Rotherham Town
Formed 1870
Elected to Division Two 1893. Resigned 1896.
Kit History
1884-1885 (a)
1891-1892 (a)
1894-1896 (b)
1900-1903 (a)
1905-1906 (a)
1908-1914 (a)
Background
In 1870 Rotherham FC was formed. The club first entered the English Cup (now known as the FA Cup) in 1884, losing 0-5 to Nottingham Forest. Sometime later the club became Rotherham Town and joined the Midland League.
In 1893 the Football League decided to expand the Second Division from 12 to 16 clubs. Town, as champions of the Midlands League for two seasons in a row were elected to one of the four vacant places. The club found it a struggle and had to seek re-election at the end of their first season. In 1896 Town again finished in the bottom three but this time they did not bother to apply for re-election and left the League. Shortly afterwards the club was wound up.
In 1900 the club was reborn as Rotherham FC and joined the Midland League alongside their great local rivals, Rotherham County. While County's fortunes improved, Rotherham (who reverted to the name Rotherham Town around 1905) went into relative decline. In 1919 County were elected to the Football League but they struggled to survive and in May 1925 the two clubs merged to form Rotherham United.
Sources
- (a) Rotherham United FC (Images of Sport: G Somerton & C Robinson)
- (f) Association of Football Statisticians - provided by Pete Wyatt