Carlton Town

Carlton Town is a non-league football club which is based in the suburb of that name on the outskirts of Nottingham. The club was formed in 1903 as Sneinton FC before changing its name in 2002.

From May 1905 Sneinton FC was granted use of the Sneinton Cricket Club and Ground on Colwick Road. They quickly became successful picking up three titles in the Nottinghamshire Football Alliance before going decades without honours.

A new home was acquired on Stoke Lane in Gedling in the early 90s leading to the club joining the Central Midlands League for the 1994-95 season. Tommy Brookbanks and Neil Cooper took over managerial duties at the behest of chairman Bill Stokeld which heralded the start of a successful era.

Promotion to the Supreme Division of the competition was achieved in 1997-98, with the side finishing third in 2000-01. The change of name in 2002 brought the ‘Millers' success as they won the Central Midlands League title in 2002-03 and along with it, promotion to the Northern Counties East League.

Promotion as Division One champions was achieved in 2005-06. A third-placed finish twelve months later saw Carlton promoted to Division One South of the Northern Premier League. 2008-09 saw the Millers reach the playoffs where they lost their semifinal tie to Stocksbridge Park Steels who had Jamie Vardy on the scoresheet.

In the summer of 2010, Les McJannet became the new Carlton manager, taking his side to the playoffs in 2011-12 where they were defeated on penalties by Leek Town in their semifinal tie. Wayne Scott replaced McJannett in the summer of 2015. Throughout this period Town lifted the Notts Senior Cup on three occasions.

The 2018-19 season saw Carlton placed in Division One East with some long journeys to complete. Two abandoned pandemic seasons followed before the club returned to full action when playing in Division One Midlands for a season before returning to the East.

This was after Brookbanks returned for a second spell as manager alongside Mark Harvey. The duo led the side to the playoffs in 2023-24 which ended in a semifinal defeat to Stockton Town.

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

My visit

Tuesday September 15th 2009

I was in Nottingham to go on to watch Scarborough Athletic play at Long Eaton United. My locally based Boro supporting mate, Pete Moss was giving me a ride around to visit some grounds. I was going to visit Carlton Town the following day on the train but Pete reckoned it was too far from the nearest station so he kindly took me there.

The gates were open and a lady was inside the buildings preparing for an evening fixture so she gave me permission to wander about. There was a smell in the air from a nearby sewage plant. The Bill Stokeld Stadium is not far from Gedling Town's Riverside home and I had passed it when going there a couple of years previously.

The ground had to grow with the club's rapid rise through the leagues. It appeared quite basic for a Northern Premier League venue. The near side had a large building containing the club facilities with a roof overhang at the front to cater for fans wishing to stand under cover. 

To the left, an all-weather training pitch was located with a flat little open standing in front, which continued down the far side. The grounds' seated stand was behind the other goal in the form of one of the modern easily assembled constructions so prevalent at non-league venues around the country.

The ground has room for improvement, should the club progress any further.