Get to Know Stapenhill Football Club: Where Community and Passion Meet

At Stapenhill Football Club, we’re not just about goals and passes; we’re about people, friendships, and community spirit. Nestled in the heart of Stapenhill, we’ve rallied local football enthusiasts, families, and aspiring young stars to not only enjoy the beautiful game but also to create lasting memories together. Our mission? To cultivate a love for football that transcends age and background, and to foster a vibrant environment where everyone feels welcome and valued. Whether you’re cheering from the stands, volunteering at events, or supporting our youth programs, you’re an essential part of our family. So, whether it’s dirt-streaked jerseys from a thrilling match or laughter echoing at our community sports events, know that each moment you spend with us is what makes Stapenhill Football Club truly special. Let's kick those balls together and celebrate our community!

Football in Stapenhill has roots stretching back to 1905–06, when Stapenhill Wanderers and Stapenhill Excelsior competed in the Burton League.

The modern club began in 1947 as Stapenhill Waterside Community Centre FC, built on community spirit, volunteers and a passion for the game.

The team’s first home was Drakelow Park, with players changing two miles away at the Freehold Tavern, a humble beginning that shaped the club’s identity.

Our first competitive match set the tone:
Stapenhill WCC 7–1 Coton Swifts, with Bert Briscoe scoring the club’s first‑ever goal and first hat‑trick.

• 1947 – Club founded
• 1949–50 – Burton & District Football League Champions
• 1950–51 – Renamed Stapenhill FC, joined Derby Senior League
• 1952–53 – Division One Champions
• 1955–56 – Moved to Edge Hill
• 1957–60 – Rapid rise through the Leicester Senior League, winning back‑to‑back Division One titles

• 1976–77 – Ian Gough becomes first official manager
• 1986–87 – Leicester Senior League Champions
• 1988–89 – A standout season: League Champions, Tebbutt Brown Cup Winners, Derbyshire Senior Cup Finalists

• 1989–90 – Joined Midland Football Combination
• 1994–95 – Joined Midland Football Alliance
• 2006–07 – Leicester Senior League Champions, promoted
• 2008 – Clubhouse destroyed by fire; senior team withdrawn for 2008–09 season

• 2012–13 – Promoted to East Midlands Counties League
• 2013–14 – EMCL Runners‑up
• 2018–19 – Joined Midland Football League Division One
• 2021–22 – Play‑off Finalists
• 2024–25 – MFL League Cup Runners‑up

The club launched Stapenhill Ladies in 2024, entering the Derbyshire Ladies League and beginning a new era for women’s football in the community.

• A standalone grassroots club under the Stapenhill FC umbrella
• Provides the full boys’ and mixed junior pathway

To complete the female pathway: Swadlincote Town, founded in 2019, became Stapenhill Girls & Ladies FC at the start of 2026/27 and became part of the clubs structure in 2026/27 with the forward thinking and vision of Charlotte Rhodes and Nick Oliver. A standalone club under the Stapenhill FC umbrella, provides girls’ and youth female football

Together, these sections create a complete pathway:

• Stapenhill Swans Juniors FC – Boys & mixed juniors
• Stapenhill Girls & Ladies FC – Girls & youth female
• Stapenhill Ladies – Senior women
• Stapenhill FC – Senior men

• Lui Campbell - 420 and counting.
• Ian Gough – 416 appearances
• Most Goals:
• Roy Brown – 203 goals in 261 games
• Most Goals in a Game:
• Roy Brown – 7 (1950)
• Steve Hart – 6 (2013)

• Highest Win: 20–1 vs John Knowles (1949)
• Heaviest Defeats:
• 10–2 vs New Mills (1962)
• 9–0 vs Anstey Nomads (1983)
• 9–0 vs Rushall Olympic (2000)

• Drakelowe Lane
• Drakelowe Park
• Stapenhill Hollow
• Heath Road Recreation Ground
• Maple Grove (current home)

• Burton & District Football League Challenge Cup
• South Derbyshire Cup
• Stapenhill Old Folks Cup ×2
• Lichfield Charity Cup
• Newhall Charity Cup ×2
• Tutbury Charity Vase ×5
• Derbyshire Medals ×2
• Derby Senior League Cup ×3
• Derby Senior League Challenge Cup ×2
• Bass Charity Vase ×4
• Leicestershire Senior Cup
• Leicestershire Challenge Cup

Thanks to Steve Davis for sharing our great history.