Leeds Carnegie

Leeds Carnegie is a football club representing Leeds Met Carnegie university. The club was originally formed in 1970 being known as Leeds & Carnegie College FC. The club was accepted into Division Three of the Yorkshire League, winning promotion in 1970-71.

The Division Two title followed in 1972-73 before the club changed title to Leeds & Carnegie Polytechnic as a Division One side in 1976. The side were relegated in 1977-78 and then left the competition at the end of the 1978-79 season.

In 1980, as Leeds Polytechnic, the club joined the Northern Universities League, winning its Premier League on nine occasions. The name of the club was changed to Leeds Met Carnegie during the early part of the 1990s.

In 2004 Carnegie moved into the West Yorkshire League, which is part of the football league pyramid. They won the title in 2005-06, but were denied promotion owing to a lack of ground facilities. 

However, not undaunted by the disappointment, Carnegie were elevated into Division One the Northern Counties East League in 2007, sharing grounds with Farsley Celtic at Throstle Nest. In 2008 the club dropped the Met from their title.

After a third place finish in 2009-10 it was announced during the 2010-11 season that the team would be withdrawing from the FA pyramid system at the end of the season.

Leeds Carnegie will compete in University competitions from 2011-12.

My visits

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

I travelled up to the game on the train and was to stay in the palatial beauty of the Queen's Hotel in Leeds for the night after finding a room on special offer. This was ideal as the following day I had to go onto York for my nephew Stanley's naming day.

I met up with several other locally based Seadogs in the Wetherspoons in Leeds station after booking in. After an hour or so we decided to take the train to New Pudsey which is the nearest stop to the ground for some further refreshment. We were joined on the train by Boro Chairman Simon Cope so fans had the chance to ask any questions.

After a couple of pubs we walked in the extremely wet weather to the ground and take shelter in the clubhouse. It was immediately obvious that there were not going to be many home fans in the crowd. Admission to the game was £4 which enabled access to anywhere in the ground.

Most people stood in the shed behind the goal that has around twelve rows of terracing with around a hundred seats next to a segregated section which is 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 holds 400 seats with an unobstructed view. There is then a flat section up to the corner flag where the portable refreshments caravan stood in a position where you can't see the game while queueing. 

Behind this was a large two roomed clubhouse along with it's own beer garden with shelter for smokers. It's quite a nice little set up but I was a little surprised it was passed for Conference National football knowing what stringent tests the McCain Stadium, Scarborough had been through.

The game ended in a comprehensive win to Boro, including some cracking goals, excellent football from both sides and a sending off for one of the students throwing a strop. The academics were hindered as the new term had not begun so they didn't have a full squad to select from.

Matty Kennett gave the Seadogs the lead with Joe Lightowler adding a second before the interval. James Russell pulled one back in the heavy rain three minutes after the restart before Boro sealed a deserved win with another Kennett goal and then a Craig Hogg strike near to the end.

After the game we continued our drinking and I had my first proper drinks with Fred Firman and Tony Rudeforth. How little I knew that they would later become regular cricket touring pals! 

We continued back at Leeds station where some former Scarborough FC fans joined us, while we tried to negotiate peace. They were not interested in Athletic and had been to Elland Road to catch up with some old Southend United mates. It was a long night!

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

Boro were top of the league going into the game against a Carnegie side which had shown great promise throwout the season. It was clearly going to be a stern test for Athletic.

Once again I let the train take the strain and arrived ready to meet up with some of my favourite drinking pals who were locally based or who had gone through on the train. 

Several pints of fine ale were consumed, but I quickly realised I was a long way behind the rest in consumption. Eventually we took a couple of large taxis to Throstle Nest to meet up with the rest of the large away following.

My pre match fears were justified as the students went one up through Matt Chilton before Danny Gray levelled shortly before half time. The wind and pitch didn't help in terms of flowing football and Boro were definitely under par, although nothing should detract from a fine home performance.

Boro left it late to score the winner, but when it came it was from some lovely football before Craig Hogg converted the chance. They had two further efforts cleared off the line in stoppage time. All in all it was a very hard fought but vital victory.

I managed to cadge a lift home with a fellow fan before enjoying the weekend in Scarborough with family and friends.

Please click here to view further pictures of Throstle Nest.