Hinckley AFC was formed in January 2014, when fans of the defunct Hinckley United voted
to form a 'community co-operative trust' to run a new football club for the town of
Hinckley.
Hinckley United had been dissolved by the courts in the autumn of 2013 and a working group
of fans combined, and with the help of Supporters Direct, announced the intention
to form a co-operative trust along the same model as that of FC United of Manchester and
AFC Wimbledon with a membership scheme allowing a 'one member one vote' ethos. At a public
meeting in January 2014, those interested in the scheme voted to form the club and named it
Hinckley AFC.
In February 2014 it was voted that the club's home colours should be Red & Blue,
continuing the tradition of Hinckley football clubs, whilst the away colours would be
violet and white. The club badge was also chosen by the supporters.
In March 2014 Steve and Joy Jelfs, who run a local business in Hinckley, and founder
members of Hinckley AFC, made a bid to BDO Liquidators in regards to purchase the De
Montfort Park Stadium, former home of Hinckley United. Subsequently, Hinckley AFC entered
an agreement with the Jelfs family for a 50 year lease upon completion of the Stadium purchase.
The bid was accepted by the creditors of Hinckley United Ltd, but legal issues regarding
ownership and security of tenure, meant that any purchase would not be concluded in
time for the 2014-15 season. In the interim it was also announced that Hinckley AFC had
agreed a groundshare with Heather St John for the 2014-2015 season.
In May 2014 the first manager for Hinckley AFC was announced as Carl Abbott, who would also
bring with him his assistants, Kevin Thompson, Paul Tomlinson and Tim Clarke. All had been
with Carl at his previous club, Wolverhampton Casuals. At the public meeting following his
appointment, Carl revealed the first signings for the new club would be John Melligan, Avun
Jephcott and Matthew Bailey.
History of Football in Hinckley
Hinckley United had been formed in June 1997 with a merger of the two main Hinckley
football clubs. A meeting on that date saw shareholders of Hinckley Athletic (then
playing in the Midland Alliance) approve a merger with neighbours Hinckley Town (then
playing in the Southern League Midland).
Formed in 1889, originally named Hinckley United, Athletic had the traditional support
of the Hinckley people, playing their games at the Holywell ground, behind the Holywell
pub on the London Road. After WWII, the Holywell ground was not available so land was
purchased then just out side the town on Middlefield Lane, and a name change to Hinckley
Athletic saw the club begin again in the Birmingham Combination. The club switched leagues
in the 1960s joining the Southern League division one, and in 1963 were promoted to the
Southern League Premier. A disastrous season followed in the Premier resulting in relegation
and following financial hardship, resigned from the Southern League in 1967 joining the
West Midlands Regional League. After 27 years of mediocrity, Athletic were chosen as founder
members of the Midland Alliance League in 1994, and followed this up with finishes of 2nd, 3rd
and 2nd again, topping the attendance figures for the League.
Formed in 1958 as Westfield Wanderers, Hinckley Town played in the local district leagues,
but after a name change to Hinckley Town in 1972 rose through the Leicestershire Senior Leagues
and were founder members of the Central Midlands League Supreme Division in 1986. After
finishing 1st and then 2nd, Town switched leagues to the West Midlands Regional League and
in 1989 were promoted to the Southern League Midland. 7 seasons of struggle followed as Town
failed to entice the support away from Athletic despite playing in the higher league.
Merger moves were made at the end of the 1996-97 season in a meeting of the respective
chairmen, Mick Voce (Athletic) and Kevin Downes (Town), established there was some
common ground with each club having something positive to offer. Following a shareholders
meeting in June 1997, Athletic member voted to approve the merger, and subsequently,
the new club would play at Athletic's Middlefield Lane ground with Town's Leicester Road
set up being used as a training ground, and once the FA and Southern League had
approved the merger, the new club United inherited Town's Dr Marten's League spot.
The new club appointing Dean Thomas as manager, having been released from his contract
with Bedworth United and he became team manager, whilst off the field, the board of
directors was elected with fourteen members, seven from either club, with Kevin Downes
taking the chair. The club colours were red and blue, a blend of the main colours from
Athletic who played in red, and Town who played in blue.
