A Brief History
23 Nov 2011

Guisborough Town FC rejoined the First Division of the Northern League at the start of the 2011-2012 season after finishing Runner’s Up in the Second Division to Newton Aycliffe last term. The previous time the Priorymen gained promotion was at the end of the 1986-87 season where they were Runner’s Up to Billingham Synthonia and moved from the Second Division to the First after joining the Northern League in 1985. In August 2011 they played their 1000th Northern League game.

Guisborough Town FC formed in 1973 taking their original colours from the winners of that year’s FA Cup final - Sunderland. Guisborough Town joined the Northern Alliance in 1977-78 from the Middlesbrough and South Bank League and spent three seasons there until winning the Championship with an unbeaten run throughout the season in 1979-80. Guisborough Town transferred to the Midland League in 1980-81 where they finished 5th for two seasons before the League merged with the Yorkshire League to become the North Counties East and this is where they stayed for three seasons.

Guisborough Town reached the final of the FA Vase tournament but were beaten by Stamford 2-0 at Wembley in 1980. They have had success in Finals the greatest being in the North Riding Senior County Cup which they won 3 times in the early 90's and once more last season when a 1-0 result was enough to defeat local rivals Marske United. Other Cups won include the Northern League Cup in 1988-89, Cleator Cup 1989, Northern League Runner’s Up trophy 1986-87, 2010-11, Peter Morris Memorial Trophy 2011 and the Northern Alliance League Cup 1978-79.

Guisborough Town reached the First Round Proper of the FA Cup in 1987 and met Bury narrowly losing 0-1 at Ayresome Park the old home of Middlesbrough.

Guisborough Town were relegated at the end of 2004-05 season to Division Two and spent 6 seasons including a promotion gaining campaign in 2010-11 where they only lost 6 League games and scored an amazing 124 goals (in all competitions) with captain David Onions scoring 36 goals including the very, very rare feat of completing a hat trick of hat tricks in 3 consecutive games. This campaign was successful thanks to the manager Chris Hardy who took over the management in February 2008 and he built up a promotion winning team assisted by ex goalkeeper Stephen Gill. This season the management team welcome Stephen Dowling for his 4th spell with Guisborough Town.

Guisborough Town also boost a successful junior section with nine teams in the TJFA, ranging from under 7's to under 15's as well as a reserve team which plays in the Teesside League Division 2.

Guisborough Town play their home games at the King George V Stadium on Howlbeck Road in the lovely Market Town of Guisborough with a population of just over 18,000. The record home attendance was 3,112 against Hungerford in the FA Vase semi final 2nd leg on 29th March 1980.