History

A brief history of Maltby Main FC.

The original football club was formed in 1916 as Maltby Main FC (the local colliery). All players were employed at the nearby pit - indeed, a good footballer was often guaranteed employment at the colliery so he could represent the football club!

The original Maltby Main FC was disbanded in 1965.

Maltby Miners Welfare FC was formed in 1970 and was the football section of the Miners Welfare. The club played in the Sheffield Senior League unt...il 1972, when they joined the old Yorkshire League and then the Northern Counties East League formed from the merger of the Yorkshire & Midland Leagues. The club began their NCEL life in Division One (South) but the installation of floodlights earned a place in the Premier Division for the 1990/91 season, a very creditable sixth position being attained having won 10 and drawing 2 of the fifteen home games.

Success continued during what was to become the 4 year reign as manager of Colin Walker, the ex-Rotherham United, Sheffield Wednesday, Doncaster Rovers and New Zealand player, who took the club from the Northern Counties East First to the Premier Division where they finished 4th and won the President's Cup in his final season in charge (1992-93). Colin then left to manage Barnsley's Youth team.

In season 1993/94, under the guidance of new player-manager Gary Waller, the Miners briefly headed the table and remained strong championship contenders until the final month of the season when they fell away to finish 7th. Gary resigned because of work commitments just before the start of the 1994/95 season, with his assistant, Richard Moon taking over the helm.

The 1995-96 season was difficult with injuries and suspensions plaguing the manager and following a good Easter period, all the remaining fixtures ended in defeat, the club ending the season in its lowest ever Premier Division position of next-to-bottom. The club retained its Premier Division status only because of the resignation from the Northern Counties East League of Goole Town.

Following the split from the Miners Welfare in mid-1996, the club decided to revert to its former name of Maltby Main FC, although they continue to play on the Welfare ground at Muglet Lane.

Following the resignation of Richard Moon, Dave McCarthy was appointed to the vacant position. Dave was manager at Hallam and formerly assistant at Parkgate. His playing career includes spells at Crewe Alexandra, abroad in Finland, New Zealand and Australia, and non-league football with Ilkeston Town, Worksop Town and Alfreton Town. After a season of consolidation and 14th place, the 1997/98 season saw the Miners top the Premier Division for much of the mid-season period before slipping back to finish in a creditable 6th position. McCarthy was lured away to take over as manager at Unibond League Alfreton Town and former Rotherham United and Maltby player, Steve Fleetwood, was appointed manager in the close season, with Bob Haddrell as his assistant.

The 1998/1999 season was difficult and, despite a successful start and a place in the President's Cup Semi-finals, relegation was avoided only on goal difference and Steve resigned in the close season because of work commitments which took him out of the country for long periods.

Glyn Kenny moved from Parkgate to take over the reigns, along with his assistant, Glyn Reeves, coach Les Harris and several of the previous season's Parkgate squad and, with several promising youngsters coming through the ranks of the very strong junior sides, hopes were high for an improvement in fortunes.

After an uncertain start, the 1999/2000 season proved to be one of consolidation and, despite goalscoring problems, the team finished the season strong in defence and midfield only for the NCEL to relegate the club for not being able to fund hardstanding around the pitch for the new season. This scandalous decision was stubbornly adhered to by the league despite the fact that Maltby Miners Welfare, in close season, spent £¼ million on new dressing room and hospitality facilities which were arguably the best in the league. If, instead, the relatively paltry sum of £6000 had been spent on hard standing and a new portakabin for hospitality, the club would have remained in the Premier Division with the players having to continue to use damp overcrowded changing facilities - such is the logic of football authorities!

With relegation came the resignation of the management team after only one season in charge and Paul Cavell and Glen Morris took over. Early season form was poor and, with Main rooted to the foot of Division One, with only one league victory, Paul resigned and the board moved swiftly to appoint Russ Eagle as team manager. Despite defeats in his first three matches, Russ managed to turn things around and with only 5 defeats in the last 20 fixtures, Main finished a creditable 9th.

Much hard work was put in the close season to bring Muglet Lane up to standard for the 2001/2002 season. The required hard standing was laid and toilets installed in the new dressing rooms in order that the club retain its league status, but this took a huge financial toll on the club. With all the previous season’s players retained, the club and its supporters were hoping for better things with promotion back to the Premier Division but, after a poor start, Russ Eagle left the club and Wilf Race and Vinnie Brady were put in charge of team affairs. Wilf had left Parkgate a month before Eagle’s departure from Muglet Lane, but several players followed him to Maltby and a spectacular run of form saw The Miners rise, in three months, from next to bottom to head the Division One table. The poor start to the season, however, eventually told and, following an indifferent run in, the club finished in 6th position.

