Nelson F.C.

Nelson Football Club, colloquially known as Nelson F.C. or simply Nelson, is an English football club based in Nelson, Lancashire. Originally established in 1882, the club played in the Lancashire League, North-East Lancashire Combination, Lancashire Combination and Central League before becoming founding members of the Football League's Third Division North in 1921. They were Division Three North champions during 1922 to 1923 and were promoted to the Second Division. However, they were relegated back to the Third Division North after a single season. In 1931, the club lost their Football League status and returned to the Lancashire Combination, where following the summer reformation of 1934, they played on until ceasing all activity in 1936. A new amateur club, Nelson Town, was assembled, playing at Seedhill until the outbreak of World War II in September 1939. Following the resumption of football at the end of the war, Nelson F.C. reformed again in 1946. The reconstituted club joined the Lancashire Combination; they played until it merged with the Cheshire County League to form the North West Counties League in 1982. Nelson F.C. dropped out of the league for the seasons between 1988 and 1992, playing in the West Lancashire League. Although the club left again in 2010, they returned the following year and are currently members of the , playing home matches at Victoria Park. History Early years (1882–1921) On 23 October 1882, a meeting was held between members of Nelson Cricket Club at the Victoria Hall on Scotland Road; John Greenwood presided over the meeting and enrolled around 25 members to the newly formed Nelson Football Club before a trial match held on 11 November 1882 saw the Probables beat a team of Improbables 3–0. The new Nelson F.C.'s first reported game was a 3–1 home defeat to Burnley Olympic on 2 December 1882.