Whitby Town

Ground: Turnbull Ground
Capacity: 3,500
Club Founded: 1880
League: Northern Premier League Premier Division - Step 3/7th Tier (current level)

The Seasiders of Whitby Town FC have a proud history, reaching two Wembley finals and maintaining their position in the third level of non-league football, while remaining a favourite trip among away fans.

Club History

Early Years

Whitby Town FC was formed in October 1880 as Streaneshalch FC, starting out life playing local friendly football. Shortly after their formation, the club was renamed Whitby Church Temperance. By late 1882, they became Whitby FC. 

A fierce rivalry with Scarborough FC soon formed, leading to one of the first football riots in 1889 as Whitby players were attacked on the pitch and then chased to the railway station by Scarborough supporters. Whitby joined the Cleveland Amateur League before progressing to the Northern League in 1893. 

My drawing of the Turnbull Ground and some former team kits.
Click on the image to enlarge it.

However, the cost of travel soon proved prohibitive, as the club played in local competition and friendlies. Following World War I, Whitby United were formed by the amalgamation of Whitby Whitehall Swifts and Whitby Town, both of whom had played in the Scarborough & District League. 

In 1926, the club was elected to the Northern League, finishing as runners-up on a couple of occasions before renaming themselves as Whitby Town in 1949. The team embarked on a remarkable run in the FA Amateur Cup in the 1964-65 season, defeating Enfield 1-0 in the semi-final at Roker Park in Sunderland.

League and Cup Success

However, the silverware was not heading to Upgang Lane as Hendon won the Wembley final 3-1. The 'Seasiders' won the short-lived Rothmans National Knock Out Cup, competed for by teams playing in leagues sponsored by the cigarette manufacturers twice, at a time when a young Malcolm Poskett hammered in the goals.

Town reached the second round of the FA Cup in 1983-84, before losing to Wigan Athletic. The same season also saw a fine run in the FA Trophy before losing to Dagenham in the quarter-finals. In 1992-93, Whitby were crowned champions of the Northern League but were denied promotion because of ground grading issues. 

Promotion to the Northern Premier League

In December 1995, Harry Dunn, known as Harry 'A' Dunn during his illustrious spell at Scarborough, was appointed as manager. In his first full season at the helm, a remarkable FA Cup first-round replay at Boothferry Park against Hull City took place. Town led 4-3 with a few minutes remaining, but eventually lost 8-4 after extra time.

The team went from strength to strength, lifting the Northern League title and also winning the FA Vase 3-1 against North Ferriby United at Wembley. Town were promoted to the Northern Premier League (NPL), winning the First Division, going up at the first attempt to the Premier Division.

Cup Runs and A New Stand

In 2000-01, the 'Blues' played Plymouth Argyle in front of the live Match of the Day cameras at the Turnbull Ground. In 2003-04 Radcliffe Borough defeated the side on penalties to claim a place in the newly formed Conference North. Dunn departed early in the 2004-05 season to be replaced by stalwart full-back Dave Logan. 

His side reached the play-offs before a new Main Stand was erected. Logan and several other managers gave their best before Dunn returned to the hot seat in May 2009. He was replaced by former Northern Ireland international Tommy Cassidy, whose reign proved to be less than popular before ex-Sunderland star Darren Williams took over a year later.

Recent Years

Williams brought back several players who departed under Cassidy, including Jimmy Beadle and Ashley Lyth. He steered the side to stability in the Premier Division. He remained in charge until November 2015, when he was replaced by Chris Hardy, who arrived from Guisborough Town and remained in the post for five years.

Nathan Haslam became joint manager with Lee Bullock, who himself moved on two years later, leaving the former experienced Northern League manager at the helm. In October 2024, Gary Liddle was appointed as manager. Bullock returned to be later given the manager's job in May 2026 after the side narrowly averted relegation.

My visits

Whitby Town 0 Scarborough 2

FA Cup Second Qualifying Round - Saturday 9th October 1971

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I had been taken to the Turnbull Ground for an FA Cup tie in 1971 in a packed record crowd. As I was only four years old, I couldn't remember too much apart from the busy ground and being lifted to see the action.

Boro progressed with goals from future Whitby manager Tony Lee and Colin Appleton on a run that ended in a 6-1 thumping at Hartlepool United in the first round.

