Formed in 1996 the club uses the facilities
of the Holbrook Miners Welfare as it headquarters, with the Welfare being
the clubs main sponsor. The previous tenants, Holbrook Miners Welfare
F.C. disbanded at the end of the 95/96 season after many years of playing
in the various local leagues, including the CMFL.
On forming the club a decision was made by the committee to join a
league that could offer the players the highest standard of football
in the area, having been accepted into the CMFL, manager Grant Woodside
formed his team around a former U18 side that he had previously run.
This step up to senior football proved very trying for all involved
in the club, players, management and committee with the results Grant
stepped down after only 8 games to make way for his assistant, John
Barker to run the team.
Again little success cam for the club and with 3/4 of the season gone
he to left the club. Grant Woodside again stepped into take control
of the team and the club started to move away from the re-election zone
with a string of good results. But at the end of the season these late
results were not enough to save the club from re-election, having finished
third from bottom of the Premier Division. One consolation for the club
was that of reaching the semi-final of the Belper Nursing Charity Cup,
only to lose to Belper Town 1-0 with a goal a minute from the end of
extra time. The club also won its first piece of silverware, being presented
with the CMFL Premier divisions Sportsman's award.
The 97/98 season saw the club introduce a Reserve team with Martin
Clements running the side, and with Grant Woodside having a stronger
squad the club looked forward to the new season with renewed enthusiasm.
But after winning 3 of the first 4 games the club went into a downward
spiral, only winning 1 more game right up to Christmas. The Reserves
also found the going tough, winning only 1 game themselves before Christmas.
With Martin Clements already taking a back seat due to work commitments,
Mick Cooper took full control of the Reserves and the committee also
found themselves having to replace Grant Woodside as first team manager
The committee took the decision to appoint a manager who knew this
level of football and were able to appoint Mar Webster. Marks first
job, as manager was to appoint Mick Bentley as the club coach to try
and install some good habits into the training and onto the playing
field. This was achieved with 1st team winning 10 out of their last
12 games. The reserves saw out the season, only managing 2 victories
all season, but great credit to them for seeing it out.
During the close season a fence, with separate player and spectator
entrances was erected at the bottom end of the ground to try and give
the ground a look of a football ground instead of anfield. For
the 98/99 coming season Mark Webster strengthened his back room staff
by appointing Dave Allsop as his assistant and Mick Ward as 1st team
Physio. and also with several new players the club were hopeful of mounting
a promotion challenge
After a bright start to the season the team lost there way a bit around
the middle of the season, losing several games to teams below them in
the league. These defeats cost the team any realistic chance of promotion
and the club had to settle for 6th spot. The 1st team did manage to
win a trophy that season, winning the Belper Nursing Charity Cup, with
a 4-0 win over Swanick Pentrich Road. The Reserves showed a great improvement
on the previous year and they also managed to finish 6th in their respective
league.
For the start of the 99/00 season Mark Webster again strengthened his
squad, bringing in two top class strikers. James Newton from Stavely
MW and Mike Taplin the ex Belper Town and Mickleover Sports Forward.
Both players went on to be the leagues leading scorers that season.
With only 2 weeks of the season gone tragedy struck the club with the
sudden death of defender Bob Parker. Bob, who was only 27, was sadly
missed by all at the club. The team showed great determination by going
onto win the Premiership Championship. In only their 4th season in existence.
The club once again reached the semi-finals of the Belper Nursing Charity
Cup, but put in a disappointing performance to lose 3-0 to South Wingfield
Ath. During the season the members of the club erected a stand to ensure
that a promotion spot to the CMFL Supreme division would be secure.
Their fellow league members also voted the club Premier Sportsman's
award, which capped off a great season.
The reserve team management was also bolstered with Kev Bunting joining
Mick Cooper as assistant manager. Kev a local sports tutor brought in
some good young players and the team again showed an improvement in
the previous year by finishing 5th.
The teams first season in the CMFL Supreme division saw the team finish
a respectable 11th and twice during the during the season the crowds
at Shaw Lane topped the three figure barrier, for the visits of Heanor
Town and Matlock Town in the Derbyshire Senior Cup. Again the club reached
the semi-finals of the Belper Nursing Charity Cup and again failed to
reach the final, losing to Swanick Pentrich Road on penalties. The glory
that season belonged to the Reserves. They walked away with the Reserve
Division one title by 17 points, dropping only 3 points all season.
They also became the first division one team to lift the Reserve League
Cup, which crowned a great season for Kev and Mick. During the season
the club were successful in obtaining a grant from the National Lottery
for £4600 which enabled the club to give soccer coaching courses
to local schools within the area. Money was also used to create a better
disabled access to the ground and stand.
The 01/02 season saw the 1st team languishing near the bottom of the
table right up till Christmas, then an upturn in results saw the team
steadily climb to a respectful mid-table position. A final league position
of 12th was achieved, and the team managed to reach the final of the
Belper Nursing Charity Cup, but a poor performance on the night saw
them lose 3-0 to local rivals Holbrook Saint Michael's.
With Kev Bunting unavailable for the first 2 weeks of the season Mick
Cooper was left to run the Reservesng games in the Reserves Premier
division. 2 bad defeats saw Mick step down, leaving Kev to run the reserves
single handed. Great credit to Kev who despite being on his own managed
to pull the teams fortune around and the team did extremely well to
finish6th at the end of the season. Kev also managed to bring in Kev
Mullwain as his assistant. They also managed to reach the quarter finals
of the League Cup, losing on penalties to the eventual winners Shirebrook
Town.
Last season Holbrook MW had a poor league campaign finishing 13th.
Interest was maintained with a floodlit semi final losing to Retford
UTD, a league cup quarter final shaded out by Dinnington Town after
a replay and a Nursing Cup final against Belper Town with Holbrook going
down 4-2
