History
Records show that the club was formed in 1884 and their first opponents were Lynn Alexandria whom they defeated 2-1.
Their headquarters at the outset were at Hempton Green from where they moved to Star Meadow in the Town itself in 1889 and then to Barons Hall Lawn which they shared with the cricket club until 1996 when they established themselves at Clipbush Park.
A game against a full Norwich City Xl to mark the installation of floodlights in 1987 attracted well over a thousand spectators.
In May 1996 work started on the club’s new ground at Clipbush Park progressing throughout the close season and finishing in time to play and win their first match in front of invited guests and 450 spectators against Tiptree United. The new ground was officially opened on the 16th July 1997 by ex England Manager Graham Taylor, the ceremony being followed by a game against Watford’s senior team in front of over a thousand spectators. In July 2006, a long overdue milestone was reached that saw their new clubhouse used for the first time when the club entertained a Norwich City team in front of over two thousand spectators. The start of that season saw virtually all the finishing touches completed, apart from the usual teething troubles.
The club has made progress over the years on the playing field elevating from the North Norfolk League, in which they first competed via the Anglian Combination, into the first division of the Jewson League and in season 1991-1992 they achieved their ambition when, at the fourth attempt they won promotion into the premier division after finishing no lower that fourth in the preceding three seasons. From then onwards they established themselves in the Premier Division and in 1998-1999 completed their best season by finishing runners-up to Wroxham. Season 2003/2004 saw them relegated to the First Division after finishing in bottom spot of the Premier Division. After several seasons of transition, they have found themselves toward the wrong end of the table, always capable of achieving good results against the top teams but not quite achieving the consistency required to elevate them back up the table to where they undoubtedly belong. With a decent squad of local players, many of whom have made the step-up from lower divisions, they hope to push forward during the coming season and secure their rightful place within the Ridgeons League set-up.
They have had notable success in Cup Competitions winning the County Senior Cup on three occasions between 1970 and 1974 and completing a very successful 1991-1992 season by lifting the trophy again, beating Diss Town 2-1 in a replay at Gorleston after drawing 2-2 at Carrow Road. The next season saw them beaten by Watton United 2-1 in the semi-finals after extra time but in the following season they convincingly overcame King’s Lynn’s first team 4-0 at Carrow Road beating Vase winners Diss Town in the semi-finals in the process to regain the coveted trophy. In 1994-1995 they equalled their previous record of the seventies by beating Gorleston 2-1 at Carrow Road to record their third win in four years. They relinquished their hold on the cup the following year being soundly thrashed 1-6 in the semis but made it four successes in the decade by regaining the trophy at the expense of Swaffham Town whom they defeated 4-2 again at Carrow Road. Season 2000-2001 saw the club reach the semi-finals of the competition where they were beaten 1-2 by Gorleston who went on to win the Cup. Season 2005-2006 saw their best cup run for five years when the club defeated a strong Kings Lynn Reserves 2-1 in the quarter final but falling at the semi-final stage, losing 1-2 against Norwich United.
They have appeared twice in the final of the League Cup. On the first occasion they were defeated 4-0 by in-form Halstead Town who also won the League Championship to record a notable double.
Their second appearance was in 2000-2001 when after a goalless 120 minutes of play they were eventually beaten 4-5 on penalty kicks.
In Season 2005-2006 they won the First Division KO Cup for the first time, defeating the newly crowned Division 1 champions Stanway Rovers in a hard fought match. A 2-2 full time score saw the club snatch a late and well-deserved extra-time winner to win 3-2.
They are currently celebrating their 125th Year, with a visit from a Norwich City XI during the run-up to the 2009/2010 season attracting more than 1000 spectators to mark the start of the year’s celebrations.
Their headquarters at the outset were at Hempton Green from where they moved to Star Meadow in the Town itself in 1889 and then to Barons Hall Lawn which they shared with the cricket club until 1996 when they established themselves at Clipbush Park.
A game against a full Norwich City Xl to mark the installation of floodlights in 1987 attracted well over a thousand spectators.
In May 1996 work started on the club’s new ground at Clipbush Park progressing throughout the close season and finishing in time to play and win their first match in front of invited guests and 450 spectators against Tiptree United. The new ground was officially opened on the 16th July 1997 by ex England Manager Graham Taylor, the ceremony being followed by a game against Watford’s senior team in front of over a thousand spectators. In July 2006, a long overdue milestone was reached that saw their new clubhouse used for the first time when the club entertained a Norwich City team in front of over two thousand spectators. The start of that season saw virtually all the finishing touches completed, apart from the usual teething troubles.
The club has made progress over the years on the playing field elevating from the North Norfolk League, in which they first competed via the Anglian Combination, into the first division of the Jewson League and in season 1991-1992 they achieved their ambition when, at the fourth attempt they won promotion into the premier division after finishing no lower that fourth in the preceding three seasons. From then onwards they established themselves in the Premier Division and in 1998-1999 completed their best season by finishing runners-up to Wroxham. Season 2003/2004 saw them relegated to the First Division after finishing in bottom spot of the Premier Division. After several seasons of transition, they have found themselves toward the wrong end of the table, always capable of achieving good results against the top teams but not quite achieving the consistency required to elevate them back up the table to where they undoubtedly belong. With a decent squad of local players, many of whom have made the step-up from lower divisions, they hope to push forward during the coming season and secure their rightful place within the Ridgeons League set-up.
They have had notable success in Cup Competitions winning the County Senior Cup on three occasions between 1970 and 1974 and completing a very successful 1991-1992 season by lifting the trophy again, beating Diss Town 2-1 in a replay at Gorleston after drawing 2-2 at Carrow Road. The next season saw them beaten by Watton United 2-1 in the semi-finals after extra time but in the following season they convincingly overcame King’s Lynn’s first team 4-0 at Carrow Road beating Vase winners Diss Town in the semi-finals in the process to regain the coveted trophy. In 1994-1995 they equalled their previous record of the seventies by beating Gorleston 2-1 at Carrow Road to record their third win in four years. They relinquished their hold on the cup the following year being soundly thrashed 1-6 in the semis but made it four successes in the decade by regaining the trophy at the expense of Swaffham Town whom they defeated 4-2 again at Carrow Road. Season 2000-2001 saw the club reach the semi-finals of the competition where they were beaten 1-2 by Gorleston who went on to win the Cup. Season 2005-2006 saw their best cup run for five years when the club defeated a strong Kings Lynn Reserves 2-1 in the quarter final but falling at the semi-final stage, losing 1-2 against Norwich United.
They have appeared twice in the final of the League Cup. On the first occasion they were defeated 4-0 by in-form Halstead Town who also won the League Championship to record a notable double.
Their second appearance was in 2000-2001 when after a goalless 120 minutes of play they were eventually beaten 4-5 on penalty kicks.
In Season 2005-2006 they won the First Division KO Cup for the first time, defeating the newly crowned Division 1 champions Stanway Rovers in a hard fought match. A 2-2 full time score saw the club snatch a late and well-deserved extra-time winner to win 3-2.
They are currently celebrating their 125th Year, with a visit from a Norwich City XI during the run-up to the 2009/2010 season attracting more than 1000 spectators to mark the start of the year’s celebrations.
RSS Feeds