood.
On the formation of the North
West Counties Football League in 1982, Fleetwood Town were placed in
Division Two despite having previously been a member of the top
division of the Cheshire League.
At their second attempt,
Fleetwood were crowned 2nd Division Champions and earned promotion to
the top Division.
A year later, Town enjoyed
their greatest day ever when they reached the Final of the F.A. Vase.
Sadly, the fairytale ended in defeat as Fleetwood lost the Wembley
final against Halesowen; Norman Moran scoring Fleetwood's goal in a
3-1 defeat watched by a crowd of 16,715.
In 1987 Fleetwood joined the
exodus of NWCFL clubs to form the new First Division of the Northern
Premier League, winning the title in the very first season.
Promotion to the Premier
Division saw them compete favorably when they finished 4th in season 1990-91.
However, the joy was
short-lived and after a period of severe instability the club again
folded in ignominious fashion in 1976.
A new club was formed in 1997
and during their 2nd year of existence, season 1998-1999, Fleetwood
once again found themselves on the trophy trail when they concluded a
magnificent campaign by completing a North West Counties League and
Cup double; earning promotion to Division One as a result.
The following two seasons saw
Fleetwood finishing 7th and 5th, respectively, in the North West
Counties Football League First Division.
Season [2001/2002] was a
traumatic campaign for the club both on and off the pitch but after a
late revival Fleetwood finally finished in a respectable 14th
position. Betmead resigned as chairman, and ownership of the club
transferred to former manager Mick Hoyle whose departure in the build
up to the 2001/2002 campaign had been the catalyst for the turmoil
which followed.
In July 2002, Fleetwood
Freeport reverted to the club's former title of Fleetwood Town after
the 5-year sponsorship deal with Freeport PLC ceased. Weeks later,
Fleetwood Town announced a new sponsorship deal with local newspaper
The Fleetwood Weekly News & Chronicle but the season that
followed saw further mid table mediocrity.
The club's fortunes improved
immeasurably when, firstly, Tony Greenwood replaced Mick Hoyle as
manager and then a few months later Hoyle stood down as
chairman/owner to be replaced by Andy Pilley.
With the long serving Phil
Brown and Kevin Pennington alongside him, Pilley inspired a dramatic
and immediate transformation in the club's fortunes.
Greenwood was working his
magic on the football side and after a 3rd place finish in season
2003/2004, only a failed ground grading denied Fleetwood promotion to
the Unibond Northern Premier League 1st Division.
Fylde based Insurance
Brokers, ET Knagg & Co Ltd, became Fleetwood's new shirt sponsors
and Fleetwood finally made it to the Unibond League by winning the
North West Counties Division One title in record winning style during
season 2004/2005.
Season 2005/06 saw Fleetwood
never out of the top four but come the last game of the season they
had to beat Brigg Town by four goals and hope Kendle slipped up at
home to gain the runners up spot behind Mossley. With both sides
drawing at half time it seemed unlikely Fleetwood were to gain back
to back promotions. However Town banged in four second half goals and
Kendle could only manage a draw to allow Fleetwood take their
rightful place in the Unibond Premier Division.
For more information about
the club, log on to www.fleetwoodtownfc.com
