Farsley Celtic

Farsley Celtic is a non-league football club from the town of Farsley, located six miles to the west of Leeds, that was formed in 2010 as Farsley AFC out of the ashes of the original Farsley Celtic FC, who were dissolved on the 10th March 2010. 

The new club was formed with the same staff, supporters and some directors as 'The Celts' and took advantage of being relegated just two divisions rather than starting at the bottom of the pyramid. 

Therefore this blog considers them as one and the same club, so the history below depicts that.

Farsley Celtic were formed in 1908, competing in local league football before moving to Red Lane, opposite Farsley Cricket Club in the 1920's. In 1948 Throstle Nest was purchased from the local council and became the clubs new home.

'The Villagers' to give them another nickname, progressed to the Yorkshire League in 1950 where they made steady progress after winning Division Two in 1951-52, ending as Division One runners-up in 1957-58 and 1958-59. 

Celtic became champions in 1959-60 and then for a second time in 1968-69. The team continued to be prominent members of the competition, finishing as runners-up in 1970-71 and 1971-72. 

Celtic reached the FA Cup First Round in 1973-74, going down 2-0 to Tranmere Rovers in front of 11,000 fans at Elland Road before being relegated in 1975-76. Promotion was won at the first attempt in 1976-77, but the side went back down twelve months later.

The club won promotion once again in 1980-81 and then became founder members of the Northern Counties East League in 1982-83. Celtic were crowned as Division One North champions in 1984-85 to go up to the Premier Division. 

After ending as league runners-up in 1986-87 Celtic were elevated to the extended Northern Premier League in 1987-88 becoming members of Division One, finishing fith in their debut campaign.

After a few seasons of struggle, they found form to go up to the Premier Division in 2003-04. The 2005-06 campaign saw further success when victories in the play-offs against Marine and then North Ferriby United saw The Celts become members of the Conference North. 

In 2006-07 they once again reached the proper stages of the FA Cup before going down to MK Dons after a replay. Remarkably in the same season the club finished in the play-offs where they defeated Kettering Town and then Hinckley United to gain promotion to the Conference National, just two leagues below their mighty neighbours, Leeds United. 

A change of of club title was suggested by then Chairman Andy Firbanks to something incorporating Leeds as he said not many people had heard of Farsley. However, the club only remained at the level for one season. Enthusiasts all over the country had wondered how they had achieved so much with so little.

Relegation followed and Celtic started the season with a ten point deduction owing to financial irregularities having originally being thrown out of the Conference, owing to non payment of taxes as the club overstretched itself in the quest for success. They had tried to sell land adjacent to the ground to raise funds, but the council blocked them as it was a greenfield site.

On 4th September 2009 it was announced that club had folded, but they were given a reprieve after possible new investors contacted the club. The club were owing over £200,000 in unpaid taxes and the club were asked to attend a winding up meeting. 

They avoided this by entering administration. However, agreement between the administrator and a new consortium could not be reached so the club was disbanded with the teams record expunged.

The "new" club, Farsley AFC was set up and an application was made to play league football the following season. They were placed into the North Counties East League Premier Division which they won and gained promotion at their first attempt, having kept most of their players from the Conference North team.

Neil Parsey's side consolidated in the Northern Premier League, while in November 2013 Adam Priestley became the first player to gain an international cap for the club when he appeared for Gibralta against Slovakia.

The club changed their title to Farsley Celtic for the commencement of the 2015-16 campaign. A mid table finish was followed up by a runners-up slot in 2016-17, which secured a play-off berth.

Victories against Colne and Ossett Town won the club promotion to the Premier Division, before Parsley tendered his resignation. His position was taken by Adam Lakeland. Celtic won the Premier Division in 2018-19 to gain promotion to the National League North.

A takeover of the club by Paul Barthorpe in the summer of 2019 saw a new crest, a change of club colours to green and white hoops and Throstle Nest being rebranded as The Citadel. Celtic were in eleventh place in 2019-20 and 2020-21 when both seasons ended early owing to the Coronavirus pandemic.

Neil Ross took over from Lakeland in October 2021, but lasted less than three months before Russ Wilcox was appointed. Clayton Donaldson succeeded him in May 2023, with Pav Singh replacing the front man as manager in September 2014. The three seasons since the resumption following the pandemic saw the Celts narrowly escape relegation each time.

Meanwhile, home games in 2024-25 were not possible owing to a new artificial pitch which was scheduled for the Citadel being delayed. Farsley played 'home' games at Guiseley, Bradford Park Avenue, and Buxton.

Farsley Celtic FC will play in the National League North in the 2024-25 season.

My visits

Leeds Met Carnegie 1 Scarborough Athletic 4 (Saturday 20th August 2007) Northern Counties East League Division One (att: 180)

Leeds Carnegie 1 Scarborough Athletic 2 (Saturday 22nd February 2009) Northern Counties East League Division One (att: 332)

Descriptions of the matches above and the days out can be found on the Leeds Carnegie page here.

On my visit to the ground in 2007 I stood in the shed behind the goal, which had around twelve rows of terracing with around a hundred seats next to a segregated section which was used by Farsley when hosting a big club. The far touchline and behind the goal was just a few steps deep with no covering. 

