Club History

The 1908-09 season saw Steeton’s first properly organised soccer team. Steeton Church Lads Brigade appeared in the Keighley & District League. Before that time there were dozens of ‘scratch’ or one-off teams in the district experimenting with the game and no doubt several in the Steeton area. One, named Steeton FC, played a team from Haworth in November 1905 and won 5-0 but this side was short-lived.

For the 1909-10 season Steeton Church Lads Brigade continued in the Keighley League (finishing 3rd in the first division). There was also a new Steeton FC in the same division. It is probable that this new side was formed from the village rugby team Steeton Wesleyans FC also played in the 2nd division of the Keighley League this season, where they finished bottom.

For the 1910-11 season only Steeton FC existed. The other two sides in the village were said to have become defunct but it is likely there was some kind of merger between all three clubs, creating a strong village side that was independent from the rugby club. The fact that there was a reserve team this season suggests further that a merger had taken place. The final of the prestigious Keighley Charity Cup was reached for the first time. Steeton lost 1-5 to a very strong Keighley Celtic.

The club plied its trade in the Keighley and District League until the early 1960’s when the club made the move to the Craven League. The late 1960s saw the club move from The Oaks to Summerhill Lane as the Oaks was part of a rebuild in the area that included Airedale Hospital and a new housing estate. With Jack Fortune a driving force behind the club’s move to Summerhill Lane.

When Jez Fay took over an ailing side towards the end of the 1999-2000 season, Steeton were struggling in the third tier of the West Riding League. Fay’s appointment proved a sound one as within 12 months they were Division Two champions, on goal difference from Rawdon Old Boys. Not only that, but the side reached the semi-final of the recently introduced West Riding County Trophy, going out only to eventual winners Carlton Athletic reserves.

The 2001-02 season saw both heartbreak and glory. By the end of the season, Steeton were just a point away from becoming Division One champions, yet they were still deprived a second successive promotion as Bay Athletic edged runners-up spot on goal difference. Steeton were among the favourites to win the County Trophy, and progress was this time made to the final where they met County Amateur Division, Two runners-up, Hunsworth. In a dramatic game, Steeton trailed by two goals early on before fighting back winning the trophy thanks to a late winner from Steven Barker.

he 2019/20 season saw club stalwart Albert Bates move up to club President and Pete Jeffrey taking over as club chairman. On the field, the team embarked on its second season at this level playing at Cougar Park. A tough season for the team on the field which was eventually interrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The 20/21 season marked a new era with the move to our new home at Marley Stadium in Keighley and plans to grow both the senior football side and our junior set-up. In 2021/22 the club finished in its highest ever position in the NWC.

West Riding County FA Trophy Winners 2001-02
Craven & District League Winners 1959-60
Craven & District Premier League Cup Runners Up 1973-74, 1983-84
TAP Cup Winners 1984-85
Keighley & District League Winners 1937-38, 1938-39, 1954-55
Victory Shield Runners Up 1954-55
Keighley Charity Cup
Winners 1936-37, 1937-38, 1938-39
Runners Up 1910-11, 1919-20, 1926-27,1935-36
Keighley & District FA Challenge Cup
Winners 1988-89, 1992-93, 2010-11,2012-13
Runners Up 1912-13, 1926-27, 1934-35, 1936-37. 1955-56, 1977-78, 1991-92, 1993-94, 2001-02, 2005-06, 2008-09
Keighley & District FA Supplementary Cup
Winners 2007-08, 2008-09, 2011-12
Runners Up 1975-76, 2003-04, 2004-05, 2009-10, 2012-13
Keighley & District FA Youth Cup Winners 1974-75
Liam Daley U12s Trophy Winners 2008-09