Ilkeston

 

Ilkeston FC were formed in November 2010 and are considered to be the reformed Ilkeston Town FC. When Town were wound up, it was thought that the Supporters Trust would take charge of the new club, but SR Education took on the former clubs assets and continued to employ manager Kevin Wilson and coach Darren Caskey.

Ilkeston Town FC were originally formed in the Derbyshire town whose major industries were traditionally coal mining, iron working and lace making in 1945. Previous clubs had represented the town since 1886.

They initially started out in the local leagues before becoming a prominent club in both the Central Alliance and Midland League. The club suffered badly in 1968 as the newly formed Northern Premier League weakened the Midland League while Brian Clough's amazing renaissance of nearby Derby County depleted crowds. An attempt to attract fans was made by joining the Southern League but it proved a disaster so Town returned to the Midland League before joining the newly formed Northern Counties East League. This didn't suit the club with the increased travelling so they entered the Central Midlands League but they quickly realised it did not guarantee promotion up through the pyramid.

The Reds moved to the West Midlands Regional league under the millionaire chairmanship of Paul Millership. A new ground was built and ambition was high as the club progressed into the Southern League Premier League before they moved sideways into the Northern Premier League.

Hopes were high that the 2007/08 season would see Ilkeston heading for a play-off place. Instead, it was a disastrous season, both on and off the pitch. The club was hit hard by the tragic loss of its saviour Paul Millership, and the team only managed to survive relegation on goal difference. There were serious concerns that Millership's death would spell the end of Ilkeston Town. The end of the season ended on a high note and gives great optimism for the future. Millionaire local builder Chek Whyte stepped in to make sure that the club would not only survive but also strive for a highly successful future.

At the end of the 2009–10 season the club came under new ownership with Gary Hodder taking over as chairman.

On 8 September 2010, Ilkeston Town FC were wound up in the high court over a £47,000 tax bill from the Chek Whyte era.

In their final season (2010–2011) they played initially in the Conference North, but their record was expunged on 8th September as they were subject to a winding up order.

The new Ilkeston FC appealed to the FA after fulfilling the academies fixtures the previous season to place them in a league suitable to the club. The decision was not universally popular as they were placed in the Northern Premier League. The team won promotion via the play offs at the first time of asking.

Ilkeston FC will play in the Northern Premier League Premier Division in the 2014-15 season.

My visit

Wednesday 16th September 2009

I awoke in my extremely small but good value hotel room in Nottingham after a restless sleep following coming off night shifts. I had planned a big days groundhopping in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire so I made my way down to Victoria Bus Station for my first journey.

 

I boarded the every ten minute service to Ilkeston to find a really comfortable bus for the half hour journey. We crossed the M1 and entered Derbyshire and then the large former mine working town. The bus dropped me just a five minute walk away from The New Manor ground on the edge of town by the canal.

A gate was opened which took me down a tunnel to the far end of the ground where I found a doorbell on the office door. A man came down and gave me permission to wander around the most excellent venue. I don't know what Town's old ground was like but it would have had to have been special to beat this one.

 

The Town End had a decent sized cover although not many steps. The other end had a substantial covered terracing for a club of Ilkeston's size complete with crush barriers. One side had flat open standing with a long clubhouse taking up most of the area. The fourth side was the grounds crowning glory.

Towards one end stood the dressing room block with a seating block on top of it. In the corner was a tower complete with clock before the club two story office block completed the structure around the corner. Towards the half way line there was a seated stand before it gave way to a small section of open terracing.

I was extremely impressed with what I'd seen. With not too much more work the ground would not be far off Football League status. I walked back into a town centre that does not match up with the football club. It showed signs of it being from a tough era when people grafted hard for their money. I can imagine it being very "lively" on an evening!