Loughborough United F.C.

Loughborough United F.C. were an English football club based in Loughborough, Leicestershire, that played in the Midland League.[1]

Loughborough United
Full nameLoughborough United Football Club
Founded1960
Dissolved1973
GroundBrown's Lane

History

The club was formed in 1960, the result of the club committee and supporters of semi-works side Brush Sports agreeing to set up a new club at the end of the 1959–60, to represent the town as a whole.[2] At the start of February, the new club was christened , the new club to be run as a combined supporter/company club for the 1960–61 season, and afterwards as a "town" club.[3]

United's first action was to decline to take up Brush's place in the Birmingham and District League and instead apply to join the Central Alliance.[4] The club also recruited Trevor Lawless as player-manager and planned to run a fully professional side.[5]

The club instantly made an impact by winning through the 1960–61 FA Cup qualifying rounds, but in the competition proper the club was unlucky to be drawn against another non-league side, King's Lynn, and lost 3–0 in a replay,[6] with Bristol City awaiting the winner. The club did have the consolation of winning the Central Alliance Cup, and was runner-up in both the League's southern section (one point behind Skegness Town)[7] and the Leicestershire Challenge Cup, losing 2–1 to Hinckley Athletic, both United goals coming from the penalty spot.[8]

The club only lasted one season in the Central Alliance, being one of a number of clubs which withdrew to join a re-constituted Midland League from 1961–62.[9] After a mid-table finish in its first season, spoilt by the sacking of Lawless after a suspension for using bad language,[10] United won the title in 1962–63, not losing a match until March,[11] but the success sowed the seeds of the club's demise - before the next season started, the club lost its three leading scorers (Richie Barker, Malcolm Stephens, and Barry Calladine)[12] and never recovered.

It did reach the first round of the 1963–64 FA Cup, but was hammered 6–1 at Netherfield, four Netherfield goals coming in the first 12 minutes and all six by half-time.[13] The club only ever won one more FA Cup qualifying round tie, and lost every FA Trophy fixture it played; in its 10 post-championship Midland League seasons, the club never finished higher than 15th (out of 22), finished bottom three times, and in the 1972–73 season had a goal difference of –144.[14]

The club folded following that disastrous season, after the local council evicted the club, planning to build a leisure centre on its ground.[15] The club's final match was a 2–2 draw at Retford Town on 28 April 1973, the club's only away point of the season.[16]

The name was revived by a Sunday League side and on other occasions since.

Colours

The club took on the Brush Sports colours of blue shirts and white shorts.[17]

Ground

The club also took on Brush Sports' ground at Browns Lane.[18]

References

  1. ^ Loughborough United at the Football Club History Database
  2. ^ "Supporters will back new move". Leicester Evening Mail: 14. 28 January 1960.
  3. ^ "It's Loughborough United". Sports Argus: 4. 6 February 1960.
  4. ^ "Midland League to lose 7 clubs". Guardian Journal: 8. 29 March 1960.
  5. ^ "Loughboro' manager makes early start". Leicester Mercury: 18. 21 May 1960.
  6. ^ "Terry Sewell is King's Lynn hero". Guardian Journal: 6. 10 November 1960.
  7. ^ "Central Alliance". Nottingham Evening News: 6. 13 May 1961.
  8. ^ "The Cup for Athletic". Hinckley times: 12. 5 May 1961.
  9. ^ "Midland League say 'no' to Wilmorton - seven are in". Derby Evening Telegraph: 5. 27 March 1961.
  10. ^ "Why Loughborough Utd. sacked Lawless". Football Post. Nottingham. 18 November 1961. p. 13.
  11. ^ "Champions Loughborough United slip down to 19th". Football Post: 6. 19 October 1963.
  12. ^ "Midland League getting tougher all the time". Derby Evening Telegraph: 18. 17 August 1963.
  13. ^ "Netherfield hits 4 in 12 minutes". Cumberland Evening News: 1. 16 November 1963.
  14. ^ "Midland Counties League 1958–1982". Non League Matters. Retrieved 16 August 2025.
  15. ^ "Midland League remains unchanged". Retford, Gainsborough and Worksop Times: 15. 29 June 1973.
  16. ^ "Loughborough share points in final clash". Retford, Gainsborough and Worksop Times: 14. 4 May 1973.
  17. ^ Club programmes from the 1960s
  18. ^ "Allotents go begging". Guardian Journal: 3. 13 April 1960.

Football Club History Database

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