 | This article needs additional citations for verification .(January 2012) |
 | |||
| Full name | Ossett Albion Association Football Club | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | The Albion, The Golds, The Unicorns | ||
| Founded | 1944 | ||
| Dissolved | 2018 (merged with Ossett Town to form Ossett United) | ||
| Ground | Queen's Terrace, Ossett | ||
Ossett Albion Association Football Club was an English football club. They played at Queen's Terrace in Ossett, in West Yorkshire, more commonly known as Dimplewells, the area of Ossett the ground is situated in.
The club was formed in 1944 as a junior club, eventually they became a senior club and played in the West Riding County Amateur League and the West Yorkshire League, winning numerous honours before joining the Yorkshire League in 1957.
Albion won promotion from Division 2 in 1959 and were runner up to League champions Farsley Celtic in 1960. Albion were runners up again in 1962 to champions Stocksbridge Works. Albion continued to get regular top 4 places for several years afterwards but in 1972 they were relegated to Division 2. Albion won promotion in 1974 and finally won the Yorkshire League title in 1975. However, Albion went down again in 1978, but bounced back as Division 2 champions in 1979. Albion suffered yet another relegation in 1980, but again won the Division 2 title in 1981.
In 1982, the Yorkshire League joined up with the Midland League to form the Northern Counties East Football League. Ossett Albion were placed in Division 1 East, league re-organisations moved them into Division 1 Central in 1984 and Division 1 in 1985. Albion were Division 1 champions in 1987 and were promoted to the Premier Division. They finished bottom the first two seasons, but avoided relegation and eventually they began to climb the table. Albion, with Gerry Quinn as manager, were League champions in 1999, but were denied promotion to the Northern Premier League Division One due to one of their changing rooms not being big enough. In 2001, with Eric Gilchrist in charge, Albion finished 2nd to Brigg Town but were promoted to the Northern Premier League Division One instead of Brigg.
Ossett Albion finished bottom of the division in 2002 and they were relegated back to the Northern Counties East League but in 2004 Albion were champions again on a dramatic final day of the season, they pipped Eastwood Town to the Northern Counties East Premier Division title by virtue of scoring the more goals with the two clubs locked on the same number of points and also with the same goal difference, returning to the Northern Premier Division One.
2016–17 was Albion's 13th in the Northern Premier League Division One and their fortunes in recent campaigns fluctuated considerably. Twice the club finished just outside the play-off positions, they also had a few seasons struggling against relegation and in 2013–14 only a late reprieve rescued their status at this level.
Albion first entered the FA Cup in 1962–63, winning their first game 5–1 at Selby Town. They have reached the 4th Qualifying Round on three occasions, in 1965–66 they defeated Bridlington Town, Harrogate Town and Bridlington Trinity before losing 3–0 to South Liverpool away. In 2003–04, Albion beat Alnwick Town, Alsager Town, Ossett Town, Pickering Town and Newcastle Town before losing 1–0 at home to Stalybridge Celtic. In 2012–13, Albion beat Hebburn Town, Farsley, North Ferriby United, and Hinckley United before losing 4–1 away to Bradford Park Avenue.
In the FA Trophy, Albion have reached the 1st round twice, in 2002 and 2005.
In the FA Vase, Albion reached the 4th round in 1982, 1995, and 2000.
Albion first entered the FA Amateur Cup in 1952, beating Hull Old Grammarians 2–0. Their best performances, to get to the 1st round proper, were in 1962 (losing to Crook 1–0), 1968 (losing to North Shields 3–0) and 1973 (losing to Oldbury United 1–0). Albion's biggest win was 10–2 over Reckitts and Sons. Albion's last game in the Amateur Cup was a 3–1 defeat at North Ferriby United. The FA Amateur Cup was discontinued in 1974 and replaced by the FA Vase.
Albion have won the West Riding County Cup in 1965, 1966, 1968, and 1999, the Yorkshire League Cup in 1976 and 1977 and the Northern Counties East Football League Cup in 1984, beating Ilkeston 2-1, and 2003, beating Sheffield 3–0.
Albion's all-time record appearances holder is Peter Eaton, who made over 800 appearances during the 1970s and 1980s. Albion's record goalscorer is John Balmer, who hit over 40 goals in consecutive seasons during Jimmy Martin's reign in the early 1990s.
A number of former Ossett Albion players progressed into the Football League including Ian Ironside who went to Middlesbrough, Gary Brook who joined Newport County in 1987, Chris Cornelly who joined Lincoln City, Steve Downes who joined Grimbsy Town, Barry Holmes who went to Halifax Town, Shane Killock who joined Huddersfield Town, and Dave Syers, who began his career with Ossett Albion, turned professional two seasons later with Bradford City. Players who represented Ossett Albion after their professional careers ended include ex-Cambridge United striker Micky Norbury, John Balmer who also played for Cambridge United, Fulham midfielder Robert Wilson, former Swansea City player Paul Raynor, and former Huddersfield Town defender Rob Edwards.
