North Ferriby FC is a non-league football club that was formed in 2019 as a replacement club to North Ferriby United FC that was dissolved in the High Court in 2019 through debt.
The club is based a few miles west of the city of Hull on the north bank of the River Humber.
North Ferriby United FC
The original club came into life in 1934; initially as North Ferriby FC, starting out playing in the East Riding Church League before being admitted into the East Riding Amateur League following World War Two. 'The Villagers' became members of Division Two of the Yorkshire League in 1969.
The Division Two title was lifted in 1970-71 to win promotion, while East Riding Senior Cup was lifted three times during the decade. Ferriby became founder members of the newly formed Northern Counties East League in 1982 after being Yorkshire League runners-up in 1975-76.
A runners-up place in the first season in Division One of the new league ended with Ferriby declining promotion owing to ground issues at Grange Lane. However, these had been resolved by 1985-86 when winning the Division One title led to promotion to the Premier Division.
The FA Vase would feature heavily over the following couple of seasons. In 1987-88 United lost 2-1 at home to Farsley Celtic in the fifth round. In 1988-89 the semi-finals were reached before Tamworth came out on top on aggregate.
With the team consolidating in the league with consistent top six finishes with a young Dean Windass banged in the goals after being released by Hull City before the Tigers gave him a second opportunity in October 1991.
Ferriby went all the way to the 1996-97 Vase final after defeating Guisborough Town in the last four. The team had several former Hull City players in their line up, including Andy Flounders, but went down 3-0 to Whitby Town at Wembley Stadium.
United finished as league runners-up the following season becoming Northern Counties East League champions in 1999-00 to win promotion to Division One of the Northern Premier League following further ground improvements at Grange Lane.
United missed out on promotion in 2002-03 after losing out to Radcliffe Borough in the play-offs. However, Northern Premier League Premier Division football was secured after the title winning campaign of 2004-05. The club continued to progress and reached the play-offs on three occasions in their quest for further promotion.
In 2005-06 Frickley Athletic were defeated before Farsley Celtic won the final in West Yorkshire. Boston United ended dreams of promotion in 2009-10 in the semi-finals before Ferriby went down to an away defeat to Colwyn Bay the following season in the semi-finals.
Billy Heath was appointed as manager in 2011, leading North Ferriby to the Northern Premier League title on goal difference in 2012-13 to reach the Conference North. Eman and Steve Foster became the new owners of the club in November 2013; which would spark some controversy and perhaps the beginning of the end.
Eman was the daughter of Hull City owner Assem Allam who polarised opinion in the region. The couple began to invest big money in the club to finance new signings. The 2013-14 season saw Ferriby miss out on promotion after losing to Guiseley in the semi-final of the play-offs.
The 2014-15 season saw the team go on a tremendous FA Trophy run; defeating the likes of Boston United, Hyde, Farnborough, Ebbsfleet United and then Bath City to reach the final against Wrexham at Wembley.
In an amazing game Ferriby came back from 2-0 down before the game ended 3-3 after extra time with substitute Ryan Kendall netting twice and Liam King scoring. Keeper Adam Nicklin saved three penalties in the shoot out as the Villagers won 5-4 in front of 14,585 fans. Long standing chairman Les Hare resigned citing the Foster's ownership as his reason.
The 2015-16 season saw Ferriby reach the renamed National League as they finished as runners-up before defeating Boston United and then AFC Fylde in the play-offs before Heath departed to take to the FC Halifax Town job, with Steve Housham replacing him.
Several players left the club at the same time as rumours circulated that the owners were looking to sell the club. Ferriby lasted just twelve months at the top tier of non-league football before being relegated.
In November 2017 the Foster's sold the club to local businessman Jamie Waltham who sacked Housham the following day to be replaced by former skipper Chris Boulder. The new man couldn't stem the tide as Ferriby were relegated from National League North at the end of the 2017-18 season.
Waltham sold the club to his associate Carl Chadwick as they unveiled plans to move the club to the Dene Park ground in north Hull owned by Waltham along with plans to rename the club East Hull FC.
The plans, along with those of hiring out the Grange Lane ground out to travellers during the off season were met with widespread protest from supporters. A petition was sent to the FA who blocked the idea of a move and name change.
Meanwhile winding up petitions were issued by club creditors. The club was liquidated on March 15th 2019 with debts of just £7,645.25 with the teams playing record for the season being expunged.
North Ferriby FC
Plans were quickly put in place by former chairman Les Hare to form a new club to represent the village. Talks with the FA were productive and a lease to move into Grange Lane was signed; which was renamed The Dransfield Stadium in a sponsorship deal.
The new club appointed former boss Chris Boulder as manager and were accepted into Division One of the Northern Counties East League for the 2019-20 season.
North Ferriby FC will play in the Northern Counties East League Division One in the 2019-20 season.
