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| Full name | Kiveton Park Football Club | |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1881 | |
| Ground | Hard Lane | |
| Capacity | 1,000 (128 seats) | |
| Chairman | Chris Nelson | |
| Manager | Dan Stewart | |
| League | Sheffield & Hallamshire County Senior League Premier Division | |
| 2024–25 | Sheffield & Hallamshire County Senior League Division One, 1st of 13 (promoted) | |
| Website | http://www.kivetonparkfc.com/ | |
Kiveton Park Football Club is afootball club based inKiveton Park,South Yorkshire, England. They are currently members of theSheffield & Hallamshire County Senior League Premier Division and play their home games at Hard Lane.
Although a team representing the village played two games with a side fromAnston during the 1877–78 season,[1]Kiveton Park FC was not formed until 1881. Two years later, the club affiliated with theSheffield Football Association.[2] Its first club colours were believed to be red and black quarters.[3]
In 1891–92 they were founder members of theSheffield & District Football League[4] (beingChesterfield F.C.'s first ever league opponents on the first day of that season) and lifted their first trophy after beating Sheepbridge in the final of theSheffield Minor Cup.[5]
For 1893–94 the Minor Cup changed from a knockout competition to a league, and Kiveton moved to join, also entering theHatchard League at the same time. They were the first winners of the latter in 1894[6] and repeated the success two years later,[7] remaining in the competition until the outbreak of theFirst World War.
Kiveton spent the majority of the time between the two world wars in theSheffield Amateur League, with the exception of brief spells in theSheffield Association League and the Holbrook & District League. They made theirFA Cup debut in 1920, and reached the 3rd qualifying round of the competition two years later, losing toRotherham Town atClifton Lane. In 1923, the club was renamed asKiveton Park Colliery, reflecting its close ties with thevillage pit.
The club, like most others in the country, did initially break up when theSecond World War broke out, but in 1942 they joined the Worksop & District League, remaining in this competition until the end of the war. The 1945–46 season saw the club come close to winning two prestigious competitions – going out in the semi-finals of the Sheffield & Hallamshire Senior Cup and finishing as runners-up in the Sheffield Invitation League play-offs, after beatingSheffield United reserves in the semi-final at Hard Lane.[8]
They spent the first four post-war years in the Sheffield Association League, before joining theYorkshire League in 1949.[9] After suffering two disastrous campaigns at this higher level, they moved back to the Worksop & District League, where they were renamed asKiveton Park United.[10] They stayed in Worksop football until 1959, when they moved to the East Derbyshire League, and before long they were finding great success - in the 1961–62 season they won seven trophies.[11] In 1963 the club successfully applied to re-join the Yorkshire League, and was accepted by the name ofKiveton Park.
In 1967 they won promotion to Division One and two years later finished in third place – the club's highest ever league finish.[4] A year later however they were relegated back to Division Two. In 1972 they completed a league and cup double, winning the prestigiousSheffield & Hallamshire Senior Cup for the first time, and gaining promotion back to the Yorkshire League's top flight.[4] Their yo-yo existence would continue however – up to 1982 they flitted constantly between Division One and Two, winning the Division Two title in 1978.[4]
A year after Kiveton reached the 4th Round of theFA Vase in 1981, the Yorkshire League merged with theMidland League to form theNorthern Counties East League (NCEL), and Park were among the founder members of the new competition.[4] They spent the first three years in Division Two South before being moved to Division One South when the competition went through a restructure in 1985, a year after the club's reserve team had won the last everWharncliffe Charity Cup final.[4] They were promoted to Division One in 1986, but were relegated back again in 1990 because of ground grading issues. At the end of the 1990–91 season they left the NCEL to join theCentral Midlands League (CMFL)[4]
Park finished as Premier Division North runners-up in their first season, and a year later won promotion to the CMFL's Supreme Division. In 1994 thevillage's colliery closed, and two years later, after losing its biggest financier, the club went into hibernation.[12] The club was reformed in 1999, re-joining the CMFL Premier Division. In 2003 they finished as runners-up, gaining promotion back to the Supreme Division, but were relegated back again two years later because of their failure to install floodlights.[13] This blow came just days after they had won theSheffield & Hallamshire Association Cup for the second year running.[14] It wasn't until the league restructured in 2011 to form North and South divisions that the club regained Step 7 status in theEnglish football league system.
