Kimberley Town

Kimberley Town FC was a non league football club from the town of Kimberley in Nottinghamshire which was a former home of coal mining, brewing and hosiery manufacturing. 

'The Stags' had a long history and were formed way back in 1886 with a forerunner to the current club being Kimberley YMCA. The club played in the Notts Amateur League from the 1950's after a spell in abeyance, becoming champions in 1954-55. The reward was promotion to Division Two of the Central Alliance League.

The club changed their title to Kimberley Town FC in 1956, going on to become members of the Midland League in 1971-72, When the league expanded Town were not re-elected to the Premier Division and were placed in Division One for the 1981-82 season. 

This was prior to becoming founder members of the Northern Counties East League in 1982-83, being given a place in Division One. Relegation to Division Two South followed twelve months later before playing Division Three football in 1985-86 following re-organisation of the leagues. 

The Stags became founder members of the Supreme Division of the Central Midlands League ahead of the 1986-97 campaign, where they remained until being relegated to the Premier Division in 1989-90. Promotion to the top level was achieved in 1991-92, with the side going on to finish as league runners-up in 1997-98.

Relegation followed in 2001-02 before promotion was once again won in 2004-05. The team continued to battle to regain its status, slipping down again in 2006-07 but regaining a Supreme Division place in 2007-08 thanks to league restructuring.

Kimberley were placed in the South Division for the 2011-12 when the league once again changed its formation. That was to be the clubs final season under manager Paul Rawden. Once they folded Kimberley Miners Welfare FC took over at the Stag Ground.  

My visit

Wednesday 16th September 2009

It was a pleasant morning and I was taking full advantage of the excellent value zig zag bus explorer ticket after attending long Eaton United v Scarborough Athletic the previous evening and enjoyed some drinks in the city centre of Nottingham.

I took the bus from Ilkeston to the centre of Kimberley which is a small town come large village. It had sadly lost its large Hardy and Hanson brewery in the previous few years to my visit with the building looking very sad as it was all boarded up.

I had done my homework in advance and printed out a map of the town so I had little problem following the main Nottingham Road once I'd got off the bus to The Stag Ground.

I cut through an alleyway next to the Stag Inn pub to the ground. The ground itself is nothing to write home about. It is surrounded by railings so anyone wanting to watch the game for free can do so. It has obviously fallen on hard times as I have to admit I had a little giggle as the perimeter pitch fence near the dug outs was made up of old utility service barriers.

The changing rooms and clubhouse were at the Town End as is the only covered spectator accommodation which consisted of a cantilevered covered shelter. the rest of the spectator areas were open grass with a bank on the top side, from where the pitch sloped down to the dug outs side.

Kimberley Town would have needed considerable investment if they are to progress through the football pyramid, which was always unlikely considering their proximity to so many senior non league clubs and three Football League clubs.