Stockton F.C.

Stockton F.C. was a football club based in Stockton-on-Tees, England. They were established in 1882 and joined the Northern League Division Two in 1898.

The club were known as 'The Ancients' because of their long-standing presence in the town. Their traditional colours were red and black quartered shirts with white shorts.

History

Stockton F.C. were one of the most successful amateur football clubs in England, appearing in eight FA Amateur Cup finals, winning three times (in 1899, 1903 and 1912). They also won the Northern League five times (1898, 1907, 1929, 1932 and 1933) and the Northern League's League Cup three times (1927, 1930 and 1933).

In 1945 the decision was made to turn semi-professional, and as the Northern League had a strict amateur-only policy [http://www.northernleague.org/league/nl_history.php] , Stockton joined the North Eastern League. The zenith of Stockton's success as a professional club came in the early 1950s, when they won the North Eastern League (1951) and reached the third round of the FA Cup, eventually losing 4-0 at home to Notts County (1952). They applied unsuccessfully for entry to The Football League in both of these years.

In 1958 Stockton, along with many of the North Eastern League's clubs, left to join the Midland League. Stockton were now playing regularly against teams from as far afield as Peterborough, and this caused financial difficulties. After only two seasons Stockton returned to a depleted North Eastern League, now known as the Northern Counties League.

Attendances fell sharply as interest in the club waned. In 1964 the Northern Counties League folded. Stockton returned to amateur status, but were snubbed by the Northern League which they had graced for 50 years, who refused them admission. Instead, they had to join the Wearside League, which their reserve team had played in only six years earlier.

For the next few years the club played in various leagues but failed to find any success. In 1972 they decided to join the Midland Counties League, a move which was financially disastrous for the club. Despite a return in 1973 to the local Northern Alliance league, the club was wound up in 1975 with the few remaining assets being transferred to Norton Cricket Club, who subsequently founded the Norton & Stockton Ancients football club.

The club's once-impressive 20,000 seat Victoria Ground stadium is now a housing development known as Wembley Way.

Notable former players

* Peter Desmond
* Joe Liddle

External links

* [http://www.communigate.co.uk/ne/ancients/ Stockton Football Club]