Magpies in the Sunshine

Photo: Chorley FC

Chorley FC are nicknamed the Magpies due to their black and white stripes. They play at Victory Park in Chorley in Lancashire currently in National League North. They reached the playoffs end of last season beating Curzon Ashton in the first round and then losing out to Brackley.  Fans will be hoping for a step further this coming season.

They have just spent some of pre-season in Alicante in Spain soaking up the sunshine and playing Alicante City and winning a convincing 7-1. 

A number of fans accompanied the team on the trip to Alicante – an excellent sight to see for non-league football.

Chorley was originally a rugby union club moving to football in 1883.  Their claim to fame is reaching the fourth round of the F A Cup in 2020-21 after winning against Derby County in the third round.  They had previously beaten Wigan Athletic in the first round and  Peterborough United in the second. They narrowly lost out 0-1 in the fourth round to Wolves, a premier league club at that point. They also reached the semi-finals of the F A Trophy in 1995-96. 

Chorley were in the eighth tier of English football until they achieved promotion in 2010-11 beating A F C Fylde in the play off final.  Following three seasons in the Northern Premier League Premier Division they moved up the Conference North (as then called) as 2013-14 champions. They finished 4th in the first season there however lost in the play offs to Guiseley.

The National League North was named as such at the start of the 2015-16 season. 

Victory Park has a capacity of 4,300, 2,800 is covered and 900 is seated. The naming of the ground was to commemorate the First World War.  The original stadium was a wooden structure which was destroyed by fire in 1945 with the loss of the stadium and all its contents, equipment and kits.  The new stadium cost £5,500 to rebuild in 1947 – I am sure clubs would like that cost nowadays!

Chorley fans will be hoping for a step up to the National League – and the club have made 8 signings in this pre-season.  The latest two being Kwame Boateng and Sam Bird.

The Club offer a scholarship programme (BTEC) in partnership with the Steven Gerrard Academy for up and coming youngsters.  10 players out of the 16 man squad in the pre-season friendly against Thornton Cleveley came through this programme. Success from this programme has grown and many finding their path through to the first team is an excellent result. This scheme is available to year 11 students to apply for.