Nickname(s) The Kirkbyites Founded 1895 | Ground South Kirkby | |
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Full name South Kirkby Colliery Football Club League Sheffield & Hallamshire County Senior League Division One 2015–16 Sheffield & Hallamshire County Senior League Division One, 5th | ||
South Kirkby Colliery Football Club is a football club based in South Kirkby, West Yorkshire, England. The club played in the FA Cup on numerous occasions and were former members of the Yorkshire Football League. The club originally played in red and green halves.
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Early history
The club were formed as early as 1894 as South Kirkby and went on to become the works team of South Kirkby Colliery and were known as South Kirkby Colliery Athletic Club. The earliest known fixture for the club is a postponed match in 1894, though it is not clear which competition this was. The club initially competed in the Minor Cup Division Two of the Barnsley Association Football Union in the 1894/95 season, before joining the Barnsley Association Football Union League Division A for the 1896/97 season, winning the Minor Cup that season. By 1905 as the club grew they were nicknamed 'The Kirkbyites'. The club were well supported by the workers of the colliery, who donated a small sum from their wages per week, making the club quite well off. The club later joined the Sheffield Association League before moving into the Yorkshire League, later dropping down to the Doncaster and District Senior League in the late 1960s. The club now plays in the Sheffield and Hallamshire County Senior League.
Professionalism and success
In 1905–06 the club won the Sheffield Association League, the South Yorkshire League, the Hemsworth and District League, the Hemsworth and District Challenge Cup and narrowly missed out on a fifth title that season when they lost in the final of the Montague Hospital Cup. The same season the club had a remarkable run in the FA Cup, eventually losing to Bishop Aukland. The season was one of the most successful in the club's history. By 1905 the club were at least semi professional, having signed James Aston formerly of Woolwich Arsenal and Small Heath on professional terms.
Notable players
Notable players to have played for the club include:
FA Cup
The club first played in the FA Cup in the 1905–1906 season, reaching the fourth qualifying round where they lost to Bishop Auckland. The game was such a draw for locals that special services were run from Moorthorpe Railway Station for fans wanting to travel up to the game. The club once again reached the fourth qualifying round in 1912–1913 and 1929–1930.
Other cups
As well as the FA Cup the club have played in the Wharncliffe Charity Cup and the Sheffield and Hallamshire Senior Cup, winning the latter on two occasions.
Ground
It is not known where the club played prior to 1903 but the club moved to a new purpose built ground near the colliery around 1904. In 1929 the colliery ground was closed and the club moved to the present Miners Welfare Ground on just off Stockingate.