Alfreton Town Football Club is an English semi-professional association football club based in Alfreton, Derbyshire. As of the 2023–24 season they compete in the Conference North, the sixth tier of English football. [1] The present club was formed in 1959 through the merger of Alfreton Miners Welfare and Alfreton United, [2] though a previous incarnation of the team played for two seasons in the Midland Football League and entered the FA Cup five times between 1924 and 1929. [3] [4]
After the clubs re-formation they spent two seasons in Division One North of the Central Alliance before being readmitted to the Midland League. [2] In 21 seasons Alfreton won the title three times and finished as runners-up on a further three occasions. The league merged with the Yorkshire Football League to form the Northern Counties East Football League in 1982 and it was after five seasons that Alfreton won their first ever promotion, having finished as champions in 1986–87. [3] [5]
In 1996 the side won promotion to the Northern Premier League Premier Division but struggled, lasting only two seasons before suffering back-to-back relegations. After three seasons back in the Northern Counties East League they achieved consecutive promotions, returning to the Northern Premier League Premier Division where they finished fourth, then the club's highest ever league finish. Founding members of the Conference North in 2004, several years of consolidation were followed by consecutive third place finishes and then the league title in 2010–11. [2] Promotion to the Conference Premier saw the team competing in a national league competition for the first time.
Alfreton first entered the FA Cup in the 1924–25 season and have progressed to the second round proper on two occasions, in 2008–09 and 2012–13. They played in the inaugural edition of the FA Trophy and have appeared in every competition since, barring three seasons in the FA Vase after dropping to Step 5 of the National League System. Since the club's re-formation Alfreton have also taken part in the every staging of the Derbyshire Senior Cup, winning ten times and finishing as runners-up on a further eight occasions. [6]
Key to league record
| Key to cup records
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Year | League | Cup competitions | Manager | |||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division | Lvl | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Position | Leading league scorer | Average [7] attendance | FA Cup [8] | FA Trophy | Derbyshire Cup [9] | |||||
Name | Goals | Res | Rec | Res | Rec | |||||||||||||||
1921–22 | Central Alliance | 34 | 13 | 2 | 19 | 68 | 78 | -10 | 28 | 13th of 18 | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
1922–23 | 32 | 21 | 4 | 7 | 96 | 40 | +56 | 46 | 2nd of 17 | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||
1923–24 | 26 | 18 | 5 | 3 | 95 | 31 | +64 | 41 | 1st of 14 | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||
1924–25 | 20 | 11 | 4 | 5 | 53 | 26 | +27 | 26 | 4th of 11 | — | — | — | QR6 | — | — | — | ||||
1925–26 | Midland League | 40 | 17 | 7 | 16 | 99 | 102 | -3 | 41 | 9th of 21 | — | — | — | QR1 | — | — | — | |||
1926–27 | 38 | 8 | 5 | 25 | 59 | 143 | -84 | 21 | 18th of 20 | — | — | — | QR3 | — | — | — | ||||
