Glossop North End A.F.C.

Glossop North End

Full name	Glossop North End Association Football Club
Nickname(s)	The Hillmen
Founded	1886
Ground	Surrey Street, Glossop (Capacity: 2,374 (209 seated))
Chairman	David Atkinson
Manager	Paul Colgan
League	North West Counties League Premier Division
2010–11	North West Counties League Premier Division, 14th
Website	Club home page
Home colours Away colours Third colours
[[2011–12 season|Current season]]

Glossop North End A.F.C. are an English football club based in Glossop, Derbyshire. Former members of the Football League, they are currently in the North West Counties League and are members of the Derbyshire County Football Association. They play their home matches at Surrey Street, which has a capacity of 2,374 (209 seated, 2,165 standing). The club play in blue, and are known as the Hillmen. Between 1899 and 1992 the club were known as Glossop.

Glossop is often cited as the smallest town in England to have had a Football League club, and the smallest town to have played in the English top flight. During the turn of the 20th century, Glossop played in Division One, bankrolled by Sir Samuel Hill-Wood, who was later to become chairman of Arsenal, with whom the club retains connections to this day.

History

Early years

The Glossop team of 1899-1900

The Glossop team of 1904-05

Glossop North End were founded in 1886, when they played friendly amateur matches. They played at a variety of grounds, including Pyegrove, Silk Street, Water Lane and Cemetery Road before settling at North Road. The club joined the North Cheshire League in 1890, before moving to The Combination in 1894 and becoming a professional club. In their first season, 1894–95, in the Combination they were runners-up. After finishing third the following season, the club moved to the Midland League in the 1896–97 season, finishing as runners-up. After a second season in the league, they were elected to the Second Division of the Football League in 1898–99 finishing as runners-up and winning promotion to the First Division. They then changed their name to Glossop before spending their one and only season in the top flight, 1899–00 when they finished in last place and were relegated back to the Second Division, having won only 4 matches, all at home, against Burnley, Nottingham Forest, Blackburn and Aston Villa.

The Glossop team of 1906-07

They then spent the next fifteen seasons in the Second Division, during which time they reached the quarter-finals of the FA Cup in 1908–09 where they lost to 1–0 to Bristol City in a replay on 10 March 1909. The club's chairman and benefactor at the time was Sir Samuel Hill-Wood, who was later to become chairman of Arsenal. However, the club struggled for several seasons in the Second Division.

The Glossop team of 1914-15

The 1913–14 season saw a club record attendance of 10,736 for an FA Cup second round match against Preston North End on 31 January 1914.^{[citation needed]} However, the following season they finished bottom of the league and they failed to be re-elected. The start of World War I meant the Football League closed down. Glossop were re-formed toward the end of the war by Oswald Partington. Glossop then joined the Lancashire Combination, playing just one season, 1919–20. Northern Nomads ground-shared with Glossop for several years during this time.^{[citation needed]} The club then dropped out of the Lancashire Combination and into the Manchester League. In the 1920s and 1930s they won the Gilcryst Cup three times and were crowned Manchester League champions in 1927–28. They won the Gilcryst Cup for a fourth time in 1947–48.

1950s onwards

In 1957 Glossop rejoined the Lancashire Combination, finishing in eighth in 1957–58. They spent nine seasons in the league before dropping back down once more to the Manchester League after the 1965–66 season. They joined the Cheshire County League as founder members of Division Two in the 1978–79 season, finishing in 17th. In 1980–81 they were Division Two runners-up, only losing out on the title on goal difference, but still winning promotion to Division One. After a sixth place finish in 1981–82, the club became founder members of the North West Counties Football League in 1982 when the Cheshire County League merged with the Lancashire Combination. In 1986, the club marked their centenary with a match with sister club Arsenal. They joined Division One, however they struggled in the league for the next six seasons and after finishing bottom in 1987–88 were relegated to Division Two. The 1990–91 season saw the club reach the fourth round of the FA Vase where they lost to Cammell Laird 2–1 in a replay. They also won the North West Counties Football League Division Two Cup, beating Cheadle Town 2–1 in the final. However, the club almost folded in 1990–91 when their then Chairman sold the ground to the local council and left the club with large debts. The present Board of Directors took over in January 1991. After a sixth place finish in 1991–92 they were promoted back to Division One over higher-placed clubs and after the season the directors reverted the club's name back to Glossop North End.

In their first season under the club's original name, 1992–93 they finished 16th in Division One. In the 1992–93 season, they reached the semi-finals of the North West Counties League Cup, before losing to Nantwich Town 5–2 over two legs. They reached the semi-finals of the league's loodlit Cup in 1994–95 losing to Penrith 3–1 over two legs. In the 1996–97 season they beat Trafford in the final of the Manchester Premier Cup at Old Trafford, before winning the competition again the following season, this time beating Radcliffe Borough in the final at Maine Road. They also reached the semi-finals of the North West Counties League Cup losing to Vauxhall Motors 4–1 over two legs. The 1999–2000 season saw the club reach the fourth round of the FA Vase where they lost to Chippenham Town 1–0.

