‘THE TOWN GROUND’ CLUBHOUSE TO GET INVOLVED AND ENJOY BEING PART OF OUR
The club owes its humble beginnings to long before their 1883 formation at the Rays Arms Hotel. Teams representing the town and playing under the name of ‘Heanor’ or ‘Heanor Town’ were recorded in 1878, but it was not until a public meeting was called in September 1883 that these fragmented issues were drawn together under one roof and the Club affiliated to the Derbyshire County FA.
They joined the Derbyshire League, but within a decade the Club had established itself as a top Midland League side, on one occasion finishing seventh when the top four were promoted to the Football League. And four times during this period reached the First Round Proper of the FA Cup (today’s equivalent would be the Third Round because the competition then had six Qualifying Rounds) losing to Aston Villa (away) 1-4, Nottingham Forest (away) 0-1, Bury (home) 0-3 and Southampton St. Mary’s (home) 0-1. In the latter game only a broken leg suffered by centre forward Sam Widdowson ensured that Heanor played with ten men for almost 80 minutes this after a 1-1 draw at Southampton. During this period such teams as Mansfield Town, Chesterfield, Lincoln City and Northampton Town were beaten in the Qualifying Competition. Since then, the Lions have played in the Derbyshire League, Mid-Derbyshire League, Midland League (four times), Central Combination, Central Alliance, Notts Alliance, West Midlands (Regional) and Northern Counties East. In 1986 they joined the Central Midlands and are the only Club to have held continuous membership of the Supreme Division since its formation. Last season they added the new East Midlands Counties League to the list in which they have competed. In 1958 Heanor entertained Fourth Division Carlisle United at The Town Ground in the FA Cup First Round losing 1-5 before 6,511 spectators. At the time they were members of the Central Alliance League Division One (North). But the strength of that league at the time can be judged by the fact that Ilkeston Town and Creswell Colliery was other clubs who also graced the FA Cup competition proper. In 1963 The Lions were a Midland League side and once again when they lost at the same stage away to Fourth Division Bradford Park Avenue containing one Kevin Hector and managed by Jimmy Scoular at Bradford in front of a crowd 5,799. The club’s best Midland League finish was in 1966 when they were runners-up and twelve months later, they were one of only six Midland League clubs with the best record selected to become founder members of the Northern Premier League. However, the Heanor Committee at the time declined the opportunity because of the costs involved and their place was taken by Goole Town. The Club has three times reached the Fourth Round Proper of the FA Vase; in 1989 they drew at this stage at home to Eastwood (Hanley) 1-1 but lost the replay by the odd goal of three. And the other two occasions also saw they lose by the same score to Rushden Town (Home) in 1990 and Arnold Town (away) in 2002. They have reached the Third Round Proper on two other occasions losing to Warrington Town and Eccleshill United both away. Honours decorated the Town Ground trophy cabinet at regular intervals during the 90’s with two Central Midlands League Supreme Division titles in 1995 & 1997 and the last being the Central Midlands League Cup won in a thrilling 5-3 finale against Ollerton Town in 2007. In 2009 the Club appointed Joint Managers Craig Hopkins and Glenn Kirkwood who set themselves a target to win the East Midlands Counties League championship within three years. In their first season they finished seventh, the season after they improved to third then in their third season, they achieved their goal when they were crowned champions in front of a home crowd of 154, beating local rivals Blackwell Miners Welfare 1-0 courtesy of a Josh Royce goal in the penultimate game of the season. Managers Kirkwood and Hopkins left Heanor Town giving short notice on the 12 January 2013 to join local strugglers Mickleover Sports. Jordan Hall, one of the players, was appointed as interim manager later that day and guided the club to an 11th place finish in the NCEL Premier league.
In June 2013 local businessman Geoff Clarence purchased the club and immediately spent thousands of pounds updating the facilities at the Town Ground including a complete renovation of the ageing clubhouse. Glen Clarence was appointed first team manager building a young local squad which improved the club to an 8th place finish in the league along with two semi-final appearances in the Derbyshire and League cups. With the re-shape of the football leagues from step three downwards Heanor took the sideways move to the Midland Football League. With that league folding Heanor moved to the United Counties North league. In 2024 Heanor Town reached the Derbyshire Cup Final and proudly played at Pride Park in front of a match record crowd of 1400. Then in 2025 the club reached the FA Vase quarter finals for the first time in its history.