1927–28 | — | QR1 | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||
1928–29 | — | PR | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||
The club was re-formed through the merger of Alfreton Miners Welfare and Alfreton United in 1959. | ||||||||||||||||||||
1959–60 | Central Alliance One North | 34 | 24 | 3 | 7 | 118 | 52 | +66 | 51 | 4th of 18 | — | — | — | — | — | SF | ||||
1960–61 | 34 | 18 | 3 | 13 | 94 | 60 | +34 | 39 | 10th of 18 | — | — | — | QR2 | 1-0-1 | — | W [lower-alpha 1] | Jim Bullions | |||
Club was admitted into the newly re-formed Midland Football League. [2] | ||||||||||||||||||||
1961–62 | Midland Football League | 34 | 6 | 4 | 24 | 48 | 100 | -52 | 16 | 18th of 18 | — | — | — | QR2 | 1-0-1 | — | R3 | Jim Bullions | ||
1962–63 | 38 | 18 | 14 | 6 | 83 | 50 | +33 | 50 | 5th of 20 | — | — | — | QR2 | 1-0-1 | — | F [lower-alpha 2] | ||||
1963–64 | 42 | 22 | 10 | 10 | 88 | 56 | +32 | 54 | 4th of 22 | — | — | — | QR1 | 0-0-1 | — | SF | ||||
1964–65 | 42 | 21 | 8 | 13 | 91 | 67 | +24 | 50 | 7th of 22 | — | — | — | QR1 | 0-1-1 | — | F [lower-alpha 3] | ||||
1965–66 | 42 | 19 | 7 | 16 | 100 | 87 | +13 | 45 | 10th of 22 | — | — | — | QR1 | 0-0-1 | — | R3 | ||||
1966–67 | 42 | 20 | 7 | 15 | 77 | 74 | +3 | 47 | 8th of 22 | — | — | — | QR1 | 0-0-1 | — | R3 | ||||
1967–68 | 40 | 18 | 6 | 16 | 84 | 71 | +13 | 42 | 10th of 21 | — | — | — | QR1 | 0-0-1 | — | SF | ||||
1968–69 | 34 | 13 | 13 | 8 | 62 | 46 | +16 | 39 | 7th of 18 | — | — | — | QR1 | 0-0-1 | — | R3 | ||||
1969–70 | 34 | 30 | 3 | 1 | 119 | 19 | +100 | 63 | 1st of 18 | — | — | — | R1 | 4-4-1 | QR1 | 0-1-1 | W [lower-alpha 4] | |||
1970–71 | 34 | 18 | 6 | 10 | 83 | 39 | +44 | 42 | 5th of 18 | — | — | — | QR2 | 1-0-1 | QR3 | 2-0-1 | SF | |||
1971–72 | 34 | 22 | 5 | 7 | 85 | 39 | +46 | 49 | 2nd of 18 | — | — | — | QR3 | 2-0-1 | QR1 | 0-0-1 | SF | |||
1972–73 | 34 | 17 | 10 | 7 | 80 | 44 | +36 | 44 | 4th of 18 | — | — | — | QR4 | 3-1-1 | QR3 | 2-0-1 | W [lower-alpha 5] | |||
1973–74 | 32 | 22 | 5 | 5 | 77 | 37 | +40 | 49 | 1st of 18 | — | — | — | R1 | 4-2-1 | QR3 | 2-0-0 | W [lower-alpha 6] | |||
1974–75 | 34 | 22 | 6 | 6 | 80 | 40 | +40 | 50 | 3rd of 18 | — | — | — | QR1 | 1-1-1 | QR1 | 0-0-1 | R2 | |||
1975–76 | Midland Football League Premier Division | 34 | 19 | 6 | 9 | 76 | 41 | +35 | 44 | 4th of 18 | — | — | — | QR3 | 2-2-1 | QR2 | 2-3-1 | R2 | ||
1976–77 | 34 | 24 | 5 | 5 | 79 | 33 | +46 | 53 | 1st of 18 | — | — | — | QR2 | 1-0-1 | PR | 0-0-1 | SF | |||
1977–78 | 32 | 20 | 2 | 10 | 52 | 37 | +15 | 42 | 4th of 17 | — | — | — | QR1 | 0-0-1 | QR1 | 0-0-1 | F [lower-alpha 7] | |||
1978–79 | 36 | 6 | 13 | 17 | 39 | 61 | -22 | 25 | 17th of 19 | — | — | — | PR | 0-0-1 | PR | 0-0-1 | R1 | |||
1979–80 | 34 | 11 | 13 | 10 | 45 | 46 | -1 | 35 | 10th of 18 | — | — | — | QR3 | 3-1-1 | QR1 | 1-1-1 | F [lower-alpha 8] | |||
1980–81 | 34 | 16 | 10 | 8 | 73 | 40 | +33 | 42 | 2nd of 18 | — | — | — | QR3 | 2-0-1 | QR1 | 1-1-1 | SF | |||
1981–82 | 34 | 20 | 7 | 7 | 64 | 24 | +40 | 47 | 2nd of 18 | — | — | — | QR2 | 2-0-1 | QR2 | 2-1-1 | W [lower-alpha 9] | |||
Midland League megred with Yorkshire Football League and formed new Northern Counties East Football League, club qualified to join the top division. | ||||||||||||||||||||
