Selby Town F.C.

Summary

Selby Town Football Club is an English football club based in Selby, North Yorkshire, founded in 1919. They play in the Northern Counties East League Division One. The club's traditional rivals are Goole (with whom they play an annual match, for the right to win the Eric Lawton Cup[1]) and Tadcaster Albion.

Selby Town
Full nameSelby Town Football Club
Nickname(s)The Robins
Founded1919
StadiumThe Vikings Training Ground
Capacity5,000 (220 seated)(550 covered standing)
ChairmanSteve McGarrity
ManagerRyan Cooper
LeagueNorthern Counties East League Division One
2022–23Northern Counties East League Division One, 10th of 20

History edit

Soon after the club's formation, in 1920 they were entered into the Yorkshire Football League as a founding member. During the 1930s Selby were one of the most successful clubs in the league, winning it three times before the Second World War.

After the war the club won two more Yorkshire League championships in 1952–53 and 1953–54 where they also reached the FA Cup 1st Round. During the 1954–55 season, they reached the Second Round of the FA Cup, the furthest in their history; they were knocked out by Hastings United 2–0.

The club's record goalscorer is Graham Shepherd who notched up 158 goals between 1963 and 1982. They stayed in the Yorkshire League through its entirety. In 1982 the League became part of the new Northern Counties East Football League (NCEL), which the Robins were drafted into. Selby became champions of the Northern Counties East League Division One in 1995–96 and until 2012 remained in the league they were promoted to; Northern Counties East League Premier Division. However the 2011–12 season saw them relegated to the NCEL Division 1.[2]

Selby Town's modern era has seen them reach the 4th round of the FA Vase in 1995–96, the same year they won the NCEL Division One Title under the management of Barry Walker and Tony Carter. In recent seasons the club flourished under the guidance of former Player Bob Lyon, winning the Presidents Cup, Barkston Ash Cup and The Vets over 40s all in 2001.

2012 relegation edit

The 2011–12 season proved turbulent for Selby Town, with poor results resulting in a series of managerial changes. Leon Sewell was appointed as manager in July 2011.[3] He was replaced in September 2011, after only nine games, by Dave Heard.[4] Heard's tenure also proved to be short, with new manager Graham Hodder taking over in January 2012. At this point the club lay in bottom place in the league.[5] Outgoing manager Heard claimed that the club was in such financial trouble that it was unable to pay players' travelling expenses[6]

In March 2012 a fourth consecutive 4–0 defeat confirmed Selby Town's relegation from the Northern Counties East League Premier Division for the first time since 1996.[2]

In 2017, Christian Fox took over as manager and led Selby Town to the final of the West Riding County Cup in 2018, in a losing effort against Farsley Celtic.[7] Selby seemed to be on course for promotion in the 2019–20 season, before the season was abandoned due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom with all results null and voided.[8]

Stadium edit

The Robins moved from the Bowling Green across town to the current Flaxley Road ground on Richard Street which was purpose built in the early 1950s.

The club's highest attendance of 3,000 was in 1954 when they played Bradford Park Avenue in the FA Cup 1st Round.[9]

As a result of a sponsorship deal with the local newspaper, the Selby Times, the Flaxley Road ground was renamed the 'Selby Times Stadium'. In August 2010 a new three season sponsorship deal with Rigid Group (a local packaging manufacturer) led to the stadium being renamed the Rigid Group Stadium.[10] From 2012 the stadium has been known as the Fairfax Plant Hire Stadium, after sponsorship from the Selby-based plant hire company.[11]

Current staff edit

Source[12]

Chairman: Steve McGarrity

Vice Chairman: Vacant

Club Secretary: Thomas Arkley

Match Secretary: Garry Mollon

Media Manager: Tom Devereux

1st Team Coach: Ryan Cooper

Assistant Coach: Calum Ward

Physio: Zoe Searson

Current squad edit

As of 5 March 2024[13]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
GK   ENG Alfie Burnett
GK   ENG Adam Hewitson
GK   ENG Ben White
DF   ENG Ryan Gothard
DF   ENG Jamie Price
DF   ENG Matty Turnbull
DF   ENG Caden McGrath
DF   ENG Elliott Jones
DF   ENG Charlie Smith
DF   ENG Taylor Ragan
DF   ENG Charlie Petch
DF   ENG Declan Racher
MF   ENG Ben Hall
MF   ENG Dan Davison
No. Pos. Nation Player
MF   ENG Regan Fish
MF   ENG Charlie Whight
MF   ENG Jack Maaer
MF   ENG James Danby
MF   ENG Tom Palmer
MF   ENG Josh Lindley
FW   ENG Harry Clapham
FW   ENG Alex Burton
FW   ENG Ned Dry
FW   ENG James Frudd
FW   ENG Tawheed Ahmed
FW   ENG Kyle Fish
FW   ENG Troy Greening
FW   ENG Roy Fogorty

Honours edit

Gallery edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Match Report: Selby Town 1 GooleAFC 0". Selby Town Football Club Official Website. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
  2. ^ a b "Relegation confirmed for Robins". 29 March 2012. Archived from the original on 5 May 2013. Retrieved 5 April 2012.
  3. ^ "Friendly blow from the seaside". 1 July 2011. Archived from the original on 13 September 2012. Retrieved 8 January 2012.
  4. ^ "New boss takes over". 23 September 2011. Archived from the original on 21 April 2013. Retrieved 8 January 2012.
  5. ^ "New manager hopes to wake sleeping giant". 6 January 2012. Archived from the original on 19 September 2012. Retrieved 8 January 2012.
  6. ^ "'Players not paid,' says outgoing manager". 5 January 2012. Archived from the original on 10 September 2012. Retrieved 8 January 2012.
  7. ^ "History". Selby Town Official Site. Retrieved 28 June 2002.
  8. ^ Kilbride, Jacob (24 June 2020). "Five more players commit their future to Selby Town". York Press. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
  9. ^ "Club History". Selby Town F.C. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
  10. ^ "Selby Town secure new sponsorship deal". BBC Sport. 5 August 2010. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
  11. ^ "About Fairfax Plant Hire". Fairfax Plant Hire. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
  12. ^ "Club Information:". Selby Town FC Official Site. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
  13. ^ "First Team". Selby Town F.C. Official Site. Retrieved 28 June 2020.

External links edit

  • Official Website

53°47′05.15″N 1°04′38.20″W / 53.7847639°N 1.0772778°W / 53.7847639; -1.0772778