Thornaby

Thornaby FC 

Ground: Teesdale Park

Capacity: 5,000

Club Founded: 2000

League: Northern League Division One - Step 5/9th Tier (current level)

The story of Thornaby FC is one of resilience, overcoming obstacles and then restructuring to become a valuable community asset on Teesside.

Early History

There are conflicting opinions on the club's year of formation. The new organisation states it is 2000, but its origins date back to 1980, when the football team of Stockton Cricket Club was formed, which became members of the Wearside League as Stockton FC.

The club was admitted to the Northern League in 1985-86, taking up residency at Teesdale Park, despite some poor returns in the Wearside League. However, the team was rebuilt and won promotion and the Division Two title in 1987-88. They went down and then regained their higher status a couple of times over the following few seasons.

While the club was called Stockton FC at the time, it had no connection to the one of the same name, which was a leading light in non-league football until they folded in 1975. To simplify matters, a change of title to Thornaby-on-Tees FC was adopted in 1999. In 2000, the club became known as Thornaby FC, which some consider to be their actual formation. 

The Blues once again won promotion to Division One of the Northern League before being relegated in 2001-02. The cycle of going up and then dropping down a level continued, with Thornaby relegated owing to the poor condition of Teesdale Park.

Part of the Community

It was a tough time for the club. Police officer Ray Morton arrived as manager. He looked at ways to stop the constant vandalism to their ground. Neil Radigan and then Paul Edwards had spells as manager. A new security fence was added after applying for National Lottery grants and community assets became part of the wider development, through Ray Morton's work.

Schools and the wider community benefited, being able to use the venue, with its upgraded floodlights and new changing rooms. The club won an award from the Northern League for its hospitality. Managers came and went before the team was relegated at the end of the 2022-23 season. Worse was to follow.

Overcoming Adversity Again

A suspected arson attack destroyed the clubhouse, a beer garden, a community facility, the stand, and most of the club’s ground maintenance equipment. The local community, including Middlesbrough FC, raised the cash for repairs and for new structures. Dean Browne led the side to promotion in 2024-25 via the playoffs as Jarrow were defeated in the final. 

The duo of Craig Skelton and Simon Kasonali were given the joint-managers role in September 2025.

My visit

Thornaby 0 Scarborough Athletic 2

North Riding Senior Cup - Wednesday 9th January 2008

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I had taken an early, cheap train from King's Cross to Darlington on the day of the game, as my plan was to go groundhopping. I'd been to see the remains of Feethams as well as the home of Darlington Railway Athletic before other venues around Teesside. It had been a very cold day, and I was tired as I alighted at Thornaby station. 

I'd enjoyed a couple of pints in Middlesbrough, where I made the wise decision to acquire some long johns, such was the severity of the temperature. I walked through the terraced streets of the town, locating Teesdale Park, which is located beside a golf course and behind a huge retail outlet that was once the location of Teesside Park racecourse. 

I followed the dark path towards where I presumed the ground was. I saw a building in the distance with lights on, and I presumed it might be the clubhouse. Sadly, it wasn't and was occupied by squatters, so I trudged on. I eventually saw a light up the rutted track belonging to a car by the grounds entrance. 

The gateman kindly sold me a programme but gave me the bad news that there was no clubhouse at the ground. At this point, my lift home, Jamie, arrived after a day's work in the area. He decided it was best that we drove to the nearest pub, The Roundel, which doubled up as the club's base for hospitality after games. 

We rang Fred, who was on his way, so he didn't drive straight to the ground. We arrived back at the ground ready for kick-off for the cup tie. There were around 100 travelling Seadogs in attendance. I liked the ground. It was in a mess but had potential with a makeover. The perimeter fences had many gaps. 

The Main Stand was a cosy old construction with wooden slatted seats on the steps. The bank opposite showed signs that it was once a full-length, reasonably sized terrace before the grass grew over it. On top of the bank was a large car park. Because of the weather, some drivers parked up facing the pitch and watched the game from the warmth of their vehicles. 

There was another cover behind a goal, while the steps in exposed areas were in a sorry state and should really have been cordoned off for safety reasons, despite a great view. Boro won the game comfortably enough, on what turned out to be a decent evening out. 

There was a nice atmosphere amongst Scarborough Athletic fans since the club's formation. It felt like everyone was together; that was never really in evidence at the old club. I stood and chatted with other fans, including our excellent Chairman, Simon Cope.

We chatted with the Thornaby secretary, who explained just how difficult it was to keep the club going. They were having severe problems with local youths, who continued to cause vandalism. 

Before every game, they need to remove the perimeter pitch advertising boards, the goals, and the seats from the grandstand to prevent damage. The plastic bucket seats that previously fitted out the stand had been destroyed. Used needles and bottles of alcohol had to be removed every game and training session. 

It really was a labour of love. In contrast, the gaggle of young lads behind the goal who'd obviously never seen many away fans before were good kids. The staff in the catering bar under the terrace were top drawer. One set off on a push bike to the off-license for some more milk as they underestimated the number of customers wanting refreshments. 

I bought a meat pie and a Bovril for the absolute bargain of £1.50. I'm all in favour of not ripping fans off, but they really ought to have been charging more than that. I really enjoyed the experience. I hoped that the people of the area would give the club a chance and support the excellent folk carrying out a near-impossible task.

Jamie took me back to Scarborough after the match. I stayed with my parents over the weekend and got to another Boro match before I attended the funeral of Nick Groombridge, a lovely man and friend whom I went to see Hull City with many times.