My visit
North Ferriby United FC
The original club came into life in 1934; initially as North Ferriby FC, starting out playing in the East Riding Church League before being admitted into the East Riding Amateur League following World War Two. 'The Villagers' became members of Division Two of the Yorkshire League in 1969.
The Division Two title was lifted in 1970-71 to win promotion, while East Riding Senior Cup was lifted three times during the decade. Ferriby became founder members of the newly formed Northern Counties East League in 1982 after being Yorkshire League runners-up in 1975-76.
A runners-up place in the first season in Division One of the new league ended with Ferriby declining promotion owing to ground issues at Grange Lane. However, these had been resolved by 1985-86 when winning the Division One title led to promotion to the Premier Division.
The FA Vase would feature heavily over the following couple of seasons. In 1987-88 United lost 2-1 at home to Farsley Celtic in the fifth round. In 1988-89 the semi-finals were reached before Tamworth came out on top on aggregate.
With the team consolidating in the league with consistent top six finishes with a young Dean Windass banged in the goals after being released by Hull City before the Tigers gave him a second opportunity in October 1991.
Ferriby went all the way to the 1996-97 Vase final after defeating Guisborough Town in the last four. The team had several former Hull City players in their line up, including Andy Flounders, but went down 3-0 to Whitby Town at Wembley Stadium.
United finished as league runners-up the following season becoming Northern Counties East League champions in 1999-00 to win promotion to Division One of the Northern Premier League following further ground improvements at Grange Lane.
United missed out on promotion in 2002-03 after losing out to Radcliffe Borough in the play-offs. However, Northern Premier League Premier Division football was secured after the title winning campaign of 2004-05. The club continued to progress and reached the play-offs on three occasions in their quest for further promotion.
In 2005-06 Frickley Athletic were defeated before Farsley Celtic won the final in West Yorkshire. Boston United ended dreams of promotion in 2009-10 in the semi-finals before Ferriby went down to an away defeat to Colwyn Bay the following season in the semi-finals.
Billy Heath was appointed as manager in 2011, leading North Ferriby to the Northern Premier League title on goal difference in 2012-13 to reach the Conference North. Eman and Steve Foster became the new owners of the club in November 2013; which would spark some controversy and perhaps the beginning of the end.
Eman was the daughter of Hull City owner Assem Allam who polarised opinion in the region. The couple began to invest big money in the club to finance new signings. The 2013-14 season saw Ferriby miss out on promotion after losing to Guiseley in the semi-final of the play-offs.
The 2014-15 season saw the team go on a tremendous FA Trophy run; defeating the likes of Boston United, Hyde, Farnborough, Ebbsfleet United and then Bath City to reach the final against Wrexham at Wembley.
In an amazing game Ferriby came back from 2-0 down before the game ended 3-3 after extra time with substitute Ryan Kendall netting twice and Liam King scoring. Keeper Adam Nicklin saved three penalties in the shoot out as the Villagers won 5-4 in front of 14,585 fans. Long standing chairman Les Hare resigned citing the Foster's ownership as his reason.
The 2015-16 season saw Ferriby reach the renamed National League as they finished as runners-up before defeating Boston United and then AFC Fylde in the play-offs before Heath departed to take to the FC Halifax Town job, with Steve Housham replacing him.
Several players left the club at the same time as rumours circulated that the owners were looking to sell the club. Ferriby lasted just twelve months at the top tier of non-league football before being relegated.
In November 2017 the Foster's sold the club to local businessman Jamie Waltham who sacked Housham the following day to be replaced by former skipper Chris Boulder. The new man couldn't stem the tide as Ferriby were relegated from National League North at the end of the 2017-18 season.
Waltham sold the club to his associate Carl Chadwick as they unveiled plans to move the club to the Dene Park ground in north Hull owned by Waltham along with plans to rename the club East Hull FC.
The plans, along with those of hiring out the Grange Lane ground out to travellers during the off season were met with widespread protest from supporters. A petition was sent to the FA who blocked the idea of a move and name change.
Meanwhile winding up petitions were issued by club creditors. The club was liquidated on March 15th 2019 with debts of just £7,645.25 with the teams playing record for the season being expunged.
North Ferriby FC
Plans were quickly put in place by former chairman Les Hare to form a new club to represent the village. Talks with the FA were productive and a lease to move into Grange Lane was signed; which was renamed The Dransfield Stadium in a sponsorship deal.
The new club appointed former boss Chris Boulder as manager and were accepted into Division One of the Northern Counties East League for the 2019-20 season.
North Ferriby FC will play in the Northern Counties East League Division One in the 2019-20 season.
My visit
North Ferriby United 0 Hull City 6 (Wednesday 14th July 2010) Billy Bly Memorial Trophy (att: approx 1,800)
I had been past North Ferriby’s Grange Lane home on many occasions on the train on my way to Hull from Doncaster, usually on route to see Scarborough Athletic play their “home” games in Bridlington.
