| Stockton Town FC – Club History |
Stockton Town FC was formed initially in 1979 under the football clubs previous name Hartburn Juniors. Although records around that time are sketchy, it would appear the club was formed by Derrick Small who at the time was coaching youngsters (under 10) from the Hartburn area of Stockton at the YMCA. A team was initially entered in the Acklam 5 a side league in Middlesbrough to give the youngsters at that time the opportunity to play organised football.
Following on from the success of the 5 a side team it was decided in 1981 to enter an 11 a side team in the Teesside Junior Football Alliance (TJFA) at the under 12 age group. At that time there were a number of players who were under the age requirements for under 12 and they continued to play in local 5 a side leagues. It was at this time that the club home colours that remain now, yellow/royal shirts & royal shorts, was established.
The 1982 season saw the introduction of a second 11 a side team to the TJFA and the clubs first sponsorship, which saw Willie Maddren supply part funding for clubs kit & hold summer coaching sessions for the players. The two teams finished 3rd and 8th in their respective leagues, with the first record of club players playing for the league representative side (M Small, R Lake, M Bashford & C Timney).
In 1983 the club was invited to play in the STS Soccer Tournament in Belgium which they went on to win 5-0 in the final. The season started with 2 teams at U12 & U13 age group, with 6 players that season playing for the league representative side (R Lake, M Small, I Hutchinson, M Richardson, A Speight & M Sunley).
The club started to steadily grow with 3 teams registered to play in season 1984/5. The first trophies recorded were also won with the U13’s beating Stockton West End in the Stockton Youth Cup. Notably the U12’s reached the league cup final and the U14’s the North Riding County Cup Final. The following season the U14’s went on to win the North Riding Cup Final beating Marton 3-2. Lee Roxby made the final 20 in selection for England Schoolboys, only one of two players selected from the North East.
During this period the club had their first success with players moving on to join professional clubs; Mark Sunley – Middlesbrough, Ian Hutchinson – Halifax, Chris Hope – Darlington & Rob Lake – Middlesbrough.
In 1986 the club took a step backwards in terms of team numbers with only one team being registered with the Cleveland Youth League. Derek Small the initial founder resigned from the club and Mike Ranson took up the mantle of running the clubs only team with a couple of willing parents.
By 1989 the club was on the up again, with an U10 & U14 team, the U10’s going on to win the League Trophy that season. The club steadily grew to six teams in 1991 with U10, 11, 12, 13, 15 & 16’s.
It is unclear from current records when the clubs constitution was first introduced or who were involved with executive committee of the club. However, it is recorded that in 1993 Peter MacLean became the Club Chairman, with the club continuing to run with 7 teams U10 through to U16. During Peter’s reign as Chairman the club were voted TJFA Club of the Year in 1994.
In 1998 Peter MacLean resigned as Club Chairman to move over to the TJFA and Maurice Bell took the reigns as Club Chairman. Under the Chairmanship of M Bell the club grew from strength to strength. In 1999 organised mini soccer was introduced to junior football and Hartburn Juniors grew to 10 teams with the introduction of 3 mini soccer teams at U10 age group.
Around this time the FA had released initiatives whereby they were looking to encourage junior clubs to introduce coach & club development. Hartburn Juniors enrolled their first coaches on the FA Coaching Certificate, with Gary Sudron becoming the clubs first level 2 coach in 1999. The following year this was followed by Alan Brown & Neil Turnbull obtaining the same award.
The club began a fairly steep development project with the aim to obtain the FA Charter Standard for Clubs which was successfully achieved in 2002. In 2003 the club also had success in terms of coaching with both Gary Sudron & Alan Brown obtaining their FA Coaching Licence, UEFA B.
In terms of club development, it was felt by the members of the club at that time that the club name didn’t really reflect the area whereby most players came from. The club had grown from predominantly having players in the Hartburn/Fairfield areas of Stockton to players who came from all over Stockton and in fact from Billingham, Middlesbrough & Thornaby. It was therefore decided in the best interest of the club to change the clubs name to STOCKTON TOWN FC. There was also a desire within the club to try to resurrect Stockton Town as senior football club and it was felt a great development opportunity to achieve this from grass roots through a junior football club.
In the clubs first year as Stockton Town FC, 12 teams were registered with local leagues giving over 170 youngsters the opportunity to play organised football & benefit from the professional coaching that was available. In conjunction with the FA, STFC hosted a level 2 coaching course at Stockton with 7 members successfully obtaining their First 4 Sport Level 2 Coaching Qualification (FA Coaching Certificate). The club were successfully awarded FA Community Club status in early 2004.
In 2005 Stockton Town had unprecedented success off the field of play. In April 2005 they were voted Stockton Sports Club of the Year, by an independent panel commissioned by Stockton Borough Council Sports Development Office. This was closely followed in June when the club was voted Durham FA Community Club of the Year 2005. The following month Alan Brown was voted both County & Northern Region Grass Roots Coach of the Year 2005. As one of 9 Regional winners Alan then attended an interview panel at FA Headquarters in Soho Sq and a few weeks later was voted National Grass Roots Coach of the Year 2005. The awards didn’t stop there, in August the club were chosen as the Northern Region Community Club of the Year 2005, one of only 9 awards presented nationally.
On the playing side ex Hartburn/Stockton Town player Jonathan Franks, who had moved onto Middlesbrough FC Academy was selected for England U16’s where he made his debut in September v Wales, scoring twice to become the first Stockton Town player to represent & score for his country. In the same season Jonathan went onto to play senior football for Middlesbrough Reserves (age 15) and play for England a further 5 times, scoring 4 goals in total.
