Nickname(s) The Lions Ground Town Ground, Heanor | Ground Capacity 2,700 Founded 1883 | |
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Full name Heanor Town Football Club 2015–16 Midland League Premier Division, 6th League Northern Counties East Football League Premier Division | ||
Heanor Town Football Club is an association football club based in Heanor, Derbyshire, England. They team compete in the Midland League Premier Division.
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History
Heanor Town was formed in 1883 although football was being played under the 'Heanor' or 'Heanor Town' banner as early as 1878. The club joined the reformed Midland League in 1961 and apart from two seasons in the West Midlands (Regional) League, they stayed there until they became one of the founder members of the Northern Counties East League in 1982. Four seasons later they became founder members of the Central Midlands League and remained there for a quarter of a century, winning the Supreme Division twice and being runners-up on three other occasions. In 2011 they transferred to the East Midlands County League, winning that league at their first attempt and were promoted back into the Northern Counties East League.
Heanor has participated in the national cup competitions on many occasions throughout their history. Their most notable run in the FA Cup in modern times was in the late 1950s and early 1960s when they reached the first round proper on two occasions. The club has made it to the fourth round of the FA Vase three times, in 1988–89, 1989–90 and 2001–02.
The club was crowned champions of the East Midlands Counties League in front of a home crowd of 154, beating local rivals Blackwell Miners Welfare 1–0 courtesy of a Josh Royce goal. Heanor scored 121 league goals and conceded 48 in just 36 league games, giving an average of 4.6 goals per game. The only ever-present player was central defender Nico Degirolamo. Managers Hopkins and Kirkwood promised a three-year plan when they joined the club in 2009. They promised promotion out of the EMCL. They completed this plan with a game to go, earning the club its first promotion in its 129-year history.
Managers Kirkwood and Hopkins left Heanor with short notice on 12 January to join Mickleover Sports. They announced their immediate resignation around 12 noon. Jordan Hall, one of their signings, was appointed as interim player/manager later in the day.
Hall, assisted by ex-professional footballer Neil Grayson, couldn't improve on The Lions' fortunes and left the club by mutual consent in May 2013. Glen Clarence joined the club as manager in June 2013, bringing James Baker in as assistant manager and Steve Huntington as coach.
Top eight finishes were achieved by the new management team in the first two years of their management, highlights including a 1–0 victory over BlueSquare Conference side Alfreton Town in the Derbyshire Senior Cup quarter-final.
2015 saw The Lions move sideways to The Midland League and another top eight finish, Hereford FC finishing as league champions.
Current squad
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.