Hinckley

June 26, 2011

Hinckley AFC was formed in January 2014, when fans of the defunct Hinckley United voted to form a 'community co-operative trust' to run a new football club for the town of Hinckley.

Hinckley United had been dissolved by the courts in the autumn of 2013 and a working group of fans combined, and with the help of Supporters Direct, announced the intention to form a co-operative trust along the same model as that of FC United of Manchester and AFC Wimbledon with a membership scheme allowing a 'one member one vote' ethos. At a public meeting in January 2014, those interested in the scheme voted to form the club and named it Hinckley AFC.

In February 2014 it was voted that the club's home colours should be Red & Blue, continuing the tradition of Hinckley football clubs, whilst the away colours would be violet and white. The club badge was also chosen by the supporters.

In March 2014 Steve and Joy Jelfs, who run a local business in Hinckley, and founder members of Hinckley AFC, made a bid to BDO Liquidators in regards to purchase the De Montfort Park Stadium, former home of Hinckley United. Subsequently, Hinckley AFC entered an agreement with the Jelfs family for a 50 year lease upon completion of the Stadium purchase. The bid was accepted by the creditors of Hinckley United Ltd, but legal issues regarding ownership and security of tenure, meant that any purchase would not be concluded in time for the 2014-15 season. In the interim it was also announced that Hinckley AFC had agreed a groundshare with Heather St John for the 2014-2015 season.

In May 2014 the first manager for Hinckley AFC was announced as Carl Abbott, who would also bring with him his assistants, Kevin Thompson, Paul Tomlinson and Tim Clarke. All had been with Carl at his previous club, Wolverhampton Casuals. At the public meeting following his appointment, Carl revealed the first signings for the new club would be John Melligan, Avun Jephcott and Matthew Bailey.

Hinckley United had been formed in June 1997 with a merger of the two main Hinckley football clubs. A meeting on that date saw shareholders of Hinckley Athletic (then playing in the Midland Alliance) approve a merger with neighbours Hinckley Town (then playing in the Southern League Midland).

Formed in 1889, originally named Hinckley United, Athletic had the traditional support of the Hinckley people, playing their games at the Holywell ground, behind the Holywell pub on the London Road. After WWII, the Holywell ground was not available so land was purchased then just out side the town on Middlefield Lane, and a name change to Hinckley Athletic saw the club begin again in the Birmingham Combination. The club switched leagues in the 1960s joining the Southern League division one, and in 1963 were promoted to the Southern League Premier. A disastrous season followed in the Premier resulting in relegation and following financial hardship, resigned from the Southern League in 1967 joining the West Midlands Regional League. After 27 years of mediocrity, Athletic were chosen as founder members of the Midland Alliance League in 1994, and followed this up with finishes of 2nd, 3rd and 2nd again, topping the attendance figures for the League.

Formed in 1958 as Westfield Wanderers, Hinckley Town played in the local district leagues, but after a name change to Hinckley Town in 1972 rose through the Leicestershire Senior Leagues and were founder members of the Central Midlands League Supreme Division in 1986. After finishing 1st and then 2nd, Town switched leagues to the West Midlands Regional League and in 1989 were promoted to the Southern League Midland. 7 seasons of struggle followed as Town failed to entice the support away from Athletic despite playing in the higher league.

Merger moves were made at the end of the 1996-97 season in a meeting of the respective chairmen, Mick Voce (Athletic) and Kevin Downes (Town), established there was some common ground with each club having something positive to offer. Following a shareholders meeting in June 1997, Athletic member voted to approve the merger, and subsequently, the new club would play at Athletic's Middlefield Lane ground with Town's Leicester Road set up being used as a training ground, and once the FA and Southern League had approved the merger, the new club United inherited Town's Dr Marten's League spot.

The new club appointing Dean Thomas as manager, having been released from his contract with Bedworth United and he became team manager, whilst off the field, the board of directors was elected with fourteen members, seven from either club, with Kevin Downes taking the chair. The club colours were red and blue, a blend of the main colours from Athletic who played in red, and Town who played in blue.

