Brodsworth Welfare A.F.C.

Brodsworth Welfare
Full nameBrodsworth Welfare Association Football Club
Nickname(s)Broddy
Founded1912 (as Brodsworth Main Colliery)
GroundWelfare Ground
Capacity3,000 (228 seats)[1]
CoordinatesLatitude: 53.562598 | Longitude: -1.188164
ChairmanTony Richardson
ManagerSimon Squire - Mens, Ethan Parrinder - Ladies
LeagueDoncaster Saturday Football League
2024/253rd
Websitewww.bwafc.co.uk

Brodsworth Welfare Association Football Club is a football club based in Woodlands, Doncaster, South Yorkshire, England. They are currently members of the Doncaster Saturday League Premier Division.

History

Although the club gives its official formation date as 1912, Brodsworth Main Colliery (as they were first known) were actually founded two years earlier, entering the Sheffield Association League for their inaugural campaign in 1910–11. They joined the Yorkshire League in 1921 and won the title in 1924–25, but left the league in 1935.[2]

After the Second World War the club returned to the league for a third spell. In 1950–51 they were relegated to Division Two after finishing second from bottom of Division One. They withdrew from the league at the end of the 1956–57 season, but returned in 1961. Two years later they were renamed Brodsworth Miners Welfare.[3]

In their first season under the new name the club finished fourth in Division Two and were promoted to Division One, but were relegated back again after just a single season. After finishing bottom of Division Two in 1972 the club was relegated to Division Three, where they remained until withdrawing in 1976.

Welfare played in the Doncaster Senior League throughout the 1980s and won the league title in 1985. In 1988 they joined the Northern Counties East League (NCEL), entering Division Two. They were promoted to Division One when the league restructured in 1991 (despite finishing second bottom of Division Two) and floundered at the foot of the NCEL for several years, until winning promotion to the Premier Division in 1999.

In 2006 they were renamed Brodsworth Welfare, and despite finishing bottom again in 2006–07 they again avoided being demoted. They were finally relegated at the end of the 2009–10 season after again finishing bottom, and they resigned from the NCEL in the summer of 2011 after finishing bottom of Division One.[4]

Since 2011, the club has had three spells back in the Doncaster Senior League (2011–12, 2016–17 and 2018–19) and two spells in the Central Midlands League (2012–13 to 2015–16 and 2017–18). Ahead of the 2018–19 season, the club changed its name to Brodsworth Main, this was short lived and the club again was dissolved at the end of the 2019-20 season. The club has once again been resurrected for the 2022/23 season, entering teams to play in the Doncaster Rovers Saturday and Sunday league. The 2023/24 season seen a merger between a local junior side and the club, creating a player pathway from junior football to adult football. The 2024/25 Season sees the addition of a ladies team to the club.

Notable former players

Players that have played in the Football League either before or after playing for Brodsworth Welfare –

Notable managers

  • Alan Radford
  • Joe Yorke
  • Colin Bishop – Managed the club in a Sheffield & Hallamshire Senior Cup final at Hillsborough against Stocksbridge

Key Milestones and Legacy

Over the course of its long timeline, Brodsworth Welfare AFC has accumulated many milestones:

  • 1910 – Rumored founding year: Brodsworth Main Colliery team plays its first recorded matches.
  • 1912 – Official formation: Brodsworth Main Colliery A.F.C. is formally established (the date the club now celebrates as its founding).
  • 1924–25 – First major honor: Yorkshire League Champions.
  • 1927 – Historic cup run: Reaches the 4th Qualifying Round of the FA Cup (just one round short of the FA Cup proper).
  • 1935 – Hiatus: Withdraws from Yorkshire League; focuses on local competition until after WWII.
  • 1947 – Post-war revival: Re-enters Yorkshire League for a third spell.
  • 1963 – Name change: Becomes Brodsworth Miners Welfare to reflect the Miners Welfare support.
  • 1976 – Yorkshire League exit: Leaves the Yorkshire League, ending an era in that competition.
  • 1985 – Local triumph: Wins the Doncaster Senior League Premier Division (first local league title since pre-war).
  • 1988 – Joins NCEL: Steps up to Northern Counties East League, marking a return to higher-tier football.
  • 1999 – Promotion: Finishes 2nd in NCEL Division One and earns promotion to the NCEL Premier Division.
  • 2006 – Name update: Changes name to Brodsworth Welfare AFC, dropping “Miners”.
  • 2006 – Record attendance: 1,251 fans attend an FA Vase match vs FC United of Manchester at the Welfare Ground.
  • 2008–09 – Cup final: Reaches the Sheffield & Hallamshire Senior Cup final (runners-up).
  • 2010 – Relegation: Relegated from NCEL Premier Division after years of near-misses.
  • 2011 – Resignation: Club resigns from NCEL and folds due to financial difficulties and lack of wins.
  • 2012 – Reformation: Adwick Park Rangers assumes the Brodsworth Welfare name; club joins Central Midlands League to restart climb.
  • 2015 – Facility upgrade: refurbished Changingrooms opened at Welfare Ground, funded by grants (Olympic legacy).
  • 2016 – Eviction: Club loses access to Welfare Ground; merges with Bentley Colliery’s setup and is renamed AFC Bentley.
  • 2017 – Cup victory: Brodsworth (as a junior-based team) wins Doncaster League Division One Cup, keeping the name alive.
  • 2018 – Return of “Main”: Club is re-launched as Brodsworth Main FC, hinting at a fresh start yet rooted in tradition.
  • 2020 – COVID setback: Brodsworth Main’s season abandoned; club dissolves again amidst the pandemic disruptions.
  • 2022 – Resurrection: Brodsworth Welfare AFC is reborn, returning to its home ground and community focus.
  • 2023 – Youth merger: Integration of Adwick Warriors junior teams, massively expanding the club’s youth section.
  • 2024 – Women’s team: Launch of Brodsworth Welfare Ladies, marking the club’s second veture into women’s football.

Ground

Brodsworth Welfare plays at the Welfare Ground in Woodlands, Doncaster. The ground includes a main stand (in place before the 1990s), floodlights installed in 1998, and a covered disabled viewing area added around 2006. The current clubhouse was built following a fire around 2011, and the facilities are regularly used for both football and wider community events.

  • View of Changing Rooms from pitch entry/exit point.
    View of Changing Rooms from pitch entry/exit point.
  • View of pitch from changing rooms.
    View of pitch from changing rooms.
  • View of pitch from Welfare Road end towards Princess Street Stand.
    View of pitch from Welfare Road end towards Princess Street Stand.
  • Inside view of new clubhouse
    Inside view of new clubhouse

Honours

Records

References

  1. ^ Brodsworth Welfare Sheffield & Hallamshire Non-League Grounds
  2. ^ Brodsworth Main Football Club History Database
  3. ^ Brodsworth Miners Welfare Football Club History Database
  4. ^ Brodsworth Welfare Football Club History Database
  5. ^ Previous match FC United of Manchester
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