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'{{short description|Association football club in England}} {{Multiple issues| {{Essay-like|date=October 2023}} {{More citations needed|date=October 2023}} }} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2019}} {{Infobox football club | clubname = City of Liverpool FC | image = City_Of_Liverpool_Emblem.png | image_size = 250px | fullname = City of Liverpool Football Club | nickname = The Purps | founded = 2015 | ground = Berry Street Garage Stadium, [[Bootle]] | capacity = 1,750 | chairman = Paul Manning | manager = Paul McNally | league = [[Northern Premier League]] Division One West | season = {{English football updater|CityOfLi2}} | position = {{English football updater|CityOfLi3}} | website = http://www.colfc.co.uk/ | pattern_la1 = _shoulder_stripes_white_stripes_alt | pattern_b1 = _whitelines | pattern_ra1 = _shoulder_stripes_white_stripes_alt | pattern_sh1 = _white stripes | pattern_so1 = _band_white | leftarm1 = 5E2E92 | body1 = 5E2E92 | rightarm1 = 5E2E92 | shorts1 = 5E2E92 | socks1 = 5E2E92 | pattern_la2 = _shoulder_stripes_black_stripes_alt | pattern_b2 = _shoulder_stripes_vneck | pattern_ra2 = _shoulder_stripes_black_stripes_alt | pattern_sh2 = _black_stripes | pattern_so2 = _band_black | leftarm2 = FFCC00 | body2 = FFCC00 | rightarm2 = FFCC00 | shorts2 = FFCC00 | socks2 = FFCC00 }} '''City of Liverpool Football Club''' is an English fan-owned [[association football]] club formed in 2015 and based in [[Liverpool]], [[England]]. It is currently a member of Division One West in the [[Northern Premier League]], the eighth level of the [[English football league system]]. ==History== ===Formation and league application=== The first meeting that led to the formation of the club was proposed in October 2014 by Paul Manning; also present at that first meeting were Peter Furmedge, Martin Jones, Kevin Morland, and Nicky Allt.<ref name="formation">{{cite news|title=Revealed: Plans to create official fan-owned football club to represent Liverpool|url=http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/revealed-plans-create-official-fan-10054633|newspaper=Liverpool Echo|first=Joe|last=Thomas|date=14 September 2015|access-date=9 June 2016}}</ref> Names including "Liverpool City FC" and "Merseyside FC" were considered before the club was officially established in May 2015 as "City of Liverpool FC".<ref name="formation"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.colfc.co.uk/faq-s/|title=FAQ's|publisher=City of Liverpool FC|access-date=9 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160613125107/http://www.colfc.co.uk/faq-s|archive-date=13 June 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> The club chose to play in the colour purple due to its reputation as the "civic colour" of the city, owing to the fact that the city's two most famous football teams are [[Everton F.C.|Everton FC]], whose colour is blue, and [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool FC]], whose colour is red.<ref>{{cite news|title=City of Liverpool FC seek to give community a team of its own|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2015/oct/01/everton-liverpool-new-community-club|newspaper=The Guardian|first=Paul|last=Wilson|date=1 October 2015|access-date=9 June 2016}}</ref> Due to work commitments and other issues, Allt and Morland had left the venture by December 2014, and Stuart Fitzgerald joined the remaining three committee members in February 2015.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Lane|first=Tony|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jFboSn-r7N0C&q=liverpool+city|title=Liverpool: City of the Sea|date=1997|publisher=Liverpool University Press|isbn=978-0-85323-780-8|language=en}}</ref> The club held an open public meeting in September 2015, by which time Jones had also left the organisation. The community voted to form the club as a [[Industrial and provident society|community benefit society]] on [[Socialism|socialist]] principles and the club held its first members' meeting at Jack Jones House in [[Liverpool city centre]] in February 2016. Simon Burton, formerly of [[Runcorn Town F.C.|Runcorn Town]], was appointed as the first manager of the club in March 2016.