Loughborough University F.C.
Loughborough University Football Club (also known as Loughborough Students Football Club) is an English football club representing Loughborough University, based in Loughborough, Leicestershire. The club are currently members of the United Counties League Premier Division and play at the Loughborough University Stadium.
Full name | Loughborough University Football Club | |
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Nickname(s) | The Scholars | |
Founded | 1920 as Loughborough College | |
Ground | Loughborough University Stadium, Loughborough | |
Capacity | 3,300 | |
Chairman | Mathew Stock | |
Manager | Alex Ackerley | |
League | United Counties League Premier Division | |
2019–20 | United Counties League Premier Division (season abandoned) | |
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History
The club was founded in 1920 under the name Loughborough College. They joined Division Two of the Leicestershire Senior League in 1966, where they remained until 1972.[1] The club then left Senior football, and did not return until 2007 when they were promoted to the Premier Division of the Midland Combination. In 2008–09 they won the league's Premier Division,[2] and were promoted to the Midland Alliance. The Scholars ground shared at fellow local side Loughborough Dynamo until moving into the new Holywell Park, Loughborough University Stadium.
In 2011 the club beat Boldmere St Michaels 4–2 to lift the League Cup at Walsall's Bescot Stadium, then won the trophy again the following season when they beat Tipton Town 2–0.
Popular manager Stuart McLaren resigned from his post in 2014 after being announced as the new Stirling Albion manager. Following this, Michael Skubala was appointed as Performance Manager and put former Chesterfield manager John Duncan and Graham Harvey in charge of the 1st team. However they were not able to avoid the club ending in the bottom three of the Midland Football League Premier. Relegation was nonetheless avoided due to Causeway United folding at the end of the season.
For the 2015–16 season, the club turned to former Quorn AFC assistant manager and experienced non-league man Karl Brennan, in his first full management role.
Notable former players
Alumni that went on to play or work in semiprofessional football include:[3]
- Ebby Nelson-Addy
- Ken Bowron
- Alan Bradshaw
- Tom Curtis
- Greg Fee
- Lee Howarth
- Ray Long
- Mattar M'Boge
- Paul McGuinness
- Leon McSweeney
- Rob Matthews
- Ollie Owen
- Bradley Pritchard
- Lawrie Sanchez
- Robbie Simpson
- Tony Waiters
- George Williams
- Bob Wilson[4]
- Alan Woodward
- Dario Gradi[4]
- Barry Hines[4]
- Ted Powell[4]
- Keith Blunt[4]
- Alan Bradshaw[4]
References
- Loughborough University at the Football Club History Database
- Midland Combination Premier Tony Kempster
- Hall of Fame Loughborough University FC
- "Loughborough team photo with Barry Hines is a bit of football history | Letters". March 29, 2016 – via www.theguardian.com.