Halifax Town Association Football Club are an English football team who most recently played in the Conference National. After existing for 97 years they are on the brink of going into liquidation, which will see the end of Halifax Town FC Ltd. The club currently play at The Shay (hence the reason for their nickname "The Shaymen") in Halifax, West Yorkshire. The Shay Stadium is run by The Shay Stadium Trust Ltd, a not-for-profit company. Image File history File links HalifaxTownAFC.gif Summary Low res logo to illustrate team article Licensing This is a logo of an organization, item, or event, and is protected by copyright and/or trademark. ... Football club names are a part of the sports culture, reflecting century-old traditions. ... This article is about the building type. ... Area of Halifax, West Yorkshire, the site of a football stadium where Halifax RLFC and Halifax Town both play their home games. ... For other uses, see Halifax. ... Rungnado May Day Stadium is the worlds largest football stadium. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_England. ... Christopher (Chris) John Wilder, born Stocksbridge, 23 September 1967, is a former professional footballer, who has been manager at Halifax Town since 2002. ... The 2007–08 season is the 128th season of competitive football in England. ... Conference National (currently billed as the Blue Square Premier for sponsorship reasons) [1] is the top division of the Football Conference. ... soccer jersey left arm with white shoulders File links The following pages link to this file: Oldham Athletic A.F.C. IFK Göteborg Malmö FF Template talk:Football kit Assyriska Helsingborgs IF Åtvidabergs FF User:Johan Elisson/football kits Categories: GFDL images | Football kit templates ... Image File history File links Kit body for football kit template Coloured stripes on white background File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... soccer jersey right arm with white shoulders File links The following pages link to this file: Oldham Athletic A.F.C. IFK Göteborg Malmö FF Template talk:Football kit Assyriska Helsingborgs IF Åtvidabergs FF User:Johan Elisson/football kits Categories: GFDL images | Football kit templates ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... socks of kit template File links The following pages link to this file: Arsenal F.C. Ajax Amsterdam AZ Alkmaar A.S. Roma Torino Calcio A.C. Milan ACF Fiorentina Bristol City F.C. Charlton Athletic F.C. Chievo Verona Chelsea F.C. England national football team Wikipedia:WikiProject Football... It has been suggested that replica shirt be merged into this article or section. ... Image File history File links left arm of kit template File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links Kit_body_thinbluesides. ... rightarm of kit template File links The following pages link to this file: Arsenal F.C. Ajax Amsterdam AZ Alkmaar A.S. Roma Torino Calcio A.C. Milan ACF Fiorentina Bristol City F.C. Charlton Athletic F.C. Chievo Verona Chelsea F.C. England national football team Wikipedia:WikiProject Football... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... socks of kit template File links The following pages link to this file: Arsenal F.C. Ajax Amsterdam AZ Alkmaar A.S. Roma Torino Calcio A.C. Milan ACF Fiorentina Bristol City F.C. Charlton Athletic F.C. Chievo Verona Chelsea F.C. England national football team Wikipedia:WikiProject Football... It has been suggested that replica shirt be merged into this article or section. ... For other uses, see England (disambiguation). ... Soccer redirects here. ... Conference National (currently billed as the Blue Square Premier for sponsorship reasons) [1] is the top division of the Football Conference. ... Area of Halifax, West Yorkshire, the site of a football stadium where Halifax RLFC and Halifax Town both play their home games. ... For other uses, see Halifax. ... Coat of Arms of South Yorkshire West Yorkshire is a metropolitan county within the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England, that has a population of 2. ... Area of Halifax, West Yorkshire, the site of a football stadium where Halifax RLFC and Halifax Town both play their home games. ... This article is about the building type. ...

History

Early years

The club was formed in 1911, and were one of the founder members of Football League Third Division North in 1921, and remained in that division until restructuring in 1958. The following are the football (soccer) events of the year 1911 throughout the world. ... The Third Division North of The Football League was a level in English association football, which ran parallel to Third Division South from 1921 to 1958. ... The following are the football (soccer) events of the year 1921 throughout the world. ... The following are the football (soccer) events of the year 1958 throughout the world. ...

