{{short description|English football club}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}} {{Use British English|date=September 2019}} {{Infobox football club | clubname = Stockton Town | image = Stockton Town F.C. logo.png | image_size = 250px | fullname = Stockton Town Football Club | nickname = The Anchors | short name = {{Flat list| * Town * STFC * Stockton}} | founded = {{Start date and age|df=y|1987}} | ground = Bishopton Road West | capacity = 2,200 (600 seated) | chairman = Martin Hillerby | manager = Michael Dunwell | league = {{English football updater|StocktoT}} | season = {{English football updater|StocktoT2}} | position = {{English football updater|StocktoT3}} | pattern_la1 = | pattern_b1 = | pattern_ra1 = | pattern_sh1 = | pattern_so1 = | leftarm1 = FFFF00 | body1 = FFFF00 | rightarm1 = FFFF00 | shorts1 = 0000FF | socks1 = FFFF00 | pattern_la2 = | pattern_b2 = | pattern_ra2 = | pattern_so2 = | leftarm2 = cc0000 | body2 = ffffff | rightarm2 = cc0000 | shorts2 = cc0000 | socks2 = cc0000 | website = {{Official website}} }}
'''Stockton Town Football Club''' is an association football club based in Stockton-on-Tees, England. They are currently members of the {{English football updater|StocktoT}} and play at Bishopton Road West, which has an overall capacity of 2,200 including 600 available seat and corporate area including bar. They are managed by former player Michael Dunwell, who retired from playing in 2014.
The club are notable for reaching the final of the FA Vase in the 2017–18 season, where they finished as runners-up, after being defeated 1–0 by champions Thatcham Town.<ref name=fa-vase-runners-up>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44189594|title=FA Vase: Thatcham Town beat Stockton Town 1–0 to win title for first time|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=14 June 2019|date=20 May 2018}}</ref> Their previous success includes four consecutive Wearside Football League titles between 2012 and 2016, two consecutive Wearside League Cup titles between 2014 and 2016, two consecutive Monkwearmouth Charity Cup titles between 2014 and 2016, as well as winning the Shipowners Charity Cup in the 2014–15 season.
Their club badge, which includes their motto, "Fortitudo et Spes" (Latin for "Strength and Hope"), is navy and yellow, representing their traditional colours. The historic club nickname, "the Anchors", is taken from the Stockton coat of arms, representing the town's shipbuilding history during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.
==History== The club was initially formed in 1979 as Hartburn Juniors, entering a 5-a-side league in Middlesbrough to give youngsters an opportunity to play organised football. The club changed to their name to Stockton Town in 2003.
For the 2009–10 season, a senior team was entered into the Teesside League Division Two and finished in fourth place in their first season. In the summer of 2010, the club applied for membership to the Wearside League and were accepted for the 2010–11 season where they finished in tenth place. In the 2011–12 season, the club finished third in the league and lost in the final of the League Cup.
The club won their first league title in the 2012–13 season, and repeated the feat in their following league campaign, finishing the season with a league record of 104 points. At the end of the 2014–15 season, the club applied for qualification for the Northern League Division Two. However, despite winning the league title for a third time, their application was withdrawn due to legal issues.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/cup-finalists-stockton-town-put-8974360|title=Cup finalists Stockton Town will have to put Northern League promotion disappointment behind them|date=2 April 2015|work=The Gazette}}</ref>
In the 2015–16 season, the club won their fourth consecutive league title to gain promotion to Northern League.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thenpl.co.uk/club-info/34573727 |title=Stockton Town |publisher=The Northern Premier League |access-date=24 September 2022 |archive-date=24 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220924212851/https://www.thenpl.co.uk/club-info/34573727 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The following season, the club played their first ever FA Vase tie, beating Eccleshill United 2–0,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://stocktontownfc.com/match/7140-stockton-town-fc-v-eccleshill-united|title=Stockton Town FC 2 Eccleshill United 0 – Stockton Town Football Club.