Club History
06 Aug 2010

The club first played its football on Church Meadow adjoining the village church, before moving to the Recreation Ground next to the Village Hall. In those days they played in the Central and South Norfolk Football League.

The club has enjoyed many successes since those early beginnings: Champions Divison 1 -1962/63; Cup Winners1962-63/63-64/66-67; winners of the Norwich & District Junior League in 1966-67/75-76/76-77; winners of the League Cup in 1973-74/80-81; Runners-Up in 1965-66/75-76.

In the 1978-79 season, Tacolneston played in the Norwich & South Norfolk District League. They were Runners-Up in this first season but went on to win the League in 1979-80/81-82; and were Runners-Up again in 1982-83. It was about this time that Tacolneston FC also fielded a Ladies Team and by all accounts did quite well – we’re not sure if they shared the changing facilities!

In recent years the club has played its football in Division 2, having achieved promotion from Divison 3 in 1998-99 under the management of the long-serving Colin Turner. Under the stewardship of the current Vice Chairman Chris Springall (9 appearances), the club has consolidated its position and improved steadily. They were Runners-Up in the Ambulance Cup in 2002. In the 2002/03 season, Tacloneston lost their first 3 league games, before embarking on a record run, winning 15 consecutive games – a club record and finished the season in third place and were subsequently promoted to Division 1.

In reaching the 2002/2003 final of the Chequered Flag Primary League Cup, the club has enjoyed victories over Old Buckenham & North Elmham, scoring a total of 23 goals !!! (both games going to penalty competitions) – the leading scorer being Tom Parkinson (114 appearances, 99 goals) with 4, and all but 4 of the squad getting on the scoresheet.

In 2003 Tacolneston Football Club had cause for a dual celebration. It reached the Chequered Flag Primary League Cup Final in the same season that it is celebrated the club’s 50th anniversary.

Following a disappointing 2006/07 season the club were relegated to Divsion 2 of the Crown Fire Central and South Norfolk League where the team underwent a period of rebuilding following the departure of two Tacolneston stalwarts – Club Captain Andrew Steward (166 appearances, 22 goals) and Club Record Goal Scorer Tom Parkinson (114 appearances, 99 goals). The 2007/08 and 2008/09 season saw the club develop a core of youth players stepping up to become first team regulars under the guidance of manager Kevin Dunn (163 appearacnes, 19 goals).

The 2009/10 season saw a new manager, Karl Smith (187 appearances, 42 goals), take a resurgent Tacolneston storming to second place in Division 2 losing only once in a 20 game season and comfortably winning promotion to Division 1.

Following the success of the 2009/10 season the club has entered a new period in their history with the introduction of a reserve side for the upcoming 2010/11 season playing in Division 4.