Financial Struggle

The club nearly always struggled financially as well as with its discipline. It was relegated from the Football League Third Division in 1963 and was re-elected several times in the Football League Fourth Division in the 1980s and early 1990s after finishing near the bottom of the football league, before being finally relegated in 1993. This a possible reason for the strong rivalry of the club with Huddersfield Town F.C., as Huddersfield would tend to vote against Halifax remaining in the league.^{[citation needed]} From the 1992-93 to the 2003-04 season, the Football League Third Division was the third-highest division of The Football League and the fourth-highest division in the overall English football league system. ... The following are the football (soccer) events of the year 1963 throughout the world. ... The Football League Fourth Division or Division Four of The Football League was the fourth-highest division in the English football league system from the 1958-59 season until the creation of the FA Premier League prior to the 1992-93 season. ... Huddersfield Town Football Club is an English football club formed in 1908 and based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. ...

Glory Days

The club's fortunes were turned around in 1967 when Alan Ball Sr took over as manager of the club. He achieved promotion with the club in 1969. Ball left soon after, however the club enjoyed some measure of success in the Football League Third Division in the early seventies, finishing one place short of promotion in 1971, and many of the club's supporters tout this era as the "Glory Days".^{[citation needed]} However, the club was relegated back to the fourth division in 1976. Alan Ball senior (26 September 1924 - 2 January 1982), was an English footballer and manager. ... From the 1992-93 to the 2003-04 season, the Football League Third Division was the third-highest division of The Football League and the fourth-highest division in the overall English football league system. ...

Glory to Gloom

Ever since the relegation of 1976, the club saw a long period in the fourth division with very little success, but a lot of financial problems. The club always languished near the bottom of the football league, managing no better than a single mid-table finish in 1983. Many say that the goals of Steve Norris were what allowed the club to survive in the football league. However, Norris left in 1992, and the subsequent year, Town were relegated.

Conference

The club found the Football Conference no easier than the fourth division. After several poor seasons with dire financial constraints, the club was demoralised as there seemed to be no way out. However, like with Alan Ball, George Mulhall came on the scene towards the end of the 1996/1997 and avoided relegation out of the Conference. The next season Mulhall and O'Regan made a number of additions to the squad including Jamie Paterson, Mark Bradshaw and Lee Martin to put together a title-winning team. The Shaymen were crowned champions of the Conference and regained Football League status. Free scoring Geoff Horsfield was also the conferences top scorer that year with 30 goals.^[1] The Football Conference is a football league at the top of the National League System of non-League football in England. ... George Mulhall was a footballer and manager. ... The 1996-1997 season was the 117th season of competitive football in England. ... Lee Martin (born February 5, 1968 in Hyde) is a former English football player. ... Geoffrey Malcolm Horsfield (born November 1, 1973 in Barnsley) is an English footballer who is currently on a six month loan at Leeds United from Sheffield United. ...

Back In the Football League

For unknown reasons, at the start of the 1998/1999 season, manager George Mulhall chose to retire and Kieran O'Regan was promoted from assistant to manager. Striker Geoff Horsfield, who scored 30 goals for Town in the previous season, only managed ten games before he was sold to Fulham for £300,000 in October 1998.^[2] Halifax made a strong start to their league campaign and were amongst the leaders until December after which their results started to drop-off and they slipped into mid-table. Still only three points off playoff positions O'Regan was sacked as manager by Chairman Jim Bown after a 0 - 0 draw with Rochdale in April 1999.^[3] For the next three seasons, Town had three different managers, none of whom were able to bring success to the club. After two poor seasons, Town became the first team to be relegated to the Conference twice in 2001/2002. George Mulhall was a footballer and manager. ... Kieran Michael ORegan is a former Irish footballer and football manager, who played and managed in England. ... Geoffrey Malcolm Horsfield (born November 1, 1973 in Barnsley) is an English footballer who is currently on a six month loan at Leeds United from Sheffield United. ... Fulham Football Club (FFC) is a football team based in Fulham, London. ... The 2001-2002 season was the 122nd season of competitive football in England. ...

