Garforth Town A.F.C.

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 played 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 Football League in 1978, pub teams not being allowed in the league. Garforth Miners won promotion from Division 3 in 1980 and 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. Also that year, after a league reshuffle, Garforth were placed in Division 2 and won promotion at the first attempt.

In 1987 Garforth reached the 6th round of the FA Vase, losing 1–2 to London side Collier Row (now known as Romford). It is the furthest the club have reached in the competition and remains one of their biggest achievements.

In the league Town remained in Division 1 until winning the title in 1998, gaining promotion to the NCEL Premier Division. In this year they lifted the West Riding County Cup for the first time, overcoming Liversedge in the final. In 1998-99 the team started brightly and finished in 8th position, also reaching the final of the NCEL Presidents Cup losing to North Ferriby United on aggregate. They also enjoyed another good run in the FA Vase, reaching the 4th round where they went out to Sudbury Wanderers.

In 1999-2000 Town again lifted the WRCC trophy, overcoming Eccleshill United and also won the Northern Counties East League League Cup. Sadly league-wise this and the following seasons around the turn of the millennium were spent battling relegation. They finished bottom of the table in 2001-02 but were reprieved after South Yorkshire club Denaby United folded. At the end of the following season Garforth were not so fortunate; despite occupying mid-table for the first half of the season their performances worsened in the second, ultimately ending in a slide to the bottom spot on the last day and relegation back to Division 1.

During 2003 Simon Clifford bought the club, eliminating the club's debts and made clear that he had strong ambitions for the club's future with hopes of climbing up the league pyramid. Clifford is known for his strong connections to Brazilian football; having brought Brazilian coaching methods to the United Kingdom with his string of ICFDS (International Confederation of Futebol de Salão) footballing academies.

After the resignation of Jimmy Martin early in 2004–05 he took over management of the first team himself (assisted by coach Steve Nichol) and guided them to promotion back to the Premier Division. In 2006–07 they finished 4th and a second promotion in three years was achieved. This was to the Northern Premier League after Durham City of the Northern League decided against promotion.

In their first season in the higher division Garforth finished 10th. Town also played their first ever FA Trophy game, losing at the first attempt. The furthest they have managed is the 1st Qualifying Round in 2008-09 and 2010-11, losing in replays to Romulus and Radcliffe Borough respectively. In 2008-09 the club came close to bettering their best FA Cup run, losing in a 2nd Qualifying Round Replay to Guiseley, and enjoyed further cup success by winning the WRCC a third time after beating Bradford Park Avenue. The trophy was successfully defended the following year after victory over North West Counties League side Barnoldswick Town.

In October 2009 Clifford stepped down from first team duties, leaving Steve Nichol and Richard Sutherland in charge. The 2008-09 and 2009-10 campaigns ended in poor league finishes, but 2010-11 saw improvement with the team finishing in mid-table. The season ended in a 2-1 victory over Chester F.C. in front of a record crowd of 2428, the highest in the club's history. The 2011-12 campaign saw The Miners make a serious push for a play-off place, achieved with a win over Skelmersdale United on the last day to finish 5th, the highest placing in the pyramid in the club's history. Sadly they went out in the Semi-Final, being defeated on penalties at Curzon Ashton.

Despite these achievements, June/July 2012 saw the resignation of the entire back-room staff and manager Steve Nichol replaced by his assistant Vernol Blair. This prompted the departure of nearly all the first team squad. New staff were brought in by Clifford, and Blair managed to assemble a new team at short notice for the 2012-13 season. However the season started poorly with Town slipping into bottom spot at the end of September. In December Rupert Lowe purchased the club linking up again with Clifford, who had been employed as Southampton coach in 2005. Clifford was appointed manager but results barely picked up and by early February Blair was back at the helm. Other than a few days in February The Miners remained rooted to the bottom until the end of the season, the total of 16 points after 42 games the lowest in the club's recorded history. Relegation back to the NCEL followed.

In May/June 2013 Simon Clifford left the club, ending his 10-year involvement. Lowe entered into a partnership with American soccer academy RIASA, who were already involved with Eccleshill United. RIASA agreed to release funds into the club in return for establishing a Garforth reserve team in which their students could play (the previous reserve side had disbanded a few years earlier). Another change of backroom staff saw the replacement of manager Vernol Blair with Graham Nicholas.

