History
Club History
THE club was formed in 1935 by workers at the Starbeck LNER depot and joined the local Harrogate League with some success and won the British Railways National Cup in 1946. They borrowed £1,500 from the LNER and more than 300 workers contributed one old penny per week to repay the loan. This money secured ownership of the current Station View site.
The 1950s saw the club progress through the West Yorkshire League to the Yorkshire League and they made the second round proper of the FA Amateur Cup in 1953, going out 3-2 at Harwich & Parkstone, a special train conveying supporters to the tie.
Sadly the loco sheds closed in 1959, subsequently affecting finances as many of the workers, and players, had to leave the area.
Nevertheless, under the auspices of “Chick” Farr the club soldiered on through the sixties and they almost repeated their Amateur Cup exploits of the fifties when they made the first round proper in 1961 only to lose 4-2 at Whitley Bay. Another special train. In 1964 they won promotion to the first division of the Yorkshire League, then just three steps from the Football League itself, and made the Yorkshire League Cup Final, losing to Farsley Celtic after a replay.
The late sixties and the seventies became a real struggle and Railway had to pull out of the Yorkshire League and return to the Harrogate League in 1973. This gave the club time to re-group and they were back in the Yorkshire League in 1980 becoming founder-members of the new NCEL League in 1982.
Freddie Cliff steered the club to promotion from the second division (north) and won the League Cup with a 5-0 victory over Woolley Miners Welfare in the final.
Meanwhile a new junior structure was formed, thanks to the work of John and Mary Lindsay and now Railway can boast one of the best junior set-ups in the region.
In the 1990-91 season Railway made their first major impression in the FA Cup, Denis Metcalf steering his team to the fourth qualifying round. Future manager Martin Haresign actually played in the 3-1 defeat at Chorley. Floodlights were installed in 1991 and a strong Sheffield United side, including Vinnie Jones, provided the star opposition at the official opening.
Management changes and more financial hardship hindered progress as the nineties wore on. However, Dave Fell joined as boss in 1998 and won the NCEL first division but he departed at the end of the same season, taking most of the side with him. Paul Marshall took the job on and, although it was a struggle, he kept Railway in the premier division. The club’s faith in him culminated in two amazing back-to-back FA Cup runs.
The fourth qualifying round was reached for a second time in 2001, the run ending with a 3-2 defeat at home to Morecambe, the winner coming deep into injury time. A year later Railway went two better and, after a bewildering qualifying competition, the many who travelled to Berkshire witnessed a 2-1 win at Slough Town in the first round proper. The lowest-ranking club ever to reach the second round were drawn at home to Bristol City, top of the second division, the highest-ranking club in the competition at that stage. A fairy-tale tie.
What’s more, Railway opted to play the game at home. Temporary stands adorned Station View, Sky TV beamed the game around the globe and the club was the focus of the football world for a couple of hours in December 2002. City were made to fight for their 3-1 win, Steve Davey netting with 17 minutes to go, but once again an injury-time goal sealed Railway’s fate.
Unfortunately arguments over bonus payments clouded the experience and, despite winning the NCEL President’s Cup, Paul Marshall was not reinstated.
Leeds duo Dave Harrison and John Francis were appointed but, after just one win in 11 games and early exits from the FA competitions they stepped down and Martin Haresign was brought in to steady the ship and retain NCEL status.
Railway finished in the top three in 2006 and achieved Northern Premier League (UniBond at the time) status, the vital victory at Sheffield probably the best display of the season. History had been made and the club was set to play at the highest level of the pyramid in its history.
The first season in the UniBond League proved to confound the bookies who predicted a basement finish. A good start was built upon and the campaign ended in a mid-table finish. Unfortunately Martin had to relinquish managerial duties for business reasons but Vince Brockie and new assistant Dave Morgan carried on the good work.
The following season’s league form proved to be rather erratic but Railway finished well clear of the relegation zone in the end. Incredibly, another mighty FA Cup run dominated and the little club from Yorkshire reached the second round proper for a second time. A battling home victory over then unbeaten rivals Harrogate Town was the undoubted highlight of the qualifying rounds before Blue Square side Droylsden were sent packing 2-0 in the first round. Mansfield Town came to Station View on a soggy Sunday and BBC Match Of The Day screened the game live this time, complete with Ray Subbs. Mark Lawrenson and Jonathan Pearce. Mansfield won 3-2 but not before two second-half goals from Danny Davidson gave them late scares.
Assistant manager Dave Morgan was promoted to manager for the following season but found life difficult, gleaning only 2 points from the first 36. He resigned and in his place came Phil Sharpe and Richard Chattoe - between them they staved off fears of relegation and looked for consolidation in the future.
However, last season’s start was not one of the best and Christmas saw Railway again languishing at the bottom end of the table but an influx of good, battling players pulled the club away from the drop-zone. Richard Chattoe left mid-season and Nigel Danby came in as Phil’s assistant. However, Phil resigned at the end of the season and, during the summer, Nigel was appointed as manager, bringing in Micky Norbury as his right hand man.