|date=10 September 2016|work=Stockton Town Football Club}}</ref> before gaining their most famous victory to date, beating four-time winners, Whitley Bay, 2–0 in the next round.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://mobile.twitter.com/stockton_townfc/status/779709826028990464|title=FT Whitley Bay 0 Stockton Town 2.|date=24 September 2016|work=Twitter}}</ref> On 15 April, the club won 2–1 at Team Northumbria, to clinch the Division Two title and gain promotion to the Northern Football League Division One.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://twitter.com/footymatterstv/status/853284091273326592|title=Football Matters on Twitter|work=Twitter|access-date=16 April 2017}}</ref>{{Primary source inline|date=September 2019}}
In only their second ever Northern League campaign, Stockton reached the final of the 2017–18 FA Vase. They played Thatcham Town of the Hellenic League. The final, played at Wembley Stadium, took place on 20 May, with Stockton narrowly losing by 1–0.<ref name=fa-vase-runners-up/> Furthermore, that season's semi-final against Marske United, taking place on home turf and resulting in a 2–0 victory in Stockton's favour, saw the ground record broken, with an attendance of 3,300 (1,800 of Stockton).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/football/northernleague/16115270.fa-vase-semi-final-stockton-high-street-wembley-way/|title=FA VASE SEMI-FINAL: From Stockton high street to Wembley Way|publisher=The Northern Echo|access-date=11 November 2021|date=25 March 2018}}</ref>
In the 2019–20 season, Stockton were leading the table by 13 points with eight games left to play. However, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Football Association ruled that the entire league would be expunged, with no sides in the league being promoted or relegated, thus denying Stockton promotion despite being top of the league.<ref>{{cite news|last=Loughlin|first=Nick|url=https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/18371369.stockton-south-shields-denied-promotion/|title=Stockton and South Shields are denied promotion|publisher=The Northern Echo|date=9 April 2020|access-date=29 August 2020}}</ref> Representatives from the team and local Member of Parliament, Alex Cunningham, protested against the movement though the ruling stayed in force.<ref>{{cite news|last=Scott|first=Laura|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/52098137|title=More than 100 non-league clubs send letter to FA over expunging season|publisher=BBC News|date=31 March 2020|access-date=29 August 2020}}</ref> After the 2020–21 season was curtailed for the second consecutive season, results from both seasons were combined, which resulted in Stockton Town being promoted to the eighth tier of English football, joining the newly formed Northern Premier League Division One East for the 2021–22 season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://stocktontownfc.com/breaking-news-stockton-town-promoted-to-step-4-of-non-league/|title=Breaking News: Stockton Town Promoted to Step 4 of Non-League|publisher=Stockton Town F.C.|date=18 May 2021|access-date=18 May 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Gordon|first=James|url=https://www.thenpl.co.uk/202122-league-allocations-65931|title=2021/22 League Allocations|publisher=Northern Premier League|date=18 May 2021|access-date=18 May 2021}}</ref> In their first season, Stockton reached the play-off final, but lost 2–1 to Marske United.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.footballwebpages.co.uk/match/2021-2022/northern-premier-league-east-division/marske-united/stockton-town/401945|title=Northern Premier League - East Division Play-off Final – Marske United 2 - 1 Stockton Town – 2021-2022|publisher=Football Web Pages|date=30 April 2022|access-date=15 September 2022}}</ref> In the following 2022–23 season, Stockton lost the play-off final on penalties to Long Eaton United.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://stocktontownfc.com/anchors-season-ends-in-heartbreak/ |title=Anchors season ends in heartbreak |author=James Cartwright |publisher=Stockton Town FC |date=30 April 2023 |access-date=1 May 2023}}</ref> In the 2023–24 season, Stockton reached the play-off final in the third season in a row, this time winning on penalties to Dunston, earning promotion to the Northern Premier League Premier Division.<ref>{{cite web|last=Clarke|first=Jordan|url=https://stocktontownfc.com/anchors-win-promotion-in-thrilling-fashion/|title=Anchors win promotion in thrilling fashion|publisher=Stockton Town FC|date=4 May 2024|access-date=5 May 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Simpson|first=Ray|url=https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/24300272.stockton-town-beat-dunston-npl-east-play-off-final/|title=Stockton Town beat Dunston in NPL East play-off final|publisher=The Northern Echo|date=5 May 2024|access-date=5 May 2024}}</ref>
