Worsbrough Bridge Athletic

Full name	Worsbrough Bridge Athletic Football Club
Nickname(s)	The Briggers
Founded	1923
Ground	Park Road, Worsbrough
Capacity	2,000 (175 seated)[1]
Chairman	Mark Booth
Manager	Lee Morris
League	Northern Counties East League Division One
2022–23	Northern Counties East League Division One, 15th of 20
Website	Club website
Home colours

Worsbrough Bridge Athletic Football Club is a football club based in Worsbrough, Barnsley, South Yorkshire, England. They are currently members of the Northern Counties East League Division One and play at Park Road.

History

The club was formed as Worsbrough Bridge St James in 1923,^[2] before being renamed Worsbrough Bridge Athletic. After playing in the Barnsley Junior League, the club joined the Barnsley Nelson League in 1939. They were runners-up in the league in 1943–44 and champions the following season. They returned to the Junior League in 1947, before switching to the Barnsley Association League in 1949. They were league champions in 1950–51 and 1952–53 and League Cup winners in 1956–57 and 1958–59.^[1] The club were renamed Worsbrough Bridge Miners Welfare & Athletic in 1961 after entering into partnership with the local Miners Welfare scheme,^[2] after which they joined Division Two of the Sheffield Association League in 1963.

Worsborough Bridge were promoted to Division One at the end of their first season in the Sheffield Association League, and were Division One champions in 1965–66 and 1969–70. In 1971 the club moved up to Division Three of the Yorkshire League.^[3] After finishing third in their first season in the league, they were promoted to Division Three.^[3] Another third-placed finish in 1972–73 saw them earn a second successive promotion to Division One.^[3] They finished second-from-bottom of Division One in 1975–76 and were relegated to Division Two.^[3] After finishing third-from-bottom of Division Two in 1978–79 the club were relegated to Division Three.^[3]

When the Yorkshire League merged with the Midland League to form the Northern Counties East League in 1982, Worsbrough were placed in Division Two South. League reorganisation in 1984 saw them moved to Division One Central, before further reorganisation saw them placed in Division Three for the 1985–86 season.^[3] They went on to finish as runners-up in the division, earning promotion to Division Two.^[3] The club were Division Two runners-up in 1990–91 and were promoted to Division One.^[3] They were Division One runners-up in 1990–91.

In 2006 the club were renamed Worsbrough Bridge Athletic.^[4] They finished bottom of Division One in 2009–10 and 2015–16 but were not relegated.^[4]

Season-by-season record

Ground

The club began playing at Park Road before World War II, but left in 1947.^[2] They returned after purchasing the ground in 1953.^[2] After entering into partnership with the Miners Welfare scheme, the ground was developed with new changing rooms and a new hall during the early 1960s.^[2] In the early 1970s a new stand was built. A record attendance of 1,603 was set for an FA Amateur Cup match against Blyth Spartans in 1971, although the real figure may have been closer to 2,500.^[2] Floodlights were installed in 1993.^[2]

Honours

• Sheffield Association League
  • Division One champions 1965–66, 1969–70
  • League Cup winners 1965–66
• Barnsley Association League
  • Champions 1950–51, 1952–53
• Barnsley Junior League
  • Champions 1948-49

Records

• Best FA Cup performance: First qualifying round, 1978–79, 1979–80, 1980–81, 2002–03^[3]
• Best FA Amateur Cup performance: Third qualifying round, 1971–72 1972–73
• Best FA Vase performance: Third round, 1990–91^[3]
• Record attendance: 1,603 vs Blyth Spartans, FA Amateur Cup, 1971^[1]