Whitby Town 3 Scarborough 0

North Riding Senior Cup Semi-Final - Saturday 13th March 1976

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My first proper recollections came in the North Riding Senior Cup semi-final of 1976. I went in the car with my dad and Uncle Fred to watch Scarborough. Boro had beaten Tooting & Mitcham United in the quarter-finals of the FA Trophy the previous week, so were obvious favourites against their Northern League hosts. 

We entered through a gap in the properties behind the Upgang Lane goal. I was not immediately impressed. There were only a few feet between the gate and the goal net, while a high fence stood high, stopping any loose shots from breaking the windows of the overlooking houses. I was used to Boro's Athletic Ground and arenas of similar standards. 

To the right stood a low covered terracing of about 30 yards in length. The far end was similar to the one I'd entered, while the other side was made up of two stands that were joined together, containing bench seats and the changing rooms. 

There was a big crowd in attendance as the "Seasiders" fans, who were not massively fond of Boro, let them know at every opportunity. A big, rough and ready home forward called Malcolm Poskett tore the visitors apart with a first-half hat-trick. Comments as to how poor Tooting must be were passed by the Town fans!

Poskett went on to forge a highly successful career in the Football League with Hartlepool United, Watford, Brighton & Hove Albion, Darlington, Stockport County, and Carlisle United, where he faced Boro once again. Boro put in a better second-half performance and gained consolation through a Derek Abbey goal.

Whitby Town 1 Blyth Spartans 2

Northern League - Saturday 20th September 1980

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I ventured on my own as a schoolboy to watch Town play against Blyth Spartans in the Northern League, with the away team winning 2-1. I travelled by bus and generally had a good time discovering the beautiful seaside town. 

At the time, Town used to kick off at the strange time of 3.15 on a Saturday. After the match, I had a long wait at the bus station. When the service arrived, they dropped off the Teesside Gazette Sporting Pink for me to read on the ride home, with the tragic news of the death of boxer Johnny Owen featured in the "stop press".

Whitby Town 0 South Bank 5

Northern League - Friday 28th March 1986

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It was back in the days when I would use Bubbs and Saints bars in Scarborough with friends. Gary Griffiths, an avid groundhopper, would often drive to go and watch his beloved Cardiff City.

He gathered some of us together for a jaunt up the coast to watch this 11am kick-off with the Whitby side, which included both David Harvey and Peter Lorimer under manager Eddie Gray. I remember little of the game, but we obviously caught the hosts on an off day.

Whitby Town 0 West Bromwich Albion 8

David Mills Testimonial Match - Tuesday 15th March 1988

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Local lad David Mills, a former Albion, Middlesbrough, Newcastle United, Sheffield Wednesday and Darlington star, had suffered severe injuries in a car crash. His hometown club organised a game in his honour, and he received the proceeds.

Albion, managed by Ron Atkinson, arrived with a full-strength side, with assistant Stuart Pearson also getting a run-out. Don Goodman and Tony Morley both netted twice, with the other goals coming from Robert Hopkins, Colin Anderson, Darren Bradley, and a triallist called Johnson.

Whitby Town 0 Barrow 2

FA Trophy First Round - Saturday 11th January 1992

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I blagged a lift with Barrow fans to see them lose in the FA Trophy. I was in the Commercial, as usual on a Saturday lunchtime before a Scarborough home game, when news came through that the match was off because of a frozen pitch. A busload of Barrow fans came into the pub on the way to Whitby. 

They were more than happy to have me along, and I had a good ride drinking beer and singing along to the punk rock tapes while learning all their team songs. I hitched a ride back with future Scarborough Chairman, John Russell. Someone introduced me and got me a ride, as the driver told us how he was going to set up a rival non-league team in the town. 

I liked this news at the time, as Pol Pot would have made a good alternative to Geoffrey Richmond, who was in control at the time. How little I knew! See the Scarborough page for the alarming adventures of John Russell. I gave the bar plentiful trade as I did on one further visit for a match.

Whitby Town 2 Consett 2

Northern League - Saturday 10th September 1994 

I went with Crusher, Bob, and his dad to watch their hometown team, Consett, there. The father and son met some old school and work colleagues while Crusher and I refreshed ourselves amply, so much so that we missed the first two goals!

Autumn 2008

I called by to take the attached photos in 2008 on a day out in the town with my Mum and Dad. The ground was locked, but I still managed to sneak a view. A new impressive Main Stand holding 505 seats was in place.