# Penistone Church F.C.

Penistone Church Football Club is an English football club based in Penistone, Barnsley, South Yorkshire. They play in the Northern Counties East League Premier Division, at level 9 of the English football league system.
In 1909 they were the first winners of the Sheffield & Hallamshire Junior Cup, winning the cup again in 1937.
In 1948 they were the first ever opponents of Sheffield Wednesday's youth team, in a Hatchard League fixture. When the Hatchard League merged with the Sheffield Association League, Penistone were founder members of the new Sheffield & Hallamshire County Senior League. They first reached the Premier Division in 1995 and were something of a yo-yo club during the 1990s, flitting between the Premier Division and Division One on numerous occasions.
They finished as Premier Division runners-up in 2003 but would later spend yet another year in Division One after relegation in 2007. They finally established themselves as one of the top sides in the league during the early 2010s, and in 2014 they were promoted to the Northern Counties East League Division One, having made their FA Vase debut against Rossington Main in 2013.
In 2016 they qualified for the inaugural Division One play-offs, but missed out on promotion to the Premier Division after losing their semi-final against AFC Emley, but a year later they beat the same opponents in a semi-final re-match before going on to beat Grimsby Borough in the final to win promotion to the Premier Division.
The club reached the final of the Sheffield & Hallamshire Senior Cup for the first time in 2018, losing 3–4 to Shaw Lane at Bramall Lane. The following season, Penistone only narrowly missed out on the NCEL Premier Division title, being pipped at the end by Worksop Town