In the 2024–25 season, Stockton Town progressed to the third qualifying round of the FA Cup for the first time in their history after defeating Marine 3–2 at home.<ref>{{cite web|last=Clarke|first=Jordan|url=https://stocktontownfc.com/stockton-town-progress-in-fa-cup-with-victory-over-national-league-north-marine/|title=Stockton Town Progress In FA Cup With Victory Over National League North Marine|publisher=Stockton Town|date=14 September 2024|access-date=14 September 2024}}</ref> In the third round they drew 1–1 at home to Chester, but lost the replay 1–0.<ref>{{cite web|last=Clarke|first=Jordan|url=https://stocktontownfc.com/match/43920-chester-fc-v-stockton-town-fc/|title=Chester FC v Stockton Town FC|publisher=Stockton Town|date=1 October 2024|access-date=7 October 2024}}</ref> Due to their promotion the previous season, Stockton also played in the third qualifying round of the FA Trophy for the first time, winning away to Blyth Spartans 0–2.<ref>{{cite web|last=Cartwright|first=James|url=https://stocktontownfc.com/thompson-brace-sends-anchors-through-in-fa-trophy/|title=Thompson brace sends Anchors through in FA Trophy|publisher=Stockton Town|date=5 October 2024|access-date=5 October 2024}}</ref> Stockton went on to win the first round proper, defeating Newton Aycliffe at home 2–1,<ref>{{cite web|last=Cartwright|first=James|url=https://stocktontownfc.com/michael-fowlers-winner-sends-anchors-through-to-fa-trophy-second-round/|title=Michael Fowler's winner sends Anchors through to FA Trophy Second Round|publisher=Stockton Town|date=26 October 2024|access-date=26 October 2024}}</ref> in the second round against Scarborough Athletic 3–1,<ref>{{cite web|last=Cartwright|first=James|url=https://stocktontownfc.com/anchors-advance-to-fa-trophy-third-round-with-win-over-scarborough/|title=Anchors advance to FA Trophy Third Round with win over Scarborough|publisher=Stockton Town|date=16 November 2024|access-date=17 November 2024}}</ref> and against Oldham Athletic in a 2-0 giant killing at home in the third round.<ref>{{cite web|last=Clarke|first=Jordan|url=https://stocktontownfc.com/anchors-produce-historic-win-over-oldham-athletic/|title=Anchors produce historic win over Oldham Athletic|publisher=Stockton Town|date=7 December 2024|access-date=7 December 2024}}</ref> In the fourth round, Stockton were drawn away to Rochdale, but the match was postponed and moved to Stockton's ground. The match finished 0-0, with Stockton losing 4-3 in penalties.<ref>{{cite web|last=Clarke|first=Jordan|url=https://stocktontownfc.com/anchors-suffer-penalty-heartbreak-against-rochdale/|title=Anchors suffer penalty heartbreak against Rochdale|publisher=Stockton Town|date=8 January 2025|access-date=9 January 2025}}</ref>
Stockton finished third in their first season in the Northern Premier League Premier Division, qualifying for the play-offs. They beat Guiseley 1-0 on 29 April 2025. However, the club was disqualified from the competition for fielding an ineligible player, namely captain Adam Nicholson, who had been sent-off in the last regular game of the season against Hyde United. Stockton believed Nicholson's suspension did not start until 3 May 2025. The club was charged by the FA, with the Northern Premier League confirming that Nicholson was ineligible to play for the semi-final. As a result, Guiseley progressed to the final instead.<ref>{{cite web|last=Shaw|first=Dominic|url=https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/25137007.stockton-town-heartbreak-play-off-final-decision/|title=Stockton Town heartbreak after play-off final decision|publisher=The Northern Echo|date=4 May 2025|access-date=4 May 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Heyes|first=James|url=https://www.thenpl.co.uk/articles/leaguestatementpremierplayoffs|title=League Statement - Premier Division Playoffs|publisher=Northern Premier League|date=4 May 2025|access-date=4 May 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Manning|first=Jonny|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/czx19yreq27o|title=Football club disqualified from play-offs|publisher=BBC News|date=5 May 2025|access-date=5 May 2025}}</ref>
