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A History of LEEK TOWN Football Club
With thanks to Mike Cope and Steve & Tracy Reynolds
Although some say the origins of Leek Town go back as far as 1876, the history of the club as we now know it begins in 1946. Starting out as Leek Lowe Hamil in the Leek and Moorlands League and progressing to the Staffordshire County League, where they still hold the record of being the only team to win the championship without the loss of a match in 1949/50. On moving into the Manchester League in 1951/52, they became Leek Town and won the championship at the first attempt. After a brief flirtation with the Birmingham League in 1954/55, they moved back to the Manchester League and eventually back to the Staffordshire County League.
It was 1968 when Leek Town started to become the club it is now. The ground was improved adding a clubhouse, small stand and floodlights. Manager Paul Ogden led the team to success in the Staffordshire County League and the Manchester League before joining the Cheshire League in the 1973/74 season and winning that championship at the second attempt. The chairman at the time was the late Geoff Harrison, after whom Harrison Park is named. Leek became founder members of the North West Counties League in 1982, but had little success.
When the Northern Premier League was formed in 1987, Leek were again, founder members. After two seasons finishing third, they were promoted to the Premier Division on topping the First Division in 1989/90. This season also saw them reach the FA Trophy final at Wembley, where they lost 3-0 to Barrow. This was a historic achievement, as no other side from that level of the pyramid had ever done so previously. The success, all under the guidance of manager, Neil Baker, continued in the following season in the form of an FA Cup run where they defeated Scarborough in the First Round Proper and forced a replay against Chester City in the Second Round.
Leek’s second place finish in 1993/94 should have been enough to see them promoted to the Vauxhall Conference. Instead, they were rewarded by being shunted sideways to the Southern League, as they were denied a place for financial reasons. They enjoyed a fairly successful campaign, finishing in 7th place, but due to the crippling financial commitment, requested a move back to the Northern Premier League. Success followed shortly as they won the championship in the 1996/97 season and were promoted to the Conference. The club managed to retain its Conference status at the end of the first season, a feat that required them to play six matches in the final eight days of the season. The following season proved one too many and relegation back to the UniBond Premier Division resulted.
The relegation saw a complete change in the playing staff, with a side of mainly local players. The team struggled and was relegated again at the end of the 2000/01 season to the UniBond First Division. Following the league restructuring at the end of the 2003/04 season, Leek returned to the Premier Division where they finished in 7th position. The last two seasons have seen the Blues narrowly avoid disaster both on and off the pitch as two great escapes from relegation after being bottom of the league at Christmas have been followed by financial crises threatening the club’s future in the close seasons. This season Leek Town are managed once more by Paul Ogden who returned for his fifth spell in charge in June 2007 before retiring due to ill health just 6 games into the season.
Leek Town FC Managers 1949 - 2002
1949 - 1954 Billy Bonsall.
1955 - 1957 Eric Sweeny.
1958 - 1961 George Parr.
1961 - 1963 Jack Lally.
1964 - 1967 Dennis Chorlton.
1968 - 1969 Reg Halton.
1969 - 1975 Paul Ogden - resigned to become manager of Northwich Vics.
1975 - 1976 Cliff Hodgkinson - resigned after six games.
1976 - 1977 Peter Wragg - sacked - went to Chorley as manager.
1977 - 1978 Paul Ogden - resigned - retired from football - currently joint manager of Kidsgrove.
1978 - 1979 Ken Hancock - resigned - out of football.
1980 - 1981 Alan Vickers - resigned - out of football but later became Chairman of the Sentinel Cup Competitions.
1982 - 1984 Jimmy Wallace - sacked - became manager of Eastwood Hanley, Kidsgrove & Newcastle Town.
1984 - 1985 Mike Pejic - resigned to become manager of Northwich Vics.
1985 - 1986 Kevin Lewis - resigned to become assistant manager at Telford Utd.
1986 - 1994 Neil Baker - resigned to become assistant manager at Crewe Alex.
1994 - 1995 Steve Norris - resigned - retired from management.
