FC Halifax Town - The Phoenix Rises

[craigmcfc]

Ok, I'm a Yorkshire lad and am proud of it and just wanted to share this seasons achievement of my local team. Most of you will remember Halifax Town for all the wrong reasons (beating us in the FA Cup for all you youngsters) but unfortunately at the end of last season they went out of business after surviving relegation from the Conference on the final day of the season.

They were reformed shortly afterwards as FC Halifax Town and had to apply to the Unibond North, which is 4 divisions below the football league and one division lower than that FC Utd of Manc shower. With only one automatic promotion slot, a new team and a new manager, Neil Aspin, promotion seemed like an extremely long shot.

Having spend the first half of the season trailing Lancaster City by around 10 points, with games in hand, since xmas the gap has been slowly closed until they played them at home at the Shay almost a fortnight ago, beating them 4-0

Halifax have gone on to clinch the title, and with one game left have a record of

P 41 W 30 D 9 L 2 F 107 A 37 PTS 99

So next season Town will be a step nearer where they belong and having the chance to hopefully crush FC U of M in both games. Let's hope that Chester City can see the light at the end of the tunnel

[Manx Blue]

A lad from my club here on the IOM used to play for Halifax Town....Justin Jackson ( I don't know if you would remember him Craig?)

Good to see they have got things sorted and on the up.

[craigmcfc]

Can't say that I do but memorable seasons and players have been few and far between over the last decade. Small world eh?

[Manx Blue]

Can't say that I do but memorable seasons and players have been few and far between over the last decade. Small world eh?

I think he was only there maybe One season...He was at Bolton as a junior, then, Rushen & Diamonds, Morecambe for about 3 or 4 spells, and a few others too

[craigmcfc]

Can't say that I do but memorable seasons and players have been few and far between over the last decade. Small world eh?

I think he was only there maybe One season...He was at Bolton as a junior, then, Rushen & Diamonds, Morecambe for about 3 or 4 spells, and a few others too

Thanks to Mr Wiki I now know that he was on loan for 17 games in 1999. Aint technology great

[btajim]

Ok, I'm a Yorkshire lad and am proud of it and just wanted to share this seasons achievement of my local team. Most of you will remember Halifax Town for all the wrong reasons (beating us in the FA Cup for all you youngsters) but unfortunately at the end of last season they went out of business after surviving relegation from the Conference on the final day of the season.

Did I see you at Hereford United v Halifax Town in May 2006? Conference Play Off Final at Leicester's ground? Halifax were just minutes away from a return to the League and they end up bankrupt!

Really pleased for them. Ditto AFC Wimbledon holding their own in the Conference.

[craigmcfc]

Ok, I'm a Yorkshire lad and am proud of it and just wanted to share this seasons achievement of my local team. Most of you will remember Halifax Town for all the wrong reasons (beating us in the FA Cup for all you youngsters) but unfortunately at the end of last season they went out of business after surviving relegation from the Conference on the final day of the season.

Did I see you at Hereford U***d v Halifax Town in May 2006? Conference Play Off Final at Leicester's ground? Halifax were just minutes away from a return to the League and they end up bankrupt!

Really pleased for them. Ditto AFC Wimbledon holding their own in the Conference.

Cheers Jim, no it wasn't me pal, I was in Florida at the time getting text messages from my brother about it

[craigmcfc]

One thing I forgot to mention in the original post was the attendances at The Shay. There were 3,152 there for the Lancaster home game and the average attendance for the season is 1,377. This gives them the second highest attendances on average for the whole of the Unibond leagues, behind you know who. The next highest in the Unibond North is 323.

Very impressive for 4 divisions below the football league

[Im_Spartacus]

One thing I forgot to mention in the original post was the attendances at The Shay. There were 3,152 there for the Lancaster home game and the average attendance for the season is 1,377. This gives them the second highest attendances on average for the whole of the Unibond leagues, behind you know who. The next highest in the Unibond North is 323.

Very impressive for 4 divisions below the football league

All good news, but where were all these people when Halifax needed them?

[craigmcfc]

One thing I forgot to mention in the original post was the attendances at The Shay. There were 3,152 there for the Lancaster home game and the average attendance for the season is 1,377. This gives them the second highest attendances on average for the whole of the Unibond leagues, behind you know who. The next highest in the Unibond North is 323.

Very impressive for 4 divisions below the football league

All good news, but where were all these people when Halifax needed them?

The attendances were 500 - 1000 above what they are now and the story is long and complicated, needless to say Calderdale Council and Halifax RLFC have a lot to answer for, along with the Halifax Bank who couldn't be bothered to help their own towns football club rather than other teams

[Im_Spartacus]

One thing I forgot to mention in the original post was the attendances at The Shay. There were 3,152 there for the Lancaster home game and the average attendance for the season is 1,377. This gives them the second highest attendances on average for the whole of the Unibond leagues, behind you know who. The next highest in the Unibond North is 323.

Very impressive for 4 divisions below the football league

All good news, but where were all these people when Halifax needed them?

The attendances were 500 - 1000 above what they are now and the story is long and complicated, needless to say Calderdale Council and Halifax RLFC have a lot to answer for, along with the Halifax Bank who couldn't be bothered to help their own towns football club rather than other teams

I know there was a lot of shit behind the scenes which is always the case , but clubs with attendances like Halifax, Bury, Macc Town etc are the perfect argument for 2 regional leagues in place of div 1&2. Derby games, plenty of people at them some big clubs from time to time, and external influences would be minimal if the clubs could attract enough people through the gate - hell it would even be more popular on tv if it were local(ish) derby games

[craigmcfc]

One thing I forgot to mention in the original post was the attendances at The Shay. There were 3,152 there for the Lancaster home game and the average attendance for the season is 1,377. This gives them the second highest attendances on average for the whole of the Unibond leagues, behind you know who. The next highest in the Unibond North is 323.

