Union Mills F.C.

Union Mills F.C. are a football club from Union Mills in the parish of Braddan on the Isle of Man. They compete in the Isle of Man Football League Division Two. They wear a claret and sky blue kit and play their home games at Garey Mooar.

Union Mills F.C. p
Full nameUnion Mills Football Club
Nickname(s)The Millers
Founded1920
GroundGarey Mooar
Ballaoates Road
Braddan, Isle of Man
Capacity600 standing, 12 seated
ChairmanVince Watkins
ManagerSteven Fox
LeagueIsle of Man Football League Division Two
2016–17Premier League, 12/13 (relegated)

History

Union Mills were founded in 1920.[1] They were promoted to the top flight (then the First Division) in 1983–84 and stayed in the league just two years until the 1985–86 season.[2] They were again promoted in the 1998–99 season,[3] but, as before, spent just two seasons in the top flight before finishing bottom in 2000–01, winning just two games all season.[4]

Union Mills currently compete in the Premier League. They were promoted to the top flight in the 2005–06 season after winning Division Two. That same season they reached the Woods Cup Final where they lost to Colby 1–0 after extra time. They won the Paul Henry Gold Cup, beating Braddan in the final 5–1.[5] In the 2007–08 season the club finished fifth in the Premier League[6]

The club has a Reserve team who compete in the Isle of Man Football Combination. They also have a youth system.

On 10 November 2007 former Wimbledon football Robbie Earle visited Union Mills, where he helped coach the club's Under-9's team.[7]

Following the 2007–08 season Union Mills hosted the annual Isle of Man Football Association Awards at the Garey Mooar clubhouse on 27 June 2008.[8]

In the 2011–12 season, Mills had their most successful run in the club's history. They won the Treble by clinching the Division 2 title, Wood's Cup beating Royals 3–1, Paul Henry Cup beating Marown 5–1, and also reached the final of the FA Cup, for the first time in the club's history, where they finished as runners up to Geordies.[9]

In the 2012–13 season, Mills made history again by reaching the Hospital Cup final for the 1st time and ended up being runners up to St Georges. Shortly after this Derek Cowley announced plans to leave the club after 18 successful years in charge, his assistant Darren Scarffe also left the club.

On 16 June 2013 it was announced that Chris Cain would take over as being the new Union Mills manager.

In July 2018 Steven Fox was announced as Union Mills Manager

In 2008 the club linked up with English football club Blackpool as a partner club in the Seasiders Centre of Excellence which has seen Blackpool visit Union Mills and continue to work with the club, staff and players.[10] As part of the link up Blackpool signed two players from the Isle of Man who attend the Centre of Excellence in Blackpool.

In November 2008 Blackpool staff visited Union Mills, to help train the club's coaches, and announced that they would soon be opening a Development Centre on the island.[11]

Facilities

Garey Mooar is situated in a countryside location about one mile from Braddan Bridge and Union Mills. It has a new purpose built clubhouse with bar and clubroom. The club also has a 250 pitch campsite at Garey Mooar with breakfast and other meals available at the clubhouse.[12] The club originally played on playing fields alongside Noble's Hospital, Braddan. In 2001 the club agreed to move from there to allow the site to be developed by the Department of Health and Social Security (DHSS) for staff accommodation. New playing fields at Ballaotes Road were completed in 2002. In September 2004, construction began on the new clubhouse.[13] which was built with help and funding from the Football Foundation, who in March 2004 gave the club £382,312 toward the construction of the clubhouse and to add full-sized and junior pitches for the club. Vince Watkins, Chairman of Union Mills, said at the time, "We are delighted to receive this funding as it provides a significant proportion of the money we need to carry out the plans that we have been making for some years now. The move to Ballaoates will be a major benefit to the Club, its members and the wider community."[14]

Honours

League

Cup
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References
  1. "IOMFA Member Clubs' Contacts". Isle of Man Football Association. 2009. Archived from the original on 9 May 2008. Retrieved 3 September 2008.
  2. "Isle of Man 1897/98 and 1970/71-1994/95". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. 29 May 2007. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
  3. "Isle of Man 1999/2000". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. 9 May 2001. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
  4. "Isle of Man 2000/01". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. 23 January 2003. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
  5. "Isle of Man 2005/06". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. 20 August 2006. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
  6. "Isle of Man 2007/08". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. 22 August 2008. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
  7. "Robbie Earle drops in on Union Mills junior training session". Isle of Man Today. 10 November 2007. Archived from the original on 28 November 2007. Retrieved 12 November 2007.
  8. Faragher, Rick (2 July 2008). "Bass lands Footballer of the Year award". Isle of Man Today. Archived from the original on 13 February 2016. Retrieved 3 September 2008.
  9. "Millers complete the treble". Isle of Man Today. 2012. Archived from the original on 23 February 2014. Retrieved 19 June 2012.
  10. "Partner clubs – Union Mills FC". Blackpool F.C. Archived from the original on 3 September 2008. Retrieved 3 September 2008.
  11. "Centre of Excellence". Up the Pool. Blackpool: Blackpool F.C. 2008–09 season (Blackpool vs Ipswich Town): 74. 8 November 2008.
  12. "Union Mills Football Club". Isle of Man Government. 2008. Archived from the original on 9 March 2008. Retrieved 3 September 2008.
  13. "First sod of earth cut for new Union Mills Football Club Clubhouse". Isle of Man Government. 17 September 2004. Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 3 September 2008.
  14. "Manx club score football funding goal" (Press release). Football Foundation. 8 March 2004. Archived from the original on 5 October 2011. Retrieved 3 September 2008.
  15. "Isle of Man – List of Cup Winners". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 19 December 2017.

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