Chris Wilder

Chris Wilder took over the club in administration with 5 players. However, the first season back in the Conference saw the Shaymen push for promotion and, for a short while, the automatic promotion spot. However it was not to be and the club finished in 8th position. Christopher (Chris) John Wilder, born Stocksbridge, 23 September 1967, is a former professional footballer, who has been manager at Halifax Town since 2002. ... Conference National (currently billed as the Blue Square Premier for sponsorship reasons) [1] is the top division of the Football Conference. ...

The following season Halifax struggled to make any kind of impact in the division, lurking around mid-table for almost the entire season. The disappointing season ended with the club in 19th place, a rather dangerous position to be in, but the club were never in serious danger of being relegated.^{[citation needed]}

The 2004/05 season was much brighter. The club managed to put a very credible promotion push together and spent much of the season around the play-off zone. However after a dismal run of results in the last two months of the season the club dropped from 2nd place down to 9th. The 2004-2005 season was the 125th season of competitive football in England. ...

In 2005/06 the Shaymen once again put together a strong push for promotion. They finished the season in 4th position and earned a place in the play-offs. An exiting play-off semi-final against Grays Athletic ended with a 5-4 aggregate victory over 2 legs to set up a play-off final with Hereford United at Leicester's Walkers Stadium on May 20, 2006. Goals from Lewis Killeen and John Grant put Halifax 2-1 ahead but Guy Ipoua levelled the score for Hereford in the 80th minute and the game went into extra time. Minutes into extra time substitute Chris Senior scored a third goal for Halifax but it was disallowed for offside. Ryan Green scored the winner for Hereford in the 109th minute and Halifax's dreams of a return to the football league were shattered. [1] The 2005–06 season was the 126th season of competitive football in England. ... Grays Athletic Football Club are a football team from the south east of England, representing the small town of Grays, Essex. ... The 2005-06 Conference National Playoff Final took place on 20 May 2006 and was contested between Halifax Town and Hereford United. ... Current season Hereford United Football Club are an English professional football club based in the city of Hereford. ... The Walkers Stadium is a football stadium which plays home matches to English football team Leicester City F.C. The stadium, inaugurated in July, 2004, holds 32,500 and is named after Leicester Citys sponsers Walkers. ... is the 140th day of the year (141st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Lewis Killeen (born 23 September 1982 in Peterborough) is a professional football (soccer) striker player currently playing for the English club side Halifax Town F.C. Lewis signed for Sheffield United as a trainee on the first of August 2001. ... John Grant may refer to: John Grant, an engineer, believed by some scholars to have been Scottish, who fought in the Siege of Constantinople John Grant, one of the conspirators in the Gunpowder Plot John Grant, mayor of Victoria, British Columbia from 1887 to 1891 John Grant, screenwriter John Grant... Gui Ipoua (born January 14, 1976 in Douala) is a Cameroonian professional footballer. ... Ryan Green (born 20 October 1980 in Cardiff) is a Welsh footballer currently playing as a defender for Bristol Rovers. ...

With continuing financial problems off the pitch Halifax struggled to maintain this form in the 2006/7 season and only avoided relegation from the conference on the last day of the season. Chris Wilder found himself again in a relegation battle in 2007/8 after the team were docked 10 points when they were placed into administration by a local consortium trying to buy the club.^[4] Halifax again survived relegation on the last day of the season, only to find out later that they would be relegated anyway due to the consortium failing to meet the creditors demands to bring the club out of administration. ^[5]

End of the Club or a New Dawn?

