Marske United

Marske United is a non-league football club which is based in the coastal town of Marske by the Sea about fifteen km south of Middlesbrough in the old North Riding of Yorkshire. The club was formed in 1956 by members of the Marske Cricket Club.

They initially played in local league football, first in Cleveland and then South Bank League football until joining the Teesside League in 1976, going on to become champions in 1980-81. A second title followed in 1984-85, with Derek Walker in charge of the team, which led to a move to the Wearside League.

The 90’s would bring success to the Mount Pleasant club under manager Alan Marples, as the side ended as Wearside League runners up, in 1993-94, and again the following campaign. 1994-95 also saw Marske lift the North Riding Senior Cup. The league title was won in 1995-96, which was followed by another second place in 1996-97.

The sustained spell of success led to a successful application to become members of Division Two of the Northern League under new team boss Charlie Bell. The run continued as the 1997-98 season ended with the team in third place to earn promotion to Division One. 

They slipped back down a level in 2003-04 but regained their previous status in 2010-11 under the stewardship of Paul Burton. The Seasiders became Northern League champions in 2014-15 but they declined promotion owing to the costs involved. The match day programme won numerous awards for its content and value for money during this period.

United ended as runners-up twelve months later, prior to a highly successful 2017-18 season. Carl Jarrett took the side to the semi-finals of the FA Vase, falling one step short of Wembley when defeated by league rivals Stockton Town. 

However, consolation came through the delivery of a second Northern league title. This time the club progressed to the Northern Premier League where they were given a place in Division One East, where they consolidated their position.

Covid-19 caused the abandonment of the following two seasons before Marske finished runners-up in 2021-22. They defeated Shildon and then took revenge over Stockton Town in the final of the play-offs to win promotion to the Premier Division of the NPL. 

Jarrett departed before returning for a brief spell after a term under Curtis Woodhouse put the side in relegation trouble. The former boss steadied the ship prior to the appointment of Graeme Lee in May 2023. However, not all was well behind the scenes.

The club set up a new company to control operations to issue shares to stablilise what had become a perilous financial situation after overspending on players wages. The takeover was not agreed to by the Northern Premier League who suspended the club until a solution was found. 

Finances were found to save the club, but they asked to resign from the Northern Premier League, which was accepted, with their playing record expunged. The Marske United reserve side continued to play, moving in to Mount Pleasant.

Lee departed, to be appointed at Spennymoor United shortly after, with the club being given a place in the first division of the northern League to get restarted under joint managers Craig Skelton and Simon Kasonali.

Marske United FC will play in the Northern League Division One in the 2024-25 season.

My visit

Wednesday 9th January 2008

I took the train down the coast from Middlesbrough. The weather had turned wintry, with high winds were battering the coast as I took the short walk to Mount Pleasant. I soon found the ground as it stood behind a small park off High Street. After a bit of a walk around I located the main entrance where a gate was open by the social club and bowling green.

The ground had the feel of a village venue with a few facilities added on. There was very little room for spectators between the fence around the pitch and the perimeter hedges and wire fencing. All the facilities were down one side, consisting of a small seated stand with a cover next door to it. The changing rooms and clubhouse stood behind.

Mount Pleasant is a pretty apt name. It was indeed a pleasant venue ideally suited for the level the club played at in the Northern League at the time of my visit.