Sponsorship & Advertising Opportunities

Welcome to

Gresley Rovers Football Club

Gresley Rovers Football Club is South Derbyshire's number one footballing enterprise. The club is managed by a number of well-respected local businessmen and loyal volunteers.

We have a range of teams from our first team to our development centres.

We are at the heart of the local community and are currently based in the village of Church Gresley, on the outskirts of Swadlincote and in the heart of The National Forest.

As a club we are dedicated to engaging with the community and recognise that sport can play a key role in bringing a community together. We are building partnerships, with schools and organisations to offer sports coaching and other activities to continue being the beating heart.

As with any clubs at our level, we rely heavily on the generosity and support of our sponsors, supporters and volunteers who already help us.

We want you to join us and help us grow as a team, give us the ability to compete with other teams and progress up the leagues again.

The Past

Gresley Rovers were formed in 1882 in the small mining village of Church Gresley, near to Swadlincote, Derbyshire. The club's first ground was at Mushroom Lane in Albert Village a mile or so from Church Gresley. At the end of the 1907–08 season the Church Street Ground was required for building, so the club moved across the road onto the newly acquired Moat Ground, where Gresley continue to play to the present.

The 1993–94 season had some disappointment for Gresley as they lost in the semi-final of the FA Vase and so narrowly missed another trip to Wembley, but in the League they confounded everyone by finishing as runners-up and so gained promotion to the Premier Division at the first attempt. The 1993–94 season saw them consolidate in 14th position but medals did come to the club as they again won the Derbyshire Senior Cup and reached the Final of the Southern League Cup. An improved League position of 8th was achieved in 1994–95 and that season saw them reaching the First Round Proper of the FA Cup for only the second time ever before losing away to Crewe.

Paul Futcher was appointed manager with Garry Birtles, the former England International, his assistant on 2 November 1995. Rovers improved their League position yet again in 1995–96 as they ended the season in 5th place and had the bonus of winning the Derbyshire Senior Cup yet again.

The 1996–97 season was the best in the club's long history because in addition to retaining the Derbyshire Senior Cup they also won the Southern League Premier Division championship. Rovers were unbeaten in their first seventeen league games (won 10 drawn 7) and were league leaders for 31 weeks.

The title was finally won with a 3–1 home victory against Gloucester City at the Moat Ground on 26 April 1997. Gresley Rovers became the first Derbyshire side and first village side to win this prestigious trophy but ground grading meant that they were unable to gain promotion to the Football Conference. The game was also notable for serious crowd disorder between the two sets of fans after Gresley's opening goal which led to the game being delayed for 25 minutes as fighting spilled onto the pitch. Derby County were willing to lend Gresley their recently vacated Baseball Ground until the required standards could be met but this was rejected by the footballing authorities.

Paul Futcher, the Manager during that campaign, left during the close season and his Assistant Manager, Garry Birtles, stepped up into the Manager's position. The disappointment of not being promoted to the Football Conference saw many of Gresley's players leave the club. The 1997–98 season saw Gresley finish in the bottom half of the Southern League Premier Division.

One of the clubs most successful managers in this period was Gary Norton achieving amongst others back to back promotions and is still an integral part of the club.

The Present

After financial difficulties, Gresley Rovers liquidated at the end of the 2008–09 season, forming a new football club, Gresley F.C. In the 2009–10 season, they were placed in the East midlands Counties League. After finishing their first season in second place they went one better by winning it in 2010-11. The following season they also won the Midland Football Alliance earning a place at Step 4 of the pyramid.

In the 2013-14 season Gresley finished 9th in the Northern Premier League Division One. In the following season Gresley F.C. achieved their biggest ever league win 10-0 at home to Brigg Town on 13 September 2014. However, a week later manager Martin Rowe resigned due to personal reasons. After a successful Caretaker Manager reign, Wayne Thornhill took charge with hopes to reach the play-offs by the end of the season.

The 2014-15 season also saw Gresley go on their best Derbyshire Senior Cup run since reformation, finishing runners up and knocking out holders Ilkeston. The Moatmen reached the play-off semi finals in 2014-15 but lost narrowly away to Leek Town.

The 2019/2020 season was expunged due to COVID-19.

The Future

For too long the club has suffered, but, the new board has started as it means to go on. With the ground now back in the clubs control, thanks to one of the board members purchasing the ground, we can look forward to not only being a focal point for the community, but, push forward with our football ambitions.

The future will bring to Gresley Rovers Football Club:

• New ground & training facilities
• New social facilities
• New opportunities

With our move to our new ground we are looking towards an exciting future that will enable us to get back to the halcyon days, but, we need sponsorship and support to enable us to build for the future.

We are proud to offer the following sponsorship opportunities that will help us achieve our aims to take the club back to a higher place, but, also be a prominent part of the community.

We need your support to make this a reality and be part of our exciting future.

Sponsorship & Advertising Opportunities

all prices are inclusive of VAT

For all sponsorship & advertising opportunities
email: commercial@gresleyrovers.com
or telephone: 01283 216315

Download our full brochure here