Blyth Spartans A.F.C.
 |
|
| Full name | Blyth Spartans Association Football Club |
|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | The Spartans, Green Army |
| Founded | September 1899 |
| Ground | Croft Park, Blyth |
| Capacity | 4,435 (556 seated) |
| Chairman | Tony Platten |
| Manager | Alun Armstrong |
| League | Northern Premier League Premier Division |
| 2015–16 | Northern Premier League Premier Division, 2nd |
Blyth Spartans Association Football Club is an English football club based in Blyth, Northumberland. The club participates in the Northern Premier League Premier Division, the seventh tier of English football. They are currently managed by Alun Armstrong.
They were founded in September 1899 by Fred Stoker, who was the club's first secretary before forming a practice as a distinguished physician in London's Harley Street. He thought it appropriate to name the team after the Greek Spartan army in the hope that the players would give their all as they went into "battle" on the field of play. The club is most notable for its 1977–78 FA Cup campaign, in which they went all the way to the 5th round only to be beaten by Wrexham in a replay at St James' Park.
In the beginning, the club played only friendly matches before joining the East Northumberland League in 1901. The first recorded honour being a league success in 1901 followed by further victories in 1905–06 and 1906–07. The club then joined the Northern Alliance, remaining there for six seasons winning the league in 1908–09 and 1912–13.
In 1913 the club moved upward joining the ranks of the semi professionals in the North Eastern League and remained there until it folded in 1958. The fierce competition meant that honours were few and far between, the league was however won in 1936–37 season and the league cup won in 1950 and again in 1955. After the demise of the North Eastern League the club tried their luck in the Midland League and Northern Counties League, both ending when the leagues folded. The early 1960s saw the revival of the North Eastern League with the club doing quite well. However the league suffered many problems and eventually folded for good.
...
Wikipedia