In 2013 the club decided, due to the cost of travelling to away games, to leave the CMFL, and join the more localSheffield & Hallamshire County Senior Football League (S&HCSL).[15] Kiveton entered the Second Division of the S&HCSL for the start of the 2013–14 season. After four years in Division Two, Park won promotion to Division One of the S&HCSL in 2017, and in 2025 they returned to the eleventh tier of thepyramid after a twelve-year absence by winning the Division One title.[16]
| Season | Division | Level | Position | FA Cup | FA Amateur Cup | FA Vase | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1891–92 | Sheffield & District League | – | 5th/10 | – | – | – | |
| 1892–93 | Sheffield & District League | – | 11th/14 | – | – | – | |
| 1893–94 | Sheffield Minor Cup League (qualifying) Hatchard League | - - | 4th/7 1st/8 | – | – | – | League champions (won play-off) |
| 1894–95 | Sheffield Minor Cup League (qualifying) Sheffield Minor Cup League (proper) | - - | 2nd/5 5th/7 | – | – | – | |
| 1895–96 | Sheffield Minor Cup League (qualifying) Hatchard League | - - | 3rd/7 1st/5 | – | – | – | League champions (won play-off) |
| 1896–97 | Sheffield Alliance | – | 4th/12 | – | – | – | |
| 1897–98 | Sheffield Alliance | – | – | – | – | ||
| 1898–99 | Club did not enter any competitions | ||||||
| 1899–1900 | Hatchard League | – | 1st/7 | – | – | – | Lost league play-off |
| 1900–01 | Hatchard League | – | – | – | – | ||
| 1901–02 | Hatchard League | – | – | – | – | ||
| 1902–03 | Hatchard League | – | 1st/8 | – | – | – | Lost league play-off |
| 1903–04 | Hatchard League | – | 2nd/11 | – | – | – | |
| 1904–05 | Hatchard League | – | 5th/13 | – | – | – | |
| 1905–06 | Hatchard League | – | – | – | – | ||
| 1906–07 | Hatchard League | – | 10th/10 | – | – | – | |
| 1907–08 | Hatchard League | – | 3rd/10 | – | – | – | |
| 1908–09 | Hatchard League | – | 4th/9 | – | – | – | |
| 1909–10 | Hatchard League | – | – | – | – | ||
| 1910–11 | Hatchard League | – | 2nd/9 | – | – | – | |
| 1911–12 | Hatchard League | – | – | – | – | ||
| 1912–13 | Hatchard League | – | – | – | – | ||
| 1913–14 | Hatchard League | – | – | – | – | ||
| 1914–15 | Hatchard League | – | 6th/10 | – | – | – | |
| 1915–16 | Club did not enter any competitions due toWorld War I | ||||||
| 1916–17 | Club did not enter any competitions due toWorld War I | ||||||
| 1917–18 | Club did not enter any competitions due toWorld War I | ||||||
| 1918–19 | Club did not enter any competitions due toWorld War I | ||||||
| 1919–20 | Hatchard League | – | – | – | – | ||
| 1920–21 | Hatchard League | – | 1st/9 | PR | – | – | Lost league play-off |
| 1921–22 | Hatchard League | – | 3rd/9 | EPR | – | – | |
| 1922–23 | Hatchard League | – | 3QR | – | – | ||
| 1923–24 | Sheffield Minor League | – | 2nd/13 | – | – | – | League champions (won play-off) |
| 1924–25 | Sheffield Amateur League | – | – | – | – | ||
| 1925–26 | Sheffield Association League | – | 6th/13 | – | – | – | |
| 1926–27 | Sheffield Association League | – | – | – | – | ||
| 1927–28 | Sheffield Association League | – | 7th/14 | – | – | – | |
| 1928–29 | Sheffield Association League | – | 7th/15 | – | – | – | |
| 1929–30 | Sheffield Amateur League | – | 11th/11 | – | – | – | |
