Wellingborough Town

Wellingborough Town FC

Ground: The Dog & Duck

Capacity: 5,000

Club Founded: 1867

League:  Northern Premier League Division One Midlands - Step 4/8th Tier (current level)

The historic club of Wellingborough Town FC is a fine example of how to rebuild and grow after perilous times.

Wellingborough Town FC - Early Years

The original club was the first founded in Northamptonshire, starting life partly as a rugby club before becoming dedicated to football a couple of years later, playing matches at Broad Green. Ten years later, they were believed to be the first club to play a game under floodlights, when they entertained Bedford at Bassett's Close.

In 1894, 'The Doughboys' or 'The Cornies', as the club is nicknamed after the industries in the town, became founder members of the Leicestershire & Northants League, before moving into the Midland League the following season. They progressed into the Southern League, moving into a new ground at the Dog & Duck on London Road at the same time. 

 

Moving Around the Leagues and then Dissolution

The club spent a short time as Wellingborough Redwell FC, resigning from the Southern League before reverting to their original name in 1919 and rejoining the competition. They joined the United Counties League (UCL) in 1936, remaining there for thirty-two years before moving to the Metropolitan League. 

They won the league in the 1969-70 season and moved into the West Midlands Regional League for a season before rejoining the Southern League. By the start of the 1990's, Wellinborough were back in the UCL where they succumbed to continual struggle and folded in 2002.

 

A New Club

Without a club, three friends got together and assembled a group of twenty-four people to re-establish Wellingborough Town in 2004. Amongst them was snooker world champion Peter Ebdon, a resident of the town. The Dog & Duck had survived, despite part of the land becoming a Travelodge motel.

The club spent its comeback season in the Northamptonshire Senior Youth League before securing a place in the UCL. The Doughboys won Division One in 2005-06 and were promoted to the Premier Division under manager Jason Burnham.

 

Stabilising

In November 2008, the club was not being backed by locals or accumulating sponsorships. Former player and chairman Martin Potton returned and helped the situation. Former Premier League player Trevor Benjamin had a spell with the team, prior to Rob Gould becoming manager in May 2009. 

The club stabilised itself over the following couple of years, on and off the pitch. A deal was signed with the newly formed AFC Rushden & Diamonds for them to be tenants at the Dog & Duck from the start of the 2012-13 season, thus aiding the finances with Phil Mason arriving as the new Doughboys manager soon into the campaign.

 

Promotion to the NPL

Managers came and went regularly, while finances were not helped after the landlord of the Dog and Duck forced AFC Rushden & Diamonds to leave by May 2017. The team was placed in Premier Division South of the restructured UCL.

Wellingborough were league champions in 2023-24 and were rewarded with a place in Step-4 football in the Northern Premier League (NPL).

 

My visit

AFC Rushden & Diamonds 1 Luton Town 3

Friendly - Friday 3rd August 2012

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Details of this match can be read about on the AFC Rushden & Diamonds page, along with further images. Here, I concentrate on my impressions of the Dog and Duck.

Double Helping of Live Sports

I had enjoyed a fine day in Northampton on my day off work, where I'd seen a rain-interrupted day in the County Championship between Northants and Yorkshire, as well as visiting the grounds of Northampton Town, Northampton Saints, and Northampton Spencer.

The bus took me from near The County Ground to Wellingborough town centre. The size of the market town somewhat surprised me. It had a vibrant centre and plenty of pubs. However, I headed to the ground as I wanted to spend my money at the bar at the football club and to guarantee a programme.

The walk took me a good fifteen minutes, and I was slightly concerned at one point that I had gone the wrong way. I carried on past the impressive Wellingborough School with its historic buildings and manicured playing fields before finding the Dog & Duck. 

Stewards were by the gate advising supporters and motorists and offering a warm welcome. My friend Ian had advised me that the clubhouse wasn't up to much, but I went with the hunch that, with Diamonds sharing, then improvements must have been made. 

I was pleased to be correct, and although there was no real ale, the cheerful barman poured me a reasonable enough pint of Eagle smoothflow. I had a nice chat with some Diamonds fans as we watched Team GB continue their excellent run. I couldn't believe a signed, framed shirt on the wall was of York City. What a welcome for a Scarborough fan! 

The Clubhouse End also had food stands and a raised patio, as well as the changing rooms with the players emerging from the corner. The London Road Side was a narrow piece of flat standing with the dugouts near the halfway line. 

The final side, with the home of Wellingborough Whitworth FC just behind it, had the Peter Ebdon Stand, a raised seating deck with the back couple of rows taken out for standing spectators. 

I later read that improvements were planned, with the tenants paying for a portable covered terrace. The walk back to the station took about twenty minutes, and I was back home just gone midnight. I had a good evening out at a decent old school venue to top off a pleasant day away from the capital.