Trawden Forest Football Club was an English association football club based in the village of Trawden in Lancashire and playing their matches at Cottontree, Colne.
The team entered the FA Cup, the major English cup competition, for the first time in the 1897–98 season and reached the first qualifying round before being knocked out by Stalybridge Rovers. In the following season, Trawden Forest enjoyed their best run in the FA Cup, reaching the second qualifying round before losing away at Southport Central. In 1899–1900, they were knocked out in the preliminary round by Nelson.[1] Trawden Forest never won another match in the FA Cup, and their heaviest defeat in the competition came on 21 September 1901, when they were beaten 0–7 away at Oswaldtwistle Rovers.[2]
For the 1902–03 season, the team joined the Lancashire Combination, which was the highest level of non-league football in the area. Trawden Forest finished 14th out of 18 teams. A record of 9 wins, 8 draws and 17 defeats gave the team a total of 26 points from 34 matches.[3] In the same season, the team entered the preliminary round and held Bacup to a 3–3 draw before losing the replay three days later.[2]
In July 1903, Trawden Forest FC changed its name to Colne FC.[4] Under that name, the club continued to play in the Lancashire Combination until 1913 when it folded.[5]
Several footballers began their careers at Trawden Forest before moving into professional football; Arthur Dixon went on to play professionally with Burnley, Tottenham Hotspur and Bradford Park Avenue, while William Nunnick represented Burnley in the Football League.[6] Others ended their career at the club having retired from the professional game; James Savage, William Watkins and Alfred Sawley all played for Trawden Forest after leaving Burnley.[6]
| Season | Date | Round | Opponents | H/A | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1897–98 | 18 September 1897 | Preliminary Round | South Shore | Home | 4–3 |
| 25 September 1897 | First qualifying round | Stalybridge Rovers | Away | 0–3 | |
| 1898–99 | 24 September 1898 | Preliminary Round | Carlisle City | Away | 3–2 |
| 1 October 1898 | First qualifying round | Black Diamonds | Away | 3–1 | |
| 15 October 1898 | Second qualifying round | Southport Central | Away | 2–3 | |
| 1899–1900 | 23 September 1899 | Preliminary Round | Nelson | Away | 1–2 |
| 1900–01 | 6 October 1900 | First qualifying round | Blackburn Park Road | Away | 1–5 |
| 1901–02 | 21 September 1901 | Preliminary Round | Oswaldtwistle Rovers | Away | 0–7 |
| 1902–03 | 20 September 1902 | Preliminary Round | Bacup | Home | 3–3 |
| 23 September 1902 | Preliminary Round (replay) | Bacup | Away | 3–4 |