Durham City A.F.C.
|
|
Durham City A.F.C. are an English football club that currently plays in the Albany Northern League Division One. They are based in the city of Durham in North East England.
Durham City was formed in 1918 and were admitted to Division Three North of the Football League in 1921. In 1928 they failed to gain re-election to the league and returned to playing in the North Eastern League, being replaced in the league by Carlisle United F.C.. The club was disbanded in 1938, but was reformed in 1950, at first playing in the Wearside League, before gaining admission to the Northern League in 1952, where the club remains today.
The club has occupied as many as five different grounds since its foundation. In their first season the club played at Garden House Park (near the site of the present county hall), then played for four seasons at Kepier Heughs before moving to Holiday Park (on Framwellgate Waterside) until 1938.
The club's fourth ground was at Ferens Park, near the Sands area - the club stayed at this ground until forced to move due to promotion requirements in 1994. The club also gained its largest attendance ever of 7,000 at Ferens Park, when on November 7 1957 Tranmere Rovers F.C. visited in the second round of the FA Cup, beating City 3-0.
Presently the club play at New Ferens Park (also known as the Archibalds' Stadium) in Belmont on the northern outskirts of the city. This ground is of a very high quality and boasts a 300 seater stand and clubhouse which also incorporates covered standing room for 600 further spectators. Spectators can also stand around the pitch as a path has been laid around the pitch. The present Chairman Stewart Dawson plans to further improve the ground with the addition of new 5 and 7-a-side all weather pitches and a standing area behind the west goal. Current attendances are estimated to be around the 200 mark and the club's reputation is generally high among non-league clubs. Sunderland A.F.C.'s reserve team currently play at New Ferens Park.
External link
- Durham City A.F.C. official site (http://www.sportnetwork.net/main/s163/)