Scarborough Athletic Football Club is an association football club based in Scarborough, North Yorkshire, England. The club currently play in the National League North, the sixth level of the English football league system.
The club was formed on 25 June 2007 as a phoenix club following the winding up of Scarborough Football Club. After spending their first ten seasons groundsharing at Queensgate, Bridlington Town, the club moved into a new stadium, Flamingo Land Stadium in Scarborough in July 2017. In 2025, it was confirmed that the club would again be groundsharing with Bridlington Town after the 3G pitch at the Flamingo Land Stadium had serious structural issues and that the work needed was not going to be complete in time to start the new 2025–26 season. The agreement will see Scarborough Athletic play the full 2025–26 season away from Scarborough.
Contents
Background
A covenant existed on the McCain Stadium that restricted its use only to sporting activities. Scarborough failed to convince the Scarborough Borough Council that its proposals to sell the McCain Stadium to a housing developer would raise enough money to pay off the debts and build a new ground. Scarborough were wound up in the High Court with debts of £2.5 million on 20 June 2007, ending its 128-year existence as a club. The Seadog Trust (a supporters' trust established in 2006) then formed Scarborough Athletic to carry forward the spirit of the former club.
History
Formation
Following the liquidation of Scarborough, Scarborough Athletic was founded as a continuation or rebirth of the previous club by a supporters' trust named The Seadog Trust. They took on the same red kit, nickname, motto and official club logo from the original club. The Trust successfully applied for membership of the North Riding County Football Association and the Northern Counties East League on 25 June 2007. Due to the unavailability of any suitable grounds in the town, a ground-sharing agreement was made with Bridlington Town. On 29 June the club appointed former North Ferriby United manager Brian France as their first manager, who brought with him many former Ferriby players.
For their debut season, the club entered the Northern Counties East League Division One (NCEL1). The club's first-ever game was a friendly against Edgehill FC on 15 July 2007. The game ended in a goalless draw and was played in Hunmanby, North Yorkshire. Three days later, 20-year-old Shaun Chadburn gained the distinction of scoring the first-ever goal for the new club in a 2–2 draw at Northallerton Town. Their first competitive game, a NCEL1 fixture, was away to Teversal on 11 August 2007. The game ended in a 2–1 defeat in front of 427 fans and saw David Thompson score Scarborough Athletic's first-ever league goal.
The new club had mixed results early in the season, but on 24 October it was announced the club was to face a 6-point deduction and a £300 fine for fielding ineligible players earlier in the season. This decision was later upheld by the FA and so despite a run of six wins in eight matches, the club found themselves lying in 10th place in early January 2008. A strong end to the season saw the club finish with an unbeaten 12 match league run, securing a 5th-place finish.
After a slow start to the following season, gaining just one point from the opening two league games, Scarborough Athletic then embarked upon a club record 27 match unbeaten league run which saw them surge to the top of the table. On 8 November 2008, Ryan Blott scored a club record five goals in a league match at Yorkshire Amateur. By the end of February 2009 the club had moved into a commanding lead at the top of the NCEL1 table and on 21 March 2009, following a 2–1 victory at Teversal, they were guaranteed promotion to the Northern Counties East League Premier Division (NCELP). Three days later the club were confirmed as champions after a 3–0 win at home to Brighouse Town.
Homecoming season
The 2017–18 season saw Boro returning to their hometown of Scarborough after ten years in exile. The opening pre-season friendly at the new stadium resulted in a 4–1 defeat against a young Sheffield United team, in front of an almost sell-out crowd of 2,038 supporters. The club played their first competitive match in the town on 12 August 2017, with a club-record 1,385 spectators witnessing a 0–0 draw against Hyde United. Scarborough also managed to reach the FA Cup fourth qualifying round, before losing to Hyde United in front of a club record attendance of 2,003. Boro's league form continued to be solid, and on Boxing Day, a nine-game winning streak began which placed Boro in second position by 20 February, with 20 victories from 27 league games. After a brief downturn in form, Boro recorded a run of nine wins and a draw in their final ten league games, ending the season as runners-up and promoted to the Northern Premier League Premier Division. A memorable season finished with an appearance at Middlesbrough FC's Riverside Stadium in the North Riding Senior Cup final.
Scarborough Athletic got the 2018–19 season off to a good start with six wins, three draws and two losses in their opening eleven league games, and they topped the table for several weeks in the Autumn. However, a poor run of form either side of Christmas, where the club gained 17 points from a possible 45, saw Boro sitting in 6th position at the end of February, just outside the playoff places.
On 16 March after a disappointing home defeat to Stalybridge Celtic. which saw the club lose further ground in the play-off chase, manager Steve Kittrick was relieved of his duties with Steve Roberts taking over as manager on a caretaker basis. On 2 April former Bradford Park Avenue and Farsley Celtic chief John Deacey was appointed as the new manager, but eight league defeats since New Year's Day saw Boro's playoff hopes finally extinguished with one game to go. The club ended their first season at the new level with an 8th-place finish. Boro reached the North Riding Senior Cup final for the second successive year and beat Marske United on penalties at Middlesbrough's Riverside Stadium to win the club's first cup since forming in 2007.
During the summer of 2019, a new covered stand was erected at the Flamingo Land Stadium which increased the capacity from 2,070 to 2,833. It was officially opened prior to the opening home game of the 2019–20 season.