## Season-by-season record

| Season | Division | Level | Position | FA Cup | FA Amateur Cup | FA Vase | Notes |
| 1906–07 | Sheffield Junior League | - | | - | - | - |
| 1907–08 | Sheffield Amateur League | - | 3rd/16 | - | - | - |
| 1908–09 | Sheffield Amateur League | - | 1st/13 | - | - | - | League champions (won play-off) |
| 1909–10 | Sheffield Amateur League | - | | - | - | - |
| 1910–11 | Sheffield Amateur League | - | | - | - | - | League champions (won play-off) |
| 1911–12 | Sheffield Amateur League | - | 2nd/12 | - | - | - |
| 1912–13 | Sheffield Amateur League | - | 2nd/13 | - | - | - |
| 1913–14 | Sheffield Amateur League | - | 4th/11 | - | - | - |
| 1914–15 | Sheffield Amateur League | - | | - | - | - |
| 1915–16 | Club did not enter any competitions due to World War I | Club did not enter any competitions due to World War I | Club did not enter any competitions due to World War I | Club did not enter any competitions due to World War I | Club did not enter any competitions due to World War I | Club did not enter any competitions due to World War I | Club did not enter any competitions due to World War I |
| 1916–17 | Club did not enter any competitions due to World War I | Club did not enter any competitions due to World War I | Club did not enter any competitions due to World War I | Club did not enter any competitions due to World War I | Club did not enter any competitions due to World War I | Club did not enter any competitions due to World War I | Club did not enter any competitions due to World War I |
| 1917–18 | Club did not enter any competitions due to World War I | Club did not enter any competitions due to World War I | Club did not enter any competitions due to World War I | Club did not enter any competitions due to World War I | Club did not enter any competitions due to World War I | Club did not enter any competitions due to World War I | Club did not enter any competitions due to World War I |
| 1918–19 | Club did not enter any competitions due to World War I | Club did not enter any competitions due to World War I | Club did not enter any competitions due to World War I | Club did not enter any competitions due to World War I | Club did not enter any competitions due to World War I | Club did not enter any competitions due to World War I | Club did not enter any competitions due to World War I |
| 1919–20 | Sheffield Amateur League | - | | - | - | - |
| 1920–21 | Sheffield Amateur League | - | | - | - | - |
| 1921–22 | Sheffield Amateur League | - | 7th/11 | - | - | - |
| 1922–23 | Sheffield Amateur League | - | | - | - | - |
| 1923–24 | Sheffield Amateur League | - | 13th/14 | - | - | - |
| 1924–25 | Penistone & District League | - | | - | - | - |
| 1925–26 | Sheffield Amateur League | - | | - | - | - |
| 1926–27 | Sheffield Amateur League | - | | - | - | - |
| 1927–28 | Sheffield Amateur League | - | | - | - | - |
| 1928–29 | Sheffield Amateur League | - | 8th/11 | - | - | - |
| 1929–30 | Sheffield Amateur League | - | 1st/10 | - | - | - | Lost league play-off |
| 1930–31 | Sheffield Amateur League | - | | - | - | - |
| 1931–32 | Sheffield Amateur League | - | 3rd/13 | - | - | - |
| 1932–33 | Sheffield Amateur League | - | 9th/11 | - | - | - |
| 1933–34 | Sheffield Amateur League | - | 12th/14 | - | - | - |
| 1934–35 | Sheffield Amateur League | - | 7th/11 | - | - | - |
| 1935–36 | Sheffield Amateur League | - | 15th/15 | - | - | - |
| 1936–37 | Sheffield Amateur League | - | 4th/10 | - | - | - |
| 1937–38 | Sheffield Amateur League | - | 8th/11 | - | - | - |
| 1938–39 | Sheffield Amateur League | - | | - | - | - |
| 1939–40 | Club did not enter any competitions due to World War II | Club did not enter any competitions due to World War II | Club did not enter any competitions due to World War II | Club did not enter any competitions due to World War II | Club did not enter any competitions due to World War II | Club did not enter any competitions due to World War II | Club did not enter any competitions due to World War II |
| 1940–41 | Club did not enter any competitions due to World War II | Club did not enter any competitions due to World War II | Club did not enter any competitions due to World War II | Club did not enter any competitions due to World War II | Club did not enter any competitions due to World War II | Club did not enter any competitions due to World War II | Club did not enter any competitions due to World War II |
| 1941–42 | Club did not enter any competitions due to World War II | Club did not enter any competitions due to World War II | Club did not enter any competitions due to World War II | Club did not enter any competitions due to World War II | Club did not enter any competitions due to World War II | Club did not enter any competitions due to World War II | Club did not enter any competitions due to World War II |
