Wellingborough Town Football Club History continued...

Wellingborough Town repeated this success in 1964-65 during which time they only dropped six points. They successfully applied to join the Metropolitan League in 1968-69 and finished a creditable 7th. The following year however, Wellingborough were League Champions and in 1970-71 they joined the West Midlands (Regional) League Premier Division finishing a creditable 3rd. With their ambitions now on a 'high' the Club joined the Southern League Division One North in 1971-72.

Wellingborough was able to maintain mid-table positions throughout the seventies before a reorganisation of the league saw them entered into the Midland Division of the Southern League after the League was split into Southern and Midland Divisions with no Premier Division. Wellingborough remained in what was known as the Southern league, Midland Division until 1988-89 when they were relegated to the United Counties l League.

There then followed 13 years of struggle with Wellingborough Town avoiding relegation from the Premier Division of the United Counties League on several occasions. Their worst dreams became a reality when in season 2001-02 they folded and resigned from the League. This was a black period in the history of a club that had formed the back-bone of the first professional league.

Wellingborough Town has figured prominently in the annals of the F.A.Cup and many exciting encounters have been recorded against old opponents such as Peterborough United, Kettering Town, Corby Town and Cambridge City. The pinnacle of their Cup success was when they reached the First Round proper in 1965 being drawn against Aldershot, who at that time were in the Football League Third Division. Despite losing 2-1 Wellingborough were not disgraced.

Wellingborough Town has been traditionally known as 'The Doughboys' which derived from the traditional local dish of 'Hock & Dough'.

Wellingborough's most 'famous' son is Phil Neal who started his career at the Town before moving to Northampton and then to Liverpool. His glittering career with Liverpool and England was followed closely by his many local admirers who saw him progress from the Dog & Duck to such exalted venues as Wembley, the San Ciro and numerous other international stages.

Wellingborough had been without a senior football team for a period of two years when a local retired Senior police Officer, Laurie Owen, formed group of sporting friends in an attempt to resurrect the 'Doughboys'. He was joined by a local businessman, Alan Warwick, whose father played for the 'Doughboys' in the twenties and the then Mayor of Wellingborough, David Smith. David's brother was formerly Manager of Aberdeen and St. Mirren in the Scottish League.

Together these three persons recruited other friends including Peter Ebdon the former World Snooker Champion who agreed to be President of the Group, Paul Joy a local Magistrate and Brian Hill, the former Premiership referee. Each member recruited additional friends until there were 24 people who were prepared to get the Wellingborough Town FC 2004 back on it's feet.

The Dog & Duck Football Ground was owned by Geoff Coles a local businessman who has since moved to Portugal. During the early days of his tenancy of the ground part of it was sold to Whitbread's who built a travel-lodge. This obviously reduced the overall size of the ground but the pitch, training ground, grandstand and clubhouse remained.

In their first season back in senior football the team finished 2nd in the Eagle Bitter United Counties League Division One and were promoted to the Premier Division after losing just one game. The NFA Junior Cup was also won after beating Peterborough Northern Star 2-0 after extra-time at Northampton Town's Sixfields stadium.

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