In the 2025–26 season, Stockton qualified for the final of the Durham Challenge Cup, having defeated Farringdon Detached, Hebburn Town, Dunston and Horden CW on route.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.durhamfa.com/cups/cups/2025-2026/challenge-cup/results|title=Results: 'Frank Pattison' Challenge Cup 2025–26|publisher=Durham FA|access-date=18 February 2026}}</ref> The final was originally going to take place at Sunderland's Stadium of Light on 14 April 2026, where they will play Shildon,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.durhamfa.com/news/2026/jan/22/2026-durham-challenge-cup-final-to-be-staged-at-the-stadium-of-light|title=2026 Durham Challenge Cup Final to be staged at the Stadium of Light|publisher=Durham FA|access-date=18 February 2026}}</ref> but it was rescheduled to played at Bishop Auckland F.C.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://stocktontownfc.com/durham-challenge-cup-final-to-be-played-at-bishop-auckland/|title=Durham Challenge Cup Final to be played at Bishop Auckland|publisher=Stockton Town|date=7 April 2026|access-date=7 April 2026}}</ref> Stockton lost the final 2-0. In the league, Stockton were deducted three points in February 2026 after it was ruled that the club had wrongly played someone who was suspended in a game against Warrington Rylands in November.<ref>{{cite web|last=Cartwright|first=Chris|url=https://stocktontownfc.com/match-report-ashton-united-1-2-stockton-town/|title=Match Report: Ashton United 1-2 Stockton Town|publisher=Stockton Town|date=21 February 2026|access-date=25 February 2026}}</ref> The club still qualified for the play-offs after finishing fifth, but were knocked out in the semi-finals by Hednesford Town.
==Ground== In April 2008, the club moved to facilities at Bishopton Road West in Stockton-on-Tees currently known as the MAP uk stadium. These facilities were built in partnership with the Football Foundation, Stockton Sixth Form College and Our Lady and St Bede Catholic Academy. In total, the project cost approximately £1.4 million, with close to £200,000 spent on the drainage of the pitches and the remainder on the new building containing 6 new changing rooms, 2 changing rooms for officials, an educational room, a club room and a drama and dance studio.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://stocktontownfc.com/teams/?nowprocket=1#|title=Teams – Stockton Town Football Club (See: Club Development Section)|access-date=11 November 2021}}{{Dead link|date=September 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref>
In July 2015, the club narrowly won approval from planners for expansion, at a cost of around £800,000. The plans, which had been recommended for approval by Stockton's planning officers, included fencing, flood lights, stands, dug outs, a turnstile, a changing block, a storage container and refreshments room. They had previously been given the green light a year previously to erect a 200-seat stand, floodlighting, artificial (3G) turf pitch, pay booth, changing facilities and toilet and refreshment areas. However, the expansion had met with a mixed response from residents, with 69 letters of objection submitted against 50 in support. A 105-signature petition of support was also submitted by the principal of Stockton Sixth Form college, insisting that students would benefit from the scheme.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/stockton-town-fc-narrowly-win-9573840|title=Stockton Town FC narrowly win approval for controversial £800,000 expansion plans|date=2 July 2015}}</ref>
==Players== ===Current squad=== {{updated|24 May 2026}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://stocktontownfc.com/retained-list-2026-27/|title=Stockton Town 2026/27 Retained List|website=Stockton Town|date=15 May 2026 |access-date=22 May 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://stocktontownfc.com/layton-watts-becomes-stocktons-first-summer-signing/|title=Layton Watts Becomes Stockton's First Summer Signing|publisher=Stockton Town|date=21 May 2026|access-date=22 May 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://stocktontownfc.com/aaron-brown-agrees-to-join-the-anchors/|title=Aaron Brown Agrees To Join The Anchors|publisher=Stockton Town|date=22 May 2026|access-date=22 May 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://stocktontownfc.com/veteran-nouble-becomes-third-addition/|title=Veteran Nouble Becomes Third Addition|publisher=Stockton Town|date=24 May 2026|access-date=24 May 2026}}</ref>