<ref>{{cite news|title=Newly formed City of Liverpool football team appoint first manager|url=http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/newly-formed-city-liverpool-football-11105886|newspaper=Liverpool Echo|first=Andy|last=Kelly|date=29 March 2016|access-date=9 June 2016}}</ref> The club applied to join the [[North West Counties Football League]] in early 2016, but their application was rejected by the [[The Football Association|Football Association]] in May and they were instead placed in the [[Liverpool County Premier League]].<ref>{{cite news|title=NWCFL Constitution - Season 2016-17|url=http://www.nwcfl.com/news-articles.php?id=5151|publisher=NWCFL|first=Ian|last=Templeman|date=12 May 2016|access-date=9 June 2016}}</ref> They chose to take up their option to appeal against the decision, particularly in light of the league being left with a vacancy following the resignation of [[Northwich Manchester Villa F.C.|Northwich Manchester Villa]], and attended an appeal hearing at [[Wembley Stadium]] on 8 June 2016, also attended by the two remaining directors Manning and Furmedge as Fitzgerald had left the board in April 2016. The appeal was successful, allowing the club to join the First Division of the North West Counties Football League for the [[2016–17 North West Counties Football League#Division One|2016–17 season]].<ref>{{cite news|title=City of Liverpool FC Join Our League|url=http://www.nwcfl.com/news-articles.php?id=5186|publisher=NWCFL|first=Ian|last=Templeman|date=9 June 2016|access-date=9 June 2016}}</ref> ===2016–2019: North West Counties years=== The club played their first game away to [[Prestatyn Town F.C.|Prestatyn Town]] of the [[Cymru Alliance]] on 9 July 2016 in a pre-season friendly, which resulted in a 3–2 win.<ref>{{cite tweet|user=CityofLpoolFC|number=751804885302140928|date=9 July 2016|title=Final score: Prestatyn Town 2 - 3 #COLFC.}}</ref> An unbeaten start throughout August in the NWCFL inaugural season bode well for the season, until a 2–1 defeat at Daisy Hill in early September. However, a 2–1 win away to [[Whitchurch Alport F.C.|Whitchurch Alport]] in November saw the team reach the top of the league and they remained in the promotion race until late into the season.<ref>{{cite news|title=Purple haze - life on the road with City of Liverpool FC|url=http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/purple-haze-day-road-city-12197124|newspaper=Liverpool Echo|first=Paul|last=Philbin|date=18 November 2016|access-date=1 May 2017}}</ref> The club missed out on automatic promotion in the end, but secured a place in the playoffs after finishing 4th.<ref name="playoffs2017">{{cite news|title=Weekend Round Up - Saturday 29th April 2017|url=http://www.hallmarksecurityleague.com/news-articles.php?id=5951|publisher=NWCFL|first=Patrick|last=Burke|date=29 April 2017|access-date=1 May 2017}}</ref> In December 2016, the club secured a 2.5-year sponsorship agreement with local social housing provider Regenda Homes. The club reached two cup finals in their first campaign, defeating [[Widnes F.C.|Widnes]] 4–0 on aggregate to reach the final of the [[2016–17 North West Counties Football League#First Division Trophy|NWCFL First Division Challenge Cup]],<ref>{{cite news|title=Division One Preview - 18th March 2017|url=http://www.hallmarksecurityleague.com/news-articles.php?id=5828|publisher=NWCFL|first=Gary|last=Langley|date=17 March 2017|access-date=1 May 2017}}</ref> and then overturning a two-goal deficit against [[Chadderton F.C.|Chadderton]] before eventually winning a penalty shoot-out to reach the final of the [[2016–17 North West Counties Football League#League Challenge Cup|NWCFL League Challenge Cup]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Chaddy's spot-kick agony|url=http://www.oldham-chronicle.co.uk/news-features/13/local-sport-news/103168/chaddys-spotkick-agony|publisher=Oldham Evening Chronicle|first=Simon|last=Smedley|date=21 April 2017|access-date=1 May 2017}}</ref> They faced [[Sandbach United F.C.|Sandbach United]] in the First Division Challenge Cup final on 1 May 2017 in [[Runcorn]]; Jamie McDonald scored the only goal of the match, which led the club to win its first ever trophy.<ref>{{cite news|title=City of Liverpool lift the Reusch First Division Cup|url=http://www.hallmarksecurityleague.com/news-articles.php?id=5960|publisher=NWCFL|first=Ian|last=Templeman|date=1 May 2017|access-date=1 May 2017}}</ref> They defeated [[Whitchurch Alport F.C.