Long Eaton United Football Club, nicknamed “The Blues,” is a non-league football club based in Long Eaton, Derbyshire.
Established in 1970, they currently compete in the Pitching In Southern Football League Premier Central, which is part of the seventh tier of English football. The team calls Grange Park their home ground.
History
Long Eaton United Football Club, established in 1956 in Derbyshire, England, joined the Midland Football League in 1961 and became founding members of the Northern Counties East Football League in 1982. The club won the Derbyshire Senior Cup in 1965 and 1976, among other early achievements. A significant league reorganization in the early 1980s led to initial struggles, but under Manager Pete Johnson, they achieved promotion to the Premier Division.
In the 1990s and 2000s, the club experienced management and structural changes, including the return of Jim Fairley Sr. as chairman and substantial infrastructure developments like installing floodlights and starting a women’s football program. These changes led to multiple promotions and success in leagues, particularly in the Northern Counties East Premier League. The club’s recent history features a series of managerial shifts and notable accomplishments, such as winning the United Counties League Premier Division North in 2021-22 and making a significant FA Cup run in the same season.
The club’s honors include various league titles and cup victories, with recent successes in the Northern Premier League Division One East and the United Counties League Premier Division North. Their FA Cup record shows several Third Qualifying Round appearances, reflecting their competitive progress and consistent development on and off the field.