Image ID: 27027

Sutton Town Football Ground

Priestsic Road
Sutton in Ashfield
Nottinghamshire
England

This view shows the Priestsic Road end of the ground, towards Devonshire Square. Sutton Town Football Club were founded way back in 1885 and played their first games at the rear of the public house called the Dog and Duck. Colours were red caps, white jerseys, white shorts and black socks. After playing friendly matches for a few seasons Sutton joined the Notts & District League in 1890 and won the Championship in successive seasons in 1906 and 1907 although their first honours had actually been gained in 1893 when they had won the Mansfield Charity Cup. By the time they were in the Derbyshire League they had made the first of many moves of ground and were playing at the New Cross ground sharing with the now long defunct town cricket club. The most successful period in the clubs history came between the two world wars and particularly between 1929 and 1934 when they won the Derbyshire Senior League for three seasons in a row and reached the second round of the F.A.Cup losing to Reading after beating Rochdale in the first round and won six local cup competitions. By this time the matches were being played on the Avenue Ground behind the Pot Makers Arms on Mansfield Road. The ground also had a greyhound-racing track, which was in use up to about 30 years ago when the site was redeveloped. After the second world war, the club was revived and spent ten successful seasons in the very strong Central Alliance before stepping up to the Midland League. A new ground was developed with a playing surface that was the envy of all around, including football league clubs, at Priestsic Road and crowds of 5-6000 came to see the likes of Peterborough United in their non-league heyday, North Shields, Ashington and Scarborough, as well as more local rivals like Worksop Town. In the 1959-60 season Sutton enjoyed more success in the FA Cup before going out to 3-0 away to Hull City. During this era, the club almost made the Notts Senior Cup its own property. They have won this cup on no less than 17 occasions, a record that can only be matched by Nottingham Forest. Unfortunately the ground, adjacent to the centre, was never owned by the club and the Landlord sold out to a property developer. A superstore now stands on the site. The club almost folded as a result but East Kirkby Miners Welfare came to the rescue and the club took over their ground in the neighboring town of Kirkby-in-Ashfield, at the time a recreation ground and not even properly maintained. Lowmoor road was gradually turned into a stadium, with a pitch wall surround, new dressing rooms, floodlights, and boardroom and office facilities. When the Midland League joined forces with the Yorkshire League the club became founder members of the new Northern Counties East League Premier Division, winning the League Cup in 1986. They narrowly missed promotion when finishing runners up to North Shields but on inspection, their Lowmoor ground failed to meet the grading requirement. The 1992-93 season saw Sutton forced to change their name to Ashfield United, the issue being forced through a deal with the District Council. However, the club was forced to fold when East Kirkby Miners Welfare reclaimed the ground at the end of the 1996-97 season. The name 'Sutton Town Football Club' had apparently disappeared forever. However, it was not all over for the Snipes. Ironically the club, which dates back to the 19th century, has been resurrected by a club, which was not formed until the early months of the 21st century. North Notts FC was formed on the 1st of June 2000, with the aim of following in the proud tradition of its Sutton Town forefather. In its first ever campaign, North Notts won the Central Midlands Premier Division title and managed a respectable 8th place in the Supreme Division the following season. The club also embarked on a successful FA campaign, reaching the first round proper before going out to Barrow Town 2-1aet. In the meantime Chief Executive Eric Hetherington has successfully negotiated with the FA and former Sutton town chairman Roy Gregory to acquire the Sutton Town and Ashfield Names. It seemed only right that the club should adopt a name more readily identifiable with Sutton-in-Ashfield. The club s supporters were asked which name should be adopted and the overwhelming answer was SUTTON TOWN FOOTBALL CLUB. It was a natural decision with the club now firmly established at the Hosiery Mills Ground, off the Huthwaite Road, Sutton-in-Ashfield. In 2002/3 under the new banner of SUTTON TOWN, as well as clinching the runners up spot in the League, thus gaining promotion to the N.C.E.L. Division One, the Snipes reached the final of the Central Midlands League Floodlit Cup loosing to Dunkirk in a dramatic sudden death penalty shoot-out at the Lido ground. Last season they narrowly missed out on promotion to the Premier Division, but reached the quarter-finals of the League Cup and the Wilkinson Sword Trophy. Meanwhile, facilities at the Hosiery Mills have continued to be upgraded, highlighted by the construction of a new stand. (information from www.intheteam.com)

Date: 1976

Organisation Reference: NCCW001433

Organisation: