Garforth Town A.F.C.

Infobox Football club
clubname = Garforth Town

| fullname = Garforth Town Association Football Club
nickname = The Miners
founded = 1964, as "Miners Arms"
ground = Genix Healthcare Stadium, Garforth Leeds|capacity =3,000
chairman = flagicon|England Cllr Tom Murray
manager = flagicon|England Simon Clifford
league = NPL Division One North
season = 2007-08
position = NPL Division One North, 10th
pattern_la1=|pattern_b1=|pattern_ra1=
leftarm1=FFFF33|body1=FFFF33|rightarm1=FFFF33|shorts1=3399FF|socks1=3399FF
pattern_la2=|pattern_b2=|pattern_ra2=
leftarm2=3399FF|body2=3399FF|rightarm2=3399FF|shorts2=FFFFFF|socks2=FFFFFF

Garforth Town Association Football Club are an English football team based in Garforth, West Yorkshire. They currently play in the Northern Premier League Division One North, the 8th level of the English football pyramid.

History

The club was formed during 1964 by people from the Yorkshire town of Garforth, as a local pub team called Miners Arms. At the time Garforth had no pitch to play on, so their home games were playing in nearby Swillington. The team stepped up to the West Yorkshire League, a Saturday football league, in 1976. At the same time they acquired their own ground in Garforth, a former rubbish dump on Brierlands Lane.

The team were forced to change their name to Garforth Miners to gain election into the Yorkshire League in 1978, pub teams not being allowed in the league. Garforth Miners won promotion from Division 3 in 1980. They finished 3rd in 1982, one point behind champions Harrogate Town. On joining the newly formed Northern Counties East League, Garforth were placed in Division 1 North. They changed their name again in 1985 to their current name. In 1985, after a league reshuffle, Garforth were placed in division 2, winning promotion at the first attempt. Garforth Town remained in Division 1 until winning the title in 1998. Garforth were relegated in 2003, but won promotion back to the Premier Division in 2005. Garforth were promoted to the Northern Premier League in 2007.

In the FA Vase, Garforth reached the 6th round in 1987, losing 1-2 to London side Collier Row.

In the FA Cup, Garforth have never been beyond the 2nd Qualifying Round.

Garforth won the West Riding County Cup in 1998 and 2000.

Garforth moved to their current stadium, Wheatley Park, in 1998.

During the 1990s a few ex-Leeds players turned out for Garforth, including Brendan Ormsby and Gary Williams.

The Clifford era

During the 2003 season Simon Clifford bought the club, eliminating the club's previous £100,000 debts and made clear that he had strong ambitions for the club's future with hopes of climbing up the league pyramid [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/funny_old_game/3957519.stm BBC.co.uk] ] . Clifford's is known for his strong connections to Brazilian football; he has brought Brazilian coaching methods to the United Kingdom with his string of ICFDS (International Confederation of Futebol de Salão) footballing academies.

Despite the Yorkshire club's low level in terms of leagues, they gained massive press attention, both national and international, at the start of the 2004-05 season with the signing of Brazil legend Sócrates on a one month deal as a player-coach [http://news.bbc.csport1/hi/funny_old_game/3957519.stm BBC.co.uk] ] , he played for Garforth against Tadcaster Albion. The same season, former England and Manchester United winger Lee Sharpe also played for the club [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/funny_old_game/3957519.stm BBC.co.uk] ] .

Garforth confirmed the arrival of another former Brazil international, Careca, who came out of retirement and spent time at the club during the 2005-06 season.

Current Squad

* Jason St Juste
* Nathan Kamara
* Duncan Williams
* Shaun Douglas

Notable players

* Sócrates
* Careca
* Lee Sharpe

Honours

*NCEL Division One
**Champions: 1997-98
**Runners-up: 1996-97, 2004-05

*NCEL Division Two
**Runners-up: 1985-86

*Northern Counties East League League Cup
**Winners: 1999-00
**Runners-up: 2006-07

*Yorkshire League Division Three
**Runners-up: 1979-80 [ [http://www.fchd.btinternet.co.uk/GARFORTM.HTM FCHD.co.uk] ]

*FA Vase
**Quarter-finalists: 1986-87

*West Riding County Cup
**Winners: 1997-98, 1999-00

References

External links

* [http://www.garforthtown.com/ Garforth Town Official website]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/funny_old_game/3957519.stm BBC article]