Guiseley A.F.C.
Guiseley Association Football Club is a football club based in Guiseley, West Yorkshire, England. They are currently members of the National League North, the sixth tier of English football, and play at Nethermoor Park.
The club was established in 1909 and initially played in the Wharfedale League.[2] They were league champions in 1912–13, and after World War I the club transferred to the Leeds League. In 1924 they moved leagues again, this time joining the West Riding County Amateur League.[3] They went on to win three consecutive league titles between 1932–33 and 1934–35, before finishing as runners-up in 1937–38 and then winning the league again in 1938–39.[3]
When the league was split into two divisions in 1953, Guiseley became members of Section A.[4] They were runners-up in 1954–55 and won the division in 1955–56.[4] In 1960 they switched back to the Leeds League, joining Division One of the league, now known as the West Yorkshire League.[5] They were Division One champions in their first season, and after finishing as runners-up in 1963–64, they won the league again in 1964–65.[5]
In 1968 Guiseley joined Division Two of the Yorkshire League.[6] League restructuring saw them demoted to Division Three in 1970, but a fourth-place finish in 1970–71 resulted in an immediate promotion back to Division Two.[6] Another fourth-place finish in 1973–74 earned the club promotion to Division One. Although they were relegated at the end of the following season, they won Division Two in 1975–76, earning an immediate promotion back to Division One.[6] The club went on to finish as Division One runners-up in 1979–80 and 1980–81. In 1981 the league merged with the Midland League to form the Northern Counties East League, with Guiseley placed in the Premier Division.[6]
The late 1980s and early 1990s was another successful period for Guiseley. In 1989–90 they reached the semi-finals of the FA Vase for the first time, losing 4–0 on aggregate to Bridlington Town. They reached the final the following season, beating Gresley Rovers 3–1 in a replay at Bramall Lane after the first match at Wembley had ended in a 4–4 draw. They also won the Northern Counties East League Premier Division, earning promotion to Division One of the Northern Premier League. They had the opportunity to retain the FA Vase in 1992–93 when they reached the final again, but lost 5–3 to Wimborne Town.[6] The season also saw them reach the first round of the FA Cup for the first time, losing 1–0 to Third Division Chester City.
In 1993–94 Guiseley won Division One of the Northern Premier League, earning promotion to the Premier Division. They also reached the semi-finals of the FA Trophy, losing 2–1 on aggregate to Runcorn,[6] as well as becoming the first Division One team to win the league’s President’s Cup.[2] They reached the first round of the FA Cup again in 1994–95 and lost 4–1 at home to Carlisle United in a match that was moved to Valley Parade in Bradford;[6] the attendance of 6,548 remains a club record.[2] After a third-place finish in 1998–99, the club were relegated to Division One the following season, although they did reach the first round of the FA Cup again, losing 6–0 at Forest Green Rovers. In 2002–03 another first round FA Cup appearance ended with a 4–0 defeat at Luton Town. A ninth-place finish in 2003–04 was enough to earn a return to the Premier Division due to league restructuring caused by the creation of the Conference North and South. In 2008–09 the club won the league’s Challenge Cup and finished fourth in the Premier Division, qualifying for the promotion play-offs. However, they were beaten 2–1 by Nantwich Town in the semi-finals.[6] The following season saw the club win the Premier Division, earning promotion to the Conference North.