| 1942–43 | Club did not enter any competitions due to World War II | Club did not enter any competitions due to World War II | Club did not enter any competitions due to World War II | Club did not enter any competitions due to World War II | Club did not enter any competitions due to World War II | Club did not enter any competitions due to World War II | Club did not enter any competitions due to World War II |
| 1943–44 | Club did not enter any competitions due to World War II | Club did not enter any competitions due to World War II | Club did not enter any competitions due to World War II | Club did not enter any competitions due to World War II | Club did not enter any competitions due to World War II | Club did not enter any competitions due to World War II | Club did not enter any competitions due to World War II |
| 1944–45 | Club did not enter any competitions due to World War II | Club did not enter any competitions due to World War II | Club did not enter any competitions due to World War II | Club did not enter any competitions due to World War II | Club did not enter any competitions due to World War II | Club did not enter any competitions due to World War II | Club did not enter any competitions due to World War II |
| 1945–46 | Club did not enter any competitions due to World War II | Club did not enter any competitions due to World War II | Club did not enter any competitions due to World War II | Club did not enter any competitions due to World War II | Club did not enter any competitions due to World War II | Club did not enter any competitions due to World War II | Club did not enter any competitions due to World War II |
| 1946–47 | Sheffield Amateur League | - | | - | - | - |
| 1947–48 | Sheffield Amateur League | - | | - | - | - |
| 1948–49 | Hatchard League | - | | - | PR | - |
| 1949–50 | Hatchard League | - | | - | 1QR | - |
| 1950–51 | Hatchard League | - | 1st | - | PR | - | League champions |
| 1951–52 | Hatchard League | - | | - | 2QR | - |
| 1952–53 | Hatchard League | - | 5th/14 | - | 1QR | - |
| 1953–54 | Hatchard League | - | | - | 1QR | - |
| 1954–55 | Hatchard League | - | | - | PR | - |
| 1955–56 | Hatchard League | - | | - | PR | - |
| 1956–57 | Hatchard League | - | 9th/16 | - | 1QR | - |
| 1957–58 | Hatchard League | - | | - | EPR | - |
| 1958–59 | Hatchard League | - | | - | PR | - |
| 1959–60 | Hatchard League | - | 2nd/16 | - | 1QR | - |
| 1960–61 | Hatchard League | - | 1st/15 | - | 2QR | - | League champions |
| 1961–62 | Hatchard League | - | 5th/16 | - | PR | - |
| 1962–63 | Sheffield Association League Division Two | - | 1st/13 | - | PR | - | League champions, promoted |
| 1963–64 | Sheffield Association League Division One | - | 4th/16 | - | 1QR | - |
| 1964–65 | Sheffield Association League Division One | - | | - | - | - |
| 1965–66 | Sheffield Association League Division One | - | | - | - | - |
| 1966–67 | Sheffield Association League Division One | - | 5th/18 | - | - | - |
| 1967–68 | Sheffield Association League Division One | - | | - | - | - |
| 1968–69 | Sheffield Association League Division One | - | | - | - | - |
| 1969–70 | Sheffield Association League Division One | - | | - | - | - |
| 1970–71 | Sheffield Association League Division One | - | | - | - | - |
| 1971–72 | Sheffield Association League Division One | - | | - | - | - Ian Richardson was born!!! |
| 1972–73 | Sheffield Association League Division One | - | 9th/16 | - | - | - |
| 1973–74 | Sheffield Association League Division One | - | | - | - | - | Relegated |
| 1974–75 | Sheffield Association League Division Two | - | | - | - | - |
| 1975–76 | Sheffield Association League Division Two | - | 8th/16 | - | - | - |
| 1976–77 | Sheffield Association League Division Two | - | 6th/14 | - | - | - |
| 1977–78 | Sheffield Association League Division Two | - | | - | - | - | Promoted |
| 1978–79 | Sheffield Association League Division One | - | 13th/16 | - | - | - |
| 1979–80 | Sheffield Association League Division One | - | | - | - | - | Relegated |
| 1980–81 | Sheffield Association League Division Two | - | | - | - | - |
| 1981–82 | Sheffield Association League Division Two | - | | - | - | - | Promoted |
| 1982–83 | Sheffield Association League Division One | - | | - | - | - |
| 1983–84 | Sheffield & Hallamshire County Senior League Premier Division | - | 14th/14 | - | - | - | Relegated |
| 1984–85 | Sheffield & Hallamshire County Senior League Division One | - | 13th/14 | - | - | - | Relegated |
| 1985–86 | Sheffield & Hallamshire County Senior League Division Two | - | 6th/13 | - | - | - |
