Salford City F.C.

Salford City
Full name Salford City Football Club
Nickname(s) The Ammies
Founded 1940 (1940) (as Salford Central)
Ground Moor Lane
Capacity 5,106 (2,246 seated)[1]
Owner Peter Lim (50%)
Phil Neville (10%)
Gary Neville (10%)
Nicky Butt (10%)
Paul Scholes (10%)
Ryan Giggs (10%)
Chairman Karen Baird
Manager Graham Alexander
League National League
2017–18 National League North, 1st of 22 (promoted)
Website Club website

Salford City Football Club is a professional association football club based in Salford, Greater Manchester, England. It currently competes in the National League, the fifth tier of the English football league system.

The club was founded in 1940. In 2014 it was taken over by former Manchester United players Ryan Giggs, Gary Neville, Phil Neville, Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt, who each own 10% of the club, with businessman Peter Lim owning the remaining 50%. Since 2014, the club has had three promotions in four years.

History

1940 to 1989

The club was founded in 1940 as Salford Central. It competed in local leagues until 1963, when it was promoted to the Manchester Football League and changed its name to Salford Amateurs. Nicknamed "the Ammies", the club won the Lancashire Amateur Cup in 1973, 1975 and 1977 and the Manchester Premier Cup in 1978 and 1979. Salford moved into its present ground, Moor Lane, in 1978[2] and following restoration of the ground, the club entered the Cheshire County League in 1980, which two years later amalgamated with the Lancashire Combination to form the North West Counties Football League.

1989 to 2006

The club adopted its current name of Salford City in 1989. In 1990, it returned to the final of the Manchester Premier Cup, losing to Curzon Ashton; it also entered the FA Cup for the first time. By 1992, Salford were competing in Division One of the North West Counties Football League. The club made another appearance in the final of the Manchester Premier Cup in 2002, this time losing to Ashton United.

In the 2004–05 season, the club reached the third round of the FA Vase. In 2005–06, it reached the third qualifying round of the FA Cup and also won the North West Counties League Cup, beating Cammell Laird in the final.

2006 to 2010

In the 2007–08 season Salford, under the management of Gary Fellows, finished second in Division One of the North West Counties League and were thus promoted to Division One North of the Northern Premier League, the eighth tier of the English football league system.

The club suffered a difficult start in the Northern Premier League, losing six of their first seven matches, which resulted in Fellows being relieved of his managerial duties in October 2008[3] and former Bridlington Town and Stockport Sports boss Ashley Berry taking over.[4] After only two months, with results still not improving, Berry left and was replaced by former Flixton boss Paul Wright.[5] Due to a pre-existing suspension from the Football Association, Wright was unable to start work until March, so his assistant manager, Neil Hall, deputised for the first two months of 2009.[6] By the time Wright took up his position, Salford were languishing at the bottom of the league, having achieved one win and a total of eight points from their first 26 games, leaving them 15 points adrift from safety. An unlikely 5–3 away win at Lancaster City prompted a remarkable change in fortune, with the club going on to achieve nine wins and a draw from their last fourteen games, and clinching survival on the final day of the season with a 5–2 win away at Garforth Town.[7]

The 2009–10 season saw strong performances in the qualifying rounds of the FA Cup and the FA Trophy, but the club continued to struggle in the league. In February 2010, having lost four of their last five home matches, Salford parted company with Wright.[8] Rather than appoint a permanent successor, chairman Darren Quick took the unusual step of taking on the role of caretaker manager himself for the remainder of the season. Under Quick, the team again enjoyed a strong finish to the season, taking 36 points from the remaining games and finishing eleventh in the table.

2010 to 2014

Despite the 2009–10 season's heroics, the team again struggled at the start of the 2010–11 season, and Darren Quick decided to end his tenure as caretaker manager, replacing himself with Rhodri Giggs who would act as player-manager alongside experienced coach Danny Jones. Results improved under Giggs with team finishing the season in 12th position. The club began well in 2011–12 with hopes of a playoff push, however a poor run of form at the start of 2012, combined with the frequent departure of the club's top players, resulted in a mid-table finish. After the final home game of the season, Giggs announced he was resigning from the post with immediate effect.