Players
Current squad
As of 17 August 2026
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Honours
League
Northern Premier League Premier Division
Play-off winners: 2022
Northern Premier League Division One North
Runners-up: 2017–18
Northern Counties East League Premier Division
Champions: 2012–13
Northern Counties East League Division One
Champions: 2008–09
Cup
North Riding Senior Cup
Winners: 2018–19, 2021–22, 2022–23, 2024–25
Runners-up: 2017–18
Northern Premier League Challenge Cup
Runners-up: 2015–16
Northern Counties East League Presidents Cup
Runners-up: 2008–09
Supporters Direct Shield
Winners: 2010–11
Managers
As of 31 January 2026. Only competitive matches are counted. Please note that the league games in the 2019–20 season do not count, as the season was abandoned on 8 March and records expunged. The 2020–21 league season contained just eight matches for Scarborough Athletic, which have been added to Darren Kelly's record.
Records
Source:
Club records
Best FA Cup performance: First round, 2023–24, vs. Forest Green Rovers and 2024–25, vs. Burton Albion
Highest league position: 6th in National League North (Tier 6/NLS Step 2), 2025–26
Record victory: 13–0 vs. Brodsworth Welfare, 24 April 2010
Record home victory: 13–0 vs. Brodsworth Welfare, 24 April 2010
Record away victory: 10–0 vs. Lincoln Moorlands Railway, 15 September 2012
Record defeat: 0–6 at Thackley, 16 April 2013; AFC Telford United, 16 November 2013, and FC United of Manchester, 28 September 2021.
Record home defeat: 2–6 vs. Barton Town Old Boys, 25 August 2007; 1–5 vs. Guisborough Town, 22 November 2011; 0–4 vs. Darlington, 1 November 2014, and 1–5 vs. Dunston UTS, 19 November 2019
Record away defeat: 0–6 at Thackley, 16 April 2013; AFC Telford United, 16 November 2013, and FC United of Manchester, 28 September 2021.
Record attendance: 3,209 vs. Forest Green Rovers, FA Cup 1st Round, 4 November 2023
Longest unbeaten run: (League) 27 games, 23 August 2008 to 14 March 2009
Longest unbeaten home run: (League) 35 games, 9 February 2008 to 9 February 2010
Longest unbeaten away run: (League) 13 games, 25 August 2008 to 11 March 2009 and 10 October 2012 to 13 April 2013
Most games won in a row: (League) 15 games, 25 October 2008 to 7 March 2009
Player records
Record goalscorer: Ryan Blott, 231
Most goals in a season (all competitions): 42, Ryan Blott, 2008–09 and Michael Coulson, 2017–18
Most league goals in a season: 37, Ryan Blott, 2012–13.
Most goals scored in a match by one player: 5, Ryan Blott vs. Yorkshire Amateur, 8 November 2008 & v Armthorpe Welfare, 14 April 2012
Most appearances: Ryan Blott, 380 (341 starts and 39 as substitute), 20 October 2007 to 29 September 2020
International caps
Most international caps whilst a Scarborough Athletic FC player: Jacob Hazel, 2 for Saint Kitts and Nevis
Media
Commentary on Scarborough Athletic games is broadcast on This is the Coast. Commentary was previously broadcast on the online platform of another local radio station, Yorkshire Coast Radio until this was absorbed into Greatest Hits Radio in September 2020.
Scarborough Athletic’s media team is supported by a group of volunteer photographers. For the 2024–25 season these include Chris Walker, John Westgarth, Zach Foster and Rhys O’Callaghan amongst others.
Reserve team
A reserve team existed from June 2008 until October 2014 when lack of player availability lead to the reserves withdrawing from all competition early in the 2014–15 season. The reserves played in the Humber Premier League and were promoted from the First Division to the Premier Division (as runners up) in the 2012–13 season. Home games were played at Rotsea Lane, Hutton Cranswick, East Riding of Yorkshire, the home of Hutton Cranswick United FC from formation until the end of the 2009–10 season and then from the 2010–11 season onwards at the Community Sports Club complex in Filey, North Yorkshire.
It was announced on social media on 3 July 2022, that the Reserves side would be reforming to assist manager Jono Greening in managing his squad for Scarborough's first season in the National League. The newly formed reserve team will be playing in division one of the Humber Premier League for the 2022–23 season and will be playing from Filey Community Sports Club.
U19s team and Youth Development teams
Scarborough Athletic U19s side was formed during the 2010–11 season. The club affiliated the team to the North Riding FA in August 2010, but were unable to enter the side into a league in time to play competitive football for that season although some friendly fixtures were played.
From the 2011–12 season the U19s entered the Northern U19s Alliance League with home fixtures played at the Mill Lane home of Pickering Town. The current U19s manager is Ian Wilson. The 2011–12 season also saw the formation of the U16s and U12s teams, both of whom entered the Hull Boys Sunday League. The Under 16s achieved success in their debut season, winning their league and reaching two cup finals, one of which they won.
For the 2012–13 season, three further youth teams were formed at U18, U14 and U13 level, resulting in six age-group teams in total.
Supporter activities
On 4 November 2009 the club launched the Back2Boro scheme which has two main objectives: to raise awareness of the club's lack of a permanent home, and to raise funds to help finance a return home to Scarborough. The club had its own online radio service called "Seadogslive", which provided live match commentaries on selected home fixtures and occasional away games. This service was discontinued in 2010. Scarborough Athletic had an occasionally published fanzine entitled Abandon Chip!, which had been continued from the original club. In 2019 a new fanzine was produced called Voice of Treason; another semi-regular publication called Boro Memories was also launched.
In April 2016, the club launched its first-ever 'frame' football team, for youngsters with cerebral palsy. Season one concluded in October 2016.