1995 - 1996 Phil Wilson - resigned to become manager of Northwich Vics, Stalybridge, Southport and now Barrow.
1996 - 1998 Peter Ward - sacked - went as assistant manager at Witton Albion then manager, now joint manager at Kidsgrove.
1998 - 1998 Ray Walker - caretaker only for four games - replaced - now community officer at Crewe Alex.
1998 - 1998 Mike Pejic - caretaker only for eight games - took post as coach with the FA.
1998 - 1999 Ernie Moss - sacked - went as assistant manager at Kettering, then to be manager at Matlock Town.
1999 - 1999 Tony Agana - caretaker only for six games - replaced.
1999 - 2000 Andy Holmes - sacked - went to Rocester as player/assistant manager, now coaching with the academy at Stoke City.
2000 - 2001 Mark Gardiner - resigned - went to Nantwich as a player.
2001 - 2002 Karl Wilcox & Mark Bromley - left after a cost-cutting exercise in February.
2002 - 2002 Paul Ogden - temporary (24 years after he last managed the club).
2002 - 2003 John Ramshaw - resigned.
2003 - 2005 Paul Ogden - resigned.
2005 - 2006 Nigel Deeley sacked after failing to revive the team's fortunes.
2006 - 2006 Mark Cartwright - resigned due to work commitments. Now coaching in Scotland.
2006 - 2007 Paul Moore.
2007 - 2007 Paul Ogden - resigned due to ill health.
2007 - 2007 Paul Moore - resigned to join Warrington Town.
1952-54 Joined Mid-Cheshire League
1953 Left Mid-Cheshire League
1954-55 Joined Birmingham & District League Northern Division
1956-57 Resigned during season - record expunged
1973-74 Joined Cheshire County League
1974-75 Cheshire County League Champions
1982-83 Founder members of North West Counties League
1987-88 Joined Northern Premier League in it's new Division One
1988-89 One point deducted
1989-90 Northern Premier League Division One Champions (thanks to
Droylsden having seven points deducted)
F.A. Trophy runner-up
Promoted to Premier Division
1993-94 Northern Premier League runner-up
1994-95 Joined Southern League Premier Division
1995-96 Rejoined Northern Premier League Premier Division
1996-97 Northern Premier League Champions
1997-98 Joined Conference
1999-00 Rejoined Northern Premier League
2000-01 Relegated to Division One
2003-04 Promoted to Northern Premier League Premier League
(as part of the non-league re-organisation)
