THORNABY F.C.

 At the start of the 2000/2001 season, the  Northern League gained a freshly-named club in its ranks in the guise of Thornaby - and one that has a bright future to look forward to and will be a force to be reckoned with in its native area of Teesside.

The newly-named club had had a long and chequered career after originally starting life as Stockton Athletic in 1882. For 50 years it became one of the country's leading amateur sides, winning many Northern League honours during this time. After this successful period, thirty more years elapsed with membership held in various other leagues before a decline in fortunes, mainly due to financial problems, saw the club disband in 1975, and the historic Victoria Ground sold off for building land.

Eventually, in 1980, the long journey back began and the re-formed Stockton joined the Wearside League for the 1980/81 season, eventually regaining Northern League status at the 1985 AGM, reverting to Thornaby-on-Tees FC for 1999/2000 and a year later to Thornaby FC.

The birth of Thornaby as a new team was based on very sound practical reasons. There was a definite need to identify with the local community in a more effective way, and that much-needed support could be generated with local businesses being actively involved.

The eventual aim for Thornaby is to challenge the 'giants' of the Northern League, many of whom are hugely respected throughout the non-League scene.

As well as the Northern League team, they have 8 junior teams aged from under 7s, 8s, 2 x 9s, 2 x 12s, U13s, U15s. U19s, a vets team and a junior acadmy fron age 5. 

Since reformation in 1980, major honours include winning the Stockton & Dist: 1980-81Wearside: 1981-85 – Sunderland Shipowners Cup R-Up 1982-83- North Riding Senior Cup 1985-8:  Northern League Second Division championship in 1987-88, 91-92 and the Craven Cup in 1995.

For any club to be successful the infrastructure has to be in place, and Thornaby's hard working committee, including secretary Trevor Wing  and chairman Laurence Lyons, have plans for major ground developments some have been made already including a club house, café, seats in the stand, hard standing round the pitch and refurbished changing rooms and Floodlights.