Darlaston Town (1874) Football Club is an English association football club that represents the town of Darlaston, West Midlands. They are currently members of the Northern Premier League Division One Midlands and play at the Bentley Sports Pavilion, Darlaston in the Metropolitan Borough of Walsall.
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| Full name | Darlaston Town 1874 Football Club | ||
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| Nickname(s) | The Citizens | ||
| Founded | 1874 2014 (continuation) | ||
| Ground | Bentley Sports Pavilion, Darlaston, Metropolitan Borough of Walsall | ||
| Chairman | Neil Chambers | ||
| Manager | Dean Gill | ||
| League | Northern Premier League Division One Midlands | ||
| 2023–24 | Midland League Premier Division, 3rd of 18 (promoted via play-offs) | ||
| Website | https://www.darlastontown1874fc.com/ | ||
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History
editThe club was formed in 1874.[1]
In 2014, the club was accepted into the West Midlands (Regional) League Division Two, two leagues below where the original club left off.[2] In just their second season in the league, the club finished 3rd and level on points behind runners-up FC Stafford.
On 10 October 2015, the club attracted their highest league home gate when 105 spectators took in the visit of local neighbours Wednesfield.[3]
The 2018–19 season saw the club go 20 league games unbeaten.[4] In June 2019, the club were granted a place in the Premier Division for the first time in 6 years alongside 17 other clubs.[5] Their first season back, however, was cut short when the majority of the English non-league pyramid seasons were abandoned due to the COVID-19 pandemic. At the end of the 2020–21 season the club was transferred to Division One of the Midland League when the Premier Division of the West Midlands (Regional) League lost its status as a step six division. At the conclusion of the 2023–24 season, the club beat Lichfield City in the play-off final to earn promotion to the Northern Premier League.
Ground
editThe club currently play their home games at the Bentley Sports Pavilion, Darlaston in the Metropolitan Borough of Walsall. The ground is currently known as the Paycare Ground for sponsorship reasons.
Records
editDarlaston FC
edit- Best FA Cup performance: 4th qualifying round, 1977–78 (replay)
- Best FA Vase performance: 3rd qualifying round, 1972–73, 1973–74
- Best FA Vase performance: 2nd round, 1995–96
Darlaston Town FC
edit- Best FA Vase performance: 1st round, 2008–09
Darlaston Town (1874) FC
editReferences
edit- ^ "Club History". Darlaston Town 1874 FC official site.
- ^ "The birth of Darlaston Town (1874) FC". Express and Star.
- ^ "Club History". Darlaston Town 1874 FC official site.
- ^ "Darlaston Town F.C.'s (1874) return to the Premier Division". Valerie Vaz MP.
- ^ "THE WEST MIDLANDS (REGIONAL) LEAGUE CONFIRM DARLASTON'S PLACE IN THE PREMIER DIVISION". Darlaston Town 1874 FC official site. 4 June 2019.