Cradley Town F.C.
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| Full name | Cradley Town Football & Social Club | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | The Hammers | ||
| Founded | 1970 | ||
| Ground | Beeches View, Cradley | ||
| Chairman | Trevor Thomas | ||
| Managers | Aaron Morris and Andrew Thompson | ||
| League | Midland League Division One | ||
| 2023–24 | Midland League Division One, 7th of 20 | ||
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Cradley Town Football Club is a football club based in Cradley, near Halesowen in the West Midlands. They are currently members of the Midland League Division One and play at Beeches View.
History
[edit]The club was established in 1970 by a merger of Albion Rovers and Haden Rangers.[1] The new club played in the Premier Division of the West Midlands Metropolitan League, which they won at the first attempt.[1] Under the name Albion Haden United, they joined Division Two of the Midland Combination in 1971.[2] The club went on to win the division in 1972–73,[3] although they were not promoted to Division One due to a narrow pitch.[1] In 1975 the club was renamed Cradley Town.[3] They were Division Two runners-up in 1975–76 and again in 1977–78. After finishing fourth in 1978–79 and having widened the pitch, the club were promoted to Division One.[4][1]
In 1983 Cradley transferred to the Premier Division of the West Midlands (Regional) League.[4] They finished bottom of the Premier Division in their first season in the league and were relegated to Division One. In 1989–90 the club finished bottom of Division One, but were not relegated and went on to win the division the following season, earning promotion back to the Premier Division;[4] the season also saw them win the Wednesbury Charity Cup. In 1998–99 they were Premier Division runners-up and were promoted to the Midland Alliance.[4]
Cradley finished bottom of the Midland Alliance in 2001–02, but were not relegated. They finished bottom again in 2006–07 and 2007–08, but remained in the division until being relegated at the end of the 2009–10 season, which had seen them finish bottom of the league for a fourth time and fail to win a league match;[4] the club then dropped back into the Premier Division of the West Midlands (Regional) League.[4] At the end of the 2020–21 season they were transferred to Division One of the Midland League when the Premier Division of the West Midlands (Regional) League lost its status as a step six division.
Ground
[edit]The club play at Beeches View, which had been the home ground of Albion Rovers prior to the 1970 merger.[1] A small stand was built in the late 1970s and floodlights were erected during the 1990–91 season.[1]
Honours
[edit]- West Midlands (Regional) League
- Division One champions 1990–91
- Midland Combination
- Division Two champions 1972–73
- Presidents Cup winners 1974–75, 1975–76
- West Midlands Metropolitan League
- Premier Division champions 1970–71
- Wednesbury Charity Cup
- Winners 1990–91
Records
[edit]- Best FA Cup performance: Second qualifying round, 2008–09[4]
- Best FA Vase performance: Second round, 2005–06, 2007–08[4]
- Biggest win: 9–1 vs Wolverhampton United, 1990–91[1]
- Heaviest defeat: 11–0 vs Boldmere St. Michaels, 2007–08[1]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]External links
[edit]- Cradley Town F.C.
- Football clubs in England
- Football clubs in the West Midlands (county)
- Association football clubs established in 1970
- 1970 establishments in England
- Sport in the Metropolitan Borough of Dudley
- Midland Football Combination
- West Midlands (Regional) League
- Midland Football Alliance
- Midland Football League