Holbrook Miners Welfare

General information

Formed in 1931 the club uses the former facilities of the Holbrook Miners Welfare as it headquarters, the previous tenants, Holbrook Miners Welfare F.C. disbanded at the end of the 1995/96 season after many years of playing in the various local leagues.

On forming the club a decision was made by the committee to join a league that could offer the players the highest standard of football in the area and were accepted into the Central Midlands League.

In the 1999/00 season the Brookies showed great determination by going on to win the Premiership Championship. During the season the members of the club erected a stand to ensure that a promotion spot to the CMFL Supreme division could be secured.

The teams first season in the CMFL Supreme division saw the team finish a respectable 11th and twice during the during the season the crowds at Shaw Lane topped the three figure barrier, for the visits of Heanor Town and Matlock Town in the Derbyshire Senior Cup.

Over the next 3 seasons the first team and reserves established themselves in their respective divisions, the reserves winning the league cup beating a strong Shirebrook side with a late penalty.

In the season 2007/08 the floodlit cup saw the club beat Southwell on penalties to be crowned champions. The good news continued when the club were granted promotion to the new East Midlands Counties League.

The clubs first season at Step 6 in the EMCL saw the team have a fantastic season finishing 3rd but were in contention for silverware right down to the last game of the season. The club also made the league cup final and were beaten 1-0 by Borrowash Vics.

At the start of the 2010/11 season, saw Holbrook Sports most notable season. The Brookies finish 6th in the league and completed the second consecutive FA Cup victory against Northern Premier League neighbours Belper Town, but also reaching the last 16 of the FA Vase before eventually losing out to runners up Coalville Town cruelly after extra time. A nine game expedition which included last minute goals, replays, jubilance, tears and eventually broken hearts.

The next two seasons saw the Brookies reach the last 32 and 64 of the FA Vase. Also the Reserve side won the League Cup for a second time in its history with many young players making the step up to first team football.

The Brookies also won the Belper Nursing Charity Cup for the first time in 14 years something they have achieved 3 times in the last 5 years.

Currently, behind the scenes, the club is still movng forward and concentrating on major ground improvements, with funding and planning permission approved to build a new £250,000 clubhouse and changing room facility behind the Shaw Lane End goal. Initial timescales looking like being completed for the end of 2016/17 season.