Dearne & District F.C.

Dearne & District Football Club is an English football club representing the Dearne Valley area of South Yorkshire. They currently play in the Northern Counties East League Division One.

Dearne & District F.C.
Full nameDearne & District Football Club
Founded2018
GroundWelfare Ground, Goldthorpe
ChairmanAntonio Jamasb
ManagerZephaniah Thomas
LeagueNorthern Counties East League Division One
2023–24Central Midlands Alliance Premier Division North, 1st of 17 (promoted)

History

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The club was founded in 1982 as a youth team for the Rotherham area.[1] In 2018 an adult side was formed and joined Division One of the Doncaster Senior League. After finishing third in their first season in the league, the club were promoted to the Senior Division. In 2021 they transferred to the North Division of the Central Midlands League.[2] They were North Division runners-up in 2022–23, and after the league merged with the Midlands Regional Alliance, they were placed in the Premier North Division.[2]

Mick Norbury was appointed manager in May 2023, but resigned in September despite the club winning their first eight games of the season.[3] Jason Blunt was then appointed manager, extending the winning streak to 13,[4] after which they applied for promotion to the North East Counties League.[5] Promotion was secured by winning the Premier North Division title.[6]

In August 2024, Dearne mutually parted company with Blunt, appointing former Saint Kitts and Nevis international player Zephaniah Thomas as their new manager in their maiden season in the Northern Counties East League Division One.

Season-by-season record

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Grounds

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The club initially played their games at Dearne Valley College, before moving to the Kingsmark ground in Goldthorpe. However, after being refused planning permission for floodlights,[7] in 2023 they moved to the Welfare Ground.

Records

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  • FA Vase
    • First Qualifying Round 2024–25

Honours

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  • Central Midlands League
    • North Division champions 2023–24

References

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  1. ^ "South Yorkshire football club gets kitted out after scoring £550 donation". Doncaster Free Press. 9 September 2017.
  2. ^ a b Dearne & District at the Football Club History Database
  3. ^ "Former Doncaster Rovers forward resigns from non-league club despite unbeaten start". Doncaster Free Press. 26 September 2023.
  4. ^ "Ex-Leeds United coach and Doncaster Rovers' play-off hero in promotion battle with latter's newest rivals". Doncaster Free Press. 19 October 2023.
  5. ^ "League leaders Dearne & District given good workout by AFC Phoenix". Rotherham Advertiser. 5 February 2024.
  6. ^ "Proposed club allocations announced for next season". Northern Counties East League.
  7. ^ "Ambitious Dearne hope to have NCEL-ready ground by the end of the season". Non-League Yorkshire. 16 July 2022.

53°31′43″N 1°18′43″W / 53.528688°N 1.311836°W / 53.528688; -1.311836