Welcome to Through the Turnstile, this series of features are intended to shine the light on some of non-leagues leading stars. This week we head through the turnstile at another non-league club Coalville Town.

A brief history of the Club

Founded in 1926 as Ravenstone Miners Athletic and initially located in Ravenstone village, the club enjoyed success in the Coalville & District League, winning the Division Two title in 1933–34. Over the years, the club underwent several name changes, becoming Ravenstone Swifts in 1947 and Ravenstone Miners Athletic again in 1951. They secured the Division One title five times, notably in 1952–53, before being renamed simply as Ravenstone in 1958. Transitioning to the Premier Division of the North Leicestershire League in 1974, they experienced ups and downs, including a relegation in 1978–79 but a subsequent promotion in 1980–81. Achieving runners-up positions in 1985–86 and 1986–87, they clinched the Premier Division title in 1988–89 and 1989–90, prompting a move to Division One of the Leicestershire Senior League in 1991.

In 1995, faced with facility challenges, the club relocated to Coalville and rebranded as Coalville Football Club. Their success continued with a second-place finish in Division One in 1996–97, leading to promotion to the Premier Division. Rebranding once more in 1998, they won the Leicestershire and Rutland Senior Cup in 1999–2000 and claimed the Premier Division title in 2001–02 and 2002–03, propelling them to the Midland Alliance. Notably, in 2004–05, they entered the FA Cup for the first time, reaching the first round and facing Second Division Wycombe Wanderers.

Further achievements included being league runners-up in 2009–10 and reaching the FA Vase final in the following season, although they fell short against Whitley Bay. Their remarkable goal-scoring season in the Midland Alliance saw them earn promotion to Division One South of the Northern Premier League. Subsequent successes included winning the Westerby Cup in 2012–13 and promotion to the Premier Division in 2015–16 after play-off victories.

The club continued to thrive, securing the Leicestershire & Rutland Challenge Cup in 2017–18 and successfully transitioning to the Premier Central division of the Southern League the following season. They retained the Challenge Cup in 2018–19 and reached the first round of the FA Cup once more in 2022–23. Despite a loss to Charlton Athletic, the club’s journey reflects a storied history marked by resilience, relocations, and remarkable achievements across various leagues and competitions.

This season the club finished mid-table, the plan now is to kick on next season and challenge for a play-off place and ultimately promotion out of the Southern League Premier Division Central.

(Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coalville_Town_F.C.)

Club legends (as told by fan Shaun Culpin)

Billy kee – Goes without question. What Billy went through with his mental health issues. To step down from the professional game to play for little old Coalville

Sean Bowles – A long time servant for the club and most probably the best goalkeeper the club has ever had .

Kit

2023/2024 Coalville Town Home Kit

£40 Replica Kit – Available online
https://www.prodirectsport.com/soccer/p/adidas-coalville-town-23-24-home-shirt-white-black-team-sand-partner-clubs-1010654/

Stadium info

• Owen Street Sports Ground (Owen Street, LE67 3DA)
• Capacity – 2000
• Number of stands – 1
• Grass Pitch
• On-site parking available at the ground – Further parking is available in the town centre and supporters are asked to avoid parking on Owen Street & Kane Close to avoid disruption for local residents.

Entry Price

Matchday Tickets
Adult – £11
Concession – £9
Aged 12-17 – £5
Aged 5-11 – £3

Season tickets
Adult – £199

Matchday Programme
£3

Stadium Shop

The below, a converted shipping container serves as the clubs stadium shop, selling all of the teams merchandise, a very unconventional yet very resourceful way of using what you have available to you. The shipping container is a good size and the offering of merchandise inside is of good quality + it is a conversation starter if nothing else!

The offering of a club calendar is a rare sight in non-league football but I for one love it, and it is my pick of the bunch! Another option available to Coalville fans is the following website which offers an array of branded goodies, with £3 from every item purchased going back to the club in a win win situation.

https://prosportsgfx.com/product-tag/coalville-town-ravens/

A big tick for Coalville is that they sell their own club pin badges and especially so when they are of the below quality and for the low price of just £2. A steal !

Price – £2

Food & Drinks

The food and drink offering at Coalville is ample and comfortable, the overall offering from the club is sufficient and certainly does the job required. There are however quite a lot of thirsty people who regularly attend so maybe another bar could be handy in the future!

The Fab 4 – League Tables

Now let’s now take a peek at the prices of 4 of the most popular items bought by fans on a matchday: Beer, Cider, Burger and Chips and a cup of tea:

^ Pint of Madri & Pint of Cold Water Cider (due to Moretti and Strongbow not being available)
* Price of Carling (Birra Moretti not available)
” Price of Orchard View (Strongbow not available)
+ Price of Aspalls (Strongbow not available)
‘ Price of local brewers cans (Other drinks not offered inside ground)
# Price of Thatchers and Stella (Moretti & Stromgbow not available)

Now the first thing I noticed was that in terms of alcohol prices, Coalville are the best value for money (if you want a Pint). As mentioned earlier that is a great selling point as there are some thirsty punters at Coalville and these cheap prices for drinks are only going to serve the club well !

Top players from last season (as told by fan Mick Jordan)

Tom Mcglinchey, Tim Berridge & Alex Dean

Gooch is different class but, in my opinion, needs to be slightly more clinical to get to the next level.

Tim works so hard with little support at times but still puts a shift in week in week out.

Deano is my favourite player, not suited in a flat back four as a full back, but could definitely be one of the best wing backs in the league.