SEASON LEAGUE P W D L F A P POS
1952-53 M CHES 32 7 3 22 59 107 17 16/17
1954-55 B'HAM-N 38 10 9 19 64 94 29 16/20
1955-56 B'HAM-2 36 8 5 23 48 111 21 18/19
1956-57 B'HAM-2 RECORD EXPUNGED
1973-74 CHES 42 23 11 8 75 49 57 4/22
1974-75 CHES 42 27 9 6 92 49 63 1/22
1975-76 CHES 42 27 7 8 74 33 61 3/22
1976-77 CHES 42 24 10 8 91 37 58 4/22
1977-78 CHES 42 20 10 12 62 45 50 8/22
1978-79 CHES-1 42 19 10 13 62 43 48 9/22
1979-80 CHES-1 38 10 9 19 45 66 29 18/20
1980-81 CHES-1 38 15 9 14 50 47 39 10/20
1981-82 CHES-1 38 10 11 17 39 45 31 15/20
1982-83 NWC-1 38 14 9 15 42 44 37 11/20
1983-84 NWC-1 38 14 10 14 56 64 38 11/20
1984-85 NWC-1 38 16 11 11 52 38 43 9/20
1985-86 NWC-1 38 20 6 12 64 44 46 7/20
1986-87 NWC-1 38 9 12 17 42 55 30 16/20
1987-88 NPL-1 36 20 10 6 63 38 70 3/19
1988-89 NPL-1 42 25 11 6 74 41 85 * 3/22
1989-90 NPL-1 42 26 8 8 70 31 86 1/22
1990-91 NPL-P 40 15 11 14 48 44 56 9/21
1991-92 NPL-P 42 21 10 11 62 49 73 4/22
1992-93 NPL-P 42 21 11 10 86 51 74 5/22
1993-94 NPL-P 42 27 8 7 79 50 89 2/22
1994-95 SOUTH-P 42 19 10 13 72 60 67 7/22
1995-96 NPL-P 42 10 15 17 52 55 45 17/22
1996-97 NPL-P 44 28 9 7 71 35 93 1/23
1997-98 CONF 42 10 14 18 52 67 44 19/22
1998-99 CONF 42 8 8 26 48 76 32 21/22
1999-00 NPL-P 44 14 10 20 58 79 52 19/23
2000-01 NPL-P 44 12 8 24 45 70 44 22/23
2001-02 NPL-1 42 20 8 14 67 51 68 6/22
2002-03 NPL-1 42 20 9 13 63 46 69 9/22
2003-04 NPL-1 42 16 13 13 56 47 61 8/22
2004-05 NPL-P 40 14 15 11 63 52 63 7/22
(includes 6 points awarded as Spennymoor failed to fulfil their fixtures)
2005-06 NPL-P 42 14 14 14 50 53 56 12/22
2006-07 NPL-P 42 13 9 20 49 61 48 17/22
1956-57 PRE LOSTOCK GRALAM A 1-2
1972-73 1Q ELLESMERE PORT TOWN A 1-2
1973-74 1Q SANDBACH RAMBLERS A 4-0
2Q MACCLESFIELD TOWN H 2-2
2Qr MACCLESFIELD TOWN A 2-4
1974-75 1Q NANTWICH TOWN H 1-2
1975-76 1Q ARMITAGE A 3-0
2Q CONGLETON TOWN A 3-1
3Q NORTHWICH VICTORIA A 1-1
3Qr NORTHWICH VICTORIA H 1-0
4Q GRANTHAM A 0-4
1976-77 PRE HYDE UNITED A 1-2
1977-78 PRE HEANOR TOWN A 2-2
PREr HEANOR TOWN H 2-0
1Q ALFRETON TOWN A 1-0
2Q TELFORD UNITED A 0-3
1978-79 PRE BANGOR CITY H 2-2
PREr BANGOR CITY A 2-1
1Q STALYBRIDGE CELTIC A 1-3
1979-80 PRE TAMWORTH H 0-2
1980-81 1Q MEXBOROUGH TOWN ATHLETIC A 2-1 @ LEEK TOWN
2Q NORTHWICH VICTORIA H 1-1
2Qr NORTHWICH VICTORIA A 0-1
1981-82 1Q RUNCORN A 0-3