Huge tax debts buried Halifax Town after almost 100 years as a football club. New figures put to a reconvened creditors meeting in May 2008 showed the cash-strapped Shaymen owed over £800,000 to Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs. The Revenue refused any deal and that effectively finished the club – already over £2 million in the red. ^[6] Administrators had been trying to broker a rescue package but speaking after five hours of talks that left liquidation near inevitable, administrator Rob Sadler said: "Halifax Town will probably perish." It was originally thought the club owed the taxman around £500,000. That was thought to leave scope for a deal. But the news that it owed £814,000 meant that even if all the other creditors had accepted the 2.5p-in-the-pound offer originally on the table it would not have been enough.^[7] However talks are currently underway to re-form the club for the 2008/9 season though this will mean that they are demoted by at least two divisions. Two plans have currently been suggested - one put forward by a consortium of local business men^[8], who have already invested around £400,000 in the club, and one by a breakaway group made up from elements of the Halifax Town Supporters Trustwho wish to set up a 'fans owned' club. Tax rates around the world Tax revenue as % of GDP        Her Majestys Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is a non-ministerial department of the British Government primarily responsible for the collection of taxes, some forms of state support, some aspects of UK frontier protection and import controls. ... An administrator is a person appointed by the court to handle the estate of someone who died without a will. ...

At a meeting of the Football Association, discussing the makeup of the football pyramid for the 2008/09 season, Halifax Town were not placed in either the Football Conference, the Conference North or the Northern Premier League Premier Division. Halifax have appealed against the decision to remove them from the Football Conference. ^[9] Though the appeal was rejected on June 11, the hope that Halifax could play in the NPL Premier Division reappeared. ^[10] The Football Association (The FA) is the governing body of football in England (and the Crown dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man). ... The English football league system, otherwise known as the football pyramid, is a series of interconnected leagues for club football in England (although for historical reasons a small number of Welsh clubs also compete). ... The Football Conference is a football league at the top of the National League System of non-League football in England. ... The Football Conferences logo Conference North (often referred to as Nationwide North for sponsorship reasons) is a division of the Football Conference in England, taking its place immediately below the Conference National. ... The Northern Premier League logo. ... The Football Conference is a football league at the top of the National League System of non-League football in England. ...

Players

As of 6 June 2008.^[11]

is the 157th day of the year (158th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Anno Domini/Common Era, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. ...

Current squad

Image File history File links Flag_of_England. ... A football goalkeeper leaves the ground to parry a shot on goal In many team sports, a goalkeeper (termed goaltender, netminder, goalie, or keeper in some sports) is a designated player that is charged with directly preventing the opposite team from scoring by defending the goal. ... Craig Mawson (born May 16, 1979 in Keighley) is a goalkeeper currently playing at Halifax Town A.F.C.. He was signed in 2006 from Hereford United. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_England. ... The Bolton players in white are defending - the nearest player is trying to prevent the Fulham forward in cyan from crossing the ball. ... Robert Scott (born 15 August 1973 in Epsom) is an English football defender who is currently a free agent, having been released by Macclesfield Town. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_England. ... The Bolton players in white are defending - the nearest player is trying to prevent the Fulham forward in cyan from crossing the ball. ... Matt Doughty (born 2 November 1981 in Warrington) is an English footballer. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_England. ... The Bolton players in white are defending - the nearest player is trying to prevent the Fulham forward in cyan from crossing the ball. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_England. ... For the Australian Rules position, see Midfielder (Australian Rules). ... Tom Kearney (born October 7, 1981 in Liverpool) is a professional football midfielder currently playing for the English club side Halifax Town A.F.C. Halifax signed Tom Kearney in September 2006. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_England. ... This article is about association football players. ... This page may meet Wikipedias criteria for speedy deletion. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_England. ... This article is about association football players. ... Darryn Stamp (born September 21, 1978) is a footballer, currently playing for York City on loan from Stevenage Borough. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_England. ... This article is about association football players. ... Jon Shaw Born November 14, 1983 In Sheffield is an English soccer forward. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_England. ... The Bolton players in white are defending - the nearest player is trying to prevent the Fulham forward in cyan from crossing the ball. ... Jake Maxwell Wright (born 11 March 1986 in Keighley, England) is an English footballer, currently playing for Halifax Town. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_England. ... For the Australian Rules position, see Midfielder (Australian Rules). ... Image File history File links Flag_of_England. ... For the Australian Rules position, see Midfielder (Australian Rules). ... Daryl Taylor (born November 14, 1984) is a professional footballer who plays in midfield for AFC Bournemouth. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_England. ... The Bolton players in white are defending - the nearest player is trying to prevent the Fulham forward in cyan from crossing the ball. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_England. ... The Bolton players in white are defending - the nearest player is trying to prevent the Fulham forward in cyan from crossing the ball. ... Peter Atherton is an English football player who can play in defence or midfield. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_England. ... The Bolton players in white are defending - the nearest player is trying to prevent the Fulham forward in cyan from crossing the ball. ... Thomas Harban was born on 12 November 1985 in England and currently plays for Nationwide Conference side Tamworth, where he is on loan from Barnsley. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_England. ... The Bolton players in white are defending - the nearest player is trying to prevent the Fulham forward in cyan from crossing the ball. ... Alex Bailey (born September 21, 1983 in Newham, London) is a professional footballer, currently playing for Halifax Town on non-contract terms. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_England. ... This article is about association football players. ... Nathan Joynes born 7 August 1985 in England is a professional footballer who currently plays as a striker for Barnsley. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_England. ... For the Australian Rules position, see Midfielder (Australian Rules). ...