{{Fs start|nonumber=y|}} {{Fs player|nonumber=y|nat=ENG | pos=GK | name=Nathan Harker}} {{Fs player|nonumber=y|nat=ENG | pos=DF | name=Lewis King}} {{Fs player|nonumber=y|nat=ENG | pos=DF | name=Tom Coulthard}} {{Fs player|nonumber=y|nat=ENG | pos=DF | name=Adam Nicholson}} {{Fs player|nonumber=y|nat=ENG | pos=DF | name=Joshua Baggs}} {{Fs player|nonumber=y|nat=SCO | pos=DF | name=Owen Gallacher}} {{Fs player|nonumber=y|nat=WAL | pos=DF | name=Ryan Barrett}} {{Fs player|nonumber=y|nat=ENG | pos=DF | name=Aaron Brown}} {{Fs player|nonumber=y|nat=ENG | pos=MF | name=Cameron Painter}} {{Fs player|nonumber=y|nat=ENG | pos=MF | name=Jake Petitjean}} {{Fs player|nonumber=y|nat=ENG | pos=MF | name=Thomas Birtles}} {{Fs mid|nonumber=y|}} {{Fs player|nonumber=y|nat=ENG | pos=MF | name=Glen Butterworth}} {{Fs player|nonumber=y|nat=ENG | pos=MF | name=Layton Watts}} {{Fs player|nonumber=y|nat=ENG | pos=MF | name=Luca McHugh}} {{Fs player|nonumber=y|nat=ENG | pos=FW | name=Stephen Thompson}} {{Fs player|nonumber=y|nat=ENG | pos=FW | name=Josh Scott}} {{Fs player|nonumber=y|nat=ENG | pos=FW | name=Michael Sweet}} {{Fs player|nonumber=y|nat=ENG | pos=FW | name=Jaedon Faulkner}} {{Fs player|nonumber=y|nat=ENG | pos=FW | name=Frank Nouble}} {{Fs player|nonumber=y|nat=ENG | pos= | name=Harry Christy}} {{Fs player|nonumber=y|nat=ENG | pos= | name=Seb Waller}} {{Fs player|nonumber=y|nat=ENG | pos= | name=Chuka Unigwe}} {{Fs end}}
==Management team== As of 24 September 2022<ref>{{cite news|url=https://stocktontownfc.com/first-team/management-team/ |title=Management Team |publisher=Stockton Town FC |access-date=24 September 2022}}</ref> {| class="wikitable unsortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |- ! scope="col" | Role ! scope="col" | Name |- |Manager |align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} Michael Dunwell |- |Assistant manager |align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} J.D. Briggs |- |First team coach |align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} John Fielding |- |Goalkeeping coach |align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} Jason Hamilton |- |Injury Rehabilitation / Strength & Conditioning Coach<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-higgins-2156011b7/ | title=Sam Higgins | website=LinkedIn}}</ref> |align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} Sam Higgins |}
==Records== *'''Best FA Cup performance''': Third qualifying round, 2024–25 (replay)<ref name=FCHD2/> *'''Best FA Trophy performance''': Fourth round, 2024–25<ref name=FCHD2/> *'''Best FA Vase performance''': Runners-up, 2017–18<ref name=FCHD2/>
==Honours== Sources:<ref>{{cite news|url=https://stocktontownfc.com/about-us/club-honours/ |title=Club Honours |publisher=Stockton Town FC |access-date=24 September 2022}}</ref><ref name=FCHD2>{{Cite web|url=http://fchd.info/STOCKTOT.HTM|title = Football Club History Database - Stockton Town}}</ref>
'''League''' *Northern Premier League East Division **Play-off winners: 2024 *Northern Football League Division One **Promoted: 2020–21 (combined results of two previously curtailed seasons) *Northern Football League Division Two **Champions: 2016–17 *Wearside Football League **Champions: 2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16
'''Cup''' *Durham Challenge Cup **Runners-up: 2025–26 *FA Vase **Runners-up: 2017–18 *Northern League Ernest Armstrong Trophy **Runners-up: 2016–17 *Wearside League Cup **Winners: 2014–15, 2015–16 *Monkwearmouth Charity Cup **Winners: 2014–15, 2015–16 *Shipowners Charity Cup **Winners: 2014–15
==See also== *Norton and Stockton Ancients F.C. *Stockton RFC *Stockton Cricket Club
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{commons category}} *[http://www.stocktontownfc.com/ Official website]
{{Northern Premier League}} {{coord|54|34|14|N|1|20|23|W|region:GB_type:landmark|display=title}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Stockton Town F.C.}} Category:Stockton Town F.C. Category:Men's football clubs in England Category:Football clubs in County Durham Category:Association football clubs established in 1987 Category:1987 establishments in England Category:Teesside Football League Category:Wearside Football League Category:Northern Football League Category:Northern Premier League clubs