The aim of the merger was to bring a higher standard of football to the Town.
Within four years that was achieved. After a mid table finish in their first
season, Hinckley United improved with finishes of fourth, third and then won
the Southern League Midland/West Championship in season 2000-2001.
In their first season in the Southern League Premier division Hinckley United ended up
in 12th place, and though were never in the relegation zone, were in a relegation
battle for the second half of the season. Their second season in Southern League
Premier was much the same with consolodation the aim of the club. The third
season however was better than anyone could've expected and the club finished in
their highest ever position of sixth. That also meant finishing in a position to
be accepted into the newly established Conference North division for 2004-2005.
After 2 mid table finshes consolidating in Conference North, Season 2006-2007 was
accepted as the season Hinckley would make a serious challenge for the title. However
after a good start tragedy struck the club when popular defender Matthew Gadsby
collapsed and died on the pitch at Harrogate on 9th September 2006. Hinckley players
took a month away from football and spent the rest of the season playing 'catch up.'
When Hinckley returned to action the season was one of up and down, but held on to
a play off spot, eventually rallying on and off the field to secure 4th place in
the league, reaching the play off final, but missing out on promotion conceding
a last minute penalty.
In season 2001-2002 Hinckley had their best ever FA Cup run. They managed to win through
to the 2nd round proper, eventually losing at home 0-2 to Cheltenham Town of League
Division 3, in front of 2661 fans at Middlefield Lane. United's best ever Cup run was
equalled in 2004-2005 which included defeating Torquay 2-0 at Middlefield Lane then
drawing with Brentford in front of the BBC TV Live Match of the Day cameras, before
losing out in the replay.
Off the pitch things gathered pace with the development of the club. A move away
from Middlefield Lane happened on 5th March 2005 when United played their first game
at the new De Montfort Park Stadium, being a purpose built 4329 capacity football
ground. Attendances increased at the new Stadium and a home league attendance record
was set for United when nearly 2900 watched Hinckley draw with Nuneaton on boxing
day 2006.
The play off final was the pinnacle of achievement for United and seasons of struggle
followed. Despite being bottom of the league at christmas 2007, relegation was avoided
by an unbeaten run at the end of the season, ensuring survival in the penultimate game.
The next few season were of consolidation, as financial hardship hit the club off the field.
Lack of proper budgeting the previous seasons meant the club were unable to meet debts, and
the HMRC petitioned the courts for a winding up order. The football club was also sanctioned
with a 'registration embargo' limiting the number of players at the club to a maximum of 16.
Over two years were spent with the club trying to finance and settle the debts, gaining
adjournments from the courts, and the debt finally settled in November 2010.
In season 2011-2012 the club were relegated on the final day of the season, though
finished on 48 points, the highest points total to be relegated from the Conference
North. On the 25th of May 2012, the FA published their proposed club allocations for
the 2012-2013 non-league season proposing Hinckley United would remain in the Conference
North for the 2012-2013 season after both Darlington Football Club and Kettering Town
Football Club were relegated further divisions after financial problems. In June this
reprieve was officially confirmed at the Football Conference AGM.
Off field events became dire for Hinckley United in the 2012-2013 season. Following
boardroom upheavel the Chairman resigned from the board and there were wholesale changes
at the club. The playing budget was drastically reduced and a few weeks into the season
manager Dean Thomas resigned, to be replaced with assistant Carl Heggs. As historical
debts were the priority, football debts were ignored and the club operated under a 'registration
embargo' for the first half of the season, using many of the clubs Development team as
cover. Unsurprisingly the club was rooted to the foot of the Conference North all season,
and relegation was confirmed in March 2013, having won just 3 matches all season.
As United started the 2013-2014 back in the Southern League, the club faced more court
action, resulting in a petition to wind up by the former chairman Kevin Downes, and the
remaining United directors, Michael Sutton, Paul Moss, Ku Akeredolu and Kevin Thompson
did not contest the order. The petition was granted by the judge in October 2013 and
Hinckley United were liquidated with their league record for that season expunged.