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| Full name | Garforth Town Association Football Club | ||
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| Nickname(s) | The Miners | ||
| Founded | 1964, as Miners Arms | ||
| Ground | Genix Healthcare Stadium, Garforth Leeds (Capacity: 3,000) |
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| Chairman |  Councillor Tom Murray |
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| Manager | Simon Clifford |
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| League | NPL Division One North | ||
| 2008-09 | NPL Division One North, 16th | ||
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Garforth Town Association Football Club are an English football team based in Garforth, West Yorkshire. They currently play in the Northern Premier League Division One North, the 8th level of the English football pyramid.
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History
The club was formed during 1964 by people from the Yorkshire town of Garforth, as a local pub team called Miners Arms. At the time Garforth had no pitch to play on, so their home games were playing in nearby Swillington. The team stepped up to the West Yorkshire League, a Saturday football league, in 1976. At the same time they acquired their own ground in Garforth, a former rubbish dump on Brierlands Lane.
The team were forced to change their name to Garforth Miners to gain election into the Yorkshire League in 1978, pub teams not being allowed in the league. Garforth Miners won promotion from Division 3 in 1980. They finished 3rd in 1982, one point behind champions Harrogate Town. On joining the newly formed Northern Counties East Football League (NCEL), Garforth were placed in Division 1 North. They changed their name again in 1985 to their current name. In 1985, after a league reshuffle, Garforth were placed in Division 2, winning promotion at the first attempt. Garforth Town remained in Division 1 until winning the title in 1998, gaining promotion to the NCEL Premier Division. Town started brightly in their first season and finished in 8th position, also reaching the final of the NCEL Presidents Cup losing to North Ferriby United on aggregate. The following years were spent battling relegation (although two cups were won in the 1999-2000 season) - Town eventually being relegated in 2003. At the second time of asking, after a shaky start they won promotion back to the Premier Division in 2005. Garforth were promoted to the Northern Premier League in 2007. Also in the 2006-07 season Town reached the final of the NCEL League Cup, losing narrowly on penalties to Mickleover Sports. In their first season in the higher league Town finished 10th, in 2008-09 they finished 16th.
In the FA Vase, Garforth reached the 6th round in 1987, losing 1-2 to London side Collier Row (now known as Romford F.C.). The 4th round was reached in 1999, going out to Sudbury Wanderers F.C..
In the FA Cup, Garforth have never been beyond the 2nd Qualifying Round, although came close to bettering this in 2008-09, losing in a replay to Guiseley A.F.C..
Garforth played their first FA Trophy game in 2007, although losing at the first attempt. In the following season Garforth managed the 1st Qualifying Round, losing in a replay to West Midlands side Romulus F.C..
Garforth won the West Riding County Cup in 1998, 2000 and 2009, overcoming in the final Liversedge F.C., Eccleshill United and Bradford Park Avenue respectively. In 1997 Town won the Northern Counties East Football League Trophy (more commonly known as the Wilkinson Sword Trophy). The final of the latter competition was also reached in 2004, losing on aggregate to Hall Road Rangers.
Garforth moved to their current stadium, Genix Healthcare Stadium, in 1998. The stadium was originally named Wheatley Park, after Michael Wheatley, whose company built it in conjunction with a new housing estate built around the same time. It has also been known as The Marston's Stadium, as part of a sponsorship deal with Marston's brewery. It received its current name in 2006, this time being sponsored by a local dentist, also their current shirt sponsor. The main stand itself has been known as the 'Safer Roads Stand' and in the last couple of years was renamed The Norman Hebbron Stand in honour of the long-serving club president.
During the 1990s a few ex-Leeds players turned out for Garforth, including Brendan Ormsby and Gary Williams. Bury FC striker Andy Morrell played a few games for Town in 1998-99 before signing for Wrexham F.C., and in the same season Andy Watson (footballer born 1978) was signed by Doncaster Rovers for £25 000, a club record.
The Clifford era
During the 2003 season Simon Clifford bought the club, eliminating the club's previous £100,000 debts and made clear that he had strong ambitions for the club's future with hopes of climbing up the league pyramid[1]. Clifford's is known for his strong connections to Brazilian football; he has brought Brazilian coaching methods to the United Kingdom with his string of ICFDS (International Confederation of Futebol de Salão) footballing academies.
Despite the Yorkshire club's low level in terms of leagues, they gained massive press attention, both national and international, at the start of the 2004-05 season with the signing of Brazil legend Sócrates on a one month deal as a player-coach[1]. He came on as a substitute for Garforth against Tadcaster Albion, in front of a crowd of 1,385, a club record. The same season, former England and Manchester United winger Lee Sharpe also played for the club[1].
ICFDS graduate Jason St Juste made a few appearances for Garforth before signing for Darlington F.C. and then Southampton F.C.. St Juste returned for a second stint during the 2006-07 season, helping Town to promotion. In 2008-09 he moved to Norwegian Second Division side Sandnes Ulf.
Garforth confirmed the arrival of another former Brazil international, Careca, who came out of retirement and spent time at the club during the 2005-06 season. Carlos Alberto Torres briefly visited in summer 2006.
On 14 December 2008, it was reported by the News of the World that Cafu had agreed terms with the club, although this remains unconfirmed.[2]
Current squad
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Notable players
The following former international players have played for Garforth Town:
Notable visitors
Honours
- NCEL Division One
- Champions: 1997-98
- Runners-up: 1996-97, 2004-05
- NCEL Division Two
- Runners-up: 1985-86
- Northern Counties East League League Cup
- Winners: 1999-00
- Runners-up: 2006-07
- Northern Counties East Football League Presidents Cup
- Runners-up: 1998-99
- Northern Counties East Football League Trophy
- Winners: 1996-97
- Runners-up: 2003-04
- Yorkshire League Division Three
- Runners-up: 1979-80[3]
- FA Vase
- Quarter-finalists: 1986-87
- West Riding County Cup
- Winners: 1997-98, 1999-00, 2008-09
Records
- Best season
1997-98 - NCEL Division 1 Champions - Played 28, Won 23, Drew 3, Lost 2, Scored 77, Conceded 17, Points 72.
- Attendance
1,385 v Tadcaster Albion, 20 November 2004.
- Biggest win
11-0 v Blidworth Welfare, 8 November 1997.
- Biggest defeat
0-8 v Nelson F.C. (FA Vase 2nd Qualifying Round), 22 September 2001.
- Top Scorer
Greg Kelly - 75 goals (65 league) in 6 seasons (03-04 to 08-09).
References
- ^ a b c BBC.co.uk
- ^ Hardy, Martin (13 December 2008). "Brazil Legend Joins Garforth". News of the World. http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/sport/99138/BRAZIL-LEGEND-JOINS-GARFORTH.html. Retrieved 2008-12-15.
- ^ FCHD.co.uk
External links
- Garforth Town Official website
- Garforth Town AFC blog
- BBC article
- Northern Premier League
- Northern Counties East League
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