Ground Capacity 2,000 (175 seated) Founded 1908 | Chairman Peter King Manager John Brough | |
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Full name North Leigh Football Club Nickname(s) Yellows, Nor Lye, Windmill Army, Millers Ground Eynsham Hall Park Sports Ground,
North Leigh 2015–16 Southern League Division One South & West, 9th Leagues Southern Football League, Southern Football League Division One South and West | ||
North Leigh Football Club is a football club based in North Leigh, near Witney, Oxfordshire, England. In 1990, they joined the Hellenic League Division One. Their ground is outside the village near Eynsham Hall and has seats for 175 spectators on one side and covered standing accommodation behind one goal.
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Early years (1908–2000)
North Leigh were formed in 1908, but it was only following the Second World War the club started to have success in the Witney and District League. After many seasons without winning any silverware, North Leigh eventually won the Witney and District Premier Division title seven times. In the 1950s the club had success in the Oxfordshire Senior League. During the 1980s the club won another five successive Witney and District League titles, earning them a place in the Hellenic league Division One for the 1990–91 season. North Leigh finished fourth place in their first season and were the division's second highest goal scorers. In their second season in the Hellenic League they also finished fourth. The club earned 2 points per game and scored 84 goals in the process. In their third season North Leigh finished runners-up behind Tuffley Rovers, earning them a place in the Hellenic League Premier Division along with the champions. During the 1997–98 season North Leigh reached the second round of the FA Vase for a third time, before losing to Elmore. Their first Hellenic League Premier Division campaign ended with North Leigh finishing in fourth position and reaching the Oxfordshire Senior Cup final. However, they lost in the final to rivals Witney Town 1–0 after extra-time.
Later history
The club has won the Hellenic League Premier Division twice in their history, in 2001–02 and 2002–03, but did not apply for promotion to the Southern League, remaining members of the Hellenic League Premier Division. In the 2006–07 season, North Leigh just missed out on promotion to Slimbridge who then folded, but too late for North Leigh to take their place. However, in the season 2007–08, they did apply and gained promotion after rivals Almondsbury Town who had topped the table all season lost 1–0 to Abingdon Town on the last day of the season.
Ground
North Leigh play their home games at Eynsham Park, North Leigh, Witney, Oxfordshire, OX29 6SL. The ground has a capacity of 2000 (175 seated).
Ground improvements
In order to retain a place in the Southern League, North Leigh had to make improvements to their ground, Eynsham Park. The improvements included the 175 seater George Hazzel Stand with disabled spectators and press facilities alongside the pitch. Other further improvements included a 2 metre high ground enclosure wooden fence, floodlights, a £100,000 changing room block including a committee room, a kitchen, and some public toilets. Improvements continued at Eynsham Park featuring significant drainage systems, new dugouts and turnstile spectator entrance facilities.
George Hazel Stand
The George Hazel Stand is the club's main and only stand in Eynsham Park. It has a capacity of 175 seats, including a number of disabled spaces and seats for press reporters. The stand replaced an old 150 seater stand which was converted into a stand for standing spectators and away stand. In addition The George Hazel stand was one of the major improvements required for the club to retain a place in the Southern League.
Attendances
Although North Leigh currently stand as one the top non-league clubs in Oxfordshire they still struggle to attract more than 100 fans down to Eynsham Park every game.
Current squad
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.