User:Netherfieldalbion/sandbox

You can go back over a hundred years to find an established football team in Netherfield, a small town approx 4 miles to the South East of Nottingham, when in 1895 a group of Christians decided to form a team taking the name of there local church Netherfield St Georges, but only two years later they disbanded leaving the town without a named football side until the 1903/04 season when Netherfield Rangers formed to join the Notts Alliance (Nottinghamshire’s first and longest running amateur football league) And it was only four years before Rangers were in contention for the trophies when in the 1907/08 season, they finished the league as Runners up.

After three mediocre seasons Netherfield Rangers ended the 1910/11 season as champions, this was the start of a new era as the next five years seen Netherfield’s most successful ever period. Winning the title four years out of five, when in 1914/15 they had already wrapped up the league when they had the chance to complete the double but after reaching the County Cup Final at Meadow Lane they were beaten by a very organized Basford United team on 27th March by two goals to one.

Although numerously entering the FA Amateur Cup Ten trophy-less years went by without major honours for Rangers and in 1924/25 they resigned from the league. Below is a table of Netherfield Rangers achievements during the clubs formation in 1903 and resignation from the Notts Alliance Football League in 1925. 1903/04 Netherfield Rangers join the Notts Alliance - 1907/08 Division One Runners Up 1910/11 Division One Champions 1911/12 Division One Champions 1912/13 Division One Champions 1914/15 Division One Champions 1914/15 Notts Alliance Cup Runners Up 1924/25 Netherfield Rangers resigned from the Notts Alliance

It was six years in the wilderness that Netherfield had without a football team representing the town, and in 1931 along came us, although they is no official proof that we was linked in anyway to Netherfield Rangers or in that matter Netherfield St Georges, Netherfield Albion was established and joined the Notts Alliance Division two, playing their football at Stoke Lane, the same year 1931/32, Albion reached a cup semi final only going out to Lenton Gregory 3-2 in the replay after an original 0-0 draw.

Two seasons later seen the clubs first ever trophy, the Division 2 Championship, after winning a playoff against Carlton Athletic who finished level on points. A year later Netherfield were relegated from the top flight but again were at evens with Carlton Athletic when after a replay in the final shared the Alliance Knockout Cup.

A season in division two saw Albion promoted again after finishing third. After beating Bagthorpe Athletic in the semi final in a replay on the 4th April 1936, the club were to boast another cup final appearance, which to date is still Netherfield Albion’s finest achievement, beating Ransome & Marles 1-0 in the Notts FA Intermediate Cup thanks to an Arnold Holland goal. A 6:30pm kick off on Saturday 25th April 1936 was played in front of 2,625 at Meadow Lane (Notts County FC) earning £63 5s. 6d. in gate receipts. The side on the day was; W.Pownall, J.Harker, T.Nutt, C.Saxon, T.Dickins, E.Jones, H.Cutts, D.Hickman, C.Crowson, A.Holland, A.Kirkby. The side being managed by Mr S.Bible.

Two years later Netherfield Albion finished as runners up in the Notts Alliance first Division.

The second World war saw a break not just in Amateur but all kinds of competitive Football, but it didn't take Netherfield long before they were back amongst the best in the county bidding for top honours with a post war change of venue (to Concrete Road which is now a petrol storage station) and switch of kit colours from the traditional black and white to gold and green.

Many of the players remained the same as before the war with President Sammy Harrison amongst others, loyal to the club, eventually being honoured by the Queen for good service, during around half a century in various capacities with the Albion.

Netherfield's first shot at silverware since the war was in 1949/50, but a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Gedling CW in the Alliance Cup final at Basford United’s Mill Street Ground was the nearest the club achieved for near fifteen years, in between this, in 1959/60 Netherfield Albion’s first reserve team was admitted to the league and in 1964/65 as the first team again achieved second place in the Alliance first Division the reserves were champions of Division two.

1968/69 saw the first team achieve another runners up award after finishing second in the Notts Alliance Senior Division, but after a further seven unsuccessful years the club in 1975/76 resigned from the Notts Alliance to join the District & Spartan but were re admitted to Nottinghamshire’s toughest Amateur Football league in 1980/81.

After a further two seasons Netherfield again resigned from the Alliance to join the District & Spartan where they spent eight years battling it out unsuccessfully until they joined the Notts Amateur Football League in 1990 where the decline down the divisions continued, after finishing ninth in the Premier a year later was relegated propping up the premier league dropping into division two where after three lowly positioned seasons were finally relegated to the third division and after a year finishing tenth in 1996/97 they won the league in superb style only losing two games and reached the Notts Amateur Junior Cup Final were they beat Great Northern at Players Sports ground through a solitary Andy Merrin goal.

The superb achievements that year lifted Albion up two divisions but were soon found not good enough and in November 1997 resigned from the league after struggling for players and decent results, this is were the reserves entered the frame after finishing there first season in mid table of the Notts Amateur fourth division Shaun Pates had a fast settling side and carried on the good name of Netherfield Albion back up the leagues.

After four successful promotions which included a double runners up in 2001 losing out in the Notts Amateur league junior cup and the division two title to Durham Ox 4-2 at Sneinton’s Stoke lane ground, Netherfield began to establish themselves in the Notts Amateur Premier Division with the recognition of being a well run and organized team which seen the club being awarded the Notts Amateur Leagues Majestic Sportsmanship Award 2002/03 and finishing a healthy third place in the 2003/04 season.

After sixteen ever improving seasons in the Notts Amateur Football League, a major shake-up amongst local Amateur Football in the County meant the amalgamation between the Notts Amateur and Notts Alliance to create the new Notts Amateur Alliance for the start of the 2004/05 season.

A tougher Premier Division with some of the counties oldest, finest and most famous sides meant that Albion struggled in their debut season finishing in 12th place and surviving relegation with a last day win, and for the third time in the clubs long history, the introduction of a Reserve side gave some bright hope, finishing fourth in the leagues second division and reaching the final of the Junior Section Cup where they unfortunately lost 6-1 to the Beacon.