Club Officials

Current Staff

Boardroom

• Chairman:
• Vice Chairman:
• Directors:

Management

• Manager: Chris Wilder
• Assistant Manager: Peter Atherton
• Physio: Alan Russell-Cox
• Fitness Co-ordinator: Ian Helliwell
• Club Mascot: Freddy the Fox

Christopher (Chris) John Wilder, born Stocksbridge, 23 September 1967, is a former professional footballer, who has been manager at Halifax Town since 2002. ... Peter Atherton is an English football player who can play in defence or midfield. ...

Managerial History

Joseph Bentley McClelland (Born 1885 - died 2 July 1964, Lincoln, Lincolnshire) Joe McClelland was the first manager of Halifax Town football club. ... Alex Raisbeck (December 26th 1878 - March 12th 1949) was a Scottish international footballer who played for Liverpool Football Club in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, leading them to two Football League Championships. ... James Richard (Jimmy) Thomson (1927-1991) was a NHL player and former captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... A caretaker manager is someone who takes temporary charge of team affairs of a football club. ... William Willie Watson, born March 7, 1920 and died April 23, 2004, was a cricketer who played for Yorkshire, Leicestershire and England. ... Don McEvoy was a professional footballer, who played for a number of clubs in Northern England, such as Huddersfield Town. ... William Willie Watson, born March 7, 1920 and died April 23, 2004, was a cricketer who played for Yorkshire, Leicestershire and England. ... Vic Metcalfe (born 1922 in Barrow-in-Furness) was a professional footballer who played as a midfielder for Huddersfield Town and Hull City. ... Alan Ball senior (1925-1982), was an English footballer and manager. ... George C.R. Kirby (20 December 1933 - 24 March 2000) was an English footballer and manager. ... George Mulhall was a footballer and manager. ... John Quinn (often called “Johnny”) is a former professional footballer who played for Sheffield Wednesday, Rotherham United and Halifax Town, he also played for non league Worksop Town towards the end of his playing days. ... Alan Ball senior (1925-1982), was an English footballer and manager. ... Jimmy Lawson (born 1947 in Middlesbrough) was a professional footballer and manager. ... George C.R. Kirby (20 December 1933 - 24 March 2000) was an English footballer and manager. ... Michael Edwin Bullock (Born Stoke-on-Trent 2 October 1946) English league football player and manager. ... William Billy Ayre (7 May 1952 - 16 April 2002) was an English footballer and later a manager. ... William Billy Ayre (7 May 1952 - 16 April 2002) was an English footballer and later a manager. ... Jim McCalliog (born 23 September 1946 in Glasgow) is a former Scottish footballer who played for Sheffield Wednesday, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Manchester United and Southampton. ... For the former Kidderminster Harriers, Weymouth & current Tamworth player see John McGrath (footballer born 1980). ... John Bird is a football manager. ... George Mulhall was a footballer and manager. ... Kieran Michael ORegan is a former Irish footballer and football manager, who played and managed in England. ... George Mulhall was a footballer and manager. ... Kieran Michael ORegan is a former Irish footballer and football manager, who played and managed in England. ... Kieran Michael ORegan is a former Irish footballer and football manager, who played and managed in England. ... Mark Anthony Lillis (born 17th January, 1960 in Manchester, Greater Manchester, England) is a former English footballer and football manager. ... Peter Butler (born August 26, 1966 in Halifax) was a professional footballer who played as a midfielder for Huddersfield Town, Cambridge United, Bury, Southend United, West Ham United, Notts County, Grimsby Town, West Bromwich Albion & Halifax Town. ... Tony Parkes is the former assistant manager of Blackburn Rovers Football Club. ... Paul Bracewell (born 19th July 1962) is a former England international footballer, an excellent midfielder, although his talent was hampered by injuries as the years went by. ... Neil David Redfearn (born 20 June 1965 in Dewsbury) is an English footballer and manager. ... Tony Parkes is the former assistant manager of Blackburn Rovers Football Club. ... Alan Little (born 5th February, 1955 in Horden, County Durham) is an English former professional football player and manager. ... Neil David Redfearn (born 20 June 1965 in Dewsbury) is an English footballer and manager. ... Christopher (Chris) John Wilder, born Stocksbridge, 23 September 1967, is a former professional footballer, who has been manager at Halifax Town since 2002. ...

