Brodsworth Welfare A.F.C.

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

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.Brodsworth Main
Football Club History Database

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.Brodsworth Miners Welfare
Football Club History Database

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.Brodsworth Welfare
Football Club History Database

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.

Season-by-season record

Notable former players

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

* Mick Carmody
* Craig Nelthorpe
* Danny Schofield
* David Speedie
* Fred Thompson
* Harry Wainwright

Ground

The club plays at the Welfare Ground, on Fourth Avenue, Woodlands, postcode DN6 7PP.

Gallery

Brodsworth Welfare A.F.C. changing rooms.jpg, View of Changing Rooms from pitch entry/exit point.
BrodsworthWAFC_pitch_entry_point.jpg, View of pitch from changing rooms.
Pitch_from_Welfare_Road_End.jpg, View of pitch from Welfare Road end towards Princess Street Stand.
File:Inside_of_Clubhouse.jpg, Inside view of new clubhouse

Honours

League

* Yorkshire League
**Champions: 1924–25
* Yorkshire League Division Two
**Promoted: 1963–64
* Northern Counties East League Division One
**Promoted: 1998–99
* Doncaster and District Senior League Premier Division
**Promoted: 1984–85
* Doncaster and District Senior League Division One
**Promoted: 1983–84 (champions)

Cup

* Sheffield and Hallamshire Senior Cup
**Runners-up: 2008–09

Records

*Best FA Cup performance: 4th qualifying round, 1926–27
*Best FA Amateur Cup performance: 3rd qualifying round, 1957–58
*Best FA Vase performance: 2nd Round, 1997–98, 2008–09
*Record attendance: 1,251 vs. FC United of Manchester, FA Vase, 2006–07Previous match
FC United of Manchester

References

Football clubs in South Yorkshire
Sport in the Metropolitan Borough of Doncaster
Association football clubs established in 1912
1912 establishments in England
Sheffield & Hallamshire County FA members
Sheffield Association League
Yorkshire Football League
Doncaster & District Senior League
Northern Counties East Football League
Central Midlands Football League
Mining association football teams in England
Adwick le Street

{{Sheffield & Hallamshire County FA