No one really wants to manage or play in villages where cattle or sheep graze your pitch during the week.
Such sights are common for many non-league clubs, but if you want to try a Lower League Challenge and still be based in a relatively decent sized towns, here are 5 clubs we suggest giving a try
The city a club is based in is always one of the factors players and managers take into consideration when deciding on a new destination. No one really wants to manage or play in villages where cattle or sheep graze your pitch during the week. Such sights are common for many non-league clubs, but if you want to try a Lower League Challenge and still be based in a relatively decent sized towns, here are 5 clubs we suggest giving a try. Who knows, with the community’s support, you might just as well take them to League football or FA Cup glory.
For this challenge, we’ve only taken in consideration non-league clubs from cities that don’t have a bigger Football League club.
1. York City FC (National League North)
Based in the City of York (209,000 population), the Ministermen’s best performance were the two season spent in the old Division 2 between 1974 and 1976. Since then, they never exceeded tier 3 of English football. Currently, after two consecutive relegations in 2016 and 2017, York City finds itself playing in the National League North, the 6th level of English football.
2. Slough Town F.C. (National League South)
164,000 people live in Slough, where the Rebels play their home games at Arbour Park. The club is currently enjoying its best spell in history, having been promoted to National League South at the end of the 2017-18 season and finished 11th in 2018-2019, their best ever performance. Can you climb up the ladder further with Slough?
[post_ads_2]
3. Wrexham A.F.C. (National League)
The Welsh city has a population of 150,000 and Wrexham AFC was at its best a Division 2 club in the 1978-1982 period. The Red Dragons lost Football League status in 2007-2008, remaining a National League club ever since. They were quarter finalists in the FA Cup, the League Cup and the European Cup Winners Cup (they qualified through the Welsh Cup, where they are they hold the record for most trophies). There sure is potential for Wrexham to become a Football League club again.
4. A.F.C. Telford United (National League North)
Like Wrexham, around 150,000 people live in Telford. A new club was formed in 2004 after the original Telford United, founded in 1872, folded due to financial problems. United has been a member of the National League North since their relegation from National in 2014-2015.
5. Stockport County F.C. (National League)
Towns in the Greater Manchester area will always live in the shadow of the two Manchester clubs, but Stockport, with a population of 136,000, Stockport County joined the Football League in 1900 and competed in it continuously from 1905 to 2011. In the 1990s, the club even spent 5 seasons in the second tier of English football, with 1996-1997 standing out as the best season in history: second in the Second Division and semi-finalists of the League Cup, knocking out three Premiership teams (Blackburn Rovers, Southampton and West Ham United). Stockport was relegated from League Two for the first time in their history in 2011, while in 2013, the club was relegated to the National League North, winning promotion back to the National League in 2018-2019.
Worthy Mentions
Other clubs from towns with a population of more than 100,000 worth mentioning: Gateshead F.C. (National League North) – Gateshaed (population of 120,000); Maidstone United F.C. (National League South) – Maidstone (population of 113,000); Chelmsford City F.C. (National League South) – Chelmsford (population of 111,000).
