Chorley F.C.

Archibald Pinnell, goalkeeper for Chorley in the 1890s.

Chorley Football Club was formed in 1883 after switching from rugby to soccer.[2] In 1875 Chorley Football Club began partly as the brainchild of one Major John Lawrence, a Wigan player who had conceived the idea a year earlier. The inauguration took place on 15 October in the now demolished Anchor Inn in Market Street, Chorley. At that gathering Major Lawrence was elected the club's first captain. Henry Hibbert, who was to become one of the most famous figures ever connected with the town as Member of Parliament for Chorley,[3] took on the role of secretary. James Lawrence became the club treasurer.[4]

After playing rugby for seven years, pressure was on Chorley to switch to playing football instead, and in 1883 the switch was made.

Chorley joined the Lancashire Junior League in 1889, and the following year became a member of the Lancashire Alliance, a league which they were crowned champions of in 1892–93 and runners-up in 1893–94.[5] In 1894 Chorley joined the Lancashire League, becoming champions twice in 1896–97 and 1898–99.[5]

The Lancashire Junior Cup came to Chorley in 1894, nine years after the trophy's institution, and their win was the first of a record number of successes for the Magpies. They beat Clitheroe 3–2 in a replayed final at Ewood Park, Blackburn after a 2–2 draw.[4] Chorley bid farewell to the Lancashire Alliance at the end of the 1893–94 season and joined the Lancashire League, winning the championship in 1896–97 which also saw them sell former Bolton Wanderers attacker Jack Lyden to Wolverhampton Wanderers for £100 (around £6,000 in today's money), a substantial fee for a non-league player considering that this was eight years prior to the first £1,000 transfer deal.[4]

Chorley won another championship in 1898–99, but was clouded by a notice to quit their Dole Lane Ground, and the loss of captain Johnny Parker, who had broken his leg. In May 1899 Chorley applied to join the Football League's Second Division, coming sixth in voting, with the top two being elected.[4]

Chorley team in the 1907–08 season.

1923 Lancashire Combination-winning Chorley team.

September 1901 saw Chorley move to the Rangletts Ground, taking even the grandstand and hoardings, and 1903 saw the Lancashire League restructured as the Lancashire Combination, which was extended in size to encompass two divisions, A and B, with Chorley playing in the Combination B Division.[4] Life at the Rangletts Ground was short lived, with Chorley being evicted in 1904, and relocated to nearby St. George's Park. The 1904–05 season saw Chorley finish their highest position – fifth – for six years.[4]

Chorley suffered their worst season in 1914–15, finishing bottom of the league, but the outbreak of the First World War saved them from relegation, for the Combination, like the Football League, suspended its competitions in 1915. During the war Chorley joined the Northern Division but due to difficulties in raising a team they were disbanded early in 1916.[4] Chorley did not have a team for the next two seasons, but in August 1918 formed a side for friendly matches. After the re-formation of the Combination S. Heaton became the club chairman, Charlie Holgate the secretary, and T.J. "Dod" Gaskell the treasurer.[4]

Chorley took their place in the reassembled Combination (there was only one division by now) with what proved to be one of their finest-ever teams. The 1920s were to bring a phrase of glory and the team was among the honours for ten successive seasons. But the beginning of one era coincided with the end of another. Just 14 years after playing their first home game at St. Georges Park, Chorley announced in August 1919 that they had acquired a new ground. It was to come into use the following year and was to be a truly permanent home. The ground, situated in Duke Street and adjoining Rangletts Recreation Ground, a former Magpie base, was named Victory Park to commemorate the end of the war.[4]

Chorley did not achieve notable success in any league until the 1919–20 season when they were crowned champions of the Lancashire Combination First Division, a league they won a total of eleven times between 1919 and 1964.[5]

In 1968–69 Chorley were one of the founder members of the Northern Premier League, left at the end of the season, and rejoined in the 1970–71 season.[6] Chorley joined the Cheshire League in the 1972–73 season, finishing as runners-up in 1975–76, and another two times in 1976–77 and 1981–82.[5]

Chorley rejoined the Northern Premier League in 1982–83, and became champions in 1987–88, which saw them promoted to the Football Conference – the fifth tier of the English football league system. Chorley spent two seasons in the Conference before being relegated back to the Northern Premier League in 1990–91.[2]

Chorley spent the first ten years of the 21st century in the Northern Premier League Division 1, the 8th tier of English Football (divided into the Northern Premier League North and Northern Premier League South in 2007). They almost invariably finished each season in the bottom half of the league table during this period, though they did finish fifth at the end of the 2002-03 season and qualified for the promotion play-offs, losing to Radcliffe Borough in the final. Chorley achieved promotion to the Northern Premier League Premier Division at the end of the 2010-11 season, finishing 3rd and going on to beat AFC Fylde 2-0 in the play-off final.