The following two seasons saw Town finish in 14th place. Town celebrated their 50th Centenary in 2014-15 season, the campaign also notable for the club's run to a fifth appearance the WRCC final, including a remarkable semi-final victory at National League North side Harrogate Town . Sadly they were unable to repeat the triumph against another higher-placed opponent in the final; Bradford (Park Avenue) gaining revenge on their 2009 defeat by winning 1-0 at Valley Parade.

November 2014 saw another change in the club's ownership, Rupert Lowe handing control to a management team comprising Brian and Jane Close and Craig Bannister.

Nicholas left the club for Northern Premier League side Ossett Town in October 2015, along with a number of first team players. Adie Costello was appointed as the club's new First Team manager, assisted by Rob Hunter.

Notable players and managers

During the 1990s a few ex-Leeds United players turned out for Garforth, including Brendan Ormsby and Gary Williams, Ormsby making over 100 appearances. Wrexham player-manager Andy Morrell played a few games for Town in 1998–99 before signing for the Welsh club, and in the same season Andy Watson was signed by Doncaster Rovers for £25 000, a club record. Former Sheffield United, Burnley and Scunthorpe United striker John Francis featured in 2001-02 season, scoring 11 goals.

Despite the Yorkshire club's low level in terms of leagues, they gained massive press attention, both national and international with the signing of Brazil player Sócrates on a one-month deal as a player-coach. He played just once, coming on as a substitute 12 minutes from time against Tadcaster Albion, in front of a crowd of 1,385. Also in that campaign, former England and Manchester United winger Lee Sharpe played for the club, scoring 4 goals.

Another former Brazilian international, Careca, came out of retirement and played in a friendly against Guiseley on 30 June 2005.

ICFDS graduate Jason St Juste made a few appearances for Garforth before signing for Darlington and then Southampton. St Juste returned for a second stint during the 2006–07 season, scoring 11 times. In 2008–09 he moved to Norwegian Second Division side Sandnes Ulf, but returned to England in December 2010. He played one game for Garforth before moving to Chester F.C. on loan until the end of the season. Former St Kitts & Nevis international and current Frickley Athletic defender Patrece Liburd made a handful of appearances for the Miners in 2007-08 and 2012-13.

On 26 September 2010, it was announced that former England player Paul Gascoigne had become manager of the club. However Gascoigne apparently changed his mind at the last minute and it was announced on 7 October 2010 that the deal had fallen through.

In 2010–11 and 2011–12 former Carlisle and Northern Ireland U21 international defender and Oldham Athletic manager Darren Kelly played at the club, making 39 appearances and scoring 8 goals. In the same period Gibraltar international Adam Priestley was Town's top scorer with 42 goals from 97 appearances.

Garforth's coaching staff during the 2015/16 season included former Leeds and Burnley midfielder Mark Ford, who has also featured previously at non-league level with neighbours Tadcaster Albion.

Former Leeds United and Plymouth Argyle midfielder Simon Walton signed for Garforth at the start of the 2016/17 season having left Crawley Town at the end of the previous season. He made his debut in the 2-0 League Cup victory over Grimsby Borough, on 9th August 2016.

Current Stadium

After many years at Brierlands Lane, in 1998 the club moved a short distance to the east to their current stadium, Wheatley Park; named after Michael Wheatley, whose company built it alongside a new housing estate. It was renamed The Genix Healthcare Stadium in 2006 as part of a sponsorship with the dentistry company, the deal ending in Summer 2012. In the 2012-13 season it was known as the Brazilian Soccer Schools Stadium, and after a couple of years without sponsorship the J.S. White & Co. Community Stadium, the company being the club's current shirt sponsor. The main stand itself (which has won architectural awards for its design) was named The Norman Hebbron Stand in 2007 in honour of the long-serving club president.

To comply with ground-grading regulations covered terracing was built behind one goal in March 2011 and is nicknamed "The Strawberry End" by supporters after the fruit grown in the adjacent field.

Current squad

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

Notable players

The following former international players have played for Garforth Town:

Honours

Records

1997–98 – NCEL Division 1 Champions – Played 28, Won 23, Drew 3, Lost 2, Scored 77, Conceded 17, Points 72.

2,428 v Chester FC, 29 April 2011.

11–0 v Blidworth Welfare, 8 November 1997.

2-9 v New Mills 19 November 2012.

Greg Kelly – 75 goals (65 league) in 6 seasons (2003–04 to 2008–09).