Very impressive for 4 divisions below the football league

All good news, but where were all these people when Halifax needed them?

The attendances were 500 - 1000 above what they are now and the story is long and complicated, needless to say Calderdale Council and Halifax RLFC have a lot to answer for, along with the Halifax Bank who couldn't be bothered to help their own towns football club rather than other teams

I know there was a lot of shit behind the scenes which is always the case , but clubs with attendances like Halifax, Bury, Macc Town etc are the perfect argument for 2 regional leagues in place of div 1&2. Derby games, plenty of people at them some big clubs from time to time, and external influences would be minimal if the clubs could attract enough people through the gate - hell it would even be more popular on tv if it were local(ish) derby games

Agree with all of that, I just hope they've climbed the first of 4 rungs this season and that the other 3 will follow over the coming seasons

[eastlands-lostboy]

This is great news as the Shaymen have always been up against it. I used to also watch HTFC sometimes and I am delighted by the news. Although the team have always struggled against the rugby team one of the biggest pitches in the Football League is the Shay. Dave Shawcross used to be a Halifax player and I wonder if it is his son who plays for Stoke ? I once asked City to donate some things to HTFC in the 80's and they sent shitloads of stuff for raffles and fundraising...so well done again

[patrickblue]

Glad to see they're doing well. Reminds me of my local team when I was a lad, Aldershot, who have a very similar recent history, went broke in 92 cos of dodgy dealings by the directors, reformed as Aldershot Town and went into the Isthmian League Division Three, five levels below the old 4th division where they were when they went broke. Like Halifax, they kept their fanbase, regulalarly taking 4 figure crowds to places that were used to crowds being in double figures. They're now in league 2 (old div 4) and challenging for the play offs. Be nice to see the Shaymen do something similar, which I'm sure they will.
Funnily enough, the title of this thread is what's on the Aldershot Town badge.

[craigmcfc]

Glad to see they're doing well. Reminds me of my local team when I was a lad, Aldershot, who have a very similar recent history, went broke in 92 cos of dodgy dealings by the directors, reformed as Aldershot Town and went into the Isthmian League Division Three, five levels below the old 4th division where they were when they went broke. Like Halifax, they kept their fanbase, regulalarly taking 4 figure crowds to places that were used to crowds being in double figures. They're now in league 2 (old div 4) and challenging for the play offs. Be nice to see the Shaymen do something similar, which I'm sure they will.
Funnily enough, the title of this thread is what's on the Aldershot Town badge.

That's a heart warming story and one that I hope gets repeated at The Shay

[Hembers]

Posting as a (FC) Halifax Town Fan, Season Ticket Holder, it's good to see we're not off the football radar!! And next season we will be able to see our league on the Sky Sports side bar!

As for Justin Jackson definitely remember him and especially one cracking goal that he scored down the shay.

I always (tongue in cheek) take pride in the fact that Halifax Town aided your recovery when you were languishing near the bottom of League 1 (or league 2 whatever it was then) and we played you at Maine Road, think you beat us 3-0 and have never looked back since!! ;) What we would give to get a game with you now!!

The last few years have been quite hard as a town fan and hopefully things are on the up and as they are we are seeing some (relative) success, starting with this season with a record points score, possible to break 100 tomorrow, scored over 100 goals, only dropped 2 points all season at home. As previously mentioned aswell we got a crowd of over 3000 the other week and tomorrow with the trophy being presented tomorrow we are hoping for another bumper crowd!! Could we reach 4000?? and set a new league record!?

As for your boys it certainly looks like your in good hands with the investment they are looking to make into the local area, and their not like the swindling Yanks down the road in 'pool. I have always had a lot of time for the proper Manchester fans as (like town fans) you stuck with your club during the hard times (although the crowd when we played on a Friday night in the FA Cup was just over 11000).

Onwards and upwards, and soon, hopefully next season you put those arrogant plastic armchair gits from t'other side in their place!!

All the best!

[craigmcfc]

8 months on and I just wanted to post an update on how my local team are doing this season in the Evostik Premier Division.

Having finished as champions last season, a tougher season was obviously envisaged but as of right now FC Halifax sit proudly at the top of the league with a record of-

P 18 W 13 D 3 L 2 F 43 A 16 PTS 42

The nearest team to us are Colwyn Bay, 6 points behind and they've played THREE games more than Halifax. Behind them the gap is ELEVEN points. The shower from FCUM are next to bottom and were beaten at home by us just over a week ago, the return match at the Shay is on new years day

My hopes for the new year are a minimum of Champions League qualification for City and a trophy (Europa or FA Cup) and another promotion season for Halifax, which would put them in the Blue Square North and heading firmly back where they belong.

[blue b4 the moon]

Always had a soft spot for Halifax, no idea whay as I was at the FA Cup game!!!!!

Watched them at Stalybridge must be 10 years ago now when Kevin Langley was 'staring' for you.

[Socrates]

Always had a soft spot for Halifax, no idea whay as I was at the FA Cup game!!!!!

Watched them at Stalybridge must be 10 years ago now when Kevin Langley was 'staring' for you.

How rude!

[craigmcfc]

Always had a soft spot for Halifax, no idea whay as I was at the FA Cup game!!!!!

Watched them at Stalybridge must be 10 years ago now when Kevin Langley was 'staring' for you.

How rude!

Lol, seeing as he has a soft spot for Town, I let that one slide