Phoenix Club updates.

[Robbie 𝕏 @Robbie_NCFC]

This is a thread to chart the progress of phoenix Clubs that grew out of Clubs that went out of business for whatever reason.

Nice to see phoenix club Nuneaton Town FC, formally Nuneaton Borough, doing well & on their way back this season.

Following the withdrawal of Nuneaton Borough FC from the Southern League in January 2024, Boro fans (through the Supporters Co-Operative) and sponsors came together to create the club.

They are currently leading their Division, Midlands Football  League Div 1, which is step 10 of the football league pyramid in England.

Table | The Capelli Sport MFL Division One | Midland Football League

FULLTIME.THEFA.COM

---

Table for The Capelli Sport MFL Division One in the Midland Football League

 

[Robbie 𝕏 @Robbie_NCFC]

Bury Football Club is an English association football club based in Bury, Greater Manchester, which plays in the Premier Division of the North West Counties League, the ninth tier of the English football pyramid, following a 2023 merger with phoenix club Bury A.F.C.. Before expulsion from the English Football League, Bury F.C. had played in EFL League Two, the fourth tier of the English football pyramid, in the 2018–19 season.

(Source Wiki)

Bury are currently 2nd in their league, hoping to get promoted this year.

[Robbie 𝕏 @Robbie_NCFC]

Macclesfield Football Club is an association football club based in Macclesfield, Cheshire, England. It is a phoenix club of the former Macclesfield Town F.C. founded in 1874, which was wound-up after a High Court ruling on 16 September 2020. The club began their first competitive season in the North West Counties Premier Division, the fifth step of the National League system (ninth tier in the English football pyramid), in August 2021, and currently competes in the Northern Premier League, (seventh tier in the English football pyramid) following two successive promotions.

(Source Wiki)

Current Northern premier league table.

[Robbie 𝕏 @Robbie_NCFC]

Chester Football Club is an association football based in Chester, England. They are currently members of the National League North, the sixth tier of English football, and play at the Deva Stadium.

Chester FC is a phoenix club & was reformed after the liquidation of Chester City in 2010

In its first season back in the league structure, it competed in Division One North of the Northern Premier League.

After winning this division, it then won the Northern League Premier Div in 2011/12 & the Conference North in 2012/13 Chester returned to the National League North following relegation in 2017–18.

(Source Wiki)

Up to date National League North table.

[Robbie 𝕏 @Robbie_NCFC]

Darlington Football Club is an association football club based in Darlington, County Durham, England. As of the 2023–24 season, the team competes in the National League North, at the sixth level of English football.

Darlington moved to an all-seater, 25,000-capacity stadium named  Darlington Arena in 2003 & that is when Darlington's problems began with the cost of the stadium contributing into driving the club into administration in 2003, 2009, & 2012.

As the fan owned club was unable to agree a creditors voluntary agreement it was expelled from the Football Association.

A new club was immediately formed & moved to Blackwell Meadows stadium but the FA ruled that, as a new club, it must have a different playing name from the expelled club.

The name chosen was Darlington 1883, & the phoenix club was placed in the Northern League Division One, the ninth tier of English football, for the 2012–13 season.

Darlington 1883 won three promotions in four seasons before the FA approved their request to change back to the traditional Darlington FC name.

(Source Wiki) 

Latest National League North Table.

[DangerousSausage]

Thanks for this update @Robbie! I'm always interested in how some of the familiar names are doing.

I've been to Nuneaton's old Manor Ground before, it was a proper traditional non-league ground too. They moved to Liberty Way in 2008, but the future of that stadium is up in the air. They're currently groundsharing with Bedworth United a few miles away. They're going well, but the tenth tier is very modest for a club like that.

The NLN table is incredibly tight, and Darlo, Chester, Scunny and Hereford are all in with a chance of playing in the National League next season. Just out of the screenshot are Scarborough Athletic in 15th. One tier further down, in the Norther Premier League, Macclesfield are currently 16 points clear and looking all set to return to the NLN next season. With Boston and Aldershot in relegation trouble, it's possible that there will be nine former league clubs (or phoenix clubs thereof) in next year's NLN...

[Robbie 𝕏 @Robbie_NCFC]

@DangerousSausage Thanks for that. Like you I am interested in how these phoenix clubs are doing. It's great that the ones I've mentioned are doing well & are on the long road back.

Darlington FC have there old name back too which is positive. Macclesfield seem to be doing very well, & as you say, they should be back to the NLN next season.

I also believe that so long as the supporters want it, no matter the circumstances that a club may find themselves in, a club will always survive in one form or another. The evidence is there before us.

Of course we don't want to see a Club go out of business. That's why the powers that be need to ensure more money is distributed down the football pyramid.

[Fan of Big Tone 𝕏 @mainstandpie]

Eastwood Town Football Club was an English football club based in Eastwood, Nottinghamshire. The club last participated in the Northern Premier League Division One South, the eighth tier of English football.

A new club, Eastwood C.F.C., was formed in 2014 following the demise of Eastwood Town.

Eastwood Community Football Club play at Coronation Park, Eastwood, which is also the home of Notts County Women.

Eastwood CFC currently play inUnited Counties Premier Division North.

[liampie]

yes this is a great idea @Robbie, thank you so much for sharing it. its a very detailed topic and i had forgotten just how many clubs had folded. some of which have been efl clubs for as long as i can remember. its nice to see bury have kept the same club badge too.

[Robbie 𝕏 @Robbie_NCFC]

Aldershot Town Football Club is a professional association football club based in Aldershot, Hampshire, England. The team competes in the National League, the 5th level of the English football league system.

Aldershot Town, a phoenix club, was founded in the spring of 1992 after the closure of debt-ridden Fourth Division club, Aldershot.

Initially placed in the Isthmian League 3rd Division, Aldershot Town had two successive promotions in seasons 1992/93 & 1993/94. They won the 1st Division title in 1997–98 & the Premier Division in 2002/03 to gain a place in the Conference.

They spent five seasons in the Conference, losing twice in the play-offs, before winning promotion into the Football League as Conference Champions in season 2007/08.

They spent five seasons in League Two, reaching the play-offs in 2010, but were relegated back into non-League football & entered administration in May 2013.

They were subsequently bought by a new owner, after which they reached the National League play-offs in 2017 & 2018.

(Source Wiki)

Aldershot Town are currently 18th in the National League table, 5 points above the relegation zone.