Nuneaton Town F.C.
Nuneaton Town Football Club is an English football club that is based in Bedworth, Warwickshire.
In 1889, Nuneaton St. Nicholas FC was the first team in Nuneaton to play senior football. In 1894, the 'Nicks' changed their name to Nuneaton Town Association Football Club, which they played under until 1937 when the club was disbanded. Two days later, the club was reformed as Nuneaton Borough F.C. and played under this name until 1991, when the club liquidated for the first time. After the club reformed, they changed their name to Nuneaton Borough 1991 F.C. During this time, the club had some historic cup victories including a 1–0 win over Division 2 side Stoke City in 2000, and in 2006, they scored a late equaliser at home to Premier league and UEFA Cup side Middlesbrough. Then, in 2008, the club was liquidated due to poor financial performance. It was renamed Nuneaton Town and suffered a two-division demotion. During the 2018–19 season, the club reverted to its former name Nuneaton Borough F.C. after overwhelming support for the change from supporters.
The club used to play its home fixtures at Liberty Way, Nuneaton. The club's home colours are blue and white, which are usually represented as vertical stripes. The club is known to some supporters as 'The Boro'.
Local rivals include Tamworth, Leamington, and Bedworth United.
Club history
Original club: 1889–1937
Nuneaton St. Nicolas / Nuneaton Town
The club began in 1889 when young men from Nuneaton St. Nicolas Parish Church formed a football team to represent the town. Originally playing only friendly games, in September 1894 the 'Nicks’ changed their name to Nuneaton Town Association F.C.League record
- 1894–95: Warwickshire Junior League;
- 1896–97: Coventry & District League;
- 1897–99: Coventry and North Warwickshire League;
- 1899–1900: Leicestershire League;
- 1901–03: Nuneaton & District League;
- 1903–04: Trent Valley League;
- 1904–06: Coventry and North Warwickshire League;
- 1906–15: Birmingham Junior League / Birmingham Combination ;
- 1915–19: competition suspended due to World War One;
- 1919–24: Birmingham League;
- 1924–26: Southern League ;
- 1926–33: Birmingham Combination;
- 1933–37: Birmingham League.
Major honours
- Coventry & District League: Champions 1902–03; Runners Up 1901–02;
- Coventry & North Warwickshire League: Champions 1904–05; Runners Up 1897–98;
- Birmingham Junior League: Champions 1906–07;
- Birmingham Combination: Champions 1914–15, 1928–29, 1930–31; Runners Up 1910–11, 1931–32
- Birmingham Senior Cup: First entered 1911–12; Winners 1930–31; Runners Up 1934–35
End of Nuneaton Borough F.C.
Second incarnation: 1937–2008
Nuneaton Borough
Following the disbanding of the club, a new group of young Gentlemen decided to reform it two days later. The club played at a new ground, Manor Park and Liberty Way. The club nickname became established as 'The Boro'.League record
- 1937–38: Central Amateur League;
- 1938–40: Birmingham Combination;
- 1941–45: Second World War ;
- 1945–52: Birmingham Combination;
- 1952–54: Birmingham League;
- 1954–55: Birmingham League North;
- 1955–58: Birmingham League First Division;
- 1958–59: Southern League – North Western Section;
- 1959–60: Southern League – Premier Division;
- 1960–63: Southern League – First Division;
- 1963–79: Southern League – Premier Division;
- 1979–81: Alliance Premier;
- 1981–82: Southern League – First Division;
- 1982–87: Alliance Premier / Football Conference ;
- 1987–88: Southern League – Premier Division;
- 1988–93: Southern League Midland Division;
- 1993–94: Southern League – Premier Division;
- 1994–96: Southern League – Midland Division;
- 1996–99: Southern League – Premier Division;
- 1999–2003: Football Conference;
- 2004–08: Conference North.
Major honours
- Birmingham Combination: Runners Up 1945–46, 1948–49, 1950–51;
- Birmingham League: Champions 1954–55, 1955–56 ;
- Southern League Premier Division: Champions 1998–99, Runners Up 1966–67, 1974–75;
- Southern League Midland Division: Champions 1981–82, 1992–93, 1995–96;
- Conference Premier: Runners Up 1983–84, 1984–85;
- Conference North: Runners Up 2004–05
- Birmingham Senior Cup: Winners 1949, 1955, 1960, 1978, 1980, 1993, 2002; Runners Up 1953, 1967, 1991.
- Southern League Cup: Winners 1995–96; Runners Up 1962–63;
- Southern League Championship Match : Winners 199?, Runners Up 1996;
Record attendance
- Home: At Manor Park 22,114.
- Away: 26,255.
Key events
In May 2007, the club left its Manor Park ground after drawing its last game 1–1 against Vauxhall Motors.