|Whitchurch Alport]] 1–0 in the playoff semi-final and beat neighbours [[Litherland REMYCA F.C.|Litherland REMYCA]] 3–0 in the final,<ref>{{cite news|title=Remy to host the Purps in play off final|url=http://www.hallmarksecurityleague.com/news-articles.php?id=5969|publisher=NWCFL|first=Ian|last=Templeman|date=6 May 2017|access-date=8 May 2017}}</ref> also facing Premier Division side [[Barnoldswick Town F.C.|Barnoldswick Town]] in the final of the League Challenge Cup and winning the game 3–2 on penalties, despite being reduced to 10 men and subsequently 9 men after Matthew Williams was sent off in the 1st half and Kevin McEllin was sent off in the 1st period of extra time. The match finished 1–1 aet. City of Liverpool FC became only the 2nd team in the history of the North West Counties League to win the historic Cup double after Cammell Laird did the same in season 2004–05. At the NWCFL AGM held at the [[Imperial Hotel, Blackpool|Imperial Hotel]] in [[Blackpool]] on 17 June 2017, Simon Burton was awarded the title of "1st Division Manager of the Year" and Stephen Longrigg was awarded the title of "1st Division Goalkeeper of the Year". On 10 May 2017, the club was awarded the title of "Non-League Team of the Season" by bookmaker Coral.<ref>{{cite web|title=Coral Non-League Team of the Season|url=http://news.coral.co.uk/football/coral-non-league-team-of-the-year-2017|publisher=Coral}}</ref> The club held its first annual AGM in July 2017, at which the existing board of directors was voted to remain in place for a period of three years. The existing board of directors consisting of Paul Manning and Peter Furmedge had been augmented during the season by Peter Manning as club secretary and Gary Johansen as media director. At the AGM, Cathy Long was also voted onto the board. Subsequently, a member's council was formed and voted Sarah Comber as its chairman, with initially Francis Stanton and latterly Andrew Lavin elected as secretary. Upon her election, Comber took up an automatic place on the board of directors as chair of the member's council. The 2017–18 started with another trophy, beating [[Atherton Collieries F.C.|Atherton Collieries]] 4–3 on penalties after a 3–3 draw in 90 minutes, in the annual Champions Cup game between the Premier Division Champions and Challenge Cup winners. On 5 August, the club travelled away to fellow Premier Division side [[Padiham F.C.|Padiham]] for its first-ever game in the FA Cup, which City of Liverpool won. In the second preliminary round, they played [[Northern Premier League]] side [[Prescot Cables F.C.|Prescot Cables]]. After a 2–2 draw at Prescot in the first match, a new record home crowd attendance of 956 witnessed the club set the highest scoring game of the round as they defeated their opponents 8–2 to secure their place in the first qualifying round, and a home tie against [[Nantwich Town F.C.|Nantwich Town]]. On 1 September, the first FA Cup run came to an end with a deflected 95th-minute winner handing Nantwich Town a 2–1 victory in front of a record crowd of 1,022. In the [[FA Vase]], the club progressed to the 3rd round before being beaten by Stockton Town of the Northern League, who themselves went all the way to the final at [[Wembley Stadium]]. Season 2017–18 concluded with a creditable 4th place finish in the Hallmark Security league Premier Division. In June 2018, Comber resigned her position as chair of the member's council and was subsequently replaced by Paul McGrady, who was co-opted onto the main board of directors on an interim basis pending a full meeting of the supporter's council; however, following a nomination process, no other member was nominated for the role and McGrady was elected unopposed. In July 2018, the club announced that it had parted ways with manager Simon Burton by mutual consent after two years in charge. Two days later, the club announced that it had appointed veteran centre-half Craig Robinson as manager. On 14 July, the club travelled to Merthyr Town of the Southern League to play for the prestigious Supporter's Direct Shield, losing 3–1 in what was new manager Craig Robinson's first full game in charge. After an excellent debut season, Robinson led the team to its first title success, winning the North West Counties Football League Premier Division with 91 points. At various points of the season, the title seemed to be a formality, but with