With the ravages of war beginning to fade, and the roaring twenties in full swing, footballing fever took over in Whitby when two local sides harboured dreams of playing on a bigger stage.
Whitby Whitehall Swifts and Whitby Town, came together to form a single club under the name of Whitby United.
In 1926, Whitby United was admitted to the Northern League, one of the oldest, organised football competitions in the north of England having run for 33 previous seasons.
The whistle was blown on football again during the Second World War but resumed in the 1946/47 season.
Whitby United had struggled before the second outbreak of war but gradually improved its performances and in 1949, formally changed its name to Whitby Town FC.
It is considered that the formation of Whitby United, back in 1926, paved the way for Whitby Town FC, and so this weekend the club will celebrate its 100th anniversary with a centenary three course dinner at The Pavilion tomorrow night.
The evening marks a hundred years of football, community and shared memories.
Whitby Town became established in the Northern League during the 1950s and early 1960s, winning the North Riding Senior Cup on several occasions.
The club was also gaining a decent local following and regular attendances at The Turnbull Ground grew.
While the rest of the country were enjoying the swinging 60s, it was no different at The Turnbull with the mid 1960s being some of the best times to have been a Whitby Town fan.
In 1963/64 the team reached the quarter‑finals of the FA Amateur Cup, at that time one of the country’s most prestigious competitions for non‑professional clubs.
The following season, Whitby Town made it to Wembley for the final, but lost 3-1 to Hendon.
Nevertheless, it was enough for a hero’s welcome when the team returned home.
Charlie Woodward, the club secretary between 1992 and 2004, went to his first Whitby Town game in 1961 and recalls the trip to Wembley.
He told The Anchor: “I was one of the lucky ones to get tickets. We went on the 11am train on the Friday and arrived in London at 5am the next day. Everybody that could go, went. There were 45,000 there, that is a lot for an amateur cup final.
“It was the first time at Wembley and it was a big day, unfortunately we got beat but that time in the 60s, there were cup runs, Match of the Day, we had some great times.”
Another one of Whitby’s best results came in the 1983/84 FA Cup run when Whitby Town came from two goals down to beat Halifax Town 3-2 in the First Round Proper. They reached the FA Cup Second Round again in 1985/86.
In 1992/93, the club won the Northern League Championship for the first time. It should have been a promotion celebration to top them all but a move up the league was prevented due to ground grading issues and league restructuring.
Whitby Town would have its day though in the end, and it made the most of it by winning the double in the 1996/1997 season.
Whitby dominated the league and its success in the FA Vase, winning 3-0 against North Ferriby is talked about in town to this day.
Around 8,000 people from Whitby went to Wembley and the only reason it wasn’t more is because The Endeavour returned on the same weekend and many hospitality workers couldn’t get time off.
Throughout the 2000s, there were several changes in management staff. Harry Dunn did two stints as manager with other notable bosses being Tommy Cassidy, former Sunderland player, Darren Williams and then Chris Hardy.
Off the pitch the club saw three chairmen in this time with Graham Manser, Eddie MacNamee, and Ivor Homer.
There were some relegation battles before the club was back on the national stage when Whitby Town got to the FA Cup First Round Proper in the 2023/24 season, facing Bristol Rovers.
Whether Whitby Town would remain in the Premier Division of the Northern Premier League and avoid relegation for the first time in its history – went to the last game and the last day of the 2025/2026 season.
A goalless draw with Cleethorpes Town was enough to guarantee safety – and be the starting point for another huge period of change for the club.
Several players, including the hero of the Cleethorpes game, Shane Bland, have announced they will depart this summer and Lee Bullock has been confirmed as manager.
Businessman Graeme Hinchliffe, has returned to the club as a board member after having served as chief executive until 2024 and is making behind the scenes changes.
The club is securing new players, board members with sales and commercial experience are being drafted in and there are plans to form a charity to hold events at the club house and stadium, as well as connect with schools and youth workers.
Graeme explained: “I am keen to make Whitby Town a community asset. I think we have become disconnected with the town for too long.
“We need the club to represent the people of Whitby and forge closer links with supporters to make it a family, community club.
“It costs a lot of money to run this football club at this level, we need to become more commercially aware, but we need to be community aware as well.
“It is a big wish list, but with the people I am bringing in and with their experience we can make it happen.”