In May 2012, the club appointed ex-professional Darren Sheridan as the new manager.[9] The 2012–13 season started well in the league, and the club also enjoyed a local derby in the preliminary round of the FA Cup against FC United of Manchester.[10] Over 1300 fans were in attendance at Moor Lane to watch the Ammies narrowly lose in a five-goal thriller. Sheridan's tenure at the club lasted only 8 months though, and he resigned from the club in January 2013 after a review of the club's budget.[11] The club appointed Andy Heald as caretaker manager,[12] before announcing his appointment on a full-time basis a month later.[13] Under Heald's leadership, Salford finished a disappointing sixteenth place in the Premier League Division North, but enjoyed a good cup run by reaching the final of the Manchester Premier Cup where they faced Mossley at Edgeley Park. Despite a rousing late comeback to level the score at 2–2, Mossley eventually triumphed 4–2 in the resulting penalty shoot-out.[14] At the end of the season, Heald and his assistant Chris Thompson left the club by mutual consent due to business and family commitments.[15]

Ahead of the 2013–14 campaign, the club appointed Barry Massay and Phil Power as joint managers[16] and Salford based businesswoman Karen Baird took over as chairman from the long-serving Quick.[17] The new management team got off to a strong start and were unbeaten after the first six games of the season, however, form began to dip and in October 2013 the decision was made to reshuffle the management team with Power assuming sole managerial responsibility and Massay dropping down to an assistant managerial role, before subsequently leaving the club completely a month later.[18]

2014 onwards - takeover by the Class of 92

In March 2014, news broke of the proposed takeover of the club by former Manchester United players Ryan Giggs, Gary Neville, Phil Neville, Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt, subject to Football Association and Northern Premier League approval, with the deal expected to be completed by the summer.[19] The remainder of the 2013–14 season saw Power lead Salford to a 12th position finish in the Premier League Division North.

With the proposed takeover of the club completed, the new ownership team were present at pre-season training in July 2014, at which Giggs suggested the consortium had ambitious aims for the non-league club, with a target of Championship level football within 15 years.[20] It was confirmed that Baird would remain the club's chairman and Power would continue as manager. Prior to the start of the 2014–15 season, the club announced a showcase match against a "Class of '92 XI" featuring all five of the new owners[21] which Salford City went on to win 5–1.[22] The 2014–15 season started with Salford unbeaten in the first 13 games. In September 2014, the ownership team announced that they had agreed to sell a 50% stake in the club to Singapore–based billionaire Peter Lim, the owner of Valencia CF.[23][24]

Bernard Morley (left) and Anthony Johnson were appointed joint-managers in January 2015.

Despite the promising start, a dip in form during December resulted in only 4 wins from the following 11 matches which saw the team fall behind Darlington 1883 at the top of the league. As a result, Power was sacked in January 2015 after 18 months in the role.[25] Owners Paul Scholes and Phil Neville acted as caretaker managers for the subsequent match against Kendal Town,[26] before announcing the arrival of the new managerial team of Anthony Johnson and Bernard Morley.[27] Johnson and Morley had led Ramsbottom United to promotion from the Northern Premier League Division One North during the previous season. The new managerial team went on to win 15 of the remaining 17 matches of the season, a feat which saw them regain their place at the top of the table. With Darlington failing to win their penultimate match of the season, Salford were crowned champions, guaranteeing promotion to the Northern Premier League Premier Division.[28] The championship was celebrated with Salford recording their ninth consecutive win in a 5–0 victory over Ossett Town in front of a crowd of over 1100.[29]

In October 2015, the club was featured in the BBC One series Class of 92: Out of Their League which was commissioned for a second series in February 2016.[30]

The club reached the FA Cup 1st Round proper for the first time in their 25-year association with the competition having defeated fellow league side Whitby Town, Curzon Ashton and Bradford (Park Avenue) from the National North League and Southport from the National League in the Qualifying Rounds. In front of a sell out crowd of 1,400 with many millions more watching live on BBC Television, Salford scored a famous win over League Two side Notts County by 2–0 at Moor Lane. The 2nd Round saw them drawn at home to Hartlepool United, also from League Two, and again the tie was televised live by BBC Television in front of another capacity crowd. A creditable 1–1 draw meant a replay in Hartlepool – a game that was televised live by BT Sport – but despite outplaying their hosts in normal time, Salford with the backing of 500 travelling supporters eventually succumbed to two unopposed goals in extra time. Having been in the top five places for the majority of the season Salford eventually finished third behind champions Darlington 1883 and runners-up Blyth Spartans to claim a playoff place. Ashton United were defeated 3–1 in the semi-final at Moor Lane which was followed up four days later with a 3–2 win over Workington at the same venue in front of nearly 2,000 spectators with 'the Ammies' scoring twice in the final eleven minutes to claim their place in the National League North for the 2016–17 season, the highest level the club had ever reached in its 76-year history.