| 1986–87 | Sheffield & Hallamshire County Senior League Division Two | - | 7th/13 | - | - | - |
| 1987–88 | Sheffield & Hallamshire County Senior League Division Two | - | 4th/13 | - | - | - |
| 1988–89 | Sheffield & Hallamshire County Senior League Division Two | - | 6th/14 | - | - | - |
| 1989–90 | Sheffield & Hallamshire County Senior League Division Two | - | 8th/14 | - | - | - |
| 1990–91 | Sheffield & Hallamshire County Senior League Division Two | - | 10th/14 | - | - | - |
| 1991–92 | Sheffield & Hallamshire County Senior League Division Two | - | 5th/10 | - | - | - | Promoted |
| 1992–93 | Sheffield & Hallamshire County Senior League Division One | - | 4th/14 | - | - | - |
| 1993–94 | Sheffield & Hallamshire County Senior League Division One | - | 1st/13 | - | - | - | League champions, promoted |
| 1994–95 | Sheffield & Hallamshire County Senior League Premier Division | - | 9th/14 | - | - | - |
| 1995–96 | Sheffield & Hallamshire County Senior League Premier Division | - | 13th/14 | - | - | - | Relegated |
| 1996–97 | Sheffield & Hallamshire County Senior League Division One | - | 3rd/13 | - | - | - | Promoted |
| 1997–98 | Sheffield & Hallamshire County Senior League Premier Division | - | 10th/14 | - | - | - |
| 1998–99 | Sheffield & Hallamshire County Senior League Premier Division | - | 12th/14 | - | - | - | Relegated |
| 1999–00 | Sheffield & Hallamshire County Senior League Division One | - | 8th/14 | - | - | - |
| 2000–01 | Sheffield & Hallamshire County Senior League Division One | - | 1st/13 | - | - | - | League champions, promoted |
| 2001–02 | Sheffield & Hallamshire County Senior League Premier Division | - | 7th/14 | - | - | - |
| 2002–03 | Sheffield & Hallamshire County Senior League Premier Division | - | 2nd/13 | - | - | - |
| 2003–04 | Sheffield & Hallamshire County Senior League Premier Division | - | 5th/14 | - | - | - |
| 2004–05 | Sheffield & Hallamshire County Senior League Premier Division | 11 | 9th/14 | - | - | - |
| 2005–06 | Sheffield & Hallamshire County Senior League Premier Division | 11 | 9th/14 | - | - | - |
| 2006–07 | Sheffield & Hallamshire County Senior League Premier Division | 11 | 13th/14 | - | - | - | Relegated |
| 2007–08 | Sheffield & Hallamshire County Senior League Division One | 12 | 2nd/13 | - | - | - | Promoted |
| 2008–09 | Sheffield & Hallamshire County Senior League Premier Division | 11 | 10th/13 | - | - | - |
| 2009–10 | Sheffield & Hallamshire County Senior League Premier Division | 11 | 7th/12 | - | - | - |
| 2010–11 | Sheffield & Hallamshire County Senior League Premier Division | 11 | 3rd/14 | - | - | - |
| 2011–12 | Sheffield & Hallamshire County Senior League Premier Division | 11 | 4th/14 | - | - | - |
| 2012–13 | Sheffield & Hallamshire County Senior League Premier Division | 11 | 3rd/15 | - | - | - |
| 2013–14 | Sheffield & Hallamshire County Senior League Premier Division | 11 | 4th/14 | - | - | 1QR | Promoted |
| 2014–15 | Northern Counties East League Division One | 10 | 9th/22 | - | - | 1QR |
| 2015–16 | Northern Counties East League Division One | 10 | 5th/21 | EPR | - | 2QR |
| 2016–17 | Northern Counties East League Division One | 10 | 6th/22 | EPR | - | 1R | Promoted (won play-off) |
| 2017–18 | Northern Counties East League Premier Division | 9 | 7th/22 | 2QR | - | 1QR |
| 2018–19 | Northern Counties East League Premier Division | 9 | 2nd/20 | PR | - | 1QR |
| 2019–20 | Northern Counties East League Premier Division | 9 | – | EPR | - | 1R | League season abandoned due to COVID-19 pandemic |
| 2020–21 | Northern Counties East League Premier Division | 9 | – | EPR | - | 2R | League season abandoned due to COVID-19 pandemic |
| 2021–22 | Northern Counties East League Premier Division | 9 | 6th/20 | EPR | - | 1QR |
| 2022–23 | Northern Counties East League Premier Division | 9 | 5th/20 | 1QR | - | 1R |
| 2023–24 | Northern Counties East League Premier Division | 9 | 6th/20 | PR | - | 1QR |
| Season | Division | Level | Position | FA Cup | FA Amateur Cup | FA Vase | Notes |
| Source: Football Club History Database ||||||||

## Notable former players

Players that have played in the Football League either before or after playing for Penistone Church:
* Harry Fearnley
* Seth King
* John Stones

## Ground

The club plays at the Memorial Ground, Church View Road, Penistone, S36 6AT.

## Records

* Best League performance: 2nd in Northern Counties East League Premier Division, 2018–19
* Best FA Amateur Cup performance: 2nd qualifying round (1951–52, 1960–61)
* Best FA Cup performance: Second qualifying round (2018–19)
* Best FA Vase performance: Second round (2020–21)
* Record attendance: 825 v Emley A.F.C., Northern Counties East League Premier Division, 2 January 2022