Harleston Town Football Club is a football club based in Harleston, Norfolk, England. They are currently members of the Eastern Counties League Premier Division and play at Wilderness Lane.

Harleston Town
Full nameHarleston Town Football Club
Founded1885
GroundWilderness Lane, Harleston
ChairmanAdam Mullin
ManagerMatthew Halliday
LeagueEastern Counties League Premier Division
2023–24Eastern Counties League Premier Division, 6th of 19

History

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The club was established in 1885.[1] They became members of the top division of the East Anglian League in 1952.[2] In 1963–64 the club won the league's Knockout Cup, beating Norman Old Boys in the final.[3] At the end of the season the league merged with the Norfolk & Suffolk League to form the Anglian Combination, with Harleston placed in Section A.[4] However, they were subsequently relegated several divisions.

In 1980–81 Harleston were Division Three champions. They went on to win Division Two the following season, earning promotion to Division One. Following two relegations, in 2005–06 the club finished bottom of Division Three and were relegated to Division Four. A third-place finish in Division Four in 2008–09 saw them promoted back to Division Three. The club were champions of Division Three again in 2010–11 before winning the Division Two title in 2011–12.[5]

After finishing as runners-up in Division One in 2013–14, Harleston were promoted to the Premier Division. They were Premier Division runners-up in 2016–17 and won the division the following season, earning promotion to Division One North of the Eastern Counties League. The 2018–19 season saw the club win the Division One Knock-out Cup, beating Holland 6–0 in the final, and finished as runners-up in Division One North.[6] However, the club were relegated back to the Anglian Combination Premier Division as their ground failed the grading criteria by not having floodlights.[7][8] However, at the end of the 2020–21 season they were promoted back into Division One North of the Eastern Counties League.[8]

In their first season back in Division One North Harleston were runners-up, qualifying for the promotion play-offs. After beating Framlingham Town 2–1 in the semi-finals, they defeated Downham Town 3–1 in the final to earn promotion to the Premier Division.

Current squad

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As of 8 December 2024 [9]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

Pos. Nation Player
GK   ENG Elliot Pride
DF   ENG Jake Anema
DF   ENG George Barber
DF   ENG Matt Cook
DF   ENG Ollie Ebbage
DF   ENG Harry Hawthorne
DF   ENG Harrison Hide
DF   ENG Charlie Hitch
DF   ENG Aedan Oliver
MF   ENG Connor Delaney
MF   ENG Josh Durham
Pos. Nation Player
MF   ENG Joe Manning
MF   ENG Panashe Mundawarara
MF   ENG Nathan Page
MF   ENG Brandon Pickess
MF   ENG Adam Smith
MF   ENG Rob Turner
FW   ENG Spencer Cawcutt
FW   ENG Ryan Crisp
FW   ENG Adam Hipperson
FW   ENG Nathan Stone

The Eastern Counties Football League does not use a squad numbering system.

Honours

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  • Eastern Counties League
    • Division One Knock-out Cup winners 2018–19
  • Anglian Combination
    • Premier Division champions 2017–18
    • Division Two champions 1981–82, 2011–12
    • Division Three champions 1980–81, 2010–11
  • East Anglian League
    • Knockout Cup winners 1963–64

Records

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ A brief history Harleston Town F.C.
  2. ^ East Anglian League 1908–1964 Non-League Matters
  3. ^ Handbook Anglian Combination
  4. ^ Anglian Combination 1964–2003 Non-League Matters
  5. ^ Anglian Combination 2003–2012 Non-League Matters
  6. ^ "Big win secures Harleston Town the First Division Knockout Cup after missing out on title". Diss Express. 3 May 2019.
  7. ^ Harleston to appeal over ground grading ‘failure’ Eastern Daily Press, 19 May 2019
  8. ^ a b Harleston Town promoted to Thurlow Nunn League First Division North as part of restructure Diss Express, 18 May 2021
  9. ^ "The team". Harleston Town FC. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
  10. ^ Harleston Town at the Football Club History Database
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52°24′09″N 1°17′44″E / 52.402395°N 1.2956747°E / 52.402395; 1.2956747