Full-time status

In March 2017 joint managers Morley & Johnson signed two-year full-time contracts starting from 1 April. The club also announced that from 1 July, players with the club would become full-time professional players.[31]

On 19 October 2017, the newly named Peninsula Stadium was unveiled by the Class of 92's former manager Sir Alex Ferguson.[32]

On 21 April 2018, the club became champions of the National League North for the 2017–18 season with one game to play, thereby securing promotion to National League, once again re-setting the bar for the highest level the club has ever attained. Following this, on 8 May 2018 it was announced the joint managers had left the club by mutual consent, due to irreconcilable differences regarding performance and contract length.[33] Shortly afterwards on the 14 May Graham Alexander was appointed as the club's new manager.[34]

Current squad

As of 2 October 2018[35]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player
1 England GK Chris Neal
2 Gibraltar DF Scott Wiseman
3 The Gambia DF Ibou Touray
4 England MF Augustin Mafuta
5 England DF Liam Hogan (Captain)
6 England DF Carl Piergianni
7 England MF Nick Haughton
8 Saint Kitts and Nevis MF Lois Maynard
9 Republic of Ireland FW Adam Rooney
10 England FW Danny Lloyd
11 England MF Tom Walker
12 New Zealand GK Max Crocombe
No. Position Player
13 England FW Jack Redshaw
14 England DF Josh Askew
16 England MF James Hooper
18 England MF Danny Whitehead
19 England MF Mark Shelton
20 England FW Emmanuel Dieseruvwe
21 England FW Devante Rodney
23 England DF Nathan Pond
26 England DF James Jones
27 England MF Kieran Glynn
30 Republic of Ireland FW Rory Gaffney

Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player
England DF Danny Livesey (at Chester until the end of the 2018/19 season)
England FW Anthony Dudley (at Chester until the end of the 2018/19 season)
No. Position Player
England FW Jake Beesley (at Bradford Park Avenue until the end of the 2018/19 season)

Club staff

[36]

  • Graham Alexander – Manager
  • Chris Lucketti – Assistant Manager
  • Chris Casper – Sporting Director
  • Steve Philips – Physiotherapist
  • Rob Williams – Sports Scientist
  • Carlo Nash - Goalkeeping coach[37]
  • Paul Rushton – Kitman
  • Jamie Russell – Head of Academy 92
  • Lewis Craig – Deputy Head of Academy 92
  • Andrew Giblin - Club Secretary

Seasons

Year League Level P W D L F A GD Pts Position Leading league scorer Goals FA Cup FA Trophy Average attendance
2007–08 NW Counties FL Div. One 9 38 26 6 6 75 35 +40 84 2nd of 20
Promoted as runners-up		 ? ? PR not eligible ?
2008–09 Northern PL Div. One North 8 40 10 6 24 59 107 −48 36 20th of 21 ? ? QR2 QR1 ?
2009–10 Northern PL Div. One North 8 42 16 8 18 63 74 −11 56 11th of 22 ? ? QR3 QR3 ?
2010–11 Northern PL Div. One North 8 44 17 11 16 68 73 −5 62 12th of 23 ? ? QR1 PR ?
2011–12 Northern PL Div. One North 8 42 14 10 18 69 71 −2 52 13th of 22 ? ? PR QR2 ?
2012–13 Northern PL Div. One North 8 42 11 13 18 65 79 −14 46 16th of 22 ? ? QR2 PR 117
2013–14 Northern PL Div. One North 8 42 15 7 20 68 80 −12 52 12th of 22 Mark Battersby 11 PR PR 139
2014–15 Northern PL Div. One North 8 42 30 5 7 92 42 +50 95 1st of 22
Promoted as champions		 Gareth Seddon 24 QR2 PR 383
2015–16 Northern Premier League 7 46 27 9 10 94 48 +46 90 3rd of 24
Promoted via play-offs		 Danny Webber 16 R2 QR1 642
2016–17 National League North 6 42 22 11 9 79 44 +35 77 4th of 22

Lost in play-off semi-final

 Mike Phenix 15 QR3 QR3 1,395
2017–18 National League North 6 41 27 7 7 76 45 +31 88 1st of 22
Promoted as champions		 Jack Redshaw 17 QR2 QR3 1,626[38]

Honours

League honours

Minor honours

Records

The club's colours are red, white and black. Prior to the change in ownership in 2014, the club played in tangerine & black (earlier colours include tangerine & white and all navy blue). The club's logo also changed in 2014 but both logos picture a lion. The old logo included the club's nickname "the Ammies".