Wilf Race stunned the club in June 2002 with a shock resignation, but the board moved quickly to appoint former player Mark Smith as team manager, with Vinnie Brady staying on as Assistant Manager. Despite a promising start with a win at Tadcaster Albion on the first day of the 2002/03 season, several defeats, some heavy, followed and, following Vinnie’s departure back to Parkgate, Mark Smith resigned after only a few weeks in charge.

Chairman, Gary Kitching took over team affairs on a temporary basis but was very successful - two wins and a draw in his three matches at the helm before the former Rotherham United, Doncaster Rovers and Altrincham midfielder, Shaun Goodwin was chosen as new manager from a host of applicants with Bryn Webster as his assistant. League results were disappointing but the club did reach the semi-final of the Sheffield Senior Cup, narrowly losing 2-1 to Doncaster Rovers at Belle Vue.

Hopes were high that 2003-04 would see Main challenging for a return to the Premier Division and these hopes were justified as Shaun and Bryn made subtle changes to the side and made it one to be feared as they clinched the second promotion spot

Shaun’s reign as Manager in the Premier Division was relatively short-lived as, despite a good run in the FA Cup, the team struggled and Wilf Race returned to the club and took over in early January 2005. Early results were disappointing but Wilf quickly turned things around and the side became a match for anyone in the division, despite losing many key players to wealthier clubs, finishing 8 points clear of relegation.

Wilf then took a backseat role in the club and former Sheffield United player, Sean Kay, who has a wealth of coaching experience, particularly at Rotherham United, took the reigns for the 2006/2007 campaign. Main surprised everyone (even themselves) as they dominated the Premier Division for the first half of the season, putting all the division’s “big spenders” to shame before falling away to finish 10th as injuries and suspensions took their toll on a small squad of players.

Despite high hopes of a good 2007-2008 campaign and promotion aspirations from the management team, the season was a real letdown for the club. With superb sponsorship from Hargreaves, the new Maltby Colliery owners, all involved were looking forward to a successful season but it was not to be. Sean Kay resigned in December following a string of poor results and Robbie Barron took over the reigns until the end of the season. Most of the playing squad left with Kay but Robbie assembled a new squad in record time which was good enough to keep the club in the top flight.

Steve Adams came from Stocksbridge PS to take the helm for 2008-2009 and enjoyed moderate success, with the side finishing 12th in 2008-09, 16th in 2009-10 and 11th in 2010-11, but struggled in 2011-12 and finished in 18th position, one place and 4 points above a relegation place.

Steve resigned before the 2011-12 season and the club appointed Chris Dunn as manager, assisted by Andy Carney and Gary Middleton, who remained with the club from the Steve Adams era. Chris had achieved success managing in local football and, after a shaky start, the team did well and finished a creditable 14th place. Unfortunately, Chris resigned because of work commitments after only one season in charge and the club was once again facing a pre-season management crisis.

Then, in stepped local businessman, Chris Ducker to take the reigns as club chairman and he moved swiftly to appoint Brian Cusworth and Paul Staniforth as joint player-managers, with Wilf Race returning to the club as Director of Football. However, after gaining only one victory in their first 9 games, Mick Norbury was appointed manager with Brian and Paul reverting to a purely playing role and Wilf Race switching to Assistant Manager. The change proved fruitful with good wins at Lincoln, Nostell and Liversedge with Brian resuming his customary free-scoring touch with 7 goals in the ensuing 5 games. Despite suffering a 12 point deduction for fielding a player under contract with a club higher in the pyramid, the team finished a creditable 15th and were looking forward to an enjoyable 2014-15 NCEL season.

However, the season proved to be somewhat of a disappointment. Wilf Race assumed the role of club Chairman, after the departure of Mark Ducker, with the stated aim of maintaining our Premier Division status, with a mid-table position the goal. Main found themselves in 7th position in mid September but results declined thereafter and, following the resignation of Mick Norbury towards the end of the campaign, finished in 19th place, one spot above but 12 points clear of the relegation zone.

Spencer Fearn and Mark Askwith were appointed joint managers for 2015-16 with former player Andy Tomlinson as 1st Team Coach, John Stancliffe as goalkeeping coach and Katie Johnson as fitness coach. Spencer is no stranger to football having owned East Stirling FC and being vice–chairman of Stockport County. He has been coaching and working through his coaching badges and Mark has been managing locally for ten years since retiring from playing football and has achieved seven promotions in this time. Both of the Co-Managers have a long association and were schoolboys together at Sheffield United. Under the new regime, last season (the club’s centenary year) was a revelation, with Main punching well above their weight, finishing in 7th position, their highest for 15 years, and enjoying a good run in both the FA Cup and Vase. Under their stewardship the structure of the club is also set to improve further this term, with an under 21’s side led by Andy King. The link up with the North of East England Academy starts this season for scholars who will play in the Conference Youth Alliance and FA Youth Cup. The reserve team will now play in the Sheffield County Senior League.