Honours and Club Records

• FA Cup
  • Fifth Round - 1932/33, 1952/53

• League Cup
  • Fourth Round - 1963/64

• FA Trophy
  • Fifth Round - 2002/03, 2003/04

• Football League Third Division
  • Third Place - 1970/71 (56pts)

• Football League Fourth Division
  • Second Place - 1968/69 (57pts)

• Conference National
  • Champions - 1997/98 (87pts)

• Record Attendance
  • 36,885 Vs Tottenham Hotspur, FA Cup Fifth Round, 14th February 1953

• Most Appearances
  • J. Pickering, 402 appearances from 1965-74

• Most Goals Scored
  • E. Dixon, 132 goals (127 League, 5 Cup) from 1922-30

• Most League Goals in a Season (individual)
  • S. Norris (1990/91) - 35
  • A. Valentine (1934/35) - 34

• Most League Goals in a Season (club)
  • 83 (1957/58)

This article is about the English FA Cup. ... The Carling Cup Trophy The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup, is an English football competition. ... The Football Association Challenge Trophy is an English football competition for clubs playing in the Football Conference, Southern League, Isthmian League, and Northern Premier League. ... From the 1992-93 to the 2003-04 season, the Football League Third Division was the third-highest division of The Football League and the fourth-highest division in the overall English football league system. ... The Football League Fourth Division or Division Four of The Football League was the fourth-highest division in the English football league system from the 1958-59 season until the creation of the FA Premier League prior to the 1992-93 season. ... Conference National (currently billed as the Blue Square Premier for sponsorship reasons) [1] is the top division of the Football Conference. ... Tottenham Hotspur F.C. is a North London association football team, also known by the nickname Spurs. ... Albert F Valentine - was a footballer who played in England and Wales during the 1920s and 1930s // Valentine was a prolific striker who still holds the club record for scoring the most league goals in a single season at Halifax Town and Macclesfield Town. ...

Notes

Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 217th day of the year (218th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 218th day of the year (219th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

• Official site
• ShaymenOnline.org (statistics archive)
• Independent Messageboard
• Freddy the Fox (club mascot) website