THE club was formed in 1935 by workers at the Starbeck LNER depot and joined the local Harrogate League with some success and won the British Railways National Cup in 1946. They borrowed £1,500 from the LNER and more than 300 workers contributed one old penny per week to repay the loan. This money secured ownership of the current Station View site.
The 1950s saw the club progress through the West Yorkshire League to the Yorkshire League and they made the second round proper of the FA Amateur Cup in 1953, going out 3-2 at Harwich & Parkstone, a special train conveying supporters to the tie.
Sadly the loco sheds closed in 1959, subsequently affecting finances as many of the workers, and players, had to leave the area.
Nevertheless, under the auspices of “Chick” Farr the club soldiered on through the sixties and they almost repeated their Amateur Cup exploits of the fifties when they made the first round proper in 1961 only to lose 4-2 at Whitley Bay. Another special train. In 1964 they won promotion to the first division of the Yorkshire League, then just three steps from the Football League itself, and made the Yorkshire League Cup Final, losing to Farsley Celtic after a replay.
The late sixties and the seventies became a real struggle and Railway had to pull out of the Yorkshire League and return to the Harrogate League in 1973. This gave the club time to re-group and they were back in the Yorkshire League in 1980 becoming founder-members of the new NCEL League in 1982.
Freddie Cliff steered the club to promotion from the second division (north) and won the League Cup with a 5-0 victory over Woolley Miners Welfare in the final.
Meanwhile a new junior structure was formed, thanks to the work of John and Mary Lindsay and now Railway can boast one of the best junior set-ups in the region.
In the 1990-91 season Railway made their first major impression in the FA Cup, Denis Metcalf steering his team to the fourth qualifying round. Future manager Martin Haresign actually played in the 3-1 defeat at Chorley. Floodlights were installed in 1991 and a strong Sheffield United side, including Vinnie Jones, provided the star opposition at the official opening.
Management changes and more financial hardship hindered progress as the nineties wore on. However, Dave Fell joined as boss in 1998 and won the NCEL first division but he departed at the end of the same season, taking most of the side with him. Paul Marshall took the job on and, although it was a struggle, he kept Railway in the premier division. The club’s faith in him culminated in two amazing back-to-back FA Cup runs.
The fourth qualifying round was reached for a second time in 2001, the run ending with a 3-2 defeat at home to Morecambe, the winner coming deep into injury time. A year later Railway went two better and, after a bewildering qualifying competition, the many who travelled to Berkshire witnessed a 2-1 win at Slough Town in the first round proper. The lowest-ranking club ever to reach the second round were drawn at home to Bristol City, top of the second division, the highest-ranking club in the competition at that stage. A fairy-tale tie.
What’s more, Railway opted to play the game at home. Temporary stands adorned Station View, Sky TV beamed the game around the globe and the club was the focus of the football world for a couple of hours in December 2002. City were made to fight for their 3-1 win, Steve Davey netting with 17 minutes to go, but once again an injury-time goal sealed Railway’s fate.
Unfortunately arguments over bonus payments clouded the experience and, despite winning the NCEL President’s Cup, Paul Marshall was not reinstated.
Leeds duo Dave Harrison and John Francis were appointed but, after just one win in 11 games and early exits from the FA competitions they stepped down and Martin Haresign was brought in to steady the ship and retain NCEL status.
Railway finished in the top three in 2006 and achieved Northern Premier League (UniBond at the time) status, the vital victory at Sheffield probably the best display of the season. History had been made and the club was set to play at the highest level of the pyramid in its history.
The first season in the UniBond League proved to confound the bookies who predicted a basement finish. A good start was built upon and the campaign ended in a mid-table finish. Unfortunately Martin had to relinquish managerial duties for business reasons but Vince Brockie and new assistant Dave Morgan carried on the good work.
The following season’s league form proved to be rather erratic but Railway finished well clear of the relegation zone in the end. Incredibly, another mighty FA Cup run dominated and the little club from Yorkshire reached the second round proper for a second time. A battling home victory over then unbeaten rivals Harrogate Town was the undoubted highlight of the qualifying rounds before Blue Square side Droylsden were sent packing 2-0 in the first round. Mansfield Town came to Station View on a soggy Sunday and BBC Match Of The Day screened the game live this time, complete with Ray Subbs. Mark Lawrenson and Jonathan Pearce. Mansfield won 3-2 but not before two second-half goals from Danny Davidson gave them late scares.
Assistant manager Dave Morgan was promoted to manager for the following season but found life difficult, gleaning only 2 points from the first 36. He resigned and in his place came Phil Sharpe and Richard Chattoe - between them they staved off fears of relegation and looked for consolidation in the future.
However, last season’s start was not one of the best and Christmas saw Railway again languishing at the bottom end of the table but an influx of good, battling players pulled the club away from the drop-zone. Richard Chattoe left mid-season and Nigel Danby came in as Phil’s assistant. However, Phil resigned at the end of the season and, during the summer, Nigel was appointed as manager, bringing in Micky Norbury as his right hand man.
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