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

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

 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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...

@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.

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.

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.

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.

We have a few historic links with Eastwood Town @Fan of Big Tone. Their ground is also one I've visited and as far as I'm aware the new club play there too. The UCL Premier Division is just one level lower than the Northern Premier League, where the old club could usually be found.

Fun fact while we're in anorak mode: Macclesfield Town were themselves a phoenix club, replacing the original club that was wound up in 1897. That's why their badge says "since 1874" and not "founded 1874".

More interesting facts about the old Eastwood Town FC. (Source Wikipedia)

In the 2008/09 season, Eastwood Town had a successful run in the FA Cup, defeating Wrexham and Wycombe Wanderers on their way to the third round of the competition. Eastwood finished as league champions and were promoted to the Conference North for the first time in their history.

Eastwood Town finished in 4th place in their second season in the Conference North, but were denied permission to take part in the playoffs due to insufficient ground grading. As a result, the club was put up for sale by its owners.

In November 2013, the club was issued with a winding up petition over an unpaid tax bill of £168,000 and council officials barred the club from using the Coronation Park ground.

After postponing five consecutive home games, the club resigned from the Northern Premier League in February 2014.

  On 27/01/2025 at 19:30, DangerousSausage said:

and as far as I'm aware the new club play there too.

Yes they do.

Bradford (Park Avenue) is a phoenix association football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. The team compete in Northern Premier League Division One East, at the eighth tier of the English football league system.

Their name is partly derived from their former home at Park Avenue, & was used to avoid confusion with Bradford derby rivals Bradford City.

The original Bradford PA's story is an interesting one. Founded in 1907 from a Rugby League Club, they were rejected initially by the football league, but were elected to the 2nd Div in 1908 then promoted to the 1st Division in 1914, & achieved their highest position of 8th in 1915.

A steady declined ensued & after several years struggling in the fourth division at or near the bottom, they were deselected from the football league in 1970.

(In those days a club that finished bottom of the 4th Div had to apply for re-election to the league. Those who decided whether it was in or out were the other clubs in the 4th Division).

After leaving the football league, the decline continued as a non league club & BPA were liquidated in 1974 with mounting debts.

The Club was reformed immediately, hoping to begin the slow recovery up the pyramid, initially as a local Sunday league club,, via the Bradford Sunday alliance league.

The Sunday side formed in 1974 merged with the new Saturday club in 1992. In 1995, a merged Bradford (Park Avenue) won the North West Counties League, re-joining the Northern Premier League and a year later in 1996 moving to Horsfall Stadium where they remain to this day .

Since 1996 BPA have steadily moved up the football pyramid &  In 2012 were promoted to the NL north where they stayed for 10 years before being relegated.

Bradford PA are currently in ninth place in their division, the Northern Premier League Division One East.

(Source Google)

Bradford (Park Avenue) A.F.C. - Wikipedia

EN.M.WIKIPEDIA.ORG

 

FC Halifax Town is a phoenix professional association football club based in Halifax, West Yorkshire, England. They currently compete in the National League, the fifth level of English football league system, as of the 2024/25 season.

Halifax Town A.F.C went into administration in the 2007/08 season with debts of over £814k. Phoenix Club FC Halifax were formed & were initially placed in the Northern Premier League Division One North, the eighth tier of English football ahead of the 2008/09 season.

Under manager Neil Aspin, the club won three promotions, reaching the top division of non-League football by 2013. FC Halifax won the FA Trophy in 2015/16 but were relegated to the National League North in the same season before returning to the National League immediately thanks to a play-off win against Chorley.

FC Halifax also won the FA Trophy in the 2022/23 season. They play at The Shay. FC Halifax are currently lying in 8th place, on 42 points, in the National League table, & are challenging for a play off place.

(Source Wiki

FC Halifax Town - Wikipedia

EN.M.WIKIPEDIA.ORG

 

The most famous phoenix club in England are arguably Leeds United.

Leeds United's predecessor, Leeds City, was formed in 1904 & elected to League membership in 1905 & played in the 2nd Division.

They achieved their highest position of 4th in the 2nd Div under Secretary Manager Herbert Chapman in season 1913/14.

In 1919, Leeds City was forcibly disbanded  from the 2nd Div by The Football League, in response to allegations of illegal payments to players during the First World War.

At Salem Chapel in 1919, Leeds United were formed, & they received an invitation to enter the Midland League, being voted into it on 31 Oct 1919.

Following Leeds City's disbanding, Yorkshire Amateurs bought Elland Road stadium, & then sold it to Leeds United for £250. On 31 May 1920, Leeds United were elected to the Football League.

Leeds United are currently leading the Championship table 

(Source Wiki)

Phoenix Club Scarborough Athletic Football Club is an association football club based in Scarborough, North Yorkshire, England.

They were formed when the original club, Scarborough FC, who were formed in 1879,  were liquidated with £2.5 million debts in June 2007.

Scarborough FC had a spell in the football league when they were the first club to be automatically promoted in 1987 from the Conference. They lost their league status in 1999.

Scarborough Athletic was admitted into the Northern Counties East League Div 1 on 25 June 2007, the 10th tier of the football pyramid. 

The Club have made steady progress up the football pyramid since they were admitted to the 10th tier.

The club currently play in the National League North, the sixth level of the English football league system.

Scarborough Athletic's wiki is here👇

Scarborough Athletic F.C. - Wikipedia

EN.M.WIKIPEDIA.ORG

 

Macclesfield are well on their way to promotion to the National League North this season with a massive lead over Worksop Town.

It's the first time I have seen Ilkeston Town's new crest, and whilst I am pleased they have got rid of the one which looked like it was Bristol City's.

Their new one looks overdesigned at the cost of simplicity. some might like it, but I don't. It's a good thought to include the mining, but there is so much going on. I would also suggest eliminating the outer shape. The inner crest would otherwise look a lot better on its own, but it's nice to see it back.

Bury are well on their way to getting promoted from the North West Counties Premier Division. 

Macclesfield have been promoted as Champions to the National League North. Congratulations to them