History


BARNOLDSWICK TOWN HISTORY

The club was founded as Barnoldswick United (1972) at a meeting of two pre-existing clubs,
Bethesda F.C. And Barnoldswick Sports Club F.C. Which was held in the Cross Keys in
Barnoldswick on Tuesday 28th June 1972. Brian (Bill) Bowditch who had been instrumental in
organising the merger became club secretary.
Two teams were entered in to the Craven Football League and the first ever game was played on
Saturday 16th September 1972.
The next major landmark in the club's history came in 1983 when Bill Bowditch, ably supported by
civil engineer and player Ian Nutter had plans approved to lease their own ground from Pendle
Borough Council. The first turf was cut by The Mayor of Pendle (Peggy Heaton) in September
1983. The first game was played on the new pitch on Saturday 19th October 1985 following
extensive improvements which transformed the field in to a proper sports facility. This has been the
home of Barnoldswick Town ever since.
New facilities and unbridled ambition led to calls for the club to start to progress through the
leagues and entry in to the recently formed East Lancashire Football League was secured for the
1986-87 season.
The honours continued to be amassed and the club's ambitions grew with them. This resulted in
another progression in to The West Lancashire Football League in season 1997-98. It was during
this spell and at the start of the 2003-04 season that the decision was made to change the club's
name to Barnoldswick Town F.C. The name change was deemed necessary when the club took on
the lease which included the pitch and changing rooms of Barnoldswick Park Rovers a club with a
proud history and multiple honours particularly in the 1950's and 60's. Ironically the founder of
Barnoldswick United (Brian Bowditch) was also one of the founders of Park Rovers as well as
being a distinguished player for them during their halcyon period.
The amalgamation of clubs resulted indirectly in the formation of Barnoldswick Town Junior
Football Club and the old Park Rovers pitch and adjacent facilities are still the headquarters for the
junior section to this day.
Ground improvements continued throughout the whole period of the club's development and
culminated in a succesful application to join The North West Counties Football League in season
2009-10.
The current 2020-21 season sees Barnoldswick Town optimistic that they can put the
disappointments of the 2019-20 season (which is now null and void) behind them and start again
with renewed vigour under the careful stewardship of Chairman Nigel Hill and his dedicated band
of committee members and volunteers and fielding more teams than ever before.
They are represented by an excellent NWCFL team currently proudly holding premier division
status under the management of Endrit Shehru and his team. Two amateur teams will compete in
The East Lancashire League and a thriving junior section makes up the overall structure of the club
with teams at every age group from under 7 to under 18. This provides an opportunity for children
as young as seven to start to progress through the Barnoldswick Town F.C. network, to whichever
level their ability, commitment and ambition can take them.

HONOURS
As BARNOLDSWICK UNITED F.C.

1973-74 Craven League Division 3 League Cup winners (Reserve team)

1976-77 Craven League Division 2 and 3 League Cup winners (Reserve team)

1977-78 Craven Cup runners up (First team)

1982-83 Craven League Division 1 league cup winners (First team)
Craven F.A. Morrison Cup runners up (First team)

1983-84 Craven League Division 1 runners up (First team)
League cup winners (First team)
Morrison cup runners up (First team)

1984-85 Craven League Premier Division winners (First team)
Morrison cup winners (First team)

1985-86 Craven Cup runners up (First team)

1986-87 Craven Cup winners (First team)

1987-88 Craven Cup winners (First team)

1988-89 Craven League Division 3 League Cup winners (Third team)

1989-90 Craven League Division 3 runners up (Third team)
Craven League Premier Division League Cup runners up (Reserve team)

1992-93 East Lancashire League Division 1 runners up (First team)
Craven Cup winners (First team)

1993-94 Morrison Cup winners (First team)
East Lancashire League Reserve Division winners (Reserve team)
Craven F.A. Norman Pratt Trophy winners (Reserve team)
East Lancashire League Reserve Team Cup runners up (Reserve team)

1994-95 Craven Cup runners up (First team)
Craven F.A. Norman Pratt Trophy winners (Reserve team)

1995-96 Morrison Cup runners up (First team)
East Lancashire Reserve Division winners (Reserve team)

1996-97 East Lancashire League Division 1 runners up (First team)
East Lancashire League Presidents Cup runners up (First team)
Craven Cup winners (First team)
East Lancashire League Reserve Division winners (Reserve team)
Craven F.A. Norman Pratt Trophy winners (Reserve team)

2002-03 West Riding Challenge Cup runners up (First team)

Honours
as BARNOLDSWICK TOWN F.C.

2009-10 North West Counties Football League Division 1 runners up (First team)
West Riding County Cup runners up (First team)

2016-17 North West Counties Football League Macron Cup runners up (First team)

2017-18 Craven F.A. Morrison Cup winners (ELL First team)
East Lancashire League Division 2 runners up (ELL First team)
2018-19 West Riding County Cup Semi-Finalists