After spending three seasons in the Northern Premier League Premier Division, Chorley achieved a further promotion as 2013-14 league champions, moving up to the Conference North (6th tier of English Football).

In their first season in the Conference North, Chorley came close to achieving consecutive promotions when they finished fourth and reached the promotion play-off final, but lost 3-2 to Guiseley. At the end of that season manager Garry Flitcroft stepped down from his post and was replaced by assistant manager, Matt Jansen.

The Football Conference was renamed as the National League at the start of the 2015–16 season and Chorley finished eighth in the National League North. The following season they again reached the play-off final, losing 2–1 to FC Halifax Town after extra-time.

The 2017-18 season saw Chorley reach the promotion play-offs yet again, but they were beaten 2-1 by Harrogate Town in the semi-finals. Before the beginning of the 2018–19 season manager Matt Jansen left his post[7] and was replaced by his assistant, Jamie Vermiglio[8]

Chorley started the 2018–19 season by winning their first seven league matches and remaining unbeaten for their first twelve. They spent the majority of the season at the top of the table, but were overtaken right at the end by Stockport County, who won the title by one point, with Chorley finishing second. In their play-off semi-final, with the score 1–1 after extra-time, Chorley beat Altrincham 3–1 on penalties. The score in the final between Chorley and Spennymoor Town, at Victory Park, Chorley, was 0–0 after 90 minutes. Chorley went 1–0 up in extra-time but Spennymoor quickly equalised and so the contest went to a penalty shoot-out, which Chorley won 4–3, thereby achieving promotion to the National League, the 5th tier of English Football.

In the first round of the 2020–21 FA Cup, as a sixth-tier club they defeated League One side and 2013 champions Wigan Athletic.[9][10] In the second round, they beat another League One side, Peterborough United.[11] Chorley would go on to the third round to defeat EFL Championship side Derby County with a 2–0 victory and was drawn to face Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers at home in the fourth round, which subsequently saw Chorley's FA Cup run come to an end with a 0–1 defeat.[12]

As of 26 August 2023 [20]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 1 GK  ENG Matthew Urwin (captain) 2 DF  WAL Adam Henley 3 DF  ENG Mark Ellis 4 DF  ENG Scott Wilson 5 DF  ENG Harvey Smith 6 MF  ENG Joe Nolan 7 MF  ENG Billy Whitehouse 8 MF  ENG Mike Calveley 9 FW  ENG Jack Sampson 11 FW  ENG Louis Britton 12 DF  ENG Jack Moore (on loan from Blackpool)

No. Pos. Nation Player 13 MF  ENG Ollie Shenton 14 MF  RSA Carlton Ubaezuonu 15 DF  ENG Ben Hockenhull (on loan from Tranmere Rovers) 16 DF  ENG Adam Blakeman 17 MF  ENG Rhys Fenlon 19 FW  ENG Jack Hazlehurst 21 GK  ENG Steven Drench 23 MF  ENG Sully Barker 33 MF  NED Justin Johnson 35 GK  ENG Oliver Green

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 10 MF  ENG Willem Tomlinson (on loan to Marine) 18 MF  ENG Cian Spencer-McDermott (on loan to Bamber Bridge) 20 MF  ENG Harrison Kay (on loan to Longridge Town) 22 FW  ENG Harry Scarborough (on loan to Bamber Bridge)

No. Pos. Nation Player 25 DF  ENG Daniel Price-Jordan (on loan to Squires Gate) 29 MF  ENG Liam Birchall (on loan to Squires Gate) 31 GK  ENG Kier Barry (on loan to Longridge Town)