Hucknall Town Football Club is a football club based in the town of Hucknall, Nottinghamshire, England. The club is a member of the United Counties League Premier Division North and plays at the RM Stadium.
History
Hucknall Town were renamed from Hucknall Colliery Welfare in 1987 and for the next two seasons finished first in the Notts Alliance. They moved into the Central Midlands League where they finished first in both 1989–90 and 1990–91 and runners up in 1991–92 to Lincoln United. The league cup was also won in all three seasons with the losing finalists being the now defunct Crookes, Nottingham neighbours Arnold Town and Nettleham.
Hucknall Town were promoted to the Northern Counties East League Division One and then to the Premier Division where they struggled in the Premier Division until 1996–97, when they recovered from a poor start to finish sixth. However, the League Cup and President's Cup made their way to Watnall Road with Hucknall beating Pontefract Colleries and Belper Town in the respective finals. It was the second time they had won the League Cup, having beaten Thackley in 1994.
In 1997–98, they won the Northern Counties East League and retained the league cup with North Ferriby United finishing second in both competitions. The following season came as a major surprise as Hucknall finished second in the Division One, behind Droylsden. The title would have been won but for an early season points deduction.
From 1999 to 2004 they played in the Northern Premier League Premier Division, winning the championship in the 2003–04 season. However, as their Watnall Road ground did not meet the standards of the Football Conference they were refused promotion to the Conference National division and had to settle for a place in the new Conference North.
They were due to be relegated from the Conference North to the Northern Premier League Premier Division following the 2007–08 season. This would have been the first relegation from any league in the club's history. However, Halifax Town's financial woes meant that they were reprieved.[1] The club were eventually relegated at the end of the 2008–09 season.
Relegation following the 2010–2011 season saw them drop into the Division One South and further financial woes lead to them relegated again, three levels in 2012–13 to Central Midlands League South Division.
Squad with the Central Midlands League Cup
In the 2014–15 season Hucknall Town finished 4th in the Central Midlands League and won the Central Midlands League Cup, beating Clifton All Whites 3–0 at Alfreton Town's North Street ground.
Hucknall Town became Central Midlands League South divisional champions in the 2018–19 season.
Following the 2022–2023 season, with Andy Ingle as the first team manager, Hucknall Town were promoted from the United Counties following two penalty shoot-out wins during the end of season promotion play-offs. The semi-final was against Bourne Town and the final against Birstall United[2]
Stadium
The club played at the Watnall Road ground, which has a 5,000 capacity with 270 seats with the development side. Hucknall Town Sunday and the Vet's team also played home fixtures at Watnall Road on the training pitch.
In May 2008, Worksop Town of the Northern Premier League became Hucknall's tenants, although the agreement was not renewed after the 2008–09 season.[3][4]
In May 2015, it was announced that work had started on a new stadium. The club had hoped to move into the new stadium just off Aerial Way (across the road from the current stadium) for the 2017–18 season.[5] Their final games were both 2–0 defeats, the last league game was against Aylestone Park, 806 fans attended the match, then 4 days later on 19 October 2022, 290 fans watched the yellows play at Watnall Road for one final time, against Basford United in the Nottinghamshire Senior Cup.
Watnall Road, Former home of Hucknall Town FC
RM Stadium, the new home of Hucknall Town FC
Hucknall Town finally moved to their new stadium off Aerial Way, called RM Stadium (sponsored by RM Resources) and was opened by Nigel Clough, The Yellows won their first game 3-2 vs Harrowby United on 7 January 2023 in front of 392 fans.
First Team squad
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
In January 2007, Wilson was sacked as manager, and former Welsh international player Andy Legg was appointed as the new player-manager. Legg remained as manager until September 2007, when he resigned following six consecutive defeats at the start of the season. David Lloyd replaced Legg, but having failed to avoid a relegation position was sacked before the final game of the 2007–08 season and replaced by Mick Galloway and Andy Miller.
In November 2008 former Eastwood Town manager Brian Chambers was appointed as Director of Football. Galloway and Miller were appointed as coaches.[7] However, the clubs stated that he was to work with Galloway, rather than replace him.[8] Although after a further defeat against King's Lynn, Galloway and Miller were dismissed and replaced by Chambers[9][10] Chambers resigned as manager in January 2010[11]
In May 2022 Andy Graves the clubs longest serving manager resigned following defeat in United Counties Division One play off semi-final against Hinckley A.F.C.[citation needed]
Former reserve team manager Andy Ingle took over first-team affairs with former player Michael Banister taking up the role of assistant manager, with the help of Darren Jubb the trio achieved promotion via a 3-5 penalty shoot out win, in the play-off final against Birstall United.
Hucknall struggled after the promotion, on 8 September assistant manager Micheal Banister stepped down as he felt that he could no longer commit the enormous amount of time that is required for the role of Assistant Manager going forward and then almost a week later on the 14th, manager Andy Igles also stepped down due to the significant demands of the role, Andy was no longer able to commit the time needed to address the current and ongoing challenges of step 5 football. Phil Henry and Darren Jubb took charge of a couple of games before Hucknall appointed joint managers Reece Limbert & Louis Bland on 3 October. The joint appointment was short-lived as Louis Bland received an offer from step 4 club Grantham Town in the capacity of First Team Manager on a full-time basis. Reece Limbert took full charge of the first team. Limbert resigned after 12 months with the club after Town's 4-1 defeat to Heanor Town.
Town appointed former yellows player Tris Whitman as their new manager, with Aaron Large as his assistant, both came from a successful time at Stapleford Town.
