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Kidsgrove Athletic F.C.

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Coordinates: 53°4′51.895″N 2°15′2.077″W / 53.08108194°N 2.25057694°W / 53.08108194; -2.25057694
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Kidsgrove Athletic
Full nameKidsgrove Athletic Football Club
Nickname(s)The Grove
Founded1952
GroundThe Novus Stadium, Hollinwood Road
Capacity2,000
ChairmanMick Fitzjohn
ManagerRyan Austin (caretaker)
LeagueNorthern Premier League Division One West
2023–24Northern Premier League Division One West, 18th of 20

Kidsgrove Athletic F.C. is an English football club based in Kidsgrove, Staffordshire, England currently playing in the Northern Premier League Division One South. The team, nicknamed "The Grove", play their home games at The Novus Stadium.[1]

History

Football was played in the town of Kidsgrove before the outbreak of World War II saw the team disband. Football was resurrected in when Kidsgrove United was formed which brought 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. 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 in order 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]

Club records

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]

  • Best FA Cup performance: 4th qualifying round achieved during the 2011–12 season
  • Record Attendance: 1,903 v Tiverton Town, FA Vase Semi-Final, 21 March 1998
  • Record Victory: 23–0 v Cross Heath WMC, Staffordshire Cup 1965
  • Record Defeat: 0–15 v Stafford Rangers, Staffordshire Senior Cup, 20 November 2001

Players

As of 12 October 2015[9]

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
— GK England ENG Ben Chapman
— DF England ENG David Artell
— DF England ENG Lewis Bergin
— DF England ENG Ryan Brown
— DF England ENG Paul Donnelly
— DF British Virgin Islands VGB Karl Espley
— DF England ENG Tom Morris
— DF England ENG Paul Taylor
— MF England ENG Will Bailey (on loan from Macclesfield Town)
— MF England ENG Will Booth
No. Pos. Nation Player
— MF England ENG Ross Davidson
— MF England ENG Ben Matthews
— MF England ENG Dan Skelton
— MF England ENG Jack Sherrat
— FW British Virgin Islands VGB Jordan Johnson
— FW England ENG Andy Kinsley
— FW England ENG Ant Malbon
— FW England ENG Nick Wellecomme
— FW England ENG Joe Woolley

Coaching staff

Manager Ryan Austin
Assistant managers
Goalkeeping coach Vacant
Player coach Kevin Street
Physiotherapist John Davies
Kitman Graham Plant[10]

Honours

Leagues

North West Counties Football League Premier Division

Mid-Cheshire League

  • Champions: 1970–71, 1977–78, 1986–87, 1987–88
  • Runners-up: 1968–69, 1985–86

Staffordshire County League

  • Champions: 1965–66

Staffordshire County League Division Two

  • Champions: 1963–64

Cups

Staffordshire Senior Cup

  • Winners: 2004, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2012
  • Runners-up: 2008

Northern Premier League Chairman's Cup

  • Winners: 2005

North West Counties League Challenge Cup

  • Winners: 1998

North West Counties League Floodlit Trophy

  • Runners-up: 1999

Mid Cheshire League Cup

  • Winners: 1968, 1970, 1986
  • Runner-up: 1985, 1987

League history

Season League Played Wins Draws Losses Goals F Goals A Points Position FA Cup FA Trophy FA Vase
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
Inaugural members of the Northern Premier League Division One South
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

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "Kidsgrove Athletic FC - a brief history". Kidsgrove Athletic.co.uk. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
  2. ^ "Kidsgrove fire boss Hollinshead after run of five defeats". The Sentinel. 19 April 2013. Retrieved 19 April 2013.
  3. ^ "Kidsgrove's new manager Neil Gill looking forward to a fresh challenge". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 29 May 2014.
  4. ^ "Gill departs Kidsgrove". KAFC. Retrieved 7 September 2014.
  5. ^ "Paul Moore appointed manager". KAFC. Retrieved 11 September 2014.
  6. ^ "Paul Moore quits as Kidsgrove Athletic manager". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 22 October 2014.
  7. ^ "Peter Ward is back in town as manager of Kidsgrove Athletic". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 31 October 2014.
  8. ^ Grove Pick Up Staffordshire Senior Cup
  9. ^ "The Team - First Team - Kidsgrove Athletic FC". pitchero.com.
  10. ^ "Graham Plant - First Team - Kidsgrove Athletic FC". pitchero.com.

53°4′51.895″N 2°15′2.077″W / 53.08108194°N 2.25057694°W / 53.08108194; -2.25057694

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