| 1930–31 | Sheffield Amateur League | – | – | – | – | ||
| 1931–32 | Sheffield Amateur League | – | – | – | – | ||
| 1932–33 | Sheffield Amateur League | – | – | – | – | ||
| 1933–34 | Sheffield Amateur League | – | – | – | – | ||
| 1934–35 | Holbrook & District League | – | – | – | – | ||
| 1935–36 | Holbrook & District League | – | 2nd/12 | – | – | – | |
| 1936–37 | Holbrook & District League | – | 1st/9 | – | – | – | Lost league play-off |
| 1937–38 | Sheffield Amateur League | – | – | – | – | ||
| 1938–39 | Sheffield Amateur League | – | – | – | – | ||
| 1939–40 | Club did not enter any competitions due toWorld War II | ||||||
| 1940–41 | Club did not enter any competitions due toWorld War II | ||||||
| 1941–42 | Club did not enter any competitions due toWorld War II | ||||||
| 1942–43 | Worksop & District League | – | – | – | – | ||
| 1943–44 | Worksop & District League | – | 2nd/13 | – | – | – | |
| 1944–45 | Worksop & District League | – | 1st/8 | – | – | – | League champions (won play-off) |
| 1945–46 | Sheffield Association League | - | 7th/10 | – | – | – | |
| 1946–47 | Sheffield Association League | – | 16th/20 | PR | 2QR | – | |
| 1947–48 | Sheffield Association League | – | PR | 1QR | – | ||
| 1948–49 | Sheffield Association League | – | PR | – | – | ||
| 1949–50 | Yorkshire League Division 2 | – | 18th/18 | EPR | – | – | |
| 1950–51 | Yorkshire League Division 2 | – | 15th/17 | – | – | – | |
| 1951–52 | Worksop & District League | – | 2nd/12 | – | – | – | |
| 1952–53 | Worksop & District League | – | 5th/10 | – | – | – | |
| 1953–54 | Worksop & District League | – | – | – | – | ||
| 1954–55 | Worksop & District League | – | – | – | – | ||
| 1955–56 | Worksop & District League | – | 5th/11 | – | – | – | |
| 1956–57 | Worksop & District League | – | 5th/7 | – | – | – | |
| 1957–58 | Worksop & District League | – | 5th/11 | – | – | – | |
| 1958–59 | Sheffield Amateur League | – | – | – | – | ||
| 1959–60 | East Derbyshire League | – | 2nd/16 | – | – | – | |
| 1960–61 | East Derbyshire League | – | – | – | – | ||
| 1961–62 | East Derbyshire League | – | 1st/12 | – | – | – | League champions |
| 1962–63 | East Derbyshire League | – | 1st/10 | – | – | – | League champions |
| 1963–64 | Yorkshire League Division 2 | – | 8th/15 | – | – | – | |
| 1964–65 | Yorkshire League Division 2 | – | 5th/15 | – | – | – | |
| 1965–66 | Yorkshire League Division 2 | – | 4th/15 | – | – | – | Promoted |
| 1966–67 | Yorkshire League Division 1 | – | 9th/17 | – | – | – | |
| 1967–68 | Yorkshire League Division 1 | – | 5th/17 | – | – | – | |
| 1968–69 | Yorkshire League Division 1 | – | 3rd/18 | – | – | – | |
| 1969–70 | Yorkshire League Division 1 | – | 17th/18 | PR | – | – | Relegated |
| 1970–71 | Yorkshire League Division 2 | – | 9th/14 | – | – | – | |
| 1971–72 | Yorkshire League Division 2 | – | 3rd/15 | – | – | – | Promoted |
| 1972–73 | Yorkshire League Division 1 | – | 11th/16 | – | – | – | |
| 1973–74 | Yorkshire League Division 1 | – | 13th/16 | – | – | – | Relegated |
| 1974–75 | Yorkshire League Division 2 | – | 7th/15 | – | – | – | |
| 1975–76 | Yorkshire League Division 2 | – | 5th/15 | – | – | 2R | |
| 1976–77 | Yorkshire League Division 2 | – | 7th/16 | – | – | 1R | |
