Staveley Miners Welfare

Staveley Miners Welfare FC

Ground: Inkersall Road

Capacity: 5,000

Club Founded: 1962

League: United Counties League Division One - Step 6/10th Tier (current level)

Staveley Miners Welfare have been an intrinsic part of the community since they were formed, like many similar clubs in the region with a connection to the mining industry, remaining a progressive outfit with a smart home ground.

A Potted History of Staveley Miners Welfare FC

The club from the former mining town of that name, a few miles east of Chesterfield, was formed in 1962 as a Sunday side called Nags Head FC. The team played local Sunday League football until 1989, when they moved to the Inkersall Road ground and switched to Saturday football. Staveley joined the Central Midlands League in 1993.

After making the necessary ground improvements, the club progressed into the Northern Counties East League (NECL) in 1997. The club won the Wilkinson Sword League Cup in 1997-98 and promotion to the Premier Division. They dropped a level three seasons later, before Billy Fox was appointed manager.

Owner and club sponsor, Terry Danns, spent significant money on both the ground and the playing side, transforming the Inkersall Road venue. The team were promoted as NCEL Division One champions in 2010-11. They reached the FA Vase semi-final the following season, going out to eventual winners Dunston UTS over two legs.

The side were also in the hunt for promotion until the final couple of months of the campaign, with Ryan Damms rattling in the goals. Neil Cluxton took over as manager in 2013, with a monumental task after most of the players followed his predecessor, Fox, out the door. 

Brett Marshall took over team affairs in the summer of 2015 as the club restructured and built further facilities. The team topped the Premier Division and was looking set for promotion when the COVID-19 pandemic ended the 2019-20 season early.

The Trojans took voluntary relegation to Division One, allowing the club to rebuild following the pandemic. Staveley joined Division One of the United Counties League (UCL) at the start of the 2024-25 season. The following season, Pat Linley's side were defeated by Retford United in the playoff semi-final.

My visits

Staveley Miners Welfare 0 Scarborough Athletic 3

Northern Counties East League Division One - Saturday 1st December 2007

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Before my journey, I visited a King's Cross internet café to print one of our newly elected board members' written contributions for the Boro book to peruse on the journey. I had time for a look around the beautifully re-crafted St Pancras station before enjoying an excellent train ride that cost £25 return. 

I took a taxi with Mr Dingle and Smallboy to the Staveley Miners Welfare club in the town centre, where the locals gave us a warm welcome. I thought this had changed when I won their football card. One bloke had a bit of a go, in jest, I think, saying it was unfair I’d won as he’d never seen me in there before! 

His mate soon put him right. The atmosphere in the club was good, helped by the usual thirsty Seadog hordes, which boosted trade. Many small-town pubs would benefit from the large Scarborough support over the next few years.

Staveley announced all match ticket sales would be split equally between a charity nominated by both clubs. I believe that St. Catherine's Hospice in Scarborough was the beneficiary of this kindness.

The ground was decent, although the pitch was sticky, which at times slowed our fluent play. The catering also offered excellent value for money. Sadly, owing to this, a few Seadogs, including me, missed the opening goal as we queued for sustenance. 

Boro generally dominated play, although the home side also put in a few efforts. Full credit must be given to their very youthful side for not subsiding after going two down so early. The highlight off the pitch was my drinking companion falling through the steps of the gents' toilet. He reckons it was because they were weak, although I had my own angle on it.

Before the second half, a Boro fan offered one of the linos a pair of binoculars. He and the goalie thought it was funny. The second half followed a similar pattern. Bramley made some excellent saves from counterattacks while Boro dominated possession. 

Ryan Blott rounded off proceedings with a goal that would grace any level of the game. The boy could become a club legend over the next few years, even more so if he’d release the ball a little more often.

We returned to the club until 6.15. The Staveley officials and supporters were superb hosts. They were delighted at the attendance figure. On my train home, I realised once again just how much I hate some of our former chairmen and directors. Quite a few Colchester fans were on board, celebrating their league victory away at Hillsborough. 

I didn’t wish to sound disrespectful to the U’s, but for most of our time in the Football League, Scarborough had a superior playing record. We certainly had a better ground and similar attendances in some seasons. 

It was a lesson in what a club of that size could achieve. I knew with Scarborough Athletic that it was going to take us quite a few years, but it just shows what can be done.

Staveley Miners Welfare 0 Scarborough Athletic 4

Northern Counties East League Division One - Saturday 13th September 2008

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Boro had started the season reasonably but still hadn't hit top form. I was on night shift at work, but I worked out that the trains would give me enough rest time to attend the match. Even better, I found some cheap tickets!