In the 2000–01 season they won the Derbyshire County Football Association Senior Challenge Cup beating Glapwell in a two-legged final, drawing 3–3 away and 2–2 at home before winning 4–2 on penalties. In the league the club struggled to avoid relegation from Division One throughout much of the early 2000s, before finishing ninth in 2006–07, the highest position attained by manager Chris Nicholson in his six seasons at the club. The highlight of the season was a four match FA Cup run. In the extra preliminary round they beat North Shields 2–0, then after a 2–1 home win over Seaham Red Star they were drawn against local rivals New Mills in the first qualifying round, a match which Glossop led 1–0 at half time, only for the Millers to equalise with ten minutes to go. Glossop then quickly regained the lead, before adding a third to win 3–1 in front of a season highest crowd of 430.

Nicholson had announced in March 2007 that he was to step down at the end of the season following confirmation of his emigration to Perth, Australia. As a result the vacancy was advertised and his assistant Steve Young was eventually appointed manager for 2007–08.^{[citation needed]} In 2007–08 North End made excellent strides on the pitch, finishing in seventh, which might have been fifth but for a last game defeat at the hands of champions Trafford. It took a while for the team to gel, which led to early cup exits at Malvern Town in the FA Cup and Coventry Sphinx in the FA Vase. However, they hit their stride in early November, including a run of wins that propelled them up the league. Darren Hamilton who scored 22 goals during the season, and who had been at the club for ten years, won the Supporters Player of the year award.^{[citation needed]}

In the 2008–09 season they reached the final of the FA Vase where they lost 2–0 to Northern League First Division side Whitley Bay at Wembley Stadium, on May 10, 2009. Due to this achievement, Arsenal, with whom they retain connections due to Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood's grandfather Sir Samuel Hill-Wood having owned and bankrolled Glossop during their run in the Football League, invited them to their state-of-the-art London Colney training ground during their stay in London, to prepare for the FA Vase final. Further links with Arsenal are to follow.

In April 2011 Glossop parted company with their manager Steve Young and while Assistant Terry Hincks took charge as caretaker until the end of the season the search started for a long term successor. May 24, 2011 saw Paul Colgan appointed as the new manager. He brings with him Assistant Paul Williams and First team coach Darren Green. When interviewed he was quoted as saying "Paul, Darren & I will bring a wealth of experience and we are confident that we will deliver quality football for Glossop supporters, but we also want our squad to play with a smile on their face. We’ve heard that the club’s fans not only set out to enjoy their football, but help the team to enjoy theirs too, and I am looking forward to joining with them to ensure that this remains a club to be proud of, and a winning one at that."

In 2011/2012, the 125th year of Glossop North End, the team are adopting a 'retro' first team kit. Black and White halves, worn by the team when they played in the English First Division back in 1899/1900, will be worn as the first team kit all season.

Surrey Street, home of Glossop North End

Grounds

The club's home ground Surrey Street has a capacity of 2,374 with 209 seated. They moved to the ground in 1955 from North Road. Floodlights were installed in 1992. Due to the club's success in the FA Vase Cup, there are discussions of either a new stadium being built or refurbishments being made to Surrey Street, with a match against Arsenal likely to mark the opening.

Notable former players

• Thomas Bartley
• / Alec Campbell
• David Copeland
• Billy Fitchford
• Thomas Fitchie
• Joe Frail
• Archie Goodall
• John Goodall
• Bob Jack
• Bert Maddlethwaite
• John Robertson
• Fred Spiksley
• Irvine Thornley

Notable former managers

• Archie Goodall: 1904–05

Staff

Paul Colgan is the current manager of GNE

Name	Role
Paul Colgan	Manager
Paul Williams	Assistant Manager
Garry Brown	1st Team Coach
Stacey Arthern	Physio

First team squad

As of Jan 20 2012

Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player 1 GK Ben Proctor GK Steve Dryden DF Lee McGregor DF Nick Allen DF Jamie Dickinson DF Kevin Lugsden DF Danny Yates DF Jay Gorton MF Tom Streets MF Luke Pearson MF Steve Heaton MF Luke Kerrigan

No. Position Player MF Adam Oakes MF Alex Elliott MF Sam Hind MF Darren Hamilton MF David Bradburn MF Daley Rothwell FW Alex Elliott FW Dean McGregor FW Danny Jones FW Michael Bamber FW Sam Marshall FW Richard Chetcuti

Honours

• Football League Division Two Runners-up: 1898–99
• Manchester League champions: 1927–28
• North West Counties League Division Two Cup winners: 1990–91
• Derbyshire County FA Senior Challenge Cup winners: 2000–01
• Manchester FA Premier Cup winners: 1996–97, 1997–98
• Gilcryst Cup winners: 1922–23, 1929–30, 1934–35, 1948–49

Attendances

Records

• Largest home attendance: 10,736 vs Preston North End, FA Cup 31 January 1914.