The aim of the merger was to bring a higher standard of football to the Town. Within four years that was achieved. After a mid table finish in their first season, Hinckley United improved with finishes of fourth, third and then won the Southern League Midland/West Championship in season 2000-2001.

In their first season in the Southern League Premier division Hinckley United ended up in 12th place, and though were never in the relegation zone, were in a relegation battle for the second half of the season. Their second season in Southern League Premier was much the same with consolodation the aim of the club. The third season however was better than anyone could've expected and the club finished in their highest ever position of sixth. That also meant finishing in a position to be accepted into the newly established Conference North division for 2004-2005.

After 2 mid table finshes consolidating in Conference North, Season 2006-2007 was accepted as the season Hinckley would make a serious challenge for the title. However after a good start tragedy struck the club when popular defender Matthew Gadsby collapsed and died on the pitch at Harrogate on 9th September 2006. Hinckley players took a month away from football and spent the rest of the season playing 'catch up.' When Hinckley returned to action the season was one of up and down, but held on to a play off spot, eventually rallying on and off the field to secure 4th place in the league, reaching the play off final, but missing out on promotion conceding a last minute penalty.

In season 2001-2002 Hinckley had their best ever FA Cup run. They managed to win through to the 2nd round proper, eventually losing at home 0-2 to Cheltenham Town of League Division 3, in front of 2661 fans at Middlefield Lane. United's best ever Cup run was equalled in 2004-2005 which included defeating Torquay 2-0 at Middlefield Lane then drawing with Brentford in front of the BBC TV Live Match of the Day cameras, before losing out in the replay.

Off the pitch things gathered pace with the development of the club. A move away from Middlefield Lane happened on 5th March 2005 when United played their first game at the new De Montfort Park Stadium, being a purpose built 4329 capacity football ground. Attendances increased at the new Stadium and a home league attendance record was set for United when nearly 2900 watched Hinckley draw with Nuneaton on boxing day 2006.

The play off final was the pinnacle of achievement for United and seasons of struggle followed. Despite being bottom of the league at christmas 2007, relegation was avoided by an unbeaten run at the end of the season, ensuring survival in the penultimate game.

The next few season were of consolidation, as financial hardship hit the club off the field. Lack of proper budgeting the previous seasons meant the club were unable to meet debts, and the HMRC petitioned the courts for a winding up order. The football club was also sanctioned with a 'registration embargo' limiting the number of players at the club to a maximum of 16. Over two years were spent with the club trying to finance and settle the debts, gaining adjournments from the courts, and the debt finally settled in November 2010.

In season 2011-2012 the club were relegated on the final day of the season, though finished on 48 points, the highest points total to be relegated from the Conference North. On the 25th of May 2012, the FA published their proposed club allocations for the 2012-2013 non-league season proposing Hinckley United would remain in the Conference North for the 2012-2013 season after both Darlington Football Club and Kettering Town Football Club were relegated further divisions after financial problems. In June this reprieve was officially confirmed at the Football Conference AGM.

Off field events became dire for Hinckley United in the 2012-2013 season. Following boardroom upheavel the Chairman resigned from the board and there were wholesale changes at the club. The playing budget was drastically reduced and a few weeks into the season manager Dean Thomas resigned, to be replaced with assistant Carl Heggs. As historical debts were the priority, football debts were ignored and the club operated under a 'registration embargo' for the first half of the season, using many of the clubs Development team as cover. Unsurprisingly the club was rooted to the foot of the Conference North all season, and relegation was confirmed in March 2013, having won just 3 matches all season.

As United started the 2013-2014 back in the Southern League, the club faced more court action, resulting in a petition to wind up by the former chairman Kevin Downes, and the remaining United directors, Michael Sutton, Paul Moss, Ku Akeredolu and Kevin Thompson did not contest the order. The petition was granted by the judge in October 2013 and Hinckley United were liquidated with their league record for that season expunged.