Easington Colliery A.F.C.

{{short description|Association football club in England}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2024}} {{Use British English|date=July 2013}} {{Infobox football club | clubname = Easington Colliery | image = Easington Colliery F.C. logo.png | fullname = Easington Colliery Association Football Club | nickname = The Colliery, The Colliers, Green Army | founded = 1913 | ground = Welfare Park, Easington | capacity = | chairman = Paul Adamson | manager = Olly Hotchkiss | league = {{English football updater|EasingtC}} | season = {{English football updater|EasingtC2}} | position = {{English football updater|EasingtC3}} | pattern_la1 = _whiteborder | pattern_b1 = _erreaelliot19gw | pattern_ra1 = _whiteborder | leftarm1 = 0C6629 | body1 = FFFFFF | rightarm1 = 0C6629 | shorts1 = 0C6629 }}

'''Easington Colliery Association Football Club''' is a football club based in Easington Colliery, County Durham, England. They are currently members of the {{English football updater|EasingtC}} and play at Welfare Park.

==History== The club was established in 1913 and joined the Wearside League.<ref name=NL>[http://www.northernleague.org/league/view_club_details.php?type=47&submit=Go%21 Easington Colliery] Northern League</ref> After finishing third in their first season, they withdrew from the league during the 1914–15 season.<ref name=NLM1/> Although they rejoined for the 1915–16 season, they left again at the end of the 1916–17 season.<ref name=NLM1>[http://www.nonleaguematters.co.uk/nlmnet/Addmore/WL92.html Wearside League 1892–1919] Non-League Matters</ref> Following the end of World War I, the club entered the league again in 1919 under the name Easington Colliery Welfare.<ref name=NLM2>[http://www.nonleaguematters.co.uk/nlmnet/Addmore/WL19.html Wearside League 1919–1960] Non-League Matters</ref> They were runners-up in 1928–29 and won the league the following season. Although they dropped to fifth in 1930–31, they won back-to-back league titles in 1931–32 and 1932–33. However, after finishing bottom of the table in 1936–37, they left the league.<ref name=NLM2/>

In 1939 Easington rejoined the Wearside League again.<ref name=NLM2/> After finishing as runners-up in 1946–47, they went on to win back-to-back titles in 1947–48 and 1948–49.<ref name=NLM2/> In 1955–56 the club reached the first round of the FA Cup for the first time in their history, eventually losing 2–0 at home to Tranmere Rovers in front of a record crowd of 4,500.<ref name=FCHD1/><ref name=FCHD2/> The club disbanded in 1964, but were reformed in 1973 when they rejoined Wearside League and were runners-up in their first season back in the league.<ref name=NLM3>[http://www.nonleaguematters.co.uk/nlmnet/Addmore/WL60.html Wearside League 1960–1988] Non-League Matters</ref> In 1976 they adopted their current name.<ref name=FCHD1>{{fchd|id=EASINGCW|name=Easington Colliery Welfare}}</ref> They joined Division Two of the Northern League in 1985 and were runners-up in their first season in the league, earning promotion to Division One.<ref name=FCHD2>{{fchd|id=EASINGTC|name=Easington Colliery}}</ref> They were relegated back to Division Two after finishing bottom of Division One in 1989–90, but were promoted to Division One the following season after a third-place finish in Division Two.<ref name=FCHD2/> However, the club were relegated again two seasons later.<ref name=FCHD2/>

In 1995–96 Easington finished third in Division Two, earning promotion back to Division One. They remained in Division One until being relegated at the end of the 2000–01 season. After finishing second-from-bottom of Division Two in 2004–05 the club were relegated to the Premier Division of the Northern Alliance.<ref name=FCHD2/> After two seasons in the Northern Alliance, they transferred to the Wearside League. A second-place finish in 2010–11 saw the club promoted to Division Two of the Northern League, but they were relegated the following season after finishing bottom of Division Two.<ref name=FCHD2/> After winning the Shipowners Cup in 2013–14, beating Ashbrooke Belford House 5–3 in the final,<ref>[https://fchd.info/lghist/wear2014.htm 2013–14 Wearside League] Football Club History Database</ref> the following season saw them finish as runners-up in the Wearside League, resulting in promotion back to Division Two of the Northern League.<ref name=FCHD2/>

In 2023–24 Easington finished third in Division Two, qualifying for the promotion play-offs. After beating Bedlington Terriers 4–0 in the semi-finals, they defeated Newcastle Blue Star 2–1 in the final to earn promotion to Division One.

==Honours== *'''Wearside League''' **Champions 1929–30, 1931–32, 1932–33, 1947–48, 1948–49 **League Cup winners 1932–33, 1945–46, 1961–62, 2009–10, 2024–25<ref name=NL/> **Monkwearmouth Cup winners 1930–31, 1947–48, 1975–76<ref name=NL/> **Sunderland Shipowners Cup winners 1974–75, 1979–80, 2013–14<ref name=NL/>

==Records== *Best FA Cup performance: First round, 1955–56<ref name=FCHD1/> *Best FA Trophy performance: Third qualifying round, 1991–92<ref name=FCHD2/> *Best FA Vase performance: Fourth round, 1982–83<ref name=FCHD2/> *Record attendance: 4,500 vs Tranmere Rovers, FA Cup first round, 1955<ref name=NL/>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *[http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/easingtoncollieryafc Official website]

Category:Easington Colliery A.F.C. Category:Men's football clubs in England Category:Football clubs in County Durham Category:Association football clubs established in 1913 Category:1913 establishments in England Category:Wearside Football League Category:Northern Football Alliance Category:Northern Football League Category:Mining football clubs in England