History of Prudhoe Town F.C.

The club has come a long way from their humble origins back in 1959. When five football enthusiasts from the Tyneside village of Ovington formed a football club to compete in the Hexham & District Amateur League, playing their home matches in a local farmers field. Among the pioneers of Ovington FC was Alan Wright, who stayed with the club in its many various manifestations for over 30 years and was elected President of the Northumberland FA in 1999.

Progress from these humble origins was slow, but in 1969 the club moved home to Eastlands Park in Prudhoe, taking the name of "Prudhoe East End", as they joined the Newcastle & District League. Thereafter, the club swept through the Northern Amateur League and the Northern Combination, as well as winning the Northumberland Minor Cup and the Northumberland Senior Benevolent Bowl.

In 1984, the club joind the Northern Alliance, moving in 1987 to the present ground at Kimberly Park, built on a reclaimed tip! The football they were was far from rubbish, however, as they twice finished runner-up in their four years' membership of the Alliance. Prudhoe then cast speculative eyes toward the ever-expanding second division of the Northern League, and were duly elected in the summer of 1988, along with Murton, Washington and Whickham.

Prudhoe's new kids on the block stormed to a highly praiseworthy 78 points and 4th place at the first attempt. The next few seasons saw Prudhoe tucked in just behind the promotion berths, but, in 1993/94 third spot behind Bedlington and Peterlee was enough to merit a place upstairs.

Unfortunately for the Tyneside club, now "Prudhoe Town", life at the top was too hot to handle and relegation ensued

As at every club, there was inevitably some lean years, not least because of the legacy of the waste dump under Kimberly Park, which at the time threatened the very existance of the club. However, the advent of Alex Waters as Chairman brought about far-ranging investment in the club facilities, with a new stand, improving floodlights and a massive refurbishment of the drainage system.

Fortunes on the park have also turned around, with an active youth policy in place to help guarantee the future health of the club. The 2001/02 season was one that will never be forgotten by anyone connected to the club. Only five times were the team's colours lowered in 38 league games, and over 100 goals were scored as Town deservedly clinched second place in one of the tightest and most thrilling promotion races ever in the history of the Northern League Second Division.

In adition, a season of good cup runs was capped by the lifting of the Craven Cup at the expense of 2nd Division Champions Shildon in a tense final at Esh Winning. This was the first, but hopefully not the last, piece of Northern League Silverware to find its way to Prudhoe.

Prudhoe Town FC had the unhappy experience of losing their First Division status on the very last day of the seaon 2002/03. This was an echo of 1994/95 when again they survived just a single season at the top level before dropping back to Division 2. Former Manager Steve Smith left during the summer to be replaced be Former Washington Nissan boss Gavin Little, who was hoping to achieve with Prudhoe what he so narrowly missed out on at Washington Nissan - promotion!

The 2004/05 season again proved to be what could have been, it started so well and ended in finishing 4th place. Due to personal reasons the Manager left the club to be replaced by Tony Harrison who has worked hard in the close season in bringing players in, some returning after spells with other clubs

Following a poor start to the season Tony Harrison left the club to be replaced by Warren Fisher, a former player who will hopefully change the clubs fortune.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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