1982–83 | Northern Counties East League Premier Division | 8 | 38 | 16 | 3 | 19 | 47 | 55 | -8 | 35 | 13th of 20 | — | — | — | QR1 | 0-0-1 | PR | 0-0-1 | SF | |
1983–84 | 34 | 18 | 6 | 10 | 56 | 32 | +24 | 42 | 4th of 18 | — | — | — | PR | 0-0-1 | QR3 | 3-1-1 | SF | |||
1984–85 | 36 | 20 | 6 | 10 | 69 | 39 | +30 | 66 | 4th of 19 | — | — | — | QR3 | 3-2-1 | QR3 | 1-3-2 | F [lower-alpha 10] | |||
1985–86 | 38 | 21 | 2 | 15 | 66 | 47 | +19 | 65 | 6th of 20 | — | — | — | QR3 | 2-0-1 | QR3 | 2-1-1 | R2 | |||
1986–87 | 36 | 25 | 6 | 5 | 74 | 29 | +45 | 81 | 1st of 19 Promoted | — | — | — | QR1 | 0-1-1 | R1 | 3-0-1 | SF | |||
1987–88 | Northern Premier League Division One | 7 | 36 | 13 | 8 | 15 | 53 | 54 | -1 | 47 | 11th of 19 | — | — | — | QR3 | 3-1-1 | QR3 | 2-1-1 | F [lower-alpha 11] | |
1988–89 | 42 | 8 | 11 | 23 | 44 | 92 | -48 | 35 | 20th of 22 | — | — | — | PR | 0-0-1 | QR1 | 0-1-1 | R3 | |||
1989–90 | 42 | 13 | 8 | 21 | 59 | 85 | -26 | 47 | 18th of 22 | — | — | — | QR2 | 2-0-1 | QR3 | 2-1-1 | R1 | |||
1990–91 | 42 | 7 | 12 | 23 | 41 | 84 | -43 | 33 | 22nd of 22 | — | — | — | PR | 0-1-1 | QR1 | 0-0-1 | R1 | |||
1991–92 | 42 | 12 | 2 | 28 | 63 | 98 | -35 | 38 | 20th of 22 | — | — | — | QR2 | 2-0-1 | QR2 | 1-0-1 | R3 | |||
1992–93 | 40 | 15 | 9 | 16 | 80 | 80 | 0 | 54 | 9th of 21 | — | — | — | QR1 | 1-1-1 | QR1 | 0-0-1 | F [lower-alpha 12] | |||
1993–94 | 40 | 18 | 10 | 12 | 83 | 70 | +13 | 64 | 6th of 21 | — | — | — | QR1 | 1-0-1 | R1 | 2-0-1 | SF | |||
1994–95 | 42 | 25 | 7 | 10 | 94 | 49 | +45 | 82 | 4th of 22 | — | — | — | QR1 | 1-1-1 | QR1 | 0-0-1 | W [lower-alpha 13] | |||
1995–96 | 40 | 23 | 9 | 8 | 79 | 47 | +32 | 78 | 2nd of 21 Promoted | — | — | — | PR | 0-0-1 | QR2 | 1-1-1 | R4 | |||
1996–97 | Northern Premier League Premier Division | 6 | 44 | 8 | 13 | 23 | 45 | 83 | -38 | 37 | 21st of 23 | — | — | — | QR1 | 0-0-1 | QR1 | 0-1-1 | R3 | |
1997–98 | 42 | 3 | 13 | 26 | 32 | 86 | -54 | 22 | 22nd of 22 Relegated | — | — | — | QR1 | 0-0-1 | QR2 | 1-0-1 | R4 | |||
1998–99 | Northern Premier League Division One | 7 | 42 | 9 | 8 | 25 | 53 | 86 | -33 | 35 | 22nd of 22 Relegated | — | — | — | QR1 | 0-0-1 | R2 | 0-0-1 | R4 | |
1999–2000 | Northern Counties East League Premier Division | 8 | 38 | 17 | 11 | 10 | 73 | 49 | +24 | 62 | 5th of 20 | — | — | — | PR | 0-0-1 | FA Vase [lower-alpha 14] R5 | 0-0-1 | SF | |
2000–01 | 38 | 23 | 4 | 11 | 71 | 44 | +27 | 73 | 3rd of 20 | Caine Cheetham | 24 [10] | — | QR2 | 2-1-1 | R2 | 0-0-1 | SF | |||
2001–02 | 38 | 27 | 5 | 6 | 94 | 36 | +58 | 86 | 1st of 20 Promoted | Mick Godber | 20 [11] | — | QR2 | 1-0-1 | R2 | 0-0-1 | W [lower-alpha 15] | Chris Wilder | ||
2002–03 | Northern Premier League Division One | 7 | 42 | 26 | 9 | 7 | 106 | 59 | +47 | 87 | 1st of 22 Promoted | Mick Godber | 24 [12] | 388 | QR1 | 1-0-1 | R4 | 4-1-1 | W [lower-alpha 16] | David Lloyd |
2003–04 | Northern Premier League Premier Division | 6 | 44 | 23 | 9 | 12 | 73 | 43 | +30 | 78 | 4th of 23 | Mick Godber | 18 [13] | 402 | QR2 | 0-0-1 | R3 | 2-2-1 | R5 | |
Conference North, a new sixth tier league created, club qualified to join it. | ||||||||||||||||||||
2004–05 | Conference North | 6 | 42 | 15 | 8 | 19 | 53 | 55 | -2 | 53 | 14th of 22 | Peter Duffield | 21 [14] | 398 | R1 | 3-2-1 | R4 | 3-1-1 | SF | David Lloyd |
