Nickname(s) The Peacocks Manager Matthew Whitehouse | Ground Capacity 2,000 Founded 1919 | |
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Ground Garden Walk StadiumLower GornalDudleyWest Midlands League West Midlands (Regional) League Premier Division | ||
Gornal Athletic Football Club are a football club based in Lower Gornal, Dudley, in the West Midlands county in England. Established in 1919, they have reached the 1st round of the FA Vase six times in their history. They are currently members of the West Midlands (Regional) League Premier Division.
Contents
History
Gornal Athletic were formed in 1919, the successor to an earlier club in the district, Gornal Wood Excelsior. Prior to 1972 they were known as Lower Gornal Athletic. They joined the Worcestershire Combination in 1951, then moved to the West Midlands (Regional) League in 1962. In 1993–94 they were runners-up in Division One, earning promotion to the Premier Division where they spent nine seasons. After relegation in 2003 they bounced back at the first attempt, claiming the Division One title and a return to the League's top flight. In the 2011–12 season, the club won the Premier Division championship under the management of Ian Rowe.
The club followed promotion to the Midland Alliance with a placing of third in their first season in the new division. The club also reached the quarter finals of the FA Vase (losing to eventual winners Spennymoor Town), another club record, as well as the FA Cup second qualifying round, losing to Worcester City.
Manager Ian Rowe departed the club in May 2013, replaced by former Redditch United youth team manager Brian Knight. Andy Wyton joined as manager late in the 2013–14 season from local rivals Dudley Town to try and save the team from relegation from the Midland Alliance, but was unsuccessful. The club finished the season in 22nd place, resulting in relegation back to the West Midlands (Regional) League. After a good 2014–15 season, finishing 3rd in the WMRL Premier Division, 2015–16 despite starting well was not a great one for the team, who finished in 17th place. Andy Wyton resigned from the manager's seat with 12 games left, to be replaced by Matthew Whitehouse.
Ground
Unlike many non-league teams, Gornal Athletic own their own stadium, although they do have to rent the social club and changing rooms.
Honours
Club records