Views from the Staff

Q) What is the proudest moment since you have been with the club?
The proudest moment I’ve had at Coalville was walking the team out away at Charlton in the first round of the Fa Cup in front of 2000 travelling fans


Q) What is unique about a Coalville Town matchday?
A match day at Coalville is all put together by a hands on chairman Glyn, and is helped by many great people who volunteer there time to help it run so seamlessly or us players to perform on a match day. The bar is always full after games with fans and family so it’s very close knit win or lose.

Q) Can you describe what playing football in non-league is like, what does a typical matchday like for you and the team?
Playing in non league very competitive, to do well you still have to do things as well as you can on and off the pitch to be successful, which can be difficult at time as 90% of lads have full time jobs outside of football so it’s tough to juggle both at times but also very rewarding at the end of the week if you get that win.

Q) What is the best feeling as a player?
The best feeling is the winning feeling after the game in the changing rooms with the boys

Q) What would you say to someone considering a visit to watch Coalville Town?
I think if your considering coming to watch us at Coalville, you only have to ask the fans that have been there over the past few season and they will tell you we playing very exciting football end to end and normally put on a good game for the fans to enjoy.

Q) What does your role entail?
Arriving to the ground and setting up the training equipment, hanging out the kit, filling water bottles and generally ensuring the team is prepared for the game on their arrival.

Q) What does a matchday look like for you?
A match day is both an exciting and nervous day for me, I like keeping busy, I like the buzz in the changing rooms but I carry nerves for the game too.

Q) What made you choose Coalville?
My son played for a Coalville youth team when Coalville secured a final at Wembley against Whitley bay. He was asked to be a mascot and he got to walk out on the wembley pitch with the players, Coalville took a piece of my heart that day and I have never looked back .

Q) How special is the community feel and spirit between the team, management and fans?
To me, Coalville town FC and its fans are like one big family, we are one club, we go through all the emotions together.

Q) What is one thing you wish more people knew about non-league football?
How good the standard of football is, you get to visit places you wouldn’t usually visit, meet like minded people and have a great day out in the process. Win lose or draw, i absolutely love the job

Q) What is the main challenge for a non-league club?
To keep fans coming through the gates so we can stay sustainable.

Q) What is the proudest moment since you have been with the club?
Watching us play in the FA Vase final at Wembley in 2011. Closely followed by play-off success at Shaw Lane or beating Notts County in the FA Cup!

Q) In your opinion 3 things better about non-league football compared to EFL/Premier league?

1) Connection between players/officials and fans

2) No VAR

3) Unique grounds you visit

Q) What is unique about a Coalville Town matchday?
The atmosphere our fans create in the shed end.

View from the fans

Q) Favourite player to date?
Difficult to pick one , up to 10 new players a season at this level, would pick 3 favourites from the beginning of our journey – Ash Brown , Cam Stuart and Matthew Gardner.

Q) Favourite chant?
“He’s got no hair we don’t care Ashley Ashley Brown”

Q) Is Coalville Town value for money on a matchday, why?
At £11 a match it definitely value for money as are the away days we go to.

Q) Why do you keep coming back?
Been a regular for 20 years now and it’s the same match day buzz as going a professional game and paying £50 for a seat , meeting mates in pub and watching a decent level of football on your doorstep.

Q) Why should people come to watch your club?
As above really , great location , just a 2 min walk from the town centre, great friendly atmosphere and a decent standard .

Q) Current favourite player?
Paul White

Q) Favourite Chant?
When you walk down Owen street you will here a mighty Roar .

Q) Best away day food?
Burger from any ground, nice and easy!

Q) Is a Coalville Town matchday value for money?
Well worth the £11 when the sheds rocking

Q) Why do you keep coming back?
I am part of the club and live 700 yards from the ground.

Q) Why are you a fan of Coalville and not a Premier league team?
I’m actually a season ticket holder at Leicester City & been following them since 1980 but became a fan of Coalville Town during Covid lockdown. I was so bored of watching football on TV that myself & my boy (who was about 8 yrs old) decided to try out a few non league games. After witnessing 2 brilliant Colaville performances, we fell in love with them & became regular visitors to the Mander stadium (including missing some Leicester games when their kick off times clashed)

Q) What is it about non-league football in general do you think that draws people in?
Just a few things that draw people to non-league: Having now been to around 50 Coalville home games & around 20 away, I feel not only is it great value for money as a family, but it reminds me of when I first started following Leicester. The players are approachable & you feel more of an affinity with them, you’re close to the action, can have a drink on the terraces, no VAR & a goal can be celebrated once scored. The grounds are quirky & unique & you can stand to watch the game if you want.

Q) Your favourite Coalville Town chant?
Fave chant: “Coalville are massive everywhere they go”

Q) If you could sign one other player from the league for Coalville who would you choose?
I’ve always been impressed with Matty Stenson whenever he has played against us.

Final thoughts

Inevitably as the season has now finished the preparation now switches to next season. A mid-table finish this season was not what anyone hoped or thought would be the final position for the club. A mini rebuild will be required over the summer and already a few players have announced they are to move on to pastures new.

What will the 24/25 season bring for the club nobody knows but both the management team and the fans of that vocal shed end will be hoping for more success to celebrate.
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So that brings us to the end of yet another feature and I hope you are enjoying the series. These are written to give a platform to clubs and hopefully provide some insight to current fans and maybe even attract some new fans to them. The season may be over but I will try and fill a small gap in your non-league football sized hole with more of Through the Turnstile of non-league football articles!

Until next time…