Our History

The First Generation (1878–1896)

The name Rotherham Town first appeared in 1878, making it one of the earliest organised football clubs in South Yorkshire. Town played their way into senior football and in 1889 joined the Football Alliance, a strong competition for ambitious northern clubs.

When the Football League absorbed the Alliance in 1892, Rotherham Town became a member of the Football League Second Division. For three seasons (1893–94 to 1895–96) they competed at national level, but financial troubles and poor results forced the club to resign in 1896. The first Rotherham Town folded soon afterwards.

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The Second Generation (1899–1925).  

A new club carrying the name Rotherham Town was founded in 1899. This version joined the Midland League, where they built a strong reputation as one of the leading non-league sides in the region.

Despite their competitiveness, they never managed to gain election back into the Football League. By the 1920s, they were overshadowed by neighbours Rotherham County, who were playing in the Second Division of the Football League.

In May 1925, both clubs were struggling — County financially, Town competitively. The solution was a merger, and together they formed a new professional side: Rotherham United. The new club inherited County’s Football League place and Town’s red-and-white colours, creating the identity that still exists today.

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The Third Generation (1998–Present)

More than 70 years after the last Rotherham Town side merged, the famous name was brought back to life once again. In 1998, the club was reborn for a third time, this time as a junior football club dedicated to grassroots development.

From those beginnings, Rotherham Town has grown steadily year on year. Today, the club is proud to be one of the largest grassroots football clubs in the county, boasting:
    •    26 teams across all age groups.
    •    A thriving academy for 1–6 year olds, introducing the youngest players to the game.
    •    Boys’ teams (U7–U18) competing in the Sheffield & District Junior League.
    •    Girls’ and women’s football from U8 upwards in the Sheffield & Hallamshire Women’s & Girls’ League.
    •    A men’s first team competing in the Sheffield & Hallamshire Senior County League Division 2.

Our junior teams are based at St Bernard’s Catholic School, while our senior men’s and women’s sides play home games at Herringthorpe Stadium.