Consett A.F.C.

Consett

Full name	Consett Association Football Club
Nickname(s)	The Steelmen
Founded	1899 as Consett Celtic
Ground	Belle Vue Park Consett County Durham (Capacity: 4,000 (400 seated & 1,000 covered))
Chairman	John Hurst
Manager	Kenny Lindoe
League	Northern League Division One
2010–11	Northern League Division One, 2nd
Home colours Away colours

Consett Association Football Club is a football club based in Consett in County Durham, England. Established in 1899, the club currently plays in the Northern League Division One having been promoted as Division Two Champions in the 2005–06 season. The team's home ground is Belle Vue Park, Ashdale Road, Consett.

Founding members of the North Eastern Football League Division Two in 1926, they have reached the first round of the FA Cup twice in their history.

History

Consett A.F.C. was founded in 1899 as Consett Celtic. The town was dominated by the steelworks until 1980 and the club enjoyed their patronage. The works provided the team's first ground – the Vicarage Field, known locally as "the Vic". It was taken back by the Works in 1948, and the renamed side of Consett A.F.C. played at Eden Colliery Welfare during the construction of their new ground at Belle Vue. The Steelworks had donated an area of waste ground and slag heaps for this ground and the local community volunteered in clearing and levelling the field, a feat the people of the town were very proud of when it opened in 1950.

Early years to present day

Consett A.F.C. played friendlies for the first 20 years of their existence, but entered league football competitions after World War I. During its history, Consett have played in the following leagues:

• 1919 Northern Alliance – seven seasons
• 1927 North Eastern League
• 1935 Northern Alliance – two seasons
• 1937 North Eastern League – second occasion
• 1958 Midland League – two seasons, although 15 clubs left this league in 1958 to join the Central League.
• 1960 Northern Counties League (newly formed)
• 1962 North Eastern League
• 1964 Wearside League
• 1970 Northern League – presently playing in Division One

Stadium

Consett's first game at Belle Vue was against Sunderland Reserves in 1950. A club record attendance of 7,000 turned up to watch. One of the two new stands was paid for by the money Consett received for the transfer of local player Tommy Lumley to Charlton Athletic. This fee – £1,150 – was a record for the North Eastern League, where Consett were playing at the time.

The main stand at Belle Vue today is largely unchanged since 1950, but the second stand has been mostly dismantled leaving only the original iron frame.

1996's FA Cup contributed to the £30,000 needed for new floodlights, which are still in operation at Belle Vue today.

The current ground capacity is estimated to be 4,000 of which 1,000 are under cover with 400 seats. Currently, the biggest annual crowd is for the traditional friendly match versus Newcastle United or Sunderland reserves, which usually takes place before the beginning of the season and generally attracts between 500 and 1,000 people. Average gates were around 200 in the 2006–07 season.

Nickname

Consett A.F.C. was known as "The Ironworkers" until 1967, when they 'updated' their nickname to "The Steelmen". The first match with new nickname was against Gosport Borough in the fourth qualifying round of the FA Cup. Consett lost at home 5–1, missing two penalties and numerous chances to score. In spite of this apparent bad luck, the nickname was not changed, and remains with the club today as one of the few public memorials to the town's now defunct steelworks.

FA Cup

On two occasions, Consett have reached the first round proper of the FA Cup. They were defeated on both occasions.

• 1958–59 Doncaster Rovers (away) 5–0
• 1996–97 Mansfield Town (away) 4–0

Management

Consett A.F.C. is currently managed by Kenny Lindoe, with David Hagan as Assistant Manager.

Club records

• North Eastern League Champions 1939–40
• North Eastern League 2nd Division Champions 1926–27
• North Eastern League Cup Winners 1950–51, 1953–54
• North Counties League Champions 1961–62
• Sunderland Shipowners Cup Winners 1967–68
• Sunderland Shipowners Centenary Cup Winners 1997–98
• Monkwearmouth Charity Cup Winners 1967–68
• Durham Challenge Cup Winners 1948, 1950, 1959, 1961, 1969, 2007
• Northern League 2nd Division Champions 1988–89, 2005–06
• Northern League Challenge Cup Winners 1994–95
• FA Cup 1st Round Proper 1958–59, 1996–97

Club player awards

• Michael Mackay was voted Player of the Year in season 2006–07
• Gary Ormston was voted Players' Player of the Year in season 2006–07
• James Platten has been voted Player of Year and Player's Player of Year on two occasions – 2001–02 and 2003–04.
• Steven Brown was named Consett's Player of the Year and Player's Player of the Year in season 2005–06.
• Robbie Blemmings was voted Consett's Young Player of the Year in 2004–05.

External links

• Official Consett A.F.C. website
• Consett at the Football Club History Database