SOUTH NORMANTON ATHLETIC FC

The nickname ‘Shiners’ derives from the mid-1750s when South Normanton was at the heart of the ribbed stocking industry. The people involved in this craft worked long hours sitting at their windows on wooden stools, so much so that the backsides of their trousers became very shiny making them instantly recognisable as coming from the South Normanton area, since then local people have been referred to as ‘Shiners’. The club was originally known as South Normanton Miners Welfare & played under that name until 1990. Under the new name South Normanton Athletic joined the Central Midlands League in the 1990–91 season. The club’s first major success came in the 1993–94 season when they finished runners up in the Premier Division. This gained them promotion to the Supreme Division. The club made their first entry into the FA Vase in the 1994–95 season. In the 1996–97 season the old changing rooms were destroyed by fire. The club’s future lay in the balance and with limited time, available members of the committee virtually worked round the clock to convert a derelict building into suitable changing rooms, which at the time were intended to be for a temporary period only the leagues deadline for completion was accomplished with little time to spare. At the end of the 1996–97 season, the club was relegated due to the 3-year flood light installation rule not being met; funds set aside to complete this project had been spent in establishing new changing rooms. The floodlights were completed in 1998, and the club was reinstated back into the supreme division. The team’s best position being 3rd which was a promotion place. The club was promoted to the NCEL for the start of the 2003–04 season where they played until the club decided to fold at the end of the 2007–08 season due to an ageing committee & no new blood coming to the club. The club reformed with a new committee under the chairmanship of Phil Bailey, with new management & players. Despite 5 seasons of promise, the dream of promotion could not be realised despite numerous top 3 finishes. 2013 brought the summer appointment of former Borrowash Victoria manager Mark Wilson to the club. The team started strongly with 10 victories and 2 draws from the first twelve games, before a winter of weather postponements brought an abrupt end to the form. Victories became harder to come by in the New Year, & a run of one win in eight threatened to derail the promotion dream. However, Wilson steered the team to a strong run in & a runners-up finish. This was enough to guarantee a promotion to Step 6 East Midlands Counties League for the first time since the club’s re-formation. After finishing 2nd in the 2016–17 season they were promoted to the Midland League Premier Division after champions West Bridgford refused promotion. On 6 April 2020, South Normanton Athletic announced that they had resigned from the Midland Football League. For the 2020/2021 season, SNAFC successfully applied and resumed their status at Step 7 football in the Central Midlands Premier League & reinstated a reserves team playing the Central Midlands Division 1. Before the start of the 2023/24 season saw the club receive a fresh & much needed injection of funds & help with new committee members coming on board to help steer the club back in the right direction. With huge amounts of ground improvements taking place, the season looked bright along with a fresh management team & squad coming in too. The season took shape well pushing our near rivals Pinxton all the way however finding ourselves missing out on the league title & promotion by 2 points. Last season 2024/25 we achieved our first double in the club’s history winning the CMAL South League title & also the Abacus Floodlit Cup in what was a remarkable season seeing us lose only 4 games all year. After missing out on promotion the previous season 2023/24 by 2 points, we got over the line this time round securing promotion to The United Counties League Division 1 (Step 6) for 2025/26 as we look forward to a new challenge with optimism to see what this season brings.

Admissions: Adults – £5 Concessions – £3 U16’s – Free

Programme: £2

Directions:

The Transcare Arena, Lees Lane, South Normanton, DE55 2AD

From the M1 junction 28, head towards South Normanton B6019 Mansfield Road, turn right at the mini roundabout (Shell Petrol Station) and go down Market Street for half a mile and turn left onto Shiners Way taking an immediate left again onto Lees Lane and follow the road. The football club is right down at the bottom of Lees Lane where a big car park will open up in front of you.

Nearest Train Station: Alfreton Train Station, Mansfield Road, Alfreton, Derbyshire DE55 7JQ

Parking: On site car park at the ground also overflow car park is at The Hub Centre.

Refreshments:

Soft Drinks – Coke, Diet Coke, Lemonade, Tango, Energy Drink, Bottled Water.

Draught – Carling, San Miguel, Amstel, Inch’s, Cruzcampo, Guinness

Bottles – Kopparberg Mixed Fruits, Strawberry & Lime, Desperado’s, Thatcher’s Blood Orange, VK Ice, Doom Bar, John Smiths

Spirits – Vodka, Rum, Gin, Jägermeister, Tequila Rose

2014/15 East Midlands Counties League Cup Winners

2024/25 Central Midlands Alliance League Premier South Division Champions

2024/25 Abacus Lighting Floodlit Cup Winners

FA Cup 1^st Qualifying Round 2005/06 & 2019/20

FA Vase 4^th Round 2019/20