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| 1904-05 |
The first evidence of our existence takes the form of photographs that date back
to 1904 with league participation commencing in 1905 when "Keyworth" joined the Notts Alliance, the following season
the team finished in fourth position. The team played in the Alliance until 1912 when they were relegated having had 6 points
deducted although the reason remains unclear!
The first pitch used was Holmes Chapel Field where Keyworth Junior
School is now situated other pitches were sited on Bunny Lane and on Wysall Lane. During the 1920's, the home fixtures
were played on Selby Lane this became "home" up until the Second World War, in this period we played in the Nottingham
Spartan League and won the First Division Knock-out Cup in 1925-26 and the Second Division Cup in 1929-30.
In the
1930's the club joined the Nottingham Realm League and we first officially became known as Keyworth United in 1947 having
previously been known as either Keyworth or Normanton and Keyworth FC. Immediately after the Second World War, the home pitch
was moved to the Rectory Field (or The Rec.) and this is still used today.
In 1948 we entered our most successful
period, winning the Realm League Championship and the Notts. Junior Cup, the following year the League Championship was retained
and we won the League Knock Out Cup and in 1950 yet again, the Realm League Championship was retained.
The club
left the Realm League in 1950 to rejoin the Nottingham Spartan League and in the first season back the first team averaged
nearly six goals per game. They went on to win the League Championship, the Knock Out Cup and the Notts. Intermediate Cup
scoring 18 goals during one match and prompting The Football Post to describe the side as being one of the best, if not the
best, amateur sides in Nottinghamshire.
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| 1951-52 |
During this period a decision was made to develop youth football and our first Youth Team was formed,
home matches were played on Nottingham Road and Selby Lane before a second pitch became available on the recreation ground,
this pitch is also still used today by our junior teams.
In 1974 the first team won the Spartan League Championship
and then rejoined the Notts Alliance the following year. By the end of their first season, the first team had won promotion
to Division 1 and in 1978 gained promotion to the Premier Division as well as winning the Notts Intermediate Cup again. Promotion
to the Premier Division did however cause some problems for us as the undulating pitch was deemed to be unsuitable for the
standard of football that we would be entering into, the search for a new pitch began. Our present home ground, Platt Lane
was the location chosen and the first game was played on the new pitch in October 1978.
In 1978 we took runners
up spot in the Notts Alliance