The first half of 2016-17 started with Main facing an unprecedented number of injuries to first choice players and the club had early exits in all cup competitions. The second half of the season was much improved as players returned and a 14th place finish was comfortably achieved.

Spencer Fearn shocked the club by resigning in the close season to take up the management of Frickley Athletic and Jordan Hall was installed as manager but his tenure only lasted 60 days before he resigned through work commitments. The club moved swiftly to bring back former joint manager, Mark Askwith, along with Scott Mason and John Crossland, who have very successful in the local Sunday league particularly with The Joker over the last few years, having won every trophy available including the very prestigious Hallamshire Sunday Cup. They did an unprecedented quadruple last season and then won a fifth trophy at the weekend by beating the Sunday league champions from Humberside/East Yorkshire. The squad confounded everyone with some scintillating performances and results and finished 5th in the Premier Division, the highest since 1992-93.

Mark Askwith resigned his position because of work commitments but Louis Axcell joined the management team from Handsworth Parramore to work alongside Scott Mason and John Crossland for 2018-19. Greater things are expected this season! It turned out that way as we ended it sixth and another cup semi final appearance - but we dipped again. The final was never actually played due to Frickley stating they had no players because the season went beyond April due to the poor weather.


So 19/20 had promise and the manager recruited during summer. But something wasn't the same and the new and older lads started to dip in form. By October we were in the bottom five and lost at home to a bottom three side. That spelt the end for Mason which was a shame, but the right thing to do.

To keep stabilty the Chairman spoke to Louis and gave him the reigns for the rest of the season. He won his first game, then a few more ups and downs pre Christmas occurred, but overall we where going forward and come March when the season ended early due to the COVID-19 issue we sat in seventh and was in a good run!

Louis got the job officially at the end and it was his and John's turn to have a pre season together. Louis started off with bringing in a new coach Dean Bamforth. New players of theirs followed and we awaited the start date of the season as COVID-19 was still to be cleared up fully. But as we got to July things started to move forward...

We started the off the 2020/21 season in September with a dramatic FA tie, Corona virus shut us down in all November, we came back in December but when we won 5-2 on Boxing Day that turned out to be our last game. We played ten league games, sat in 7th and the season was eventually curtailed due to Covid19.

Honours List

Wharncliffe Charity Cup Winners: 1919/20 1964/5 1979/80 1980/1

Rotherham Charity Cup Winners: 1923/4 1945/6 1966/7 1976/7 1980/1 1990/1 2005/6

Rotherham Challenge Cup Winners: 1928/9 1935/6 1962/3 1963/4

Sheffield Association League Winners: 1925/6 1926/7

Maltby and District League Winners: 1921/2 1922/3 1934/5

Portland League Winners: 1925/6

Portland League Cup Winners: 1926/7

Rotherham FA Association Cup Winners: 1935/6

Rotherham Senior League Winners: 1936/7

Sheffield Amateur League Winners: 1936/7

Rotherham LV League and Wake Cup Winners: 1934/5

Doncaster Senior League Winners: 1963/4

Mexboro Montagu Cup Winners: 1962/3 1980/1

Retford Nursing Cup Winners: 1962/3

Sheffield Senior Cup Winners: 1977/8

County Senior League Div 1 Winners: 1986/7

County Senior League Cup Winners: 1986/7

Northern Counties East Presidents Cup Winners: 1992/3



Northern Counties East League Record

1982-1983 6th Division One South.

1983-1984 6th Division One South.

1984-1986 11th Division One (Central).

1985-1986 6th Division Two.

1986-1987 9th Division One.

1987-1988 3rd Division One.

1988-1989 4th Division One.

1989-1990 5th Division One.

1990-1991 6th Premier Division.

1991-1992 7th Premier Division.

1992-1993 4th Premier Division.

1993-1994 7th Premier Division.

1994-1995 13th Premier Division.

1995-1996 19th Premier Division.

1996-1997 14th Premier Division.

1997-1998 6th Premier Division.

1998-1999 18th Premier Division.

1999-2000 17th Premier Division.

2000-2001 9th Division One.

2001-2002 6th Division One.

2002-2003 14th Division One.

2003-2004 3rd Division One.

2004-2005 19th Premier Division.

2005-2006 18th Premier Division.

2006-2007 10th Premier Division.

2007-2008 18th Premier Division.

2008-2009 12th Premier Division.

2009-2010 16th Premier Division.

2010-2011 11th Premier Division.

2011-2012 18th Premier Division.

2012-2013 14th Premier Division.

2014-2015 19th Premier Division.

2015-2016 7th Premier Division.

2016-2017 14th Premier Division.

2017-2018 5th Premier Division.

2018-2019 6th Premier Division.

2019-2020 7th Premier Division. (Season expunged after 28 games)

2020-2021 5th
Premier Division.
(Season curtailed after 10 games)