Dunkirk

Dunkirk FC is a non-league football club that was formed in the residential area of Dunkirk in Nottingham in 1946. The club performed in the Notts Amateur League, becoming champions in 1974-75.

This saw them progress to the Notts Alliance League, winning the Division Two title in 1981-82, Division One in 1984-85 and then ending as runners-up in the Premier Division on three occasions. The sustained standard saw them reach the last sixteen of the FA Vase in 1993-94.

The ‘Boatmen’ joined the Central Midlands Premier League in 1995-96, winning promotion to the Supreme Division at the first attempt. The side finished as league runners-up in 1996-97 and again in 1998-99 before they lifted the title in 2004-05 under player-manager Dave Harbottle.

Dunkirk became founder members of the East Midlands Counties League in 2008-09, winning the title in 2009-10 to join the Midland Alliance, which would merge with the Midland Combination to become the Midland League in 2014-15 as the side was managed by joint bosses Leigh Grant and Kuki Morley.

They were replaced by Nick Hawkins as the Boatmen were relegated back to the East Midlands Counties League in 2015-16 as in total four different managers took control of the side in what was described as a disastrous season.

They regathered to win the title for a second time in 2017-18, which saw them promoted to the Midland League. One season later Dunkirk were relegated under manager Will Andrew before he was replaced by Chris North as two seasons were lost to the worldwide pandemic. 

When football resumed fully in 2021-22 Dunkirk were placed in Division One of the United Counties League, going on to finish fourth in 2023-24 following the appointment of Richard Hannigan as manager.

Paul Rockley became manager in June 2024 before he departed four months later to be replaced by Sam Ralph.

Dunkirk FC will play in the United Counties League Division One in the 2024-25 season.

My visit

Wednesday 16th January 2009

I had already taken full advantage of the zig-zag bus ticket and trams when my mate Pete Moss telephoned to find out my whereabouts. He kindly picked me up in the Nottingham suburb of Radford to give me a lift to Lenton Lane which is near a flyover and devoid of decent transport links.

We got to the open gates of the grounds car park where Dave, the groundsman who Pete knew, was boarding his cutter. He kindly unlocked the gate into the ground for me when I explained what I was doing, even though he seemed more than a little bemused.

The grandly named Ron Steel Sports Ground was a very neat venue that was well cared for and maintained. The clubhouse and changing rooms are in the car park. The whole pitch was surrounded by a path and then flat open grass. 

The near end has an unusually constructed stand with plenty of scaffolding poles holding it up. A covered standing area is down the side which is only a few metres from the River Trent. The ground certainly had potential for Dunkirk to be promoted in the future, should they wish to progress to a division which would require more travelling.

There was also time to visit Greenwood Meadows FC, located very close by before heading back into the city in time for a couple of drinks and looking around. It had been an excellent visit to a city with plenty of football clubs.