2005–06 | 42 | 10 | 15 | 17 | 46 | 58 | -12 | 45 | 17th of 22 | Jon Stevenson | 11 [15] | 334 | QR4 | 2-2-0 | R1 | 1-1-1 | SF | Gary Mills | ||
2006–07 | 42 | 14 | 12 | 16 | 44 | 50 | -6 | 54 | 14th of 22 | — | — | 295 | QR2 | 0-1-1 | QR3 | 0-0-1 | R3 | Gary Mills Marcus Ebdon | ||
2007–08 | 42 | 12 | 11 | 19 | 49 | 54 | -5 | 47 | 16th of 22 | Brian Cusworth | 9 [16] | 363 | QR2 | 0-1-1 | R2 | 2-1-1 | F [lower-alpha 17] | Nicky Law | ||
2008–09 | 42 | 20 | 17 | 5 | 81 | 48 | +33 | 77 | 3rd of 22 | Liam Hearn | 21 [17] | 439 | R2 | 4-1-1 | R1 | 1-0-1 | R4 | |||
Lost in the play-off semifinal. | ||||||||||||||||||||
2009–10 | 40 | 21 | 11 | 8 | 77 | 45 | +32 | 74 | 3rd of 21 | Paul Clayton Liam Hearn | 16 [18] | 493 | QR3 | 1-1-1 | QR3 | 0-1-1 | R3 | |||
Lost in the play-off final. | ||||||||||||||||||||
2010–11 | 40 | 29 | 5 | 6 | 97 | 33 | +64 | 92 | 1st of 21 Promoted | Liam Hearn | 29 [19] | 760 | QR2 | 0-1-1 | R3 | 3-2-1 | R4 | |||
2011–12 | Conference Premier | 5 | 46 | 15 | 9 | 22 | 62 | 86 | -24 | 54 | 15th of 24 | Nathan Jarman | 12 [20] | 1,063 | R1 | 1-1-1 | R3 | 2-0-1 | R3 | |
2012–13 | 46 | 16 | 12 | 18 | 69 | 74 | -5 | 60 | 13th of 24 | Paul Clayton | 17 [21] | 747 | R2 | 2-0-1 | R1 | 0-0-1 | SF | |||
2013–14 | 46 | 21 | 7 | 18 | 69 | 74 | -5 | 67 [lower-alpha 18] | 11th of 24 | John Akinde | 17 [23] | 805 | R1 | 1-0-1 | R1 | 0-0-1 | R3 | |||
2014–15 | 46 | 12 | 9 | 25 | 49 | 90 | -41 | 45 | 21st of 24 Relegated | Karl Hawley | 10 | 804 | QR4 | 0-1-1 | R2 | 1-0-1 | QF | |||
Fifth and sixth tier divisions renamed. | ||||||||||||||||||||
2015–16 | National League North | 6 | 42 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 58 | 54 | +4 | 58 | 10th of 22 | Sam Jones | 13 | 583 | QR4 | 2-0-1 | QR3 | 0-0-1 | W | Nicky Law |
2016–17 | 42 | 11 | 9 | 22 | 62 | 95 | -33 | 42 | 18th of 22 | Craig Westcarr | 13 | 547 | R1 | 3-2-1 | R2 | 2-1-1 | SF | |||
2017–18 | 42 | 14 | 7 | 21 | 67 | 71 | -4 | 49 | 17th of 22 | Brendon Daniels | 13 | 577 | QR3 | 1-1-1 | QR3 | 0-0-1 | F | John McDermott Chris Moyses | ||
2018–19 | 42 | 13 | 12 | 17 | 53 | 67 | -14 | 51 | 15th of 22 | Reece Styche | 11 | 535 | R1 | 3-1-1 | QR3 | 0-1-1 | W | Billy Heath | ||
2019–20 | 32 | 12 | 4 | 16 | 48 | 55 | -7 | 40 | 13th of 22 | Amari Morgan-Smith | 15 | 497 | QR2 | 0-1-1 | QR3 | 0-1-1 | QF | |||
The regular season was cut short due to COVID-19, final league positions decided by points-per-game | ||||||||||||||||||||
2020–21 | 15 | 2 | 6 | 7 | 15 | 27 | -15 | 12 | 21st of 22 | Elliott Reeves | 5 | – [lower-alpha 19] | QR3 | 1-0-0 | R3 | 0-0-1 | not held | |||
The season was declared null and void due to COVID-19 | ||||||||||||||||||||
2021–22 | 42 | 17 | 10 | 15 | 58 | 59 | -1 | 61 | 9th of 22 | Matt Rhead | 12 | 536 | QR2 | 2-1-0 | R4 | 2-0-1 | not held | |||
2022–23 | 46 | 17 | 18 | 11 | 54 | 44 | +10 | 69 | 5th of 24 | Matt Rhead | 13 | 521 | QR2 | 0-0-1 | R2 | 0-0-1 | ||||
Lost in the play-off quarter-final. | ||||||||||||||||||||
2023–24 | 46 | 23 | 11 | 12 | 76 | 50 | +26 | 80 | 5th of 24 | Jordan Thewlis | 17 | 568 | R2 | 4-1-1 | R2 | 0-0-1 | ||||
Lost in the play-off quarter-final. |
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