Shirebrook

infobox UK place
country = England
latitude= 53.2048
longitude= -1.2197
static_

static_image_caption=The Great Northern , Shirebrook.
map_type= Derbyshire
official_name= Shirebrook
population = 10,412
shire_district= Bolsover
shire_county = Derbyshire
region= East Midlands
constituency_westminster= Bolsover
post_town= Mansfield
postcode_district = NG20
postcode_area= NG
dial_code= 01623
os_grid_reference= SK522678

Shirebrook is a town in the Bolsover district of north-east Derbyshire on the border with Nottinghamshire, England. It has a population of 10,412. It is on the B6407, and close to the A632 road, between Mansfield and Bolsover.

The town is served by Shirebrook railway station.

Local economy

Shirebrook is a small market town with a market square (Market days are Tuesdays,Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays) surrounded by several shops. There is a large Co-op. Much of the growth and prosperity of the town was built around coal mining. Shirebrook Colliery opened in 1896 and closed in 1993. The site is currently being redeveloped. The [http://www.bolsover.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=7442 Kissingate Leisure Centre] is on "Park Road". It has no swimming pool. There is a skate park.

The town is the head quarters of Sports World International, the UK's largest sports clothes retailer.

On 19th May 2008 Shirebrook featured on Tonight on ITV1. It showed various places including Sports World, Shirebrook Market, Empire and Carter Lane.

Education

The local secondary school is [http://www.shirebrook.derbyshire.sch.uk Shirebrook School] on "Common Lane" is for pupils aged 11-16 at GCSE level.

Railway

Shirebrook had at one time three stations. The present one was on the Midland Railway from Nottingham to Worksop and was known as Shirebrook West. Shirebrook North was opened by the LD&ECR [Cupit,T., Taylor, W., (1984 2nd.Ed.) "The Lancashire, Derbyshire and East Coast Railway," Trowbridge: The Oakwood Press] in 1897 and Shirebrook South was on the line to Pleasley. On the site of the Midland Railways goods yard a diesel locomotive fuelling depot was opened when diesels replaced steam in the mid 1960's. Passenger services were withdrawn in mid 1960's. The station was re-opened as part of the Robin Hood line services from Nottingham to Worksop. A wagon repair and manufacturing business have a connection the mainline.

Notable Ex-residents

The most famous person from Shirebrook is Ray Wilson, a member of the England team that won the 1966 World Cup. Also born in the town was actor Jason Statham. Additionally, John Hurt, the famous English actor grew up in the town when his father was the vicar of The Holy Trinity Parish Church. Others include the actor Colin Tarrant [ [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0850635/ Colin Tarrant biography at IMDb] ] who played a number of roles including Brian Clough. More recently the poet and musician Lee Blunt also known as the Poetic Justice of Lee Blunt was born in Shirebrook, starting his music career after seven years in the British Army.

port

Shirebrook Town Football Club formed in 1985 when the then very successful Sunday side, decided it was time to try their hand at the more professional side of Non-League Football. Back then they where known as Shirebrook Colliery, but when the colliery closed, they changed their name to Shirebrook Town.

Warren Terrace was the venue for home games, but they soon realised that it was not suitable for the level of football they where hoping to attain. With this in mind, Langwith Road became the new home and with some good local sponsorship flood lights were erected. This was the first major phase of a program of ground improvements which continues to date.

Town have always produces good teams, as well as good individuals. The policy of bringing the youth element through the ranks has always worked well. Even today most of the team are from Shirebrook and the surrounding villages.

There have been quite a few different records smashed in recent years. Stuart Greenwood, ex first team manager, is the longest ever serving, having joined the club in August 1987 and resigning as manager in 2007. Craig Charlesworth (Now at Glapwell) is the most capped player, with well over 300 appearances. Notable leading goal scorers have included Gary Quincey, Stuart Greenwood, Brendan Yates, Nathan Booth and Lee Widdowson.

The record attendance at Langwith Road is 2,200 when Mansfield Town came to play as part of a deal that saw Gary Castledine move to the stags in 1991, Steve Harris scoring the only goal of the game to ensure Shirebrook fans went home happy!

The club were promoted to the Supreme Division of the Central midlands League in 1991, having finished 5th in the Premier Division, adopting the "Town" name in 1993. They struggled in the first season and finished 14th out of 18 clubs, but after a number of seasons in mid and lower table they were runners up in 2000, going one better in 2001 and winning the Championship.

Ground grading meant they were passed over for promotion to the NCEL that year, but they went one better and won the league in 2002, just to prove they were not downhearted by the rejection (beating Clipstone 12-0, to record their biggest ever win) and this time their application for a step up was accepted.

They finished in a promotion position in there first season in Division 1 of the NCEL, but once again they failed to satisfy the ground graders and were refused promotion to the Premier Division

Heartened by the fact that they had been down this path before, they promptly set to and completed the improvements required, which in fact had been already underway but not completed, including a brand new dressing room which was opened by England World Cup 1966 winner Ray Wilson in the evening after they had secured the Division 1 Championship with victory at Lincoln Moorlands. the traveling support that day boosted the home crowd around 10 fold.

This time there was no denying Shirebrook their place in the Premier Division, and they stepped up to finish 10th in the 2004/05 season.

Their Langwith Road ground now has an overall capacity of 2000 of which 400 is under cover and a further 300 seated, and there is also wheelchair access and the club have ambitions to reach the Unibond League.

References

External links

* [http://www.shirebrook.net Local information]
* [http://www.pitwork.net/sbrook2.htm Colliery]
* [http://www.shirebrook-firestation.co.uk Fire Station]
* [http://knowhere.co.uk/4531.html Knowhere Guide]
* [http://www.shirebrookmwuband.co.uk Shirebrook Miners Welfare Unison Band]
* [http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=shirebrook Photos of Shirebrook]