rivals (and landlords) Bootle FC going on an unprecedented 20-game winning run in the league, culminating in a 1–0 victory over COLFC in front of a record crowd of 1,344, the team were relegated into 2nd place in the table with just 1 game to play (having been in 1st place since 27 September 2018). A 2–0 away victory at Irlam on the last day of the season, as Bootle drew 1–1 at home with Northwich Victoria, saw the lead change hands again and City of Liverpool crowned champions. In the FA Cup, the team reached the 2nd qualifying round before losing to Chester FC of the Conference North in front of the club's record crowd of 1,834. In the FA Vase, a disappointing 0–4 away loss at Hebburn Town in front of yet another record crowd, this time 1,304, ended the club's hopes in the 1st round. Having beaten Avro FC 6–2 on aggregate in the Macron Cup Semi Finals, City of Liverpool FC met 1874 Northwich in the final on 4 May at Altrincham FC, with the club looking to become only the 4th team in NWCFL history to win the Double and separately to become also one of four teams to have won the Challenge Cup twice; however, in a dour affair, 1874 scored an 88th-minute winner. At the NWCFL AGM on 15 June, Robinson was named as Premier Division Manager of the Year. On the same day, the club was officially accepted into the Northern Premier League for the 2019–20 season. ===2019–present: Northern Premier League years=== The club's inaugural season in the Northern Premier League was largely disappointing as the club adapted to life in Step 4 of the non-League Pyramid. At the club's annual AGM, Sean Lindblad had been appointed to a place on the board of directors for "Community" and Mike Caulfield appointed as "Club Welfare Office" having been co-opted during the previous season. The NPL North West Division was considered particularly difficult as due to a re-alignment in the FA's ongoing re-structure; the makeup of the division was to include teams from the North East, making average travelling distances much greater. In the pre-season, the club once again won the NWCFL Champions Cup, inflicting revenge on 1874 Northwich with a 2–1 home win. In the FA Cup, City of Liverpool reached the first qualifying round game, playing away at Warrington Town. The game saw a 2–2 draw, sending the tie to a replay. In front of a record home crowd of 1,099, City of Liverpool were defeated 4–0. The club fared better in the Liverpool Senior Cup with a 5–1 home win (its first ever home tie in the LSC) over divisional rivals Widnes and a 2–0 win over Everton U23's securing a home semi-final draw with Landlords Bootle. In the league, a seven-match unbeaten run saw the club head the form table early in the season, but a series of heavy defeats were soon to follow as the club hovered around lower mid table. A discrepancy in a loan signing subsequently saw the club deducted six points in February, just before the entire season was scrapped due to the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequently declared null and void. Following a disappointing start to the 2020–21 season, Robinson departed as manager with the club bottom of the division, who was then replaced by Michael Ellison. However, due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], the season was curtailed early by the FA. Prior to the end of the season, City of Liverpool defeated Buxton in the [[FA Trophy]] before being eliminated 2–0 by National League North side Darlington. At the club's AGM, both Cathy Long and Gary Walthew stood down as directors. Earl Jenkins was elected unopposed. The season was one of mid-table stability with club finishing in 9th position. The season was affected by a spate of season ending injuries to key players, culminating in the club signing 55 players throughout the season. The club achieved its best FA Cup run to date, reaching the third qualifying round before being eliminated by [[Buxton F.C.|Buxton]]. On their cup run, they defeated [[National League North]] side [[Farsley Celtic F.C.|Farsley Celtic]], 3–0. The club's one season playing at Vauxhall Motors ended, with The Purps currently playing at Bootle FC's Berry Street Garage Stadium since the 2022–23 season. Michael Ellison was relieved of his duties after a defeat to Bootle and was replaced by Paul McNally. The club also brought in former [[Football League]] player [[Kevin Ellison (footballer)|Kevin Ellison]]. In the 2023–24 season, the club reached the third round of the [[FA Trophy]] for the first time after beating [[Buxton F.C.