References

  1. ↑ "England: See what Salford City are building in less than a year". StadiumDB. 21 July 2017. Retrieved 22 July 2017.
  2. ↑ Adams, Duncan. "Salford City – Peninsula Stadium". Football Ground Guide. Retrieved 19 August 2018.
  3. ↑ Rodgers, Tom (3 October 2008). "Salford City Gaffer sacked". Salford Online News. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  4. ↑ "City appoint Berry as boss". Manchester Evening News. 22 October 2008. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  5. ↑ "City get Wright man for the job". Manchester Evening News. 5 January 2009. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  6. ↑ "Salford City FC – The Great Escape". Salford Star. 8 March 2009. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  7. ↑ "City's Great Escape". Manchester Evening News. 30 April 2009. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  8. ↑ Bright, Mark (10 February 2010). "Ammies part company with manager Paul Wright". Salford Online News. Archived from the original on 27 February 2015. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  9. ↑ "Former Barrow boss Darren Sheridan is Rhodri Giggs' successor at Salford City". Manchester Evening News. 10 May 2012. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  10. ↑ "Salford City vs FC United of Manchester Ticket Details & FA Cup Preview". Salford Star. 17 September 2012. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  11. ↑ "Darren Sheridan Resigns as Manager of Salford City FC". Shock Radio. 21 January 2013. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  12. ↑ "Ammies Hand Heald Caretaker Role". Manchester Evening News. 22 January 2013. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  13. ↑ "Andy Heald scores top job at Salford". Salford Online. 28 February 2013. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  14. 1 2 "Mossley Retain Manchester Premier Cup". Pitchero Non-League Website. 28 March 2013. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  15. ↑ "Salford City managerless again as Andy Heald quits". Salford Online News. 13 May 2013. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  16. ↑ "Salford City Unveil New Managerial Partnership". Salford City Website. 24 May 2013. Archived from the original on 25 February 2015. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  17. ↑ "Ammies Appoint New Chairman". Salford City Website. 6 June 2013. Archived from the original on 25 February 2015. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  18. ↑ "Massay Stands Down at Salford". Pitchero Non-League Website. 14 November 2013. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  19. ↑ "Class of '92 stars agree deal to buy Salford City FC". Manchester Evening News. 27 March 2014. Retrieved 27 March 2014.
  20. ↑ "Class of 92 have high hopes for Salford City FC". ITV. 11 July 2014. Retrieved 13 July 2014.
  21. ↑ "Ryan Giggs to play for 'Class of 92' side". BBC. 9 May 2014. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
  22. ↑ "Class of '92 1–5 Salford City". Daily Mail. 7 August 2014. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  23. ↑ "Peter Lim to buy 50% stake in Salford City from Class of '92". The Guardian. 22 September 2014. Retrieved 22 September 2014.
  24. ↑ "Singapore businessman Peter Lim joins forces with ex-Manchester United players and invests in Salford City FC". The Daily Telegraph. 22 September 2014. Retrieved 22 September 2014.
  25. ↑ "Salford City sack manager Phil Power". Salford Online. 3 January 2015. Archived from the original on 26 February 2015. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  26. ↑ "Ex-Manchester United stars Paul Scholes and Phil Neville take temporary charge of Salford City". Daily Mail. 3 January 2015. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  27. ↑ "Salford City appoint Anthony Johnson and Bernard Morley". Daily Mail. 3 January 2015. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  28. ↑ "FC United and Salford City both secure promotion". BBC. 21 April 2015. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
  29. ↑ "Champions! Salford City FC celebrate winning Evo-Stik North title". Manchester Evening News. 25 April 2015. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
  30. ↑ "BBC – Second series of BBC One's Class of 92: Out of Their League commissioned – Media Centre". BBC. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
  31. ↑ "Managers Agree Two Year Contracts". Salford City. Archived from the original on 9 March 2017. Retrieved 19 July 2017.
  32. ↑ Roue, Lucy (19 October 2017). "Salford City rename stadium after sponsorship deal". men. Retrieved 2 March 2018.
  33. ↑ "Salford City: Joint-managers Anthony Johnson and Bernard Morley leave club". BBC Sport. 8 May 2018. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
  34. ↑ "Graham Alexander: Salford City appoint ex-Scunthorpe manager". BBC Sport. 14 May 2018. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
  35. ↑ "First Team". salfordcityfc.co.uk. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
  36. ↑ "The Team".
  37. ↑ "Carlo Nash appointed Goalkeeper Coach". 2 July 2018.
  38. ↑ "National League North | Attendances". Football Web Pages.co.uk. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
  39. ↑ "Salford City on the up as club bankrolled Manchester United stars clinch promotion". Daily Mail. 25 April 2015. Retrieved 25 April 2015.

Coordinates: 53°30′48.982″N 2°16′36.340″W / 53.51360611°N 2.27676111°W / 53.51360611; -2.27676111

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