| 1977–78 | Yorkshire League Division 2 | – | 1st/15 | – | – | PR | League champions, promoted |
| 1978–79 | Yorkshire League Division 1 | – | 15th/16 | – | – | PR | Relegated |
| 1979–80 | Yorkshire League Division 2 | – | 3rd/16 | – | – | 2R | Promoted |
| 1980–81 | Yorkshire League Division 1 | – | 15th/16 | – | – | 4R | Relegated |
| 1981–82 | Yorkshire League Division 2 | – | 15th/16 | – | – | 1R | |
| 1982–83 | Northern Counties East League Division 2 South | – | 7th/14 | – | – | PR | |
| 1983–84 | Northern Counties East League Division 2 South | – | 10th/13 | – | – | 1R | |
| 1984–85 | Northern Counties East League Division 1 South | – | 12th/16 | – | – | – | |
| 1985–86 | Northern Counties East League Division 2 | – | 8th/16 | – | – | PR | Promoted |
| 1986–87 | Northern Counties East League Division 1 | – | 14th/18 | – | – | EPR | |
| 1987–88 | Northern Counties East League Division 1 | – | 11th/16 | – | – | EPR | |
| 1988–89 | Northern Counties East League Division 1 | – | 10th/16 | – | – | 1R | |
| 1989–90 | Northern Counties East League Division 1 | – | 8th/15 | – | – | – | Relegated |
| 1990–91 | Northern Counties East League Division 2 | – | 10th/13 | – | – | – | Transferred |
| 1991–92 | Central Midlands League Premier Division North | – | 2nd/14 | – | – | – | |
| 1992–93 | Central Midlands League Premier Division | – | 3rd/19 | – | – | – | Promoted |
| 1993–94 | Central Midlands League Supreme Division | – | 3rd/17 | – | – | – | |
| 1994–95 | Central Midlands League Supreme Division | – | 7th/17 | – | – | – | |
| 1995–96 | Central Midlands League Supreme Division | – | 14th/17 | – | – | – | |
| 1996–97 | Club did not enter any competitions | ||||||
| 1997–98 | Club did not enter any competitions | ||||||
| 1998–99 | Club did not enter any competitions | ||||||
| 1999–2000 | Central Midlands League Premier Division | – | 13th/16 | – | – | – | |
| 2000–01 | Central Midlands League Premier Division | – | 14th/17 | – | – | – | |
| 2001–02 | Central Midlands League Premier Division | – | 12th/20 | – | – | – | |
| 2002–03 | Central Midlands League Premier Division | – | 2nd/17 | – | – | – | Promoted |
| 2003–04 | Central Midlands League Supreme Division | – | 12th/19 | – | – | – | |
| 2004–05 | Central Midlands League Supreme Division | 11 | 15th/22 | – | – | – | Relegated |
| 2005–06 | Central Midlands League Premier Division | 12 | 12th/20 | – | – | – | |
| 2006–07 | Central Midlands League Premier Division | 12 | 9th/18 | – | – | – | |
| 2007–08 | Central Midlands League Premier Division | 12 | 5th/20 | – | – | – | |
| 2008–09 | Central Midlands League Premier Division | 12 | 9th/16 | – | – | – | |
| 2009–10 | Central Midlands League Premier Division | 12 | 14th/16 | – | – | – | |
| 2010–11 | Central Midlands League Premier Division | 12 | 6th/15 | – | – | – | |
| 2011–12 | Central Midlands League North Division | 11 | 9th/17 | – | – | – | |
| 2012–13 | Central Midlands League North Division | 11 | 8th/17 | – | – | – | Transferred |
| 2013–14 | Sheffield & Hallamshire County Senior League Division 2 | 13 | 12th/13 | – | – | – | |
| 2014–15 | Sheffield & Hallamshire County Senior League Division 2 | 13 | 10th/13 | – | – | – | |
