Full name | Kidsgrove Athletic Football Club | ||
---|---|---|---|
Nickname(s) | The Grove | ||
Founded | 1952 | ||
Ground | Hollinwood Road, Kidsgrove | ||
Capacity | 2,000 | ||
Chairman | Mick Fitzjohn | ||
Manager | Anthony Malbon | ||
League | Northern Premier League Division One West | ||
2023–24 | Northern Premier League Division One West, 18th of 20 | ||
Website | https://www.pitchero.com/clubs/kidsgroveathleticfc | ||
Kidsgrove Athletic F.C. is an English football club based in Kidsgrove, Staffordshire, England currently playing in the Northern Premier League Division One West. The team, nicknamed "The Grove", play their home games at Hollinwood Road, Clough Hall. [1]
Football was played in the town of Kidsgrove before the outbreak of World War II, which led to the disbandment of the team. Football was resurrected when Kidsgrove United was formed, bringing 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. One of these young men was Frank Timmis. 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, opting instead 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]
Kidsgrove play home matches at Hollinwood Road, in the Clough Hall area of Kidsgrove.
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]
Source: [10]
Season | League | FA Cup | FA Trophy | FA Vase | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | Pos | ||||
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 | |
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 | |
2016–17 | NPL Division One South | 42 | 16 | 7 | 19 | 72 | 66 | 55 | 12/22 | QR2 | QR2 | |
2017–18 | NPL Division One South | 42 | 11 | 2 | 22 | 69 | 90 | 42 | 18/22 | QR2 | QR2 | |
2018–19 | NPL Division One West | 38 | 15 | 13 | 10 | 58 | 40 | 58 | 10/20 | QR4 | PR | |
2019–20 | NPL Division One South East | 27 | 11 | 6 | 10 | 42 | 31 | 39 | 10/20 | QR3 | QR1 | |
2020–21 | NPL Division One South East | 7 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 13 | 7 | 16 | 4/20 | PR | R1 | |
2021–22 | NPL Division One West | 38 | 14 | 8 | 6 | 51 | 53 | 50 | 10/20 | PR | QR3 | |
2022–23 | NPL Division One West | 38 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 49 | 55 | 51 | 8/20 | PR | QR1 |
Kidsgrove is a town in the borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, England, on the Cheshire border. It is part of the Potteries Urban Area, along with Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle-under-Lyme. It has a population of 26,276. Most of the town is in the Kidsgrove ward, whilst the western part is in Ravenscliffe.
Stafford Rangers Football Club is a semi-professional English football team from Stafford which plays in the Northern Premier League Division One West.
Newcastle Town Football Club is a football club based in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, England. They are currently members of the Northern Premier League Division One West and play at the Lyme Valley Stadium.
Rocester Football Club is a football club based in Rocester, near Uttoxeter, Staffordshire, England, currently playing in the Staffordshire County Senior League Premier Division.
Leek Town Football Club is an English football club based in Leek, Staffordshire, playing in the Northern Premier League Premier Division, the seventh tier of English football. The team, nicknamed "The Blues", play their home games at Harrison Park.
Congleton Town Football Club is an association football club based in Congleton, Cheshire, England. They currently play in the Northern Premier League Division One West and are full members of the Cheshire County Football Association. The club have played in a number of regional leagues in the Cheshire area.
Hanley Town Football Club is a football club based in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, England. They are currently members of the Northern Premier League Division One West and play at Potteries Park.
Shaun Robert Miller is an English professional footballer who plays as a striker for Kidsgrove Athletic.
Andrew Michael Porter is an English former professional footballer turned coach and manager who is a first-team coach at Northern Premier League Division One West club Nantwich Town. His playing career spanned from 1986 to 2006; for most of his career, he played for Port Vale. His successes with the club include winning promotion out of the Third Division via the play-offs in 1989, lifting the Football League Trophy in 1993, and playing in the final of the Anglo-Italian Cup in 1996. He later played for Wigan Athletic, Mansfield Town, Chester City, Northwich Victoria, and Kidsgrove Athletic.
Paul Michael Donnelly is an English former football player and coach.
Christopher Joseph Martin is an English former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper.
Ross Davidson is an English footballer who play as a midfielder for Northern Premier League Premier Division side Leek Town.
Raymond Williams is an English former footballer who played as a striker.
John Colin Askey is an English professional football manager and former player who is the manager of National League South club Truro City.
Anthony Jordan Malbon is an English footballer who plays as a forward for Northern Premier League Division One West club Kidsgrove Athletic.
Eastwood Hanley Football Club is a football club based in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England. They are currently members of the Staffordshire County Senior League Division One North and play at Trentmill Road.
Shaun Hollinshead is an English footballer who played in the Football League for Crewe Alexandra. After ending his semi-pro career he turned to management and is currently in charge of Eccleshall.
Daniel Graham Turner is an English semi-professional footballer who plays as a forward for National League North club Chester.
William David Reeves is a Welsh professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Northern Premier League Premier Division club Leek Town.
Harry Francis Benns is an English semi-professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Northern Premier League Premier Division club Bamber Bridge.