Settle Football Club was founded in 1884 and our team played their first football games at the ground we play at today, Bridge End. The ground is seen by many as one of the most awe-inspiring and beautiful there are in the United Kingdom; the River Ribble curves it’s way around the pitch and we have a picturesque backdrop to the pitch with the Settle to Carlisle railway line overlooking us, as well as the rolling hills of the Yorkshire Dales (Settle Loop walk) too.

Interestingly, from the collection of photos and memorabilia we have within the club and its members, our sides actually wore the same colour kits we wear today with black and amber featuring prominently. If you would like to see some photographs, programmes and other memorabilia, please click here to view “Our History Gallery”.

How many teams did Settle Association Football Club first have?

A fixture card and programme for 1884-85 shows that we had 2 teams playing and in order to play competitively, our teams had to travel far and wide. Records show that we had fixtures against Knightley in Staffordshire (c. 250+ mile round-trip) to Sedbergh (c. 50+ mile round-trip).

How did Settle Association Football Club players travel to their matches?

We must assume all travelling was undertaken on the railway. Whilst our 1st team had several fixtures in this season, our 2nd team programme had only three teams, so it was a much shorter season for the players.

1930–31 Season & Cup Competitions

Settle AFC finished runners-up in the 1930-31 final of the Morrison Motor Ambulance Cup Competition (Morrison Cup) and each player received medals, something which was actually quite rare back in those days.

When did you become Settle United Association Football Club?

There was a short break in the club’s history from around 1931 to 1933 and from 1933, the club changed its name to what we are called today, Settle United Association Football Club. The teams played their games on Infield Lane and the team changing rooms were actually at the Commercial Street Fire Station where the only other occupant was a hand operated fire tender.

When did you first win silverware at the club?

Although we are confident that Settle United AFC will have won more trophies prior to this point, our first record of silverware was won by Settle United AFC in 1934-35 where we won the Craven League Cup, the Craven Challenge Cup and the League Knockout Cup. The treble winning season didn’t go unnoticed and due to their achievements, the player’s had a team photograph included in a set of cards produced and given away in packets of Ardath King cigarettes (Price = 10x for 6d).

Have Settle United AFC always played in the Craven Leagues?

No, Settle United AFC left the Craven League in 1935 and joined the North Lancashire (North Lancs) Leagues to compete in the 1935-36 season. Despite playing over the border in Lancashire that season, we were still hugely successful in Craven and won the Skipton Hospital Cup.

Whilst predominantly playing in the Craven Leagues throughout our history, we have played in the North Lancashire (North Lancs) & East Lancashire (East Lancs) Football Leagues.

1933-37 & 1937-38 Season & Cup Competitions

In the 1936-37 season, Settle United AFC were crowned Champions of the Craven Cup. We completed the double of this prestigious cup the following year, winning again in 1937-38. The Craven Football Association President then was Mr. W Morrison and it was he that donated the trophy (now known as The Morrison Cup) which many of you in Craven will know about as it is still used and played for today in the Craven area.

What happened to Settle United AFC after the War?

During the war, understandably there were many years that the club just couldn’t play football for. However, shortly after the War, the club reformed and we played on many fields across Settle. The players claim that they have actually changed in every pub in Settle except The Royal Oak. Whilst we can’t confirm, we hope that they didn’t enjoy a pre-game tipple!

1949-50 Season & Cup Competitions

In the 1949-50 season, we introduced 2 teams into the Craven Leagues and were runners-up in the Craven Division 1 league that season.

1950-51 Season & Cup Competitions

In 1950-51, Settle United AFC returned to the North Lancs League Division 4 and were crowned Champions in that season. We then moved up to play in the Division 3 for the 1951-52 season, securing a runners-up place and proudly achieving back-back promotions to Division 2.

We like to challenge ourselves and our teams and by the start of the 1954-55 season, we returned back into the Craven Leagues (it’s not the last time we moved…).

How did the club make money during this time?

The Club printed a team programme each year in small booklet form. The 1965-66 booklet cost the players 1/- per week (which also covered insurances) and this remained the same price for around 10 years with prices increasing to 2/- per week in around 1967. This money helped the club pay for essential items such as kits, balls etc.

When was the first Youth Team introduced at Settle United AFC?

In 1966, Settle United AFC started a Minor team in the Craven Sunday Under 17 League. This was a hugely successful move and we won many titles with this strong youth team. Please see some of their achievements below:

• Craven League Champions: 1971-72
• Craven Minor Cup Champions: 1973-74 & 1974-75
• Minor League Cup Champions: 1974-75

1970s

We hope you agree when we say the Settle United Association Football Club have got lots of history and stories to share. We have been a very successful football club in the Craven area for centuries and this is something everyone who is associated with the club is extremely proud of.