Averages

With a new clubhouse, new management and better spectator facilities the average should increase as the Hillmen approach the 2011–12 season

"Attendances – North West Counties Premier Division". Tony's English football site. http://www.tonykempster.co.uk/nwc1att.htm. Retrieved 11 March 2009. </ref>

Average Attendances:

• 2011–12: 185 as of Feb 22
• 2010–11: 185
• 2009–10: 236
• 2008–09: 198
• 2007–08: 135
• 2006–07: 150
• 2005–06: 97
• 2004–05: 115
• 2003–04: 124

Source: English football site

Historical Kits

1896-1897

1898-1900

1904-05

1906-07

1907-10

1910-14

1914-15

?

2005?

2006/07

2009-11

2011/12

League History

Season	League Contested	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	League Position	Leading Scorer
2011/12	NWCFL Premier Division	**	**	**	**	**	**	**	**	** of 22
2010/11	NWCFL Premier Division	42	14	11	17	68	55	+13	53	14 of 22	Garry Kharas 13
2009/10	NWCFL Premier Division	42	19	12	11	74	49	+25	69	7 of 22	Darren Hamilton 11
2008/09	NWCFL Premier Division	42	25	7	10	83	49	+34	82	5 of 22	Rick Bailey 13
2007/08	NWCFL Division One	42	20	5	13	72	46	+26	65	7 of 22	Darren Hamilton 18
2006/07	NWCFL Division One	42	19	6	17	71	71	0	63	9 of 22	Lee Blackshaw 18
2005/06	NWCFL Division One	42	12	11	19	62	78	-16	47	16 of 22	Sam Hind 13
2004/05	NWCFL Division One	42	15	10	17	79	75	+4	55	13 of 22	Garry Kharas 33
2003/04	NWCFL Division One	42	9	9	24	51	95	-44	36	18 of 22	Garry Kharas 18
2002/03	NWCFL Division One	42	10	9	23	55	104	-49	39	20 of 22	Robert Radcliffe 10
2001/02	NWCFL Division One	44	13	7	24	78	105	-27	46	19 of 23	Elliot Prest 19
2000/01	NWCFL Division One	42	9	4	29	41	111	-70	31	18 of 22	Darren Hamilton 6
1999/00	NWCFL Division One	42	10	11	21	52	73	-21	41	17 of 22	Darren Hamilton 6
1998/99	NWCFL Division One	40	12	6	22	53	81	-28	42	16 of 21	Kevin O'Connell 16
1997/98	NWCFL Division One	42	19	7	16	78	69	+9	64	8 of 22	Steve Morgan 12
1996/97	NWCFL Division One	42	14	11	17	56	67	-11	53	13 of 22	Steve Morgan 17
1995/96	NWCFL Division One	42	15	15	12	55	48	+7	60	12 of 22	Kevin Scarborough 12
1994/95	NWCFL Division One	42	23	8	11	88	59	+29	77	6 of 22	Trevor Smallwood 19
1993/94	NWCFL Division One	42	12	8	22	58	86	-28	44	17 of 22	Steve Morgan 15
1992/93	NWCFL Division One	42	16	9	17	70	67	+3	54	16 of 22	Keith Ingham 15
1991/92	NWCFL Division Two	34	15	9	10	61	44	+17	54	6 of 18 Promoted due league re-alignment	Keith Ingham 11
1990/91	NWCFL Division Two	34	12	10	12	47	42	+5	46	8 of 18	Paul Higginbotham 11
1989/90	NWCFL Division Two	30	8	3	19	34	58	-24	27	14 of 16	Steve Halford 6
1988/89	NWCFL Division Two	34	10	7	17	42	60	-18	27	13 of 18	Brian Hennegan 15
1987/88	NWCFL Division One	34	5	4	25	30	71	-41	14	18 of 18 Relegated	Lee Farrar 7
1986/87	NWCFL Division One	38	5	8	25	33	87	-62	18	20 of 20
1985/86	NWCFL Division One	38	7	10	21	37	69	-32	24	18 of 20
1984/85	NWCFL Division One	38	8	11	19	46	70	-24	27	16 of 20
1983/84	NWCFL Division One	38	11	11	16	38	61	-23	33	15 of 20
1982/83	NWCFL Division One	38	6	11	21	29	67	-38	23	18 of 20
1981/82	Cheshire League Div One	38	13	19	6	52	30	+22	45	6 of 20
1980/81	Cheshire League Div Two	38	23	9	6	76	38	+38	55	2 of 20 Promoted
1979/80	Cheshire League Div Two	34	14	7	13	53	45	+8	35	7 of 18
1978/79	Cheshire League Div Two	34	6	6	22	42	83	-41	18	17 of 18

Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; GD = Goal difference; Pts = Points;

Last Updated: 21 February 2012

Ladies and youth teams

The club have a ladies team, Glossop North End Ladies F.C. which was established in 1998 and Glossop North End AFC Juniors which was established in 1989, with teams in age groups from Under-7 to Under-19.

External links

• Glossop North End website
• Glossop North End Juniors website
• Glossop North End at the Football Club History Database
• Glossop at the Football Club History Database