|Buxton]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fchd.info/CITY-LIV.HTM |title=City of Liverpool |website=Football Club History Database |access-date=9 December 2023}}</ref> In the third round, City of Liverpool faced a professional team for the first time in a competitive fixture, facing [[National League (division)|National League]] side [[Hartlepool United F.C.|Hartlepool United]] at home.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cityofliverpoolfc.co.uk/news/the-purple-preview-hartlepool-united/ |title=The Purple Preview: Hartlepool United |author=Michael Meadows |publisher=City of Liverpool FC |date=8 December 2023 |access-date=9 December 2023}}</ref> Although the Purps were leading 1–0 at half time, they would eventually lose 5–1.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.hartlepoolunited.co.uk/news/2023/december/match-report-pools-progress-in-isuzu-fa-trophy/ |title=Match Report: Pools progress in Isuzu FA Trophy |publisher=Hartlepool United FC |date=9 December 2023 |access-date=9 December 2023}}</ref> == Ground == City of Liverpool originally intended to play within [[Liverpool]] itself from the start, but suitable facilities did not exist at the time the club was formed, so they were forced to explore other venues. In December 2015, the club agreed a deal with [[Bootle F.C.|Bootle]] that saw them ground-share at the TDP Solicitors Stadium in neighbouring [[Metropolitan Borough of Sefton|Sefton]] for the 2016–17 and 2017–18 seasons while they continued to search for a permanent home within the city.<ref>{{cite news|title=City of Liverpool FC to play in Sefton after club bosses can't find a suitable ground in the city|url=http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/city-liverpool-fc-play-sefton-10545045|newspaper=Liverpool Echo|first=Paul|last=Philbin|date=3 December 2015|access-date=9 June 2016}}</ref> In February 2018, the club was granted a period of exclusivity on a site in [[Fazakerley]] by [[Liverpool City Council]], the owners of the site. The site at Fazakerley Playing Fields was in a state of disrepair, but the club believed that it could build a 3,000-seat community stadium on the site <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/fan-owned-city-liverpool-fc-14343092|title = Fan-owned City of Liverpool FC take huge step towards securing club's own ground|date = 27 February 2018}}</ref> As part of the stadium announcement, the club also announced that they had signed a further 3-year ground-share agreement with Bootle FC.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.colfc.co.uk/news|title=City of Liverpool FC - News}}</ref> that can take them to the end of the 2020–21 season. In March 2021, an announcement from the club informed the supporters that the ground-share agreement with Bootle had expired and the club had entered into a two-year ground-share agreement with [[Vauxhall Motors F.C.]] and would play games at {{proper name|vanEupen}} Arena in [[Ellesmere Port|Ellesmere Port, Cheshire]]. In June 2021, the club informed members that it is in the pre-planning process with Liverpool City Council to construct a ground in Fazakerley. In March 2022, the club announced that they will play their home games for the 2022–23 season at Bootle, ending their two-year ground-share agreement with Vauxhall Motors a year early. In February 2024, Bootle FC announced that they have terminated the agreement allowing City of Liverpool to be tenants at Bootle. Citing breaches of contract on the part of City of Liverpool. ==Squad== {{Updated|1 July 2022}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cityofliverpoolfc.co.uk/1st-team-squad/|title=1st team squad |publisher=City of Liverpool F.C. |accessdate=1 July 2022}}</ref> {{Fs start}} {{Fs player|no=|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=Pete Wylie}} {{Fs player|no=|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=Danny Shaw}} {{Fs player|no=|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=Jack Walls}} {{Fs player|no=|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=Adam Hughes}} {{Fs player|no=|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=Ryan Schofield}} {{Fs