The 1st team were crowned Champions of Craven, winning the Premier League Cup winners in 1971-72 and again in 1974-75. Our reserve side also won the Craven Division 3 League 1973-74 and in the same period, we also won the Jeff Hall Trophy in the Keighley Sunday Alliance.

Who are club legends at Settle United AFC?

There are many players and people associated to Settle United AFC past and present that are worth mentioning here so if you would like to feature yourself or someone else, please let us know and we’ll include it.

Basil Oliver was the most prolific goal scorer in the area in the 1970’s and he managed to score 60 goals in one season for Settle United AFC.

Alan Dinsdale was a stalwart former player and official of the club who saddly passed away at the age of 75 in 2017. Alan started playing for the club in 1956 when he was 14 and was a club member for more than 50 years. He was also a trustee and a life member of the club and will be always be sadly missed by all who he knew.

Keith Walker & Roger Worthington are also big legends of Settle United AFC and in 2018, they were both commemorated by the West Riding County FA for their services to football in our area. The club would like to pass on their genuine thanks for everything you do and provide for us.

Ian “Gimmer” Wildman is another club legend, a former player at Preston North End who has served our club superbly well over the last 20+ years too. Ian was a key figure from around 1986-90 where we won many titles and trophies.

David “Worthy” Worthington has played for almost 28 years and still represents our 1st team at the age of 42. He has an outstanding record with us. David managed the 1st team for 6 years until the 2020/21 season and won an outstanding 6 titles during his reign as manager. Read more about this here.

We love hearing about former players of Settle United AFC, so if you know of any interesting stories of family, friends and locals from the Settle area who represented the club and would like to feature them here, please let us know.

1980s

Again, the 1980s proved a successful period for the club. We won four trophies during the 1986-87 season; Craven Division 1 Champions, Craven League Cup Champions, TAP Trophy Champions and the 2nd team were crowned Division 3 Champions.

The club were also confirmed as Craven Cup winners in 1989.

1990s

Settle United AFC won the Morrison Cup in 1991 and 1996.

In 1993-94 Settle United AFC joined the East Lancs League, gaining promotion from Division 2 in our first season. The 2nd team were Reserve Division Champions in 1997-98.

When did Settle United AFC re-join the Craven League?

In 2013-14 Settle United AFC again re-joined the Craven Leagues, gaining promotion from Division 1to the Premier league in its first season. In that same season, the club claimed arguably its most prestigious trophy as Settle won the West Riding County Challenge Cup.

The following year (2014-15), our 1st team were crowned Premier League Champions, Premier Cup winners and Northern Plant Hire Cup winners.

The 2015-16 season saw both the first and reserve teams perform strongly in their respective leagues and the first team came very close to winning the Craven Cup for the first time since 1989.

The 2016-17 was very successful on the pitch with both the First and Second Teams winning their respective leagues and the third team with a very strong mid-table performance in their first season.

It was a season that brought more success as Settle United clinched an iconic double by retaining the Craven Premier League title and clinching the much sought after Craven FA Cup for the first time since 1989.

What is the most successful season the football club has ever had?

The 2018/19 season was described by Chairman Adrian Corns as “undoubtedly the Club’s most successful season in its 85+ year history”.

The first team bettered their previous seasons efforts by retaining both the Craven Premier League title and Craven FA Cup whilst also claiming the Craven Premier League Cup to secure an unprecedented treble.

The reserve team were runners-up in the Norman Pratt Cup and their respective league cup and finished 3rd in Division 1 making them the highest placed reserve team in the Craven Football League pyramid. The 3rd team secured promotion to top-off an outstanding season for Settle United Association Football Club.

Who are members of Settle United AFC?

The club has been most fortunate in the loyalty of its members over the years.

Norman Pratt was, for over 50 years, a Settle United AFC player, team manager, groundsman, chairman and president. In addition, he served on the Craven FA for many years. In recognition of this dedication to local football the Craven FA introduced the Norman Pratt Trophy, a competition between reserve teams in the Craven area every season. Settle 2nd team won the trophy in 1995-96.

A history of the club would be incomplete without a word of appreciation to the committee members who guided the club through the very difficult period when we purchased the our Bridge End ground, created the junior pitch, built the kitchen and showers and put up the training floodlights.

A big thank you to Roger Worthington and Bernard Smith (lifetime members) for kindly providing this history of Settle United AFC together with many of the historical photographs and memorabilia that appear on our site.

If you would like to learn more about our historical and unbelievably well-run club then get in touch. We are sure that Roger would love to chat you to whilst watching a game down at Bridge End or over a beer in the Social Club.

If you have any updates or information that you would like to include on our club site, please get in touch.

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