Alfreton Town: The many highs and lows of this wonderful club

The non-league game is full of weird and wonderful stories, characters and football clubs with a story to tell. Every story has a tale of history, ownership or some other detail that makes their club unique.

One club with a slightly shorter history than many of their contemporaries is Midlands outfit Alfreton Town F.C.

The history of Alfreton Town F.C.

The club were formed in 1959 when two separate clubs, Alfreton Miners Welfare and Alfreton United, merged. However, the name Alfreton Town Football Club was not new, as there was a previous club with the same name in the 1920s that operated in the Midlands League.

The local council provided the new club with a ground in which to play their games on North Street. Town started their football life in the Central Alliance, where they spent two seasons before a 1961 switch to the Midlands League.

They made a less than auspicious start to life in the Midlands League by finishing rock-bottom in their debut campaign. However, gradually, the team improved, and by the 1969/70 season, they were crowned champions of the division.

Ex player John Blackburn has shared this wonderful team photo with us, Alfreton Town v @BarrowAFC, in The FA Cup, 1969.

The game went to three replays before Barrow were eventually 2-0 winners. There will be no replays tonight!#EmiratesFACup #ATFC pic.twitter.com/n1H9sGhIts

— Alfreton Town FC (@AlfretonTownFC) November 1, 2024

In the same campaign, Alfreton made history by making it to the FA Cup first round for the first time. They took Barrow all the way, and after two replays, the Reds eventually went down to a 2-0 defeat at Preston North End’s Deepdale.

They failed to retain their title but finished in second place in season 1971/72, and then once again claimed the league title in the 1973–74 campaign. In the latter season, they also made it through to the FA Cup for the second time in their history, only to suffer a defeat to Blyth Spartans after a replay.

They were also successful in the Midlands League Cup, winning the trophy in three straight seasons from 1972 until 1974. Their victories earned Alfreton the right to keep the trophy on a permanent basis.

Town was once again crowned title winners in the 1976/77 season while also finishing as runners-up in back-to-back campaigns in 1980/81 and 1981/82.

A new challenge after a merger

In 1982, the Midlands League merged with the Yorkshire League to form the Northern East League. Due to their recent history of success, Alfreton Town were given a place in the Premier Division.

The Midlands outfit didn’t take long to find success in their new surroundings, as in season 1986/87, Town won the Premier League title, which earned them promotion to the new Division One of the Northern Premier League.

The club were not satisfied with their lot, though, and in season 1995/96, they finished second place in the table, earning promotion to the Premier League. Unfortunately, their time in the Premier League was short-lived, as in season 1997/98, they suffered relegation back to Division One.

It got even worse the following season, as the team’s downward trajectory continued, as they suffered relegation back to the Northern Counties East League after finishing rock-bottom of Division One.

Alfreton finished third place in the Division One table in the season 1999/2000 and fifth in the following campaign. However, in season 2001/2002, they won the Northern Counties East League Premier League title once again and earned promotion to the Northern Premier League.

In true Town fashion, they then won instant promotion to the Premier League. After finishing in fourth place in the division, Town was placed in the new Conference North for season 2003/04.

In season 2004/05, Alfreton made it to the first round of the FA Cup for the first time since their 1970s exploits. However, they suffered a 2-0 defeat against Macclesfield Town after a replay.

Season 2008/09 saw a first for the Midlands club, as they made it to the Conference North play-offs for the first time after finishing third place in the table. Unfortunately, they exited the play-offs at the semi-finals stage following a 5-4 aggregate loss to AFC Telford United.

In the same campaign, they also made a small piece of history by making it to the second round of the FA Cup for the first time. After beating Bury Town 4-2 in the first round, Town was eliminated in the second round after a 4-0 loss against Scunthorpe United.

The following season also saw Alfreton thrive in the Conference North, as they once again finished in the play-off spots, finishing third place for the second time. This time, they made it past the semi-finals with a 2-1 win over Workington. However, they suffered final heartbreak, as they went down 2-1 to Fleetwood Town.

Promotion to the Conference and present-day form

In season 2010/11, Alfreton Town entered unchartered waters when they won the Conference North title and earned promotion to the Conference (now the National League).

Alfreton maintained their fifth-tier status by finishing in midtable in their first three campaigns in the division. In season 2013/14, Alfreton once again made it to the second round of the FA Cup but suffered a 4-2 home defeat against League One Leyton Orient.

In season 2014/15, things took a downward turn as Alfreton were relegated to the National League North. At the time of writing, they have failed to make it back to English football’s fifth tier.

They have had a couple of close calls when it has come to promotion in recent seasons, though. In season 2022/23, Town finished fifth place in the table, in the process booking a place in the play-offs. However, they suffered a 1-0 defeat in the quarter-finals to Kidderminster Harriers.

In season 2023/24, Alfreton once again made it to the second round of the FA Cup but suffered a 1-0 defeat against Walsall after a replay. Unfortunately for Town, they suffered the same fate as the previous season in the league, too, as they lost in the play-off quarter-finals to Boston United after finishing fifth place.

Alfreton Town are well positioned for another push for the play-off spots in season 2024/25. Winning promotion would just be another high on the rollercoaster that is Alfreton Town Football Club.