Overview
Stalybridge Celtic Football Club is an association football club, based in Stalybridge. Founded 114 years ago in 1909, the team currently compete in the Northern Premier League, the 7th tier of English football.
They play their home matches at Bower Fold, and are nicknamed "The Celts".
The team's playing kit is manufactured by Hope + Glory and is made of 100% polyester.
History
Stalybridge Celtic was founded in 1909 by local businessman and philanthropist Herber Rhodes.
After playing in the Lancashire & Cheshire Amateur League, they turned professional and joined the Lancashire Combination as second division champions.
They then joined the Southern League, but were denied a place in the Football League due to local bureaucracy and instead joined the Central League.
They were one of the founder members of the Third Division (North) in 1921, but were unable to maintain their presence in the league and had to resign, eventually joining the Cheshire County League in the aftermath of World War II.
After making a lot of progress in the league, in 1980 they won the Bass NW Championship, then again in 1984 and 1987, before joining the Conference in 1992.
They were relegated back to the NPL in 1998, but made a resurgence in 1999, winning the League Cup and the Cheshire Senior Cup in 2001.
After a few tough years, Phil Wilson returned and won the NPL in 2001, and then were promoted back to the Conference North in 2004.
After a few years of struggle, they were relegated back to the NPL in 2014, and have remained there since, though they narrowly avoided relegation in 2020.