Harleston Town F.C.
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| Full name | Harleston Town Football Club |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1885 |
| Ground | Wilderness Lane, Harleston |
| Chairman | Adam Mullin |
| Manager | Matthew Halliday |
| League | Eastern Counties League Premier Division |
| 2023–24 | Eastern Counties League Premier Division, 6th of 19 |
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.
History
[edit]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
[edit]- As of 28 July 2024 [9]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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The Eastern Counties Football League does not use a squad numbering system.
Honours
[edit]- 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
[edit]- Best FA Cup performance: First qualifying round, 2024–25[10]
- Best FA Vase performance: Second round, 2024–25
References
[edit]- ^ A brief history Harleston Town F.C.
- ^ East Anglian League 1908–1964 Non-League Matters
- ^ Handbook Anglian Combination
- ^ Anglian Combination 1964–2003 Non-League Matters
- ^ Anglian Combination 2003–2012 Non-League Matters
- ^ "Big win secures Harleston Town the First Division Knockout Cup after missing out on title". Diss Express. 3 May 2019.
- ^ Harleston to appeal over ground grading ‘failure’ Eastern Daily Press, 19 May 2019
- ^ a b Harleston Town promoted to Thurlow Nunn League First Division North as part of restructure Diss Express, 18 May 2021
- ^ "The team". Harleston Town FC. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
- ^ Harleston Town at the Football Club History Database