Wombwell Town - Recreation Ground

In only a short seven years period, the Wellers have made a meteor rise to the Northern Counties League having won the Sheffield & Hallamshire County Senior Division Two (in 2019), and Division One in 2022.

The football club was formed in 2018 by former Barnsley player Karl Rose, who has been manager of the team since formation, and Doug O’Connor. This isn’t the first Wombwell side to have played for the Barnsley town. There were previous attempts to establish a football club in Wombwell with the last club folding in the year 2000 (after 55-years).

Since the club’s formation in 2018, the Wellers have called the Recreation Ground home (formerly known as the Dorothy Hyman Stadium). The ground is surrounded by a go-kart track and when they moved in, an Athletics track surrounded the playing area. Having moved in, they inherited a small terraced stand and a clubhouse, as well as bricked dugouts.

In 2020, the stand was livened up with a fresh coat of paint and work on the clubhouse began to take shape. Twelve months later seating was installed. In pre-season 2022, the football club began the construction of new changing rooms, which would join onto the clubhouse – which would give them access to step 6 should they achieve promotion.

Major construction was undertaken in summer 2024. New floodlights were installed, whilst a concreated pathway to the main stand and railings, as well as a perimeter fence was erected. To date, this appears to be the final improvements made at the Rec, and is unclear at this stage what further improvements will be undertaken should they climb the ladder. With attendances (likely) to be on the rise, we would assume installation of new stands could be on the agenda but will be a case of watch this space for the fast-growing football club.

Despite being one of my closest non-league grounds, it was my first visit to the Recreation Ground for a completive fixture. I had previously attended a pre-season friendly against Derbyshire side Belper Town.

They came up against Worsborough Bridge Athletic on 21st March 2025, in the Northern Counties East League Division One in the Barnsley Derby. Wombwell was avenging an earlier season defeat when they dramatically drew 3-3 at Park Road, despite leading 2-0, and were forced to salvage a point with a last minute equaliser. They exacted revenge with a 4-0 victory, scoring two goals in each half, whilst the visitors were reduced to ten men in the second half following a rash challenge.

The result cements the Wellers with a place in the Play-Offs, whilst ensuring faint hopes of securing the league title as they aim towards another promotion. Meanwhile, it left Worsborough with the difficult task as their promotions hope faded away. . Realistically, the Briggers, would need to win all their remaining fixtures to stand a chance of making the Play-Offs.

Recreation Ground in March 2025 (v Worsborough Bridge Athletic)

Recreation Ground in July 2022 (v Belper Town)

Previous Visits

14.07.2022 – Wombwell Town v Belper Town (friendly)

21.03.2025 – Wombwell Town 4-0 Worsborough Bridge Athletic