Wellingborough Town

The current Wellingborough Town FC were reformed in 2004, following the demise of the original club of the same name, who were formed in 1867, making them the first club to be formed in Northamptonshire.

Originally starting out playing partly as a rugby club, they became dedicated to football a couple of years later playing matches at Broad Green. Ten years later they were believed to be the first club to play a game under floodlights, when they entertained Bedford at Bassett's Close.

 

In 1894 'The Doughboys' or 'The Cornies' as the club have been nicknamed after the industries in the town, became founder members of the Leicestershire & Northants League, before moving into the Midland League the following season.

In 1901 Town progressed into the Southern League moving into a new ground at the Dog & Duck on London Road at the same time. In 1905 as Wellingborough Redwell, they resigned from the Southern League, before reverting to their original name in 1919.

 

Wellingborough joined the United Counties League in 1936, where they would remain for thirty-two years before joining the Metropolitan League. They won that league in the 1969-70 season, moving into the West Midlands Regional League. Town made another move in 1971 to the Southern League.

The club struggled for several seasons and in 1989 they were relegated back to the United Counties League. In 2002 the club succumbed to the continual struggle and folded.

 

After a break of over two years without a club, three friends got together and assembled a group of twenty-four people to re-establish Wellingborough Town. Amongst them was Peter Ebdon, a resident of the town. The Dog & Duck had survived, despite part of the land becoming a Travelodge motel.

The club spent their comeback season in the Northamptonshire Senior Youth League before securing a place in the United Counties League. The Doughboys won Division One in 2005-06 and were promoted to the Premier Division under manager Jason Burnham.

 

In November 2008 a former player and chairman Martin Potton returned and help save the club, who were not getting the backing of local sponsorship, soon after Joe Smyth had been appointed as manager.

Former Premier League player Trevor Benjamin had a spell with the team, prior to Rob Gould becoming manager in May 2009. The club stabilised itself over the following couple of years on and off the pitch.

 

A deal being signed with the newly formed AFC Rushden & Diamonds for them to be tenants at the Dog & Duck from the start of the 2012-13 season, thus aiding the finances with Phil Mason arriving as the new Doughboys manager soon into the campaign.

The following season saw the return of former goalscoring hero Jason Turner under manager Craig Adams who was later replaced by Ben Watts. Steve Herring and Joe Smyth became joint managers in September 2014 before Jamie Wright had a short spell in charge.

 

Jon Mitchell was the latest in a long line of managerial appointments in November 2015. Finances were not helped when the landlord of the Dog and Duck forced AFC Rushden & Diamonds to leave by May 2017.

Jake Stone became manager in the summer of 2019 to replace Gary Petts. A reorganisation of the United Counties League followed the abandoned Covid-19 years, with Town being placed in Premier Division South.

 

A much improved seventh spot in 2021-22 was backed up by fourth position twelve months later. The 2023-24 season saw the team crowned as champions with their reward being a place in step four football.

Wellingborough Town FC will play in the Northern Premier League Division One Midlands in the 2024-25 season.

My visit

AFC Rushden & Diamonds 1 Luton Town 3 (Friday 3rd August 2012) Pre Season Friendly (att: 346)

I had enjoyed a fine day in Northampton on my day day off work where 'd seen a rain interrupted day in the County Championship between Northants and Yorkshire as well as visiting the grounds of Northampton Town, Northampton Saints and Northampton Spencer.

The bus took me from near The County Ground to Wellingborough town centre. The size of the market town somewhat surprised me, with it having a vibrant centre and plenty of pubs. However, I wanted to offer my money over the bar at the football club and to guarantee a programme.

The walk took me a good fifteen minutes, and I was slightly concerned at one point that I had gone the wrong way. I carried on past the impressive Wellingborough School with its historical buildings and manicured playing fields before finding the Dog & Duck. 

Stewards were by the gate advising supporters and motorists and offering a warm welcome. The match programme was £2, but covered all four home friendlies. My friend Ian Anderson had advised me that the clubhouse wasn't up to much, but I went with the hunch that with Diamonds sharing, then improvements must have been made. 

I was pleased to be correct, and although there was no real ale the cheerful barman poured me a reasonable enough pint of Eagle smoothflow. 

I had a nice chat with some Diamonds fans as we watched Team GB continue their excellent run. I couldn't believed a signed framed shirt on the wall was of York City. What a welcome for a Scarborough fan!

The game was decent enough as I walked around the Dog & Duck taking in the surroundings. The Clubhouse End also had food stands and a raised patio and the changing rooms with the players emerging from the corner. The rest of the end was flat open standing with the car park behind. he London Road Side was a narrow piece of flat standing with the dug outs near the half way line. 

The far end was open grass. The final side, which had a home of Wellingborough Whitworth FC just behind it had the Peter Ebdon Stand, which was a raised seating deck with the back couple of rows taken out for standing spectators. Either side of it was flat open standing. 

I later read that improvements were planned, with a portable covered terrace being paid for by the tenants. The walk back to the station took about twenty minutes and I was back home for just gone midnight. I had a good evening out at a decent old school venue to top off a pleasant day away from the capital. 

To read more about the game and see additional photos, go to the AFC Rushden & Diamonds page here: