Match Preview proudly sponsored by Northumbria Print
Date: Thursday 26th December
Venue: Flamingo Land Stadium, Scarborough Sports Village, 5 Ashburn Road, Scarborough, North Yorkshire, YO11 2JW
Kick Off: 3pm
Competition: BetVictor Northern Premier League
Highlights: Highwaymen TV
Morpeth will look to extend their recent good run of form when they travel to North Yorkshire to face Scarborough Athletic.
History
Scarborough Athletic Football Club was formed on 25th June 2007 following the liquidation of Scarborough FC. The new club was set up by the Seadog Trust, a group of supporters who originally started the trust with the aim of gaining fan representation on the board of Scarborough FC. However, as a result of the old club’s liquidation, the Seadog Trust moved quickly to ensure a football team continued to represent the town at the highest level possible. On 25th June 2007, Scarborough Athletic were accepted into the NCEL Division 1 for the 2007 season, and an agreement was reached for the club to use Bridlington’s Queensgate stadium as part of a ground share with no suitable stadium able to be used in Scarborough.
The Club appointed the experienced Brian France as manager. The former manager of North Ferriby United brought with him his son Darren as his assistant. Brian started to bring in players for the forthcoming season, favouring a mix of players from his former club, as well as some local players unearthed at an open trial held within days of the club’s formation.
The club kicked off with a game against local side Edgehill at Hunmanby’s Sands Lane Ground finished 0-0, before embarking in a friendly at Northallerton Town. The match finished 2-2, with Shaun Chadburn taking the honour of the club’s first ever goal.
The team’s first ever League match came in the NCEL Division One at Teversal on August 11th 2007. Boro fans marked the occasion by dressing up in suits to show their status of Joint Owners of the club through their membership of the Seadog Trust. Dave Thompson entered himself into the history books as he netted the club’s first competitive goal, but a last minute winner saw Teversal claim a 2-1 win.
The 2012/13 season though will certainly live long in the memory of many Boro fans as they finally clinched the NCEL title and promotion to the Evo Stik Northern League, the majority of the squad remained, and alongside new additions Peter Davidson, Andy Milne, Jimmy Beadle and Paddy Miller, the club enjoyed a terrific season suffering only two defeats all season.
In November 2014 Rudy Funk resigned as manager of the club. Initially assistants Paul Foot and Bryan Hughes were placed in temporary charge before being installed as Joint Managers on a permanent basis in December 2014. The players certainly responded to the new “gaffers” style of play and with a couple of new players added went agonizingly close to a place off place.
Boro started the season in style with fours straight wins, conceding no goals and sitting top of the table following a 6-0 thrashing of Harrogate Railway at Station View. After losing to Consett in the FA Cup, the season unravelled slightly as Boro went nine league games without a win, finally ended with a 1-0 win against Trafford in mid-October.
Steve Kittrick began his first full season in charge with high hopes, and after a stuttering start Boro gradually got going and were around the play-off places for most of the season. A slump before Christmas was halted by a 3-2 win over Tadcaster Albion on Boxing Day, but it seemed a place in the play-offs would be a step too far. The club was then rocked by the sudden death of Chairman Dave Holland in February 2017, and it seemed the season on the pitch was flat lining. However, a remarkable finish to the season, winning the last eight games saw the Seadogs sneak into third place and a play-off place. Hopes were dashed with a 3-1 defeat to Ossett Town in the semi-finals, watched by 1004. A strong finish and the return home to Scarborough at the Flamingo Land Stadium has led to high expectations of a strong season ahead.
During the summer of 2019, a new covered stand was erected at the Flamingoland Stadium which increased the capacity from 2,070 to 2,833. It was officially opened prior to the opening home game of the 2019–20 season
Last Game
Athletic suffered a heavy defeat on Saturday when they lost 5-0 to Buxton. Liam Hardy netted a penalty brace with Diego De Girolamo netting a brace before Tom Elliott getting his first for the club.
The Highwaymen won 4-0 against Warrington Town to complete the double over the Yellows. Goals from Jeff Henderson, Liam Henderson, Liam Noble and a first strike for Carl Finnigan sealed the comprehensive victory with the visitors ending with 9 men.
Manager
Darren Kelly: Took over from John Deacey in November this year. He made an immediate impact by winning his first three games in charge.