Current Albion defender, Dominic Riordan, was appointed chairman on 25 June 2014.
Ex-Everton and England U18 youth player George Green signed for Ossett Albion in November 2015 after voluntarily terminating his contract at Oldham Athletic. He made 4 league appearances for the club before signing for Championship team Burnley in January 2016.
In September 2017, the founders and directors of Unita, a local based facilities management company, took the reins at Ossett Albion in a move which sees the club inherit a ready-made football academy with 150 players currently enrolled. This saw Huddersfield Town's former head of youth development Dave Haley take over as first team manager and Andy Welsh former Sunderland midfielder become head coach. Phil Smith (ex Sheffield Wednesday Academy coach) will provide support and oversee the running of the academy.
In 2018, it was announced that Ossett Albion and Ossett Town would merge to form Ossett United. [1]
Brigg Town Football Club CIC is a football club based in Brigg, Lincolnshire, England. They are currently members of the Northern Counties East League Division One and play at the Hawthorns. Established in 1864, they are one of the oldest football clubs in the world.
Lincoln United Football Club is a football club based in Lincoln, Lincolnshire, England. They are currently members of the United Counties League Premier Division North and play at Ashby Avenue. Nicknamed the Whites after their home kit colours, they have played at Ashby Avenue since their foundation in 1938.
Alfreton Town Football Club is a football club based in Alfreton, Derbyshire, England. The club are currently members of the National League North, the sixth tier of English football, and play at North Street.
Ossett Town Association Football Club was an English football club based in Ossett in West Yorkshire.
Guiseley Association Football Club is a football club based in Guiseley, West Yorkshire, England. They are currently members of the Northern Premier League Premier Division, the seventh tier of English football, and play at Nethermoor Park.
Worksop Town Football Club is an English football club based in Worksop, Nottinghamshire. As of the 2022–23 season the team will play in the Northern Premier League Premier Division. They are nicknamed The Tigers and play their home games at Sandy Lane in Worksop.
North Ferriby United Association Football Club was a semi-professional football club in North Ferriby, East Riding of Yorkshire, England. At the time of their demise they were members of the Northern Premier League and played at Grange Lane.
Bridlington Town Association Football Club is an association football club based in Bridlington, East Riding of Yorkshire, England. They were founded in 1918 and currently play in the Northern Premier League Division One East.
Armthorpe Welfare Football Club is a semi-professional football club based in Armthorpe, South Yorkshire, England. They are currently members of the Northern Counties East League Division One and play at the Welfare Ground.
Glasshoughton Welfare Association Football Club is a football club based in Glasshoughton near Castleford, West Yorkshire, England. They are currently members of the Northern Counties East League Division One and play at Leeds Road.
Harrogate Railway Athletic Football Club is a football club based in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England. They are currently members of the Northern Counties East League Division One and play at Station View.
Pickering Town Football Club is an English football club based in Pickering, North Yorkshire. The club was founded in 1888 and are currently members of the Northern Counties East League Premier Division.
Selby Town Football Club is an English football club based in Selby, North Yorkshire, founded in 1919. They play in the Northern Counties East League Division One. The club's traditional rivals are Goole and Tadcaster Albion.
The West Yorkshire Association Football League is a football competition based in Yorkshire, England. It was previously known as the Leeds League until the name change in 1939. Although it is named the West Yorkshire League, clubs from the Harrogate and York areas of North Yorkshire also play in the competition.
Yorkshire Amateur Association Football Club is a football club based in the Potternewton area of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. They are currently members of the Northern Counties East League Division One and play at Bracken Edge.
Tadcaster Albion Association Football Club is an association football club in Tadcaster, North Yorkshire, England. Formed in 1892, their ground is situated behind the John Smith's brewery in Tadcaster, thus the reason for their nickname "The Brewers". They compete in the Northern Counties East League Premier Division and are managed by Paul Quinn. Quinn was appointed in November 2019, and started his time at Tadcaster with a 2-0 league win at home to Droylsden.
Farsley Celtic Football Club is a football club based in Farsley, West Yorkshire, England. The club was founded in 1908, but folded in 2010 and were reformed as Farsley AFC before returning to the name Farsley Celtic in 2015. They are currently members of the National League North, the sixth tier of English football, and play at The Citadel.
The 2004–05 Northern Premier League season was the 37th in the history of the Northern Premier League, a football competition in England. Teams were divided into two divisions; the Premier and the First. This was the first Northern Premier League system after the creation of Conference North and Conference South
The 2016–17 season was the 49th season of the Northern Premier League Premier Division, and the tenth season of the Northern Premier League Division One North and South. The League sponsors for 2016–17 were Evo-Stik.
The 2018–19 season was the 51st season of the Northern Premier League. After eleven seasons, the two divisions of Division One were re-aligned from North and South to West and East. The League sponsors for the last time were Evo-Stik.
