Clipstone F.C

Clipstone FC began life under the name of Clipstone Combine, they then became Clipstone Welfare in 1955. In 1955/56 they won the treble of Spartan League Champions, League Cup Winners and Notts County F.A. With promotion they left their ground at Baulker Lane and moved to a new ground which has remained their home to the present day...“The Lido Ground". Clipstone had great success throughout the

1970s, but particularly the early 70’s. They claimed their league’s top spot three times in a row in 1972/73, 1973/74 and 1974/75. They also went onto win the Notts Alliance Cup in those same seasons. They began entering the FA Vase in 1974, reaching the second round in their first season. The success of the early 1970s ended and the next trophy Clipstone won was a rather famous one... The Nottinghamshire FA Senior Cup in 1985/86. We again won back-to-back league titles in 1992/93 and 1993/94, before moving up to the Central Midlands League. In 1994/95 they won the league’s Premier Division and after winning it for a second time in 1996/97, were promoted to the Supreme Division. In 2009/10 they won the league’s Floodlit Cup competition. The League was re-organised at the start of the 2011/12 season and Clipstone was placed in the South Division. That season, Clipstone applied to be elevated to the Northern Counties League and got that promotion despite finishing in fourth place. The club dropped the “Welfare” part of it’s name in summer 2013 to become simply Clipstone F.C. By this time they were also known by the nickname of “The Cobras”. In May 2013 the club announced a new multi-season sponsorship deal with local painting and decorating contractors Riley & Co (Mansfield) Ltd, with them becoming not only the main club sponsor but home and away shirt sponsors as well for the duration of the sponsorship. The 2014/15 season saw Chris Millington appointed as First Team Manager. It was a very successful season with the team winning the NCEL league One title and gaining promotion to the NCEL Premier Division. The Cobras also competed in the FA Cup for the first time in their history reaching the First Qualifying round where they lost to Grantham Town. They also reached the final of the Nottinghamshire FA Senior Cup for the first time since winning it in 1985/86 but lost 3-5 to Basford United in an entertaining game at Mansfield Town FC. For the 2019/20 season new manager and former Chesterfield FC professional Dave Hoole, supported by Dale Spragg and Malc Siddall, brought new optimism and a squad of mainly talented young players with a few older heads. They were just beginning to find their feet at step 6 level and were in 15th place before the season was cancelled in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. It is hoped that the nucleus of the squad will remain with the club for the 2020/21 season and former Selston player Josh Waldram has come in to strengthen the coaching staff. The Cobras are also looking to the future and initially played an Under 21 side for the period 2017-19. As this failed to produce the expected pathway for young players into first team football, the club has chosen instead to run an Under 18 team for the 2020/21 season.