player|no=|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=James Edgar}} {{Fs player|no=|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=[[Glenn Rule]]}} {{Fs player|no=|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=John Mcgrath}} {{Fs mid}} {{Fs player|no=|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=Conor Harwood}} {{Fs player|no=|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=George Hassall}} {{Fs player|no=|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=Nathan Burke}} {{Fs player|no=|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=Max Allen}} {{Fs player|no=|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=Jack Hazlehurst}} {{Fs player|no=|nat=ENG|pos=FW|name=Freddie Potter}} {{Fs player|no=|nat=ENG|pos=FW|name=[[Kevin Ellison (footballer)|Kevin Ellison]]}} {{Fs player|no=|nat=ZIM|pos=FW|name=Tinashe Chakwana}} {{Fs end}} ==Ownership== The club was officially registered as a [[Industrial and provident society|community benefit society]] in November 2015 and is owned completely by its supporters.<ref>{{cite news|title=It's official: City of Liverpool FC confirmed as new supporter-owned club|url=http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/its-official-city-liverpool-fc-10453513|newspaper=Liverpool Echo|first=Joe|last=Thomas|date=17 November 2015|access-date=9 June 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://communityshares.org.uk/directory/enterprise/city-liverpool-football-club-limited|title=City of Liverpool Football Club Limited|publisher=Community Shares|access-date=15 July 2016}}</ref> Membership is obtained by paying an annual fee to the club (£10 for adults, £5 for concessions, and £1 for children) and entitles the owner to a single share. Members aged 16 and over also receive voting rights within the club.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.colfc.co.uk/memberships/|title=Memberships|publisher=City of Liverpool FC|access-date=15 July 2016}}</ref> Memberships had reached the 500 mark by February 2016, despite the club being without a manager or players and having not contested a single match at that point.<ref>{{cite news|title=Liverpool's newest football club on the hunt for a manager*|url=http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/liverpools-newest-football-club-hunt-10906422|newspaper=Liverpool Echo|first=Joe|last=Thomas|date=17 February 2016|access-date=9 June 2016}}</ref> As of May 2017, the club had 1,414 official paid up members.{{Citation needed|date=August 2021}} Club memberships are available anytime to anyone who wants to be part of the community-owned club. ==Records== Source:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hallmarksecurityleague.com/results.php?comp=6|title=www.nwcfl.com - Latest Results|website=www.hallmarksecurityleague.com}}</ref> *Best FA Cup Performance: Third qualifying round, 2021–22 <ref name=FCHD1>{{fchd|id=CITY-LIV|name=City of Liverpool}}</ref> *Best FA Vase Performance: Third round, 2017–18 <ref name=FCHD1 /> *Best FA Trophy Performance: Third Round, 2023–24 *Record home win: 8–0 vs [[Atherton Laburnum Rovers F.C.|Atherton Laburnum Rovers]], 29 August 2016, [[North West Counties Football League|NWCFL Division One]] *Record away win: 0–10 vs [[Stockport Town F.C.|Stockport Town]], 31 December 2016, [[North West Counties Football League|NWCFL Division One]] *Record home attendance: 1,099 vs Warrington Town, 1 September 2019, [[FA Cup]] First qualifying round *Record goalscorer: Tom Peterson (65) ==Honours== '''League''' *North West Counties Football League Premier League **Champions: 2018–19 *North West Counties Football League First Division **Play-off winners: 2017 '''Cup''' *North West Counties Football League First Division Challenge Cup **Winners: 2016–17 *North West Counties Football League League Challenge Cup **Winners: 2016–17 *No Cup Again **Runners-up: 2017–18, 2019–20 ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== * [http://www.colfc.co.uk/ Official club Website] {{Northern Premier League}} {{coord|53|17|46.683|N|2|56|24.5826|W|region:GB_type:landmark|display=title}} [[Category:Football clubs in England]] [[Category:North West Counties Football League clubs]] [[Category:Fan-owned football clubs in England]] [[Category:Association football clubs established in 2015]] [[Category:2015 establishments in England]] [[Category:Football clubs in Merseyside]]'