History
Norristhorpe Junior Football Club was founded on 17th November 1997 by Russ Clarke to ensure football was accessible to all children, regardless of ability.
The Club’s formation stemmed from a personal experience; Russ’s son was turned away from three local clubs due to his perceived lack of ability. This series of rejections inspired Russ to create a club where football would be accessible to all children, regardless of their skill level. The Club’s original colors were orange and black, but due to a supply shortage, they switched to the now-famous yellow and black stripes from the second season onwards. The first boys’ match was a victorious 6-2 game against Laund Hill YMCA, held at Norristhorpe Rec, which remains the spiritual home of the Club. In 1998, a Football Foundation grant of £9,000 funded fencing and drainage improvements at Norristhorpe Rec.
Growth and Development
The Club’s first girls’ game was a 4-0 win against Hebden Bridge Saints. By the mid-2000s, Norristhorpe Junior Bees had become the largest girls’ football club in Yorkshire, thanks in large part to Gail Wilson, who coached new players aged 5 and 6. It is believed Norristhorpe was among the first clubs to start training players so young. Russ Clarke managed the Club for about a decade before Dave Bardell took over as Club Secretary, retiring in 2016. Daniel Gannon, one of the earliest players who joined in 1998, is now the first team captain of the open-age team and has scored his 100th club goal this year.
Traditions and Achievements
The Mini World Cup was introduced in the Club’s second season, featuring players marching onto the pitches with their country flags, creating a memorable spectacle. However, as the Club expanded, maintaining this tradition became unfeasible. Notable organizers of the Club’s end-of-season tournament included Mr. and Mrs. Collinson, whose sons Lewis and Jason continue to play for the Club’s open-age team. Norristhorpe Junior Football Club achieved FA Charter Standard Club status as soon as the requirement was introduced, and it is now recognized as an England Football Accredited Club. Today, the Club boasts over 350 players and more than 50 volunteer coaches and helpers, all dedicated to upholding the Club’s founding principles of providing football for all ages and abilities.
