HISTORY OF CLUB

RECORDS EXIST THAT A TEAM FROM NOSTELL COLLIERY WON A WAKEFIELD DISTRICT FOOTBALL COMPETITION IN THE 1890'S. THE CLUB HAVE PHOTOGRAPHS OF NOSTELL COLLIERY TEAMS FROM 1915 AND 1921. AT THAT TIME THE FOOTBALL FIELD WAS NOT IN THE PRESENT LOCATION BUT ON TWO SITES FAIRLY CLOSE BY. THE MINERS WELFARE WAS FORMED IN 1928 AFTER THE PURCHASE OF THE LAND BY THE MINERS TRUST FUND. THE SUM OF £400 WAS PAID TO A LOCAL LAND OWNER FOR 4.5 ACRES WHICH INCLUDES THE LAND ON WHICH THE PRESENT GROUND IS SITUATED.

A MINERS WELFARE FOOTBALL TEAM WAS FORMED AND ENJOYED EARLY SUCCESS. THE CLUB OWN A MEDAL DONATED BY A FORMER PLAYER FROM THE 1930'S AND A PHOTOGRAPH OF THE TEAM WHO WON THE WAKEFIELD & DISTRICT LEAGUE IN 1938.

AFTER THE WAR WELFARE PROVIDED MUCH NEEDED RECREATION FOR THE LOCAL COMMUNITY AND THE FOOTBALL TEAM WAS SUCCESSFUL IN SEVERAL ANNUAL COLLIERY COMPETITIONS. IN THE LATE FIFTIES A TEAM FROM THE WELFARE VISIT BELGIUM TO COMPETE AGAINST LOCAL OPPOSITION, A FEAT UNPRECEDENTED AT THAT TIME. THE CLUB ARE PROUD OWNERS OF THE TROPHY WON BY THAT SUCCESSFUL TOUR.

IN THE LATE 1960'S THE CLUB HAD A PERIOD OF SUSTAINED SUCCESS, WINNING SEVERAL WAKEFIELD DISTRICT COMPETITIONS AND EVENTUALLY BEING SELECTED INTO THE WEST YORKSHIRE LEAGUE, LIFTING THE LEAGUE AND CUP DOUBLE IN THE 1966/67 SEASON. HOWEVER, THE SUCCESSFUL TEAM EVENTUALLY BROKE UP AND THE CLUB WENT BACK TO THE WAKEFIELD LEAGUE IN THE EARLY 1970'S.

ENJOYING RELATIVE SUCCESS THE CLUB BEGAN TO DEVELOP AGAIN. TWO TEAMS WERE FORMED, THE FIRST TEAM JOINED THE WEST YORKSHIRE LEAGUE IN 1982. FOLLOWING MINING SUBSIDENCE TO THE GROUND, FUND RAISING OF OVER £30 000 ALLOWED THE PITCH TO BE LEVELLED OFF, DRAINAGE INSTALLED AND OTHER GROUND IMPROVEMENTS. HOWEVER NOSTELL COLLIERY WAS CLOSED, THE NEARBY COLLIERY HOUSES (1ST TO 7TH STREETS) WERE DEMOLISHED AND THE WELFARE STRUGGLED TO SURVIVE. THE FOOTBALL CLUB CONTINUED THROUGH THIS DIFFICULT PERIOD. PROMOTIONS THROUGH THE DIVISIONS OF THE WEST YORKSHIRE LEAGUE EVENTUALLY LED TO PREMIER DIVISION STATUS.

THE MOST SUCCESSFUL PERIOD IN THE CLUBS DISTINGUISHED HISTORY WAS ABOUT TO BEGIN, WITH THE APPOINTMENT OF CURRENT MANAGER ALAN COLQUHOUN IN THE LATE 1990'S. AFTER INITIALLY STRUGGLING IN THE PREMIER LEAGUE THE CLUB GRADUALLY IMPROVED, EVENTUALLY BEING CROWNED CHAMPIONS OF THE WEST YORKSHIRE PREMIER LEAGUE. LIFTING THE CORRESPONDING CUP AND APPEARING IN 3 CONSECUTIVE FINALS. TWO COUNTY CUP FINAL APPEARANCES AND LIFTING 6 WAKEFIELD AND DISTRICT TROPHIES AMONG OTHER SUCCESSES.

OFF THE FIELD THE INTRODUCTION OF THE COALFIELD REGENERATION TRUST ENCOURAGED OTHER FUNDERS TO INVEST IN THE MINERS WELFARE. RENAMED CROFTON COMMUNITY CENTRE APPROXIMATELY £1.5 MILLION HAS BEEN SECURED TO PROVIDE THE PRESENT FACILITIES. SPORT ENGLAND, FOOTBALL FOUNDATION AND THE FA PROVIDED SUBSTANTIAL SUMS OF MONEY TO HELP THE FOOTBALL SIDE OF THE DEVELOPMENTS. THE IMPROVEMENTS ON AND OFF THE FIELD ALLOWED A SUCCESSFUL APPLICATION TO THE NORTHERN COUNTIES EAST LEAGUE AND A NEW EXCITING VENTURE FOR THE CLUB.