1982-83 1Q SHIFNAL TOWN A 0-1
1983-84 1Q GOOLE TOWN H 1-1
1Qr GOOLE TOWN A 0-4
1984-85 1Q RUNCORN H 2-1
2Q BURSCOUGH A 0-2
1985-86 PRE ARMITAGE H 0-0
PREr ARMITAGE A 2-0
1Q WINSFORD UNITED H 2-0
2Q G K N SANKEY A 1-1
2Qr G K N SANKEY H 5-4
3Q ST HELENS TOWN H 0-1
1986-87 1Q BUXTON A 0-1
1987-88 PRE G K N SANKEY H 3-3
PREr G K N SANKEY A 3-2
1Q EASTWOOD HANLEY A 0-0
1Qr EASTWOOD HANLEY H 2-0
2Q HYDE UNITED H 2-1
3Q BRIGG TOWN A 2-3
1988-89 PRE HEANOR TOWN H 3-0
1Q SOUTH LIVERPOOL A 1-1
1Qr SOUTH LIVERPOOL H 2-1
2Q MOSSLEY H 2-0
3Q WARRINGTON TOWN A 2-1
4Q GUISBOROUGH TOWN H 0-0
4Qr GUISBOROUGH TOWN A 0-0
4Qr2 GUISBOROUGH TOWN A 0-1
1989-90 1Q BOSTON UNITED A 3-3
1Qr BOSTON UNITED H 0-3
1990-91 1 SCARBOROUGH A 2-0
2 CHESTER CITY H 1-1
2r CHESTER CITY A 0-4
1991-92 4Q LINCOLN UNITED H 0-2
1992-93 1Q BURTON ALBION H 3-2
2Q RUSHALL OLYMPIC H 0-1
1993-94 1Q ARNOLD TOWN A 3-1
2Q BAMBER BRIDGE H 5-3
3Q EMLEY H 1-0
4Q BILLINGHAM SYNTHONIA A 1-1
4Qr BILLINGHAM SYNTHONIA H 2-1
1 WIGAN ATHLETIC H 2-2
1r WIGAN ATHLETIC A 0-3
1994-95 1Q DUDLEY TOWN A 1-0
2Q ROCESTER A 4-0
3Q GRESLEY ROVERS A 1-3
1995-96 1Q CLITHEROE H 1-1
1Qr CLITHEROE A 2-2
1Qr2 CLITHEROE A 0-0
1Qr3 CLITHEROE H 1-0
1996-97 1Q MATLOCK TOWN A 1-0
2Q EASTWOOD TOWN H 1-0
3Q GAINSBOROUGH TRINITY H 2-0
4Q STALYBRIDGE CELTIC A 0-1
1997-98 1Q WINSFORD UNITED A 0-1
1998-99 3Q BUXTON A 0-0
3Qr BUXTON H 3-0
4Q LANCASTER CITY H 0-3
1999-00 2Q BLAKENALL H 0-2
2000-01 2Q NEWCASTLE TOWN A 1-1
2Qr NEWCASTLE TOWN H 3-2
3Q A F C SUDBURY A 1-1
3Qr A F C SUDBURY H 1-2
2001-02 PRE OADBY TOWN A 3-0
1Q BELPER TOWN A 1-1
1Qr BELPER TOWN H 1-2
2002-03 PRE NEWCASTLE TOWN A 1-0
1Q SPALDING UNITED H 2-1
2Q REDDITCH UNITED A 1-1
2Qr REDDITCH UNITED H 1-2
2003-04 PRE LINCOLN MOORLANDS A 2-1
1Q CONGLETON A 0-1
2004-05 1Q SOLIHULL BOROUGH A 1-0
2Q NUNEATON BOROUGH H 1-1
2Qr NUNEATON BOROUGH A 2-1
3Q STALYBRIDGE CELTIC H 2-1
4Q HALIFAX TOWN A 2-2
4Qr HALIFAX TOWN H 0-1 aet
2005-06 1Q LONG EATON UNITED H 7-0
2Q GRANTHAM TOWN H 1-0
3Q THORNABY TOWN H 2-1
4Q BURTON ALBION A 0-2
2006-07 1Q KIDSGROVE A 0-0
1Qr KIDSGROVE H 0-1
2007-08 1Q BUXTON H 1-2
Leek Town FC FA Trophy Results
1972-73 1Q OSWESTRY TOWN H 4-1
2Q BEDWORTH UNITED A 1-1
2Qr BEDWORTH UNITED H 1-0
3Q ALTRINCHAM A 3-4
1973-74 1Q EASTWOOD HANLEY A 2-0
2Q RHYL A 2-2
