Trawden Forest F.C.

Trawden Forest/Colne Football Club
Full nameTrawden Forest/Colne
Founded1892
Dissolved1913
GroundAlkincoates

Trawden Forest Football Club was an English association football club based in the village of Trawden in Lancashire and playing their matches at Cottontree, Colne.

History

The club was founded in December 1892. It entered the FA Cup, the major English cup competition, for the first time in the 1897–98 season and reached the first qualifying round before being knocked out by Stalybridge Rovers. In the following season, Trawden Forest enjoyed their best run in the FA Cup, reaching the second qualifying round before losing away at Southport Central. In 1899–1900, they were knocked out in the preliminary round by Nelson. Trawden Forest never won another match in the FA Cup, and their heaviest defeat in the competition came on 21 September 1901, when they were beaten 0–7 away at Oswaldtwistle Rovers.

For the 1902–03 season, the team joined the Lancashire Combination, which was the highest level of non-league football in the area. Trawden Forest finished 14th out of 18 teams. A record of 9 wins, 8 draws and 17 defeats gave the team a total of 26 points from 34 matches. In the same season, the team entered the preliminary round and held Bacup to a 3–3 draw before losing the replay three days later.

In July 1903, Trawden Forest FC changed its name to Colne FC. Under that name, the club continued to play in the Lancashire Combination until 1913 when it folded.

Colours

The club originally wore blue and white striped shirts, which it changed in 1905 to green jerseys.

Ground

The club played at Alkincoates, in the north-west of Colne, and to the south of the current Alkincoates Park, roughly encompassed by Priestfield Avenue.

Notable players

Several footballers began their careers at Trawden Forest before moving into professional football; Arthur Dixon went on to play professionally with Burnley, Tottenham Hotspur and Bradford Park Avenue, while William Nunnick represented Burnley in the Football League. Others ended their career at the club having retired from the professional game; James Savage, William Watkins and Alfred Sawley all played for Trawden Forest after leaving Burnley.

FA Cup results

SeasonDateRoundOpponentsH/AResult
1897–9818 September 1897Preliminary RoundSouth ShoreHome4–3
25 September 1897First qualifying roundStalybridge RoversAway0–3
1898–9924 September 1898Preliminary RoundCarlisle CityAway3–2
1 October 1898First qualifying roundBlack DiamondsAway3–1
15 October 1898Second qualifying roundSouthport CentralAway2–3
1899–190023 September 1899Preliminary RoundNelsonAway1–2
1900–016 October 1900First qualifying roundBlackburn Park RoadAway1–5
1901–0221 September 1901Preliminary RoundOswaldtwistle RoversAway0–7
1902–0320 September 1902Preliminary RoundBacupHome3–3
23 September 1902Preliminary Round (replay)BacupAway3–4

References

  1. ↑ "A football club". Nelson Chronicle: 7. 9 December 1892.
  2. ↑ Dykes, Garth (2009). Nelson FC in the Football League. Nottingham: SoccerData. p. 85. ISBN 978-1-905891-29-0.
  3. 1 2 "The FA Cup results archive". The Football Association. Retrieved 3 August 2010.
  4. ↑ "Trawden Forest history". Football Club History Database. Richard Rundle. Retrieved 3 August 2010.
  5. ↑ Burnley Express, 22 July 1903
  6. ↑ "Original Colne FC history". Football Club History Database. Richard Rundle. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
  7. ↑ "Answers to correspondents". Athletic News: 4. 10 November 1902.
  8. ↑ "Answers to correspondents". Athletic News: 4. 21 March 1904.
  9. ↑ "Answers to correspondents". Athletic News: 4. 6 November 1905.
  10. ↑ "Extinguished by Everton". Nelson Chronicle: 7. 6 November 1903.
  11. 1 2 Simpson, Ray (2007). The Clarets Chronicles. Burnley FC. pp. 487–488. ISBN 978-0-9557468-0-2.