From 1868 to 2008 - 140 years
12 Oct 2007

The original Newark Town FC was formed in 1868 and for many seasons played in the old Midland League. The club folded in the mid 1930’s and its ground on Muskham Road eventually passed into the ownership of the Newark Youth League before becoming the location of the Newark Indoor Cattle Market.

After 1945 Ransome and Marles FC became Newark's senior club playing in the old Central Alliance before they too ran into hard times.

An attempt was made to reform a Newark Town FC in the mid 1970’s but after an initial spell of success the Club again folded.

Under the leadership of current Chairman Paul Baggaley the club was reformed again in the late 1980’s and its first venture was to enter a team in the Notts. Imperial Youth League [U16 Division] with the specific aim of developing a young squad that would progress to senior football. From 1990 to 1994 a Junior Section became established playing in the Young Elizabethan and Notts Imperial Youth Leagues. In 1994 the Club took the step into Senior Football by entering teams in the Midland Regional Alliance and Grantham and District League focusing on good young local players. In 1997 the Club was admitted into membership of the Notts Football Alliance, the then senior league within the County. During 1998 the club was instrumental in establishing the New Newark Youth League and now runs teams from Under 8 to Under 16. The Club joined the Central Midlands League for 2004-05 thus becoming part of the FA’s League Pyramid and giving the chance for further advancement. To provide a link into senior football the club also entered a side in the Northern Alliance U19 league.

The hard work put in by Chairman Paul Baggaley and the Committee over the years has led to the club being awarded FA Community Club Status and this resulted in grant aid becoming available on top of normal fund raising which allowed a joint effort with Newark and Sherwood DC to enhance the facilities at Devon Park as the base of the Youth and Junior Sections.