2Qr RHYL H 1-0
3Q LANCASTER CITY A 4-1
1 NORTHWICH VICTORIA H 0-1
1974-75 PRE WINSFORD UNITED H 0-7
1975-76 PRE PRESTWICH HEYS H 0-0
PREr PRESTWICH HEYS A 2-0
1Q ASHTON UNITED H 2-1
2Q TAMWORTH A 4-1
3Q MEXBOROUGH TOWN A 1-3
1976-77 1Q BILSTON A 2-0
2Q NEW BRIGHTON RAKERS A 1-2
1977-78 1Q HYDE UNITED H 4-0
2Q HEDNESFORD TOWN A 0-0
2Qr HEDNESFORD TOWN H 0-2
1978-79 1Q MOSSLEY H 1-2
1979-80 1Q BURTON ALBION A 1-2
1980-81 1Q LYE TOWN A 1-1
1Qr LYE TOWN H 2-1
2Q OSWESTRY TOWN A 1-2
1981-82 1Q LONG EATON UNITED A 1-0
2Q WORKSOP TOWN A 1-1
2Qr WORKSOP TOWN H 4-1
3Q KIDDERMINSTER HARRIERS A 0-1
1982-83 1Q COLWYN BAY A 1-2
1983-84 1Qr SOUTH LIVERPOOL H 0-2
1984-85 1Q MACCLESFIELD TOWN A 0-3
1985-86 PRE SPALDING UNITED A 0-0
PREr SPALDING UNITED H 3-0
1Q SUTTON COLDFIELD TOWN A 0-0
1Qr SUTTON COLDFIELD TOWN H 2-1
2Q BUXTON H 3-2
3Q DUDLEY TOWN H 2-1
1 RHYL A 1-1
1r RHYL H 3-2
2 MACCLESFIELD TOWN H 2-1
3 WYCOMBE WANDERERS A 2-2
3r WYCOMBE WANDERERS H 5-5
3r2 WYCOMBE WANDERERS N 1-1 @ Worcester City
3r3 WYCOMBE WANDERERS N 0-1 @ Worcester City
1986-87 3Q CONSETT A 2-1
1 MARINE A 1-2
1987-88 3Q HYDE UNITED H 0-1
1988-89 1Q WILLENHALL TOWN A 3-4
1989-90 1Q HEDNESFORD TOWN H 3-1
2Q MOOR GREEN A 3-1
3Q NEWTOWN A 1-0
1 SPENNYMOOR UNITED A 2-1
2 NUNEATON BOROUGH H 1-1
2r NUNEATON BOROUGH A 1-0
3 TELFORD UNITED A 0-0
3r TELFORD UNITED H 3-0
QF DARLINGTON H 1-0
SF1 STAFFORD RANGERS A 0-0
SF2 STAFFORD RANGERS H 1-0
F BARROW N 0-3 @ Wembley
1990-91 1 ALTRINCHAM H 0-4
1991-92 1 RUNCORN H 3-3
1r RUNCORN A 1-3
1992-93 3Q STOURBRIDGE A 4-1
1 BISHOP AUCKLAND A 0-1
1993-94 3Q STEVENAGE BOROUGH H 0-2
1994-95 3Q DROYLSDEN A 1-0
1 DURHAM CITY H 2-1
2 RUNCORN A 2-4
1995-96 3Q BOSTON UNITED H 0-0
3Qr BOSTON UNITED A 0-2
1996-97 1Q GRANTHAM TOWN A 0-1
1997-98 1 GRESLEY ROVERS A 4-4
1r GRESLEY ROVERS H 3-1
2 HEDNESFORD TOWN A 0-5
1998-99 2 ASHTON UNITED A 0-1
1999-00 1 ACCRINGTON STANLEY H 2-2
1r ACCRINGTON STANLEY A 4-5
2000-01 1 RADCLIFFE BOROUGH H 2-2
1r RADCLIFFE BOROUGH A 1-2
2001-02 1 TAMWORTH H 0-1
2002-03 Q BAMBER BRIDGE A 2-2
Qr BAMBER BRIDGE H 3-1 aet
1 EASTWOOD TOWN H 4-1
2 HYDE UNITED H 3-1
3 SOUTHPORT H 1-2
2003-04 Q STOCKSBRIDGE PARK STEELS A 1-2
2004-05 1 DROYLSDEN A 0-1
2005-06 1 BURSCOUGH A 3-3
1r BURSCOUGH H 1-3
2006-07 1 RADCLIFFE BOROUGH A 2-3
2007-08 1 BUXTON A 1-2