The terrace continued round to the Main Stand which held 400 seats with an unobstructed view. There was then a flat section up to the corner flag where the portable refreshments caravan stood in a position where you couldn't see the game while queueing. Behind this, there was a large two-roomed clubhouse along with its own beer garden with shelter for smokers.

Farsley AFC 2 Scarborough Athletic 2 (Tuesday 17^th March 2015) Northern Premier League Division One North (att: 281)

Having been designated a week’s annual leave from work I decided to spend it in Scarborough with Dad. This would enable me to get to two home matches and the midweek clash at Throstle Nest. 

I had spent a very beery afternoon in Leeds with pals when the originally scheduled encounter was postponed because of an icy pitch and wanted to return and take Dad to some of the pubs.

I decided to do the re-arranged fixture in style so I booked an overnight room at the Discovery Inn opposite Leeds station for Dad and I, so that we could enjoy some fine real ale in the city.

It was a pleasant afternoon and Dad wanted his usual daily walk. As happened so many times, we went a lot further than we had intended and ended up overlooking the amphitheatre like cricket ground in Roundhay Park as Dad regaled me with tails of days gone by there.

After a bus ride back and rest, we had tea in Becket’s Bank Wetherspoon establishment before meeting Guy Watson in The Templar. This was a big reason behind the decision to stay over. Dad loved the pub and was aghast that it may have faced demolition for a future shopping development. The beer was as perfect as ever. 

The pubs were extremely vibrant as it was St. Patrick’s Day, with the local drinking fraternity not needing a second invitation to get stuck in. We passed The Three Legs, which had some interesting characters in varying condition before enjoying another cracking pint in Whitelock’s. Dad was most impressed with our choice.

The long bus journey through Bramley dropped us off on Farsley’s main thoroughfare before a fifteen-minute trek to the ground. The crowds and traffic grew as we neared Throstle Nest. Admission was £7, with the programme a further £2. The ground remained unaltered since my previous visits to see Boro play Leeds Met Carnegie.

Guy and I went for a pint inside the pleasant clubhouse. The Speckled Hen Gold certainly hit the spot. It was soon apparent that around two-thirds of the attendance were cheering on Scarborough. The more vocal congregated in the cover behind the goal in the first half.

The match was vital to the playoff hopes of both sides. Farsley started out the more likely to open the scoring, but the Boro defence seemed resolute. However, the game settled down and Tom Corner flicked home Cameron Murray’s cross to put the Seadogs ahead.

The Villagers missed a guilt-edged chance before the game turned on the half-hour mark.

There had been an altercation and the referee seemingly handled the situation well and booked a player from both sides. The match was fiery and a typical Yorkshire derby. It needed firm handling. A few seconds after the skirmish, Corner was harshly adjudged to have elbowed home defender James Riley as he went up for a header. 

It was more of a slap as both men jumped. Riley helped make up the referee's mind to produce a red card as he rolled around before quickly getting up once the forward had departed.

The atmosphere had been loud and largely good-natured, but it changed after the decision. Farsley equalised when Gibraltar international Adam Priestley slotted home to hardly help the mood amongst the visiting fans.

However, the Seadogs sent their fans for half-time refreshments in good form as the majestic Ryan Blott held the ball up on the halfway line before playing in Alex Metcalfe. The midfielder ran at the final two defenders before firing in under the body of keeper Tom Taylor to wild celebrations.

The second half was always going to be hard work for Boro against a very talented home side. Their task wasn’t helped as referee Jamie Rhodes seemed to be taking umbrage at some of the criticism coming his way from the annoyed Seadog faithful.

The home side equalised as the Boro rear guard did a disappearing act to allow Aiden Savory to fire home. The game flowed from end to end with Farsley creating the clearer cut chances. Every player on the pitch gave everything they had. The Boro players were close to exhaustion near the end.

At full time the Boro fans were loud and proud; the players shattered but resolute and celebratory. The home players on the other hand appeared extremely upset.

Fortunately, our good Seadog mate Chewy agreed to give the three of us a ride back into Leeds along with York Seadog; Alan Moffatt who told us some perplexing but hilarious tales. It’s fair to say that the car was a happy place to be.

Guy, Dad and I dived into The Black Prince opposite the station for a fine couple of pints and to watch the penalty shoot-out in the Champions League between Atletico Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen. Guy departed before Dad and I had nightcaps in the Scarbrough Hotel and Wetherspoons establishment in Leeds station before we enjoyed supper from opposite the hotel.

Dad had not been in perfect health because he was suffering from what had been diagnosed as a rheumatic condition, but the following morning he said he was feeling great and put it down to the good food and beers. We enjoyed a lovely morning out in Saltaire, which he loved before returning home after lunch.

It had been a magnificent trip, like so many that we had shared over the previous four years.

Unfortunately, it was to be Dad’s last overnight stay with me and his final away game. A Boro fan for seventy years, Dad passed away less than a month later after a short and sudden illness.

It is highly unlikely that I would ever have been as great a fan of the beautiful game without his help and guidance. He was a great man and my hero.

Forever RIP Dad, and thanks for everything.