On the night in question I had originally planned to go to the pre season friendly between Pontefract Collieries and Scarborough Athletic. That game was cancelled as the pitch at Skinners Lane had not recovered from its remedial work during the off season.
The plan had been to stay with my good mate Fred in Hull regardless, so I suggested we took in the game at Grange Lane. I went down to Hull on the train where we met in the Admiral of the Humber for a beer before the short train ride along the estuary.
Crowds were already building on our arrival. The weather was humid but there were many showers in the air. Keeping dry was obviously going to be a problem with the size of the expected crowd. The game had originally been designated as all ticket until the home club changed its mind nearer the date.
Admission was £8 with a programme £2 for the match. Ferriby were obviously keen not to miss out on their big fund raiser of the season in the annual match played to commemorate the City post war goalkeeping legend, Billy Bly.
Grange Lane was very tidy and extremely compact. Either end had a couple of steps with flat open standing. A low stand filled the Railway Side with a combination of terracing and seats. The near side was a bit of a mixture.
There was flat standing, with facilities in huts at the rear, then the original small Main Stand containing the changing rooms on the half way line, before a bit more open standing with the clubhouse, club shop and boardroom at the rear. They were neat and tidy with the feel of double glazed conservatory. The pitch sloped from this side down to the Railway Side meaning we looked down on the pitch from the bar.
Fortunately the staff were diligent and we got served hassle free despite the crowds. A City supporting friend of Fred’s, called Ian joined us. He was also the social club treasurer of Needham Market FC from his home near Ipswich, so we had plenty of non league stuff to chat about.
A man came round with team sheets. I asked how much they were but he said they were free, and they were not like Scarborough Athletic, without any prompting. There was a bit of needle between Boro and Ferriby as many of the Seadogs players and managership had spells there.
We squeezed in behind the goal where Andy Crossland, another Boro man who was beginning to do a sterling job with club memberships with Fred joined us. City were having their first run out under new boss Nigel Pearson, with the players keen to impress. The home side gave as good as they got, but went in 2-0 down at the break through goals from Péter Halmosi and Mark Cullen.
We grabbed a quick pint at half time before going back out to see City complete an easy 6-0 win, with further goals been added by Daniel Cousin, Will Atkinson, Nolberto Solano and Danny Emerton. It had been an enjoyable game in good company.
Andy drove myself and Fred back after a couple of quick beers and fish and chips on the way. The following morning Fred drove me into town. We went past the derelict site where Boothferry Park once stood and I’d been to a lot of games in my youth.
It was a sad sight as it was all rubble apart from the six floodlight pylons and the lower bank of the South Stand. We carried on into the city before going our own ways. I wish I’d got out and had a wander round, just for old times sake.
Admission was £8 with a programme £2 for the match. Ferriby were obviously keen not to miss out on their big fund raiser of the season in the annual match played to commemorate the City post war goalkeeping legend, Billy Bly.
Grange Lane was very tidy and extremely compact. Either end had a couple of steps with flat open standing. A low stand filled the Railway Side with a combination of terracing and seats. The near side was a bit of a mixture.
There was flat standing, with facilities in huts at the rear, then the original small Main Stand containing the changing rooms on the half way line, before a bit more open standing with the clubhouse, club shop and boardroom at the rear. They were neat and tidy with the feel of double glazed conservatory. The pitch sloped from this side down to the Railway Side meaning we looked down on the pitch from the bar.
Fortunately the staff were diligent and we got served hassle free despite the crowds. A City supporting friend of Fred’s, called Ian joined us. He was also the social club treasurer of Needham Market FC from his home near Ipswich, so we had plenty of non league stuff to chat about.
A man came round with team sheets. I asked how much they were but he said they were free, and they were not like Scarborough Athletic, without any prompting. There was a bit of needle between Boro and Ferriby as many of the Seadogs players and managership had spells there.
We squeezed in behind the goal where Andy Crossland, another Boro man who was beginning to do a sterling job with club memberships with Fred joined us. City were having their first run out under new boss Nigel Pearson, with the players keen to impress. The home side gave as good as they got, but went in 2-0 down at the break through goals from Péter Halmosi and Mark Cullen.
We grabbed a quick pint at half time before going back out to see City complete an easy 6-0 win, with further goals been added by Daniel Cousin, Will Atkinson, Nolberto Solano and Danny Emerton. It had been an enjoyable game in good company.
Andy drove myself and Fred back after a couple of quick beers and fish and chips on the way. The following morning Fred drove me into town. We went past the derelict site where Boothferry Park once stood and I’d been to a lot of games in my youth.
It was a sad sight as it was all rubble apart from the six floodlight pylons and the lower bank of the South Stand. We carried on into the city before going our own ways. I wish I’d got out and had a wander round, just for old times sake.
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