| 2015–16 | Sheffield & Hallamshire County Senior League Division 2 | 13 | 8th/11 | – | – | – | |
| 2016–17 | Sheffield & Hallamshire County Senior League Division 2 | 13 | 3rd/12 | – | – | – | Promoted |
| 2017–18 | Sheffield & Hallamshire County Senior League Division 1 | 12 | 4th/12 | – | – | – | |
| 2018–19 | Sheffield & Hallamshire County Senior League Division 1 | 12 | 6th/13 | – | – | – | |
| 2019–20 | Sheffield & Hallamshire County Senior League Division 1 | 12 | – | – | – | – | Season abandoned due to COVID-19 pandemic |
| 2020–21 | Sheffield & Hallamshire County Senior League Division 1 | 12 | – | – | – | – | Season abandoned due to COVID-19 pandemic |
| 2021–22 | Sheffield & Hallamshire County Senior League Division 1 | 12 | 6th/14 | – | – | – | |
| 2022–23 | Sheffield & Hallamshire County Senior League Division 1 | 12 | 5th/13 | – | – | – | |
| 2023–24 | Sheffield & Hallamshire County Senior League Division 1 | 12 | 7th/12 | – | – | – | |
| 2024–25 | Sheffield & Hallamshire County Senior League Division 1 | 12 | 1st/13 | – | – | – | Promoted |
| Season | Division | Level | Position | FA Cup | FA Amateur Cup | FA Vase | Notes |
| Source:Football Club History Database | |||||||
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Kiveton's most famous sons,Harry andHerbert Chapman, played for the club before going onto greater things – Harry became aSheffield Wednesday legend while Herbert went on to become one of the most successful managers of all time. In 2004 theSunday Times voted Herbert the greatest British manager ever,[20] and in 2014 the club featured prominently inPatrick Barclay's book – The Life and Times of Herbert Chapman. Barclay wrote: "Kiveton Park could claim to have been a cradle of two revolutions, one industrial and the other sporting, and beyond question it is the birthplace of at least one great man, widely considered the father of football as we have come to know it."[21]
Although Harry Chapman could claim to be the best player to hail from the village, he never won an international cap – although another Kivetonian did.Bert Morley played forEngland against Ireland in 1910, just six years after leaving his local football team.
In 1940, Empire News reported that,pro rata, the village had turned out more professional football players than anywhere in England apart from the Shropshire town ofOakengates.[22]
The club's first home was a ground nearKiveton Park station later known as the Unbrako ground, and they also played at Wales Cricket Club (which was relocated to make room for theM1 motorway in 1960).
The club moved to a ground on Hard Lane just before theFirst World War. Initially Park played on the pitch nearest the road, but in the early 1960s a new pitch was laid out on an adjoining piece of land, and a stand was built in 1967 to hold 200 seated spectators.[23]
After over a century at the ground, Kiveton left Hard Lane in 2017 to play on the grounds ofWales High School, and in 2022 a new floodlit artificial playing surface was opened. The grass pitches at the school were prone to waterlogging, and in 2024 the club moved its senior section back to Hard Lane[24]
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53°20′23″N1°15′30″W / 53.33977°N 1.25845°W /53.33977; -1.25845