It was a beautiful day when I arrived in Chesterfield around 12.30pm. I decided to catch a bus to Staveley as I had plenty of time to kill and I didn't particularly want lots to drink. Even so, I was one of the first to arrive. I had a quick wander about and bought my lunch at the takeaway on the town square.

Slowly, the rest of the Seadogs started to arrive, and I enjoyed a couple of pints of mild, a luxury not afforded to drinkers in the south, before wandering across to the ground to relax and chat while enjoying the weather.

Boro played well in the first half, but the teams were still level. Unbelievably, some of the visiting fans were moaning. In the second half, the team continued in the same vein but found their shooting boots to win with goals from Scott Phillips, Ryan Blott, and a couple from Craig Hogg.

I retired to the welfare club to see the rest of the scores come in, as my train home wasn't until after 7pm. I took the bus back into Chesterfield and had time for a walk around the scenic town, including a walk up to the town's former football ground at Saltergate. Unfortunately, it was all locked up. 

I had wanted to take some photos as it was likely to be my final opportunity, as Chesterfield were to move within eighteen months to a new stadium. The walk did me good as I managed to sleep all the way back to St Pancras, so I arrived for work fresh and ready.

Staveley Miners Welfare 0 Scarborough Athletic 3

Northern Counties East League Premier Division - Wednesday 3rd May 2012

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I was up in Scarborough visiting my dad and having fun attending the Yorkshire v Leicestershire County Championship fixture despite the chilly weather. I'd been in touch with my good friend Col, who was driving alone to the football. 

He kindly offered me a ride. The weather at the cricket saw several players taking the field in woolly hats; in fact, it was so bad that the following day Karl and I went in gloves. Col picked me up at 4.30pm at North Marine Road for the drive down to Derbyshire.

The journey was uneventful as we discussed the game in general and looked forward to that Friday's Anniversary Dinner organised by Mitch Cook, which would see the Conference champions Boro side and Neil Warnock attend. A car whizzed by near Leeds, which we later worked out was Halifax fans on the way to their play-off at Gainsborough.

We parked up outside the ground and were immediately impressed by the progress since our previous visit. The double-tiered portacabins had been replaced by a full-length clubhouse and cafe. 

Once inside the ground, we found a new covered terrace next to the clubhouse, with the players' tunnel entering through it. The previous flat standing by the Main Stand had been neatly terraced on either side, as had the far end with the cover in the centre. 

A hospitality marquee and tower with a bar and camera position had been built on the fourth side. It all looked neat and tidy, and like a nice football ground. The clubhouse didn't let us down either. It had plentiful memorabilia adorning the walls, including signed shirts from the England World Cup winners. 

The TVs were showing Sky Sports, and each table had the club crest emblazoned on it. Although there was no real ale on tap, they sold beer in bottles. I selected a bottle of Brakspears for £2.50 to wash down my excellent pie, chips, and gravy, which cost only £2.

Boro had to win to guarantee a third-place finish in the league against a home side still in the hunt and who had reached the FA Vase semi-final earlier that season. A good turnout of Seadogs, of nearly a hundred, had turned out to cheer the lads on.

The pitch wasn't the easiest as it was bobbly, but Boro made light of it. They put in a superb performance in large spells. Staveley had one or two opportunities but couldn't breach thevisitor'ss rearguard. 

Boro took the lead when a fine ball from Jimmy Ghaichem found top scorer Ryan Blott, who put away a fine finish from a tight angle. The lead was extended five minutes before the interval when the home keeper made a terrible mess trying to clear the ball. 

Curtis Bernard rounded him before rolling the ball square for Blott to tap into an empty net, and at the same time draw level with the division's top scorer. After the break, Staveley tried to get back into it, but Boro battled superbly. 

All the team put in good performances, but the tackling of Matt Draper, Denny Ingram, and Gary Hepples would have stopped far better sides. They were immense. Tony Hackworth rounded off the scoring after sixty-five minutes, springing the offside trap and firing home from the edge of the box. 

The rest of the game became a little scrappy. Ryan Blott did his best to complete his hat trick, while one or two niggly fouls led to confrontation, not helped by a whistle-happy referee. Ingram was taken out by a disgraceful challenge a couple of minutes from time. 

The team received a great reception as they came off. It was evident that they were determined to put right the defeat to Staveley earlier in the season. It had been as good as I'd seen them play all season. We had a good journey home, and I was in bed before midnight for some shut-eye before a big day at the cricket and in the pubs afterwards!