Rossington Main F.C.

Football club infobox
clubname = Rossington Main


fullname = Rossington Main Football Club
nickname = "The Colliery"
founded = 1919 (as Rossington Colliery)
ground = Oxford Street,
Rossington Doncaster
capacity = 2000 ("250 seats") [ [http://www.ncel.org.uk/clubinfo.php?team=34&page=1 NCEL.org.uk] ]
chairman = flagicon|England Gerald Murden
manager = flagicon|Wales Ian Wilson
league = Northern Counties East League Division One
season = 2007-08
position = Northern Counties East League Division One, 16th
pattern_la1=|pattern_b1=|pattern_ra1=
leftarm1=0000FF|body1=0000FF|rightarm1=0000FF|shorts1=0000FF|socks1=0000FF
pattern_la2=|pattern_b2=|pattern_ra2=
leftarm2=FF8040|body2=FF8040|rightarm2=FF8040|shorts2=000000|socks2=000000

Rossington Main F.C. are a football club based in Rossington, South Yorkshire, England. They were established in 1919 under the name Rossington Colliery F.C. and in their early days played on what later became a pony field behind the colliery offices, before moving to its present home at Oxford Street in 1921.

In that first season at their new home the club reached the 4th Qualifying Round of the FA Cup, losing out to Lincoln City in a replay. Unfortunately there are no records for the official attendance of this match, but such was the interest in the fixture that it was played on the nearby cricket field to accommodate the extra spectators.

The club was originally formed to provide workers at Rossington Colliery with an opportunity to play football. With the nationalisation of the coal mines in 1948 the club changed its name to Rossington Miners Welfare. In the 1983 the club reverted to the name Rossington Main FC to become founder members of the Central Midlands League in 1983. Thanks to contributions from the Rossington Combined Sports Society, and committed club members, 'The Colliery' were able to develop the ground at Oxford Street and move up the non-league pyramid, joining the Northern Counties East Football League in 1991.

In 1998, after lengthy negotiations Rossington Main merged with near neighbours Rossington, who had been competing in the Central Midlands Supreme Division. Rossington FC had begun life in the 1970s, as Station FC, playing on the school field at the nearby Tornedale School and changing in a small building at the rear of The Station pub. The club progressed up through local Sunday leagues and Saturday football in the Doncaster area and in 1986 moved to a new home on Rossington Welfare and joined the Central Midlands League.

Rossington FC grew and at in the 1990s operated four sides, alongside the 1st team and reserves in the Central Midlands League were a successful Sunday League side and an under-18s team which competed in the Autoglass Sheffield League winning the Knockout Cup in 1992. Despite growth and development on the field the club were unable to match the expectations of the Central Midlands League financially, and in 1998 they elected to leave the league; facilitating the merger with Rossington Main.

Following the merger the club originally operated four sides, accompanying the 1st team and the reserves were an over-35's team who competed in the WRAGG Sheffield & Hallamshire League and an under-18s side competing in the Doncaster & District Boys League.

During the 2005-2006 season the club was rocked by the death of Honorary President Bill Winfield. Bill had been the instigator of the Weekly Letter Draw that has continued to this day to support not only the football club, but also Rossington's cricket and rugby league sides. Despite limited funds the club has continued to compete in the Northern Counties East League and is now in its seventeenth season in Division 1.

In the run up to Christmas 2007 the club was in its worst position for some time, following on from finishing last the previous season, the club sat at the foot of the table with just two points from fifteen matches. In an effort to revive the club's fortunes they have appointed a new management team with former Rossington FC manager Ian Wilson returning to the club along with former Retford United player Rob Burton to try and help 'The Colliery' avoid the drop.

Honours

*Central Midlands League Division One
**Champions: 1984-85

*Doncaster and District Senior League
**Champions: 1944-45

References

External links

* [http://rossingtonmainfc.weebly.com Rossington Main Football Club]