History
The club's formation is usually given as 1909. However, it may have been as early as 1906 when an amateur club with the same name was formed. There were players called Storrs and Manwood who played in the 1906 and 1909 teams, and a player called Rhodes who played in the amateur's first game; a Herbert Rhodes was a significant benefactor of the 'later' Celtic.
The club played for two seasons in the Lancashire and Cheshire Amateur League, before turning professional and joining the Lancashire Combination becoming second division champions at the first attempt. They followed it up with a fourth place and runners up spot in the Central League. In an attempt to progress the club joined the Southern League. The club rejoined the Central League for the 1919–1920 season and in 1921 became one of the founder members of the Football League's Third Division North. However the club resigned after two years. Most assume they resigned due to financial difficulties but the truth is that the Club felt they could not attract enough support to justify a League side. Interestingly they attracted an average of 5,480 in 1922 – almost 2,000 more than Rochdale. The full Celtic story in the League is detailed in Manchester A Football History where Celtic are given the same level of analysis and research as the Manchester region's other sides.
They joined the Cheshire County League remaining members for 60 years and winning the title only once in 1980. With the league's merger with the Lancashire Combination in 1982, they became founder members of the North West Counties League, winning the title in 1984 and 1987, with the latter triumph resulting in them being promoted to the Northern Premier League (NPL). After five years the club won the title and was promoted to the Football Conference. However in 1998 the club was relegated back to the NPL after finishing bottom.
In 2002, the club had one of the best seasons in its history, achieving a treble of the Cheshire Senior Cup, the Presidents Cup and the Northern Premier League Premier Division, thus being promoted back to the Football Conference (though they were relegated after only one season). When the conference added a second level for the 2004–5 season, the club became one of the founders of the new Conference North where they have remained to date. Until the end of 2006–07 season the manager was John Reed, who had extensive experience as a manager in English non-league football, including three successful seasons as manager of Harrogate Town. Northern Nomads ground-shared with The Celts for several years. On 30 May 2007 Steve Burr was appointed as a manager.
The 2007–08 season was one of the best in recent times; after finishing 18th the previous year, a third place finish in the league meant a promotion opportunity to the Conference National was presented via the play-offs. After reaching the final, Stalybridge were denied after a 1–0 defeat to Barrow. The club continued to finish around mid table in the next three seasons; in the 2011-12 season, they were a huge contender for a promotion place as late as February before a mean set of results saw their hopes slip away towards the end of the season, finishing 6th in total, just below the last play off place.
Read more about this topic: Stalybridge Celtic F.C.
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