Abacus Lighting Central Midlands Football League STEP 7

Southwell City was formed in 1893 and plays its football on the Memorial Ground in the shadow of the magnificent Norman Minister which became a Cathedral just prior to the club?s formation.

Hence the name Southwell City, despite the fact that City status has never officially been conferred on the market town. The club was reformed in 1955, and after competing in the Newark & District Alliance, the club joined the Notts Football Alliance in 1957.

City competed in this competition until the end of the 2002/03 season, when it took the decision to move to the Central Midlands League.

Honours were pretty thin on the ground in the early years, 1960 saw the club win the Division Two championship and promotion to Division One but it took another 11 years to win Division One and gain promotion to the Senior Division.

Unfortunately the club could not sustain its Senior Division status and had to be content with playing in Division One for many years. In 1995 City regained its Senior Division status under manager Mick Heron.

The first year saw a struggle against relegation and Heron resigned at the end of the season. The club turned to its then Reserves manager, John Campbell .

The first year saw consolidation and the following year City achieved its highest position in its history. In total John Campbell was manager for 9 years and enjoyed the most successful period in its 112 year history, being runners up twice, third and eventually winning the coveted Senior Division championship in 2000/01.

Cup success has been rare for City with only two wins in seven finals. However the Notts Alliance Senior Cup was eventually won in 2001/02. City have also reached the final of the Notts Senior Cup twice. First in 1989 under ex Forest professional Colin Barrett where they lost to Eastwood Town 2-0, and secondly in 2002 when they lost 1-0 to Gedling Town in a closely fought County Senior Cup Final at Meadow Lane.

The recent success on the field has been matched by the Club?s investment in its facilities, with City having modern changing facilities and an excellent Clubhouse and bar. The playing surface is recognised as one of the best in the County and state of the art floodlights were installed in 2001. In 2003/4 City joined the CML, and in their first season gained promotion from the Premier Division having finished second to Radcliffe.

City first season in the Supreme Division saw them consolidate and they finished 14th At the end of the 2004/05 John Campbell decided to retire and City appointed Brett Marshall as their new manager. Brett had been the assistant manager at Retford United when they won the treble of the CML Supreme Division, League and Floodlit cup in 2003/04. City finished a creditable 4th in the Supreme Division in season 2005/6 and expects to be challenging again for the title in 2006/7.