Whitby Town FC

Founded in 1800 as Streanshalch Football Club, Whitby are one of the oldest clubs from the North Riding of Yorkshire. The name of the club was changed in 1882 to Whitby Football Club as the team played in the Scarborough & East Riding County Cup.

During the early days of the club, the rival between Whitby and Scarborough was intense. Unfortunately the rivalry culminated in one of the first recorded football riots, after a disagreement about a goal as Whitby players were attacked on the pitch by Scarborough fans and eventually chase out to Scarborough Railway Station.

After the First World War, the town of Whitby had two clubs, both playing in the Scarborough and District League; Whitby Whitehall Swifts and Whitby Town. Ever conscious of Whitby’s more illustrious past, the two clubs decided to amalgamate in 1926 as Whitby United. The club was admitted into the Northern League and the club’s name was changed to Whitby Town in 1949.

The club reached a new height in the Amateur Cup days. In 1964 they reached the quarter-finals and the following year they made it all the way to Wembley, losing 3-1 to Hendon.

The club has spent its entire history in the amateur and semi-professional leagues, through they reached the second round of the FA Cup in both 1983/84 and 1985/86. In the first of those second round appearances, Whitby came to national prominence when they came back from two goals down to beat Halifax Town 3-2 in the first round. They were beaten by a late penalty at Wigan in the second round.

The 1983/84 season also saw Whitby reached the quarter-finals of the FA Trophy for the first time, losing to Dagenham in a replay.

In 1992/93, Whitby Town won the Northern League championship for the first time. Unfortunately, due to circumstances out of the club’s control, the club were denied promotion to the Northern Premier League.

In 1996/97, the club went from strength to strength. A 0-0 draw against Hull City in the first round of the FA Cup forced a remarkable replay at Boothferry Park. Whitby came from behind to take a 4-3 lead which was held until the dying moments of the game. With only 49 seconds remaining, Hull levelled the score and went on to win 8-4 in extra time. This was to be one of only five defeats in the entire season.

The club came from behind in the Northern League race, winning he championship in style from Billingham Synthonia before competing an amazing double by winning the club’s most prestigious honour, lifting the FA Vase at Wembley with a 3-0 win over North Ferriby United.

The following season, 1997/98, saw continued success at the Turnbull Ground when the club won the Northern Premier League First Division at the first attempt.

The 2001/02 season saw Whitby get to the FA Cup first round for the seventh time, only to lose out to Plymouth Argyle after a replay. The first game at the Turnbull Ground, which finished 1-1, was played in front of the BBC Match of the Day cameras. The 2003/04 season saw another strong FA Cup run halted at the hands of Hartlepool United.

In the 2023/24 season, Whitby reached the first round of the FA Cup for the first time in 20 years. Having seen off Goole, Prescot Cables, Morpeth Town and Chelmsford City in qualifying, their reward was a trip to League One Bristol Rovers. Despite going out with a 7-2 defeat at the Memorial Stadium, Whitby’s second goal, scored by Connor Simpson, was nominated for the FA Cup Goal of the Competition.