Bright things are on the horizon for the club as a total ground upgrade including an all-weather pitch is due to finish by early 2026.
Hucknall Town FC is a family friendly Community Football Club established in 1943 as Hucknall Colliery Welfare FC. The Club changed its name to Hucknall Town in 1987. From 1988-89 to 1998-99 the club quickly progress through Notts Alliance, Central Midlands League and Northern Counties East League by winning 4 promotions. From 1999 to 2004 they played in the Northern Premier League Premier Division, finishing Champions in 2003-04. However, as the Watnall Road stadium didn’t meet the then standards of the Football Conference, the club were refused promotion to the Conference National Division. In 2005-06 Town reached the Final of the FA Trophy losing 6 - 5 on penalties to Grays Athletic at the end of extra time following a 1-1 draw at full-time at Villa Park. They were due to be relegated from the Conference North to the Northern Premier League Premier Division following the 2007–08 season. This would have been the first relegation from any league in the club's history. However, Halifax Town's financial woes meant that they were reprieved. The club were eventually relegated at the end of the 2008–09 season and a further relegation followed at the end of 2010-11, which saw them drop into the NPL Division One South. Financial problems saw the club relegated again, two levels in 2012-13 to the Central Midlands Football League Division South (then step 7). In 2014-15 Hucknall Town won the CMFL League Cup. In the 2018-19 season the Club celebrated its 75th anniversary finishing as Champions of the Central Midlands League Division South and were promoted to step 6 in the East Midlands Counties League Premier. After two seasons seriously affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, 2019-20 & 20-2021 and with the EMCL ceasing to exist, Town moved into the United Counties League Division One for the start of the 2021-22 season and made the playoff semi-final but lost to Hinckley AFC, so resumed in UCL Division 1 in 2022-23. The club moved to its new facilities on Aerial Way, Hucknall, NG15 6DW on 5th December 2022. The club celebrated the first game at the new ground on 7th January 2023 with a 3-2 win against Harrowby United. The club finished in 4th place in the table at the end of last season and clinched promotion to Step 5 with penalties shoot out wins at Bourne Town in the playoff semifinal and at Birstall United Social in the final. The Yellows found the going tough in the UCL Premier North in 2023-24. Manager Andy Ingle resigned in September and was replaced by the new management duo of Reece Limbert and Louis Bland. Louis left after only a couple of months to take up the manager’s position at Grantham Town. Reece continued as sole manager and with an influx of signings in the second half of the season, safety from relegation was all but clinched with a crucial away win at fellow strugglers Pinchbeck United on Easter Saturday. A similar slow start to last season saw Reece Limbert resign as manager in early September. Tris Whitman was recruited from Stapleford Town, along with his assistant Aaron Large. Following an impressive win at Eastwood CFC in early January, the team went on a storming run, losing 2 out of the next 14 games to move away from the relegation zone and into mid-table safety. The season was crowned by winning the Notts Senior Cup for the first time in 22 years, via a penalty shootout following a manic 6-6 draw against Newark & Sherwood United.
Northern Premier League:- Premiership Champions 2003-04
Chairman’s Cup Winners:- 2002-03
FA Trophy Runners Up 2004-05
Northern Counties East League:- Premier Division Champions 1997-98
League Cup Winners 1993-94, 1996-97, 1997-98
President’s Cup Winners 1996-97
United Counties League Division 1 playoff final winners 2022-23
Nottingham Alliance Senior Division Champions 1976-77, 1977-78, 1987-88, 1988-89
Division One Champions 1972-73, 1980-81, 1986-87
Division Two Champions 1970-71
Intermediate Cup Winners 1972-73, 1978-79, 1979-80, 1980-81, 1983-84
League Winners 1978-79
Central Midlands League Supreme Division Champions 1989-90, 1990-91
Central Midlands Football League Division South Champions 2018-19
Central Midlands League Cup Winners 1989-90, 1990-91, 1991-92, 2014-15, Runners Up 2016-17, 2018-19
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