UPDATED: Central Midlands League North champions Glapwell fold

Glapwell Football Club is to fold just weeks after clinching the Central Midlands League North championship.

The club marched to the title in convincing fashion, finishing the season six points ahead of second placed Ollerton Town and boasting a plus 110 goal difference.

Among the club records broken included the highest home and away league victories, most goals scored in a season, most consecutive league victories and most consecutive league games unbeaten.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

It was the first Glapwell side in 22 years to win a title. However, promotion to the next step in the non-League pyramid was not possible due to issues over the ground.

The management team of Jordan Hall, John Styring and Mark Higginbotham left their posts at the start of the month during a period of uncertainty for the club.

The club announced its decision to fold this week through its Twitter account, which read: “Lots of stories going around. Can confirm though that we have folded and Glapwell FC is no more. #sadday #wentoutonahigh #champions”.

A statement from the club read: “It is with great sadness that Glapwell FC can confirm that the club has folded.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“It has been an incredibly difficult decision to make and is one that has been made with extremely heavy hearts but it was believed to be the only reasonable option in answer to several ongoing issues.

“This is an extremely sad day for everyone connected with the club, especially on the back of what has been our most successful season for many years which has culminated in the club’s first league title success for 22 years; and first trophy for 18!

“It has been common knowledge that over the last few years, there have been ongoing issues surrounding the ground at Hall Corner and indeed those were of detriment to the club again as the club were unable to take the promotion which was so richly deserved last season due to a lack of floodlights, and with very little progress made on that front due to conditions out of our control, it was always going to have an impact on how the club moved forward with no chance of progressing to the next level.

“It has been speculated in recent days that the club were to be playing elsewhere for the upcoming season but the club can confirm that that is not the case and that was a proposal that was never considered due to costs but more importantly that the identity of the club would be lost by playing at another team’s ground away from the village, and indeed Hall Corner, which has been the club’s rightful home for more than three decades.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“There were other issues such as the increased running costs which were going to be unsustainable with the committee regularly paying out of their own pockets to keep the club afloat which is something that cannot continue forever, and decreasing numbers of matchday help also helped force the club’s hand and it is sad that this day has come.

Glapwell FC match cancelled due to waterlogged pitchGlapwell FC match cancelled due to waterlogged pitch
Glapwell FC match cancelled due to waterlogged pitch

“Ultimately, though, many people that have been involved in the progression of the club over the years, some of which are still involved, some of who aren’t and some who are sadly no longer with us anymore, but those people are the true heroes of the non-league game and they can hold their head up high and take a great amount of pride in what the club ultimately did achieve.

“There have been extraordinary highs over the years, most notably the Derbyshire Senior Cup success in 1998 when the club overcame the massive favourites Matlock Town on their own Causeway Lane ground to win the competition for the first, and indeed, only time.

“Other notable successes included the promotion to the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League in 2008, being a whisker from playing Step 3 football after the narrowest of defeats at Chasetown in the Play-off final of 2010.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“The ugly events of the following year looked set to spell the end for the club but yet more hard work and dedication from another hard working committee kept the club alive in the Central Midlands Football League where, of course, the club achieved great success last season by romping to the North Division title in record breaking fashion and ensuring that the club bowed out on an incredible high.

“There are far too many people to mention and to thank for their incredible efforts to Glapwell FC over the years, there have been some incredible highs but this is on the flip side of that, a sad day for many, and a massive shame that circumstances have forced this decision, anything can happen in football but, unfortunately, the latest chapter in the history of Glapwell Football Club has come to a tragic end.”