Wath Athletic F.C.

History

The earliest mentions of the club – under the name Wath F.C. – date from 1878, although the club's appearances were intermittent until the club moved into a higher standard of football in the late 1880s, entering the Hallamshire League in 1891. They played in local Sheffield leagues and entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1893 (as Wath-upon-Dearne), and had one abortive (and unsuccessful) season as a professional club in 1896–97, before changing their name to Wath Athletic in 1899. This name change reflected their move to the new Athletic Ground in the village.

In 1904 the club ceased entering competitions, due to a deficit over the season of £9, but returned again three years later and rejoined the Sheffield Association League, winning the league title at the first time of asking in 1908. They won the Association League on a further three occasions before the First World War, and when hostilities ended Wath joined the Yorkshire League, though only for the 1920–21 season.

In the summer of 1921 Athletic were admitted into the Midland League, and they would spend a total of nine seasons in the competition. Although their highest league finish (fourth) came in 1926–27, they had arguably their most successful season a year earlier when they reached the 1st round of the FA Cup for the only time, losing 0–5 to Chesterfield, before winning the Sheffield & Hallamshire Senior Cup for the first time after losing the final in 1897.

They left the Midland League in 1930 after finishing bottom of the 26 team table, returning to the Association League. They won the Association League again in 1932 but the club fell on hard times - the club lost £90 over 1932–33, with an average gate take of £4 - and the last recorded fixture for the club was in December 1934.

Colours

As Wath F.C., the club wore red and white. By at least 1908 the club had changed to white shirts, black shorts, and black socks. In January 1923, the club adopted a distinctive white shirt with blue "necklet" and white shorts, and by 1927 the club had blue and white shirts, with white as a change kit.

Notable former players

Players that have played in the Football League either before or after playing for Wath Athletic –

• John Addenbrooke
• Jack Angus
• Eric Brook
• Walter Moore
• Albert Pape
• Bernard Radford
• Pip Rippon
• Harold Watson
• Jack Wilkinson
• John (Jack) Ball

League and cup history

Honours

League

• Sheffield Association League
  • Champions (5): 1907–08, 1910–11, 1911–12, 1912–13, 1931–32

Cup

• Sheffield & Hallamshire Senior Cup
  • Winners: 1925–26
  • Runners-up: 1896–97

Records

• Best league performance, 4th, Midland League, 1926–27
• Best FA Cup performance: 1st round, 1925–26

References

References

1. (19 February 1878). "Matches at Barnsley". Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer.
2. ''Sheffield Independent'', 23 August 1898
3. (14 May 1897). "Athletic notes". South Yorkshire Times and Mexborough & Swinton Times.
4. ''Sheffield Independent'', 22 August 1899
5. (28 April 1904). "Wath Athletic Football Club". Sheffield Independent.
6. (5 May 1933). "Wath Athletic F.C.". South Yorkshire Times and Mexborough & Swinton Times.
7. (8 December 1934). "Football programme". Eckington, Woodhouse and Staveley Express.
8. (12 August 1898). "Wath Football Club". Sheffield Independent.
9. (25 April 1908). "Wath Athletic Football Team". South Yorkshire Times and Mexborough & Swinton Times.
10. (6 January 1923). "Wath beat Gainsbro'". South Yorkshire Times and Mexborough & Swinton Times.
11. (23 August 1927). "Wath Athletic's Practice". Sheffield Independent.
12. (30 August 1929). "Wath's useful lot". South Yorkshire Times and Mexborough & Swinton Times.
13. [https://www.fchd.info/WATHA.HTM Wath Athletic] Football Club History Database
14. [https://www.fchd.info/WATH.HTM Wath] Football Club History Database
15. [http://wildstat.com/p/1/club/ENG_Wath_Athletic_FC Wath Athletic] WildStat
16. [http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/ British Newspaper Archive]