2005/6 was a season of further expansion within the club with the introduction of 2 girls teams (U10 & 12), The club stared the season with 10 junior boys teams, 2 girls teams & an over 35 team, giving the opportunity to play football to almost 200 children & 20 adults.
Following on from the success of the 5 a side team it was decided in 1981 to enter an 11 a side team in the Teesside Junior Football Alliance (TJFA) at the under 12 age group. At that time there were a number of players who were under the age requirements for under 12 and they continued to play in local 5 a side leagues. It was at this time that the club home colours that remain now, yellow/royal shirts & royal shorts, was established.
The 1982 season saw the introduction of a second 11 a side team to the TJFA and the clubs first sponsorship, which saw Willie Maddren supply part funding for clubs kit & hold summer coaching sessions for the players. The two teams finished 3rd and 8th in their respective leagues, with the first record of club players playing for the league representative side (M Small, R Lake, M Bashford & C Timney).
In 1983 the club was invited to play in the STS Soccer Tournament in Belgium which they went on to win 5-0 in the final. The season started with 2 teams at U12 & U13 age group, with 6 players that season playing for the league representative side (R Lake, M Small, I Hutchinson, M Richardson, A Speight & M Sunley).
The club started to steadily grow with 3 teams registered to play in season 1984/5. The first trophies recorded were also won with the U13’s beating Stockton West End in the Stockton Youth Cup. Notably the U12’s reached the league cup final and the U14’s the North Riding County Cup Final. The following season the U14’s went on to win the North Riding Cup Final beating Marton 3-2. Lee Roxby made the final 20 in selection for England Schoolboys, only one of two players selected from the North East.
During this period the club had their first success with players moving on to join professional clubs; Mark Sunley – Middlesbrough, Ian Hutchinson – Halifax, Chris Hope – Darlington & Rob Lake – Middlesbrough.
In 1986 the club took a step backwards in terms of team numbers with only one team being registered with the Cleveland Youth League. Derek Small the initial founder resigned from the club and Mike Ranson took up the mantle of running the clubs only team with a couple of willing parents.
By 1989 the club was on the up again, with an U10 & U14 team, the U10’s going on to win the League Trophy that season. The club steadily grew to six teams in 1991 with U10, 11, 12, 13, 15 & 16’s.
It is unclear from current records when the clubs constitution was first introduced or who were involved with executive committee of the club. However, it is recorded that in 1993 Peter MacLean became the Club Chairman, with the club continuing to run with 7 teams U10 through to U16. During Peter’s reign as Chairman the club were voted TJFA Club of the Year in 1994.
In 1998 Peter MacLean resigned as Club Chairman to move over to the TJFA and Maurice Bell took the reigns as Club Chairman. Under the Chairmanship of M Bell the club grew from strength to strength. In 1999 organised mini soccer was introduced to junior football and Hartburn Juniors grew to 10 teams with the introduction of 3 mini soccer teams at U10 age group.
Around this time the FA had released initiatives whereby they were looking to encourage junior clubs to introduce coach & club development. Hartburn Juniors enrolled their first coaches on the FA Coaching Certificate, with Gary Sudron becoming the clubs first level 2 coach in 1999. The following year this was followed by Alan Brown & Neil Turnbull obtaining the same award.
The club began a fairly steep development project with the aim to obtain the FA Charter Standard for Clubs which was successfully achieved in 2002. In 2003 the club also had success in terms of coaching with both Gary Sudron & Alan Brown obtaining their FA Coaching Licence, UEFA B.
In terms of club development, it was felt by the members of the club at that time that the club name didn’t really reflect the area whereby most players came from. The club had grown from predominantly having players in the Hartburn/Fairfield areas of Stockton to players who came from all over Stockton and in fact from Billingham, Middlesbrough & Thornaby. It was therefore decided in the best interest of the club to change the clubs name to STOCKTON TOWN FC. There was also a desire within the club to try to resurrect Stockton Town as senior football club and it was felt a great development opportunity to achieve this from grass roots through a junior football club.
In the clubs first year as Stockton Town FC, 12 teams were registered with local leagues giving over 170 youngsters the opportunity to play organised football & benefit from the professional coaching that was available. In conjunction with the FA, STFC hosted a level 2 coaching course at Stockton with 7 members successfully obtaining their First 4 Sport Level 2 Coaching Qualification (FA Coaching Certificate). The club were successfully awarded FA Community Club status in early 2004.
In 2005 Stockton Town had unprecedented success off the field of play. In April 2005 they were voted Stockton Sports Club of the Year, by an independent panel commissioned by Stockton Borough Council Sports Development Office. This was closely followed in June when the club was voted Durham FA Community Club of the Year 2005. The following month Alan Brown was voted both County & Northern Region Grass Roots Coach of the Year 2005. As one of 9 Regional winners Alan then attended an interview panel at FA Headquarters in Soho Sq and a few weeks later was voted National Grass Roots Coach of the Year 2005. The awards didn’t stop there, in August the club were chosen as the Northern Region Community Club of the Year 2005, one of only 9 awards presented nationally.
On the playing side ex Hartburn/Stockton Town player Jonathan Franks, who had moved onto Middlesbrough FC Academy was selected for England U16’s where he made his debut in September v Wales, scoring twice to become the first Stockton Town player to represent & score for his country. In the same season Jonathan went onto to play senior football for Middlesbrough Reserves (age 15) and play for England a further 5 times, scoring 4 goals in total.
2005/6 was a season of further expansion within the club with the introduction of 2 girls teams (U10 & 12), The club stared the season with 10 junior boys teams, 2 girls teams & an over 35 team, giving the opportunity to play football to almost 200 children & 20 adults.
