History
Colne F.C. were formed in January 1996 by a group of like-minded individuals under the guidance of now Life President, Dave Blacklock. Drawing on their shared passion and knowledge of non-league football, the group arranged for the newly-formed club to play at the vacant Holt House Stadium, previously home to the Dynamoes in the North West Counties Football League Division Two.
The club’s first ever competitive fixture took place on 17 August 1996 against Middlewich, ending in a 1–0 defeat.
Initially managed by Keith Mason, the team soon saw a change in leadership when Mason stepped down. Denzel Hart was appointed and oversaw a difficult start, losing 6–0 away at Ashton Town in his first game. However, just two matches later, Colne recorded their first victory, beating Bacup Borough 5–2. The highlight of that inaugural season came when the reserves lifted the BEP Cup at Shawbridge.
In the summer of 2002, James Webster took over as chairman, becoming the youngest in the league at just 24. A player at the club with considerable experience, Webster, alongside his father who served as vice-chairman, was determined to restore past glories.
One of his first moves was to appoint Nigel Coates as manager, with player Gary Rishton as his assistant. Coates, a former Dynamoes player and FA Vase winner, brought both pedigree and managerial experience, having spent time at local rivals Nelson.
The 2003/04 season marked a turning point. A strong cup run meant Colne had to make up ground in the league, but they went on to finish ten points clear at the top of Division Two, scoring an impressive 102 goals in 38 games. They capped off the campaign by completing a league and cup double, winning the Division Two Trophy 1–0 against Great Harwood.
That same season, the club enjoyed a memorable FA Vase run. After a remarkable 2–1 away win at AFC Wimbledon, Colne reached the semi-finals, where they were narrowly beaten 4–3 on aggregate by AFC Sudbury. The run sparked increased interest in the club, with attendances rising and the famous Red Army beginning to take shape.
In November 2013, after ten years at the helm, Nigel Coates stepped down. Former player Steve Cunningham was appointed as manager, with another club favourite, Ted Cockett, joining him as assistant and coach.
Cunningham and Cockett wasted little time in strengthening the squad, aiming to stabilise the team for the remainder of the season while laying foundations for the future.
The 2014/15 campaign saw Colne achieve their highest league finish to date, ending the season in a respectable fourth place.
The 2015/16 season became the most successful in the club’s twenty-year history. Colne battled for the NWCFL Premier Division title alongside Runcorn Linnets and Atherton Collieries. The title was sealed in dramatic fashion, with an 81st-minute winner at 1874 Northwich securing 100 points and over 100 goals scored. Although they were beaten by Atherton in the League Cup final, the season was a resounding success.
The 2016/17 season saw Colne compete at Step 4 for the first time, finishing a commendable fifth and qualifying for the play-offs. Unfortunately, they lost in the semi-final to Farsley Celtic. The team's supporters were widely praised for their passionate backing throughout the campaign.
In 2017/18, Steve Cunningham continued to push for promotion. A new chairman, Ryan Haigh, was appointed in June, bringing with him the support of Utility Renewals. Despite a strong showing, Colne narrowly missed out on the play-offs, falling short on goal difference.
The 2018/19 season brought further change with the formation of the NPL West Division. Colne again suffered play-off disappointment, losing to a last-minute extra-time goal in the semi-final.
The 2019/20 campaign was cut short due to the Covid pandemic, with Colne mid-table when the season was declared null and void. Despite this, it was a memorable year, with the club reaching the fourth and final qualifying round of the FA Cup. Sadly, they were heavily beaten at Gateshead. At the end of the season, long-serving manager Steve Cunningham stepped down, and Nathan Rooney was appointed in his place.
In 2020/21, with a new manager and backroom team, Colne made a strong start to a curtailed season, sitting top of the table after nine matches.
The 2021/22 season marked the club’s 25th anniversary and brought new challenges, including a different league and several fresh signings. Lee Pugh was named captain, taking over from long-time servant Alex Coleman. After 13 games, Colne had won five, drawn three, and lost five. In the FA Cup, the team beat Trafford in a replay, then knocked out Stalybridge Celtic before losing to Guiseley AFC. In the FA Trophy, they overcame City of Liverpool and Buxton to reach the First Round Proper, where they were eventually knocked out on penalties by Tamworth after a 1–1 draw. It remains the club’s best performance in the competition to date.
In December, Rooney resigned for personal reasons. Jonathon Macken was appointed manager, with Steve Atkinson as his assistant. Macken’s first game in charge was a narrow 1–0 defeat to Kendal Town.
January 2022 was a turbulent month, with six players arriving and six leaving. Results continued to struggle, with only one point gained from six matches. February was similarly disappointing, although some improvement was noted. March brought three wins and a draw, all without conceding, which ultimately ensured survival. The team finished 14th, with a record of 12 wins, 8 draws, and 18 defeats, totalling 44 points.
The 2022/23 season was one to forget. Despite optimism in pre-season, turmoil struck in August when chairman and main sponsor Ryan Haigh stepped down. Local businessmen Glenn Stock and Darren Harrison were quickly appointed as co-chairs.
Instability off the pitch began to impact performances on it. As results worsened, manager Phil Brown was dismissed and former Burnley player Paul Weller took over as interim manager.
Unfortunately, Weller was unable to prevent relegation, which was confirmed on the final day of the season, sending Colne back to the NWCFL.
Their first season back at Step 5 was disrupted by poor weather, which forced home games to be played at Pilkington, Ilkley and Steeton. Nevertheless, the season ended in glory as Colne were crowned champions of Lancashire, beating Bamber Bridge 5–2 in a thrilling final at Leyland.
At the end of the season, Weller stepped down, and Stuart Mellish was appointed head coach. Mellish’s reign was short-lived, and after heavy defeats to Abbey Hey and Squires Gate, he was replaced by Andy Harrison.
Despite an improvement in results under Harrison, the Reds were relegated once again on the final day of the season, this time on goal difference. It was a tough campaign, but optimism remains high for the future, with real progress being made off the pitch and a new chapter beginning.
