Garforth Town A.F.C. - History

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. They 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, winning promotion at the first attempt. Town remained in Division 1 until winning the title in 1998, gaining promotion to the NCEL Premier Division. They started brightly in their first season and finished in 8th position, also reaching the final of the NCEL Presidents Cup losing to North Ferriby United on aggregate. Town won two cups in 1999–2000 but league-wise this and following seasons 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 Town were not so fortunate, despite occupying mid-table for the first half of the season their performances worsened in the second, sliding into bottom spot on the last day and were relegated.

At the second attempt, after a shaky start Garforth won promotion back to the Premier Division in 2005. In 2006–07 they finished 4th and were promoted to the Northern Premier League, also reaching the final of the NCEL League Cup, losing narrowly on penalties to Mickleover Sports. In their first season in the higher league Town finished 10th. The 2011–12 campaign saw The Miners make a serious push for a play-off place and achieved this by beating 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.

In the FA Vase, Garforth reached the 6th round in 1987, losing 1–2 to Essex side Collier Row (now known as Romford). The 4th round was reached in 1999, going out to Sudbury Wanderers.

In the FA Cup, Garforth have never been beyond the 2nd Qualifying Round, although came close to bettering this in 2008–09, losing in a replay to Guiseley.

Garforth played their first FA Trophy game in 2007, although losing at the first attempt. The furthest Town have managed is the 1st Qualifying Round in 2008–09 and 2010–11, losing in replays to Romulus and Radcliffe Borough respectively.

Garforth won the West Riding County Cup in 1998, 2000 and 2009, overcoming in the final Liversedge, Eccleshill United and Bradford Park Avenue respectively. The trophy was successfully defended in 2010, the Miners overcoming North West Counties League side Barnoldswick Town. In 1997 Town won the Northern Counties East Football League Trophy (more commonly known as the Wilkinson Sword Trophy). They were also finalists of this competition in 2004, losing on aggregate to Hall Road Rangers.

Garforth moved to their current stadium, Genix Healthcare Stadium, in 1998. The stadium was originally named Wheatley Park, after Michael Wheatley, whose company built it in conjunction with a new housing estate built around the same time. It has also been known as The Marston's Stadium, as part of a sponsorship deal with Marston's brewery. It received its current name in 2006, this time being sponsored by a local dentist, also their current shirt sponsor. The main stand itself has been known as the 'Safer Roads Stand' and in the last few years was renamed The Norman Hebbron Stand 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.

During the 1990s a few ex-Leeds United players turned out for Garforth, including Brendan Ormsby and Gary Williams. 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 £25000, a club record. Ex Sheffield United, Burnley and Scunthorpe United striker John Francis played for Garforth in 2001–02, scoring 11 goals. More recently in 2010–11 and 2011–12 former Carlisle and Northern Ireland U21 international defender Darren Kelly played at the club, making 39 appearances and scoring 8 goals.