In the 2007–08 season, ill-health meant the club's owner Ted Stocker decided to sell his shares. In March 2008, local businessman Ian Neale took ownership of the club for a trial period. He eventually took 100% ownership of the club in April of that year, but in May Neale found irregularities in the club finances, raising fears that the club would be forced into administration. On 2 June 2008, Nuneaton Borough went into liquidation.
Third incarnation: 2008–2024
Nuneaton Town F.C.
The club was once again reformed, but the FA insisted that it revert to its former name of Nuneaton Town. Falling foul of financial regulations the club was demoted two divisions, from Conference North to Southern League Division One, although the club was promoted back to its former division over the following two seasons. The club continued to be known by its former nickname, "The Boro"Nuneaton Borough
On 30 April 2018, it was announced the club would be renamed Nuneaton Borough F.C. and it was officially renamed on 16 June 2018.League record
- 2008–09: Southern League Division One;
- 2009–10: Southern League Premier Division;
- 2010–12: Conference North;
- 2012–15: Conference Premier;
- 2015–19: National League North;
- 2019–24: Southern League Premier Division
Major honours
- Southern League Division One : Runners Up 2008–09.
- Southern League Premier Division: Runners Up 2009–10.
- Conference North 2011–12.
- Birmingham Senior Cup: Winners 2010.
Record attendance
- Home: 4,054 v Stockport County.
Key events
In the Southern League Premier Division, Nuneaton found themselves facing several teams that were chasing promotion. After a slow start, the team went on a run that saw them beaten once at home and included a run of 14 straight victories. A 24-point gap between the leaders Farnborough was narrowed to two points at the end of the season. Nuneaton had some success in the FA Cup and FA Trophy but ended the second week in March with a backlog of eight games in hand over their top-six rivals. Nuneaton pursued Farnborough and had a schedule of ten games in twenty-four days, including two games in twenty-four hours.
A 6–0 defeat of Brackley Town in the semi-final saw home advantage given to Nuneaton who faced Chippenham. The final went into extra time and local player Eddie Nisevic scored the winning goal, returning Nuneaton to the Conference North. Three days after the play-off final, Nuneaton beat Alvechurch to win the Birmingham Senior Cup. Only Premier League club Aston Villa has won the cup more times than Nuneaton, which has won the trophy in every decade since the Second World War.
Nuneaton returned to the Conference North and the opening game and crowd average was around 1,000. Nuneaton started well and remained in the top six up until Christmas, where they gained top spot until the last week in March. After other clubs played their games in hand, Nuneaton finished just outside the play-offs but the club above them, Eastwood Town, were prevented from taking part in the playoffs due to a technical problem. Nuneaton faced A.F.C. Telford United in the first leg and led until the 93rd minute when the away side drew level. In the second tie, Telford took the lead but defended for the second half. Nuneaton lost to Telford, which was eventually promoted into the Conference Premier.
The 2011–12 season saw Nuneaton gain promotion back to the Conference Premier for the first time in 10 years. After maintaining a high league position throughout the season, in its last few weeks an administrative error led to a six-point deduction but a final day 3–2 victory at Blyth Spartans ensured their play-off place. A semi-final 2nd-leg victory over Guiseley with a goal from Andy Brown in the last minute of extra time meant that Boro had to travel to Gainsborough Trinity for the Play-Off Final. Again Brown scored the goal that saw Boro claim a 1–0 victory. The club's promotion was its third in four seasons since the reformation.
The 2012–13 season saw Nuneaton play against the country's non-league elite. Despite spending much of the season in and around the relegation zone a run towards the end of the season saw the club finish in 15th place.
The 2013–14 season, Nuneaton led the table early on and in and around the play-offs for most of the season. Following manager Kevin Wilkin's departure for Wrexham, results tailed off in the last month but they finished in 13th position. A new manager, Brian Reid, was appointed and oversaw the last three games of the season.
The 2014–15 season saw Lee Thorn invest in the club, becoming chairman. His investment allowed the club to regain ownership of the stadium.
On 8 September, following a poor start to the 2014–15 season, Reid was let go following a number of poor results and performances. Liam Daish was appointed manager but the club was relegated to the newly renamed National League North.
The 2015–16 pre-season saw Lee Thorn taking full control of the club and Kevin Wilson named as manager.
In October 2023, the club were issued with an eviction notice with debts of around £650,000 and bosses claiming that the club had been behind in rent payments since 2019. This eviction notice led the club to having to play what they feared to be their last ever match at the home of Stratford Town, however the club could afford to play a further two away matches thanks to the efforts of supporters. On 23 November 2023, the club confirmed that they had been taken over by DA Capital. On 18 January 2024, the club confirmed their withdrawal from the Southern Football League Premier Division Central for the remainder of the season. Following advice from their legal advisors that their offer to purchase the stadium would not be considered and that a lease agreement could not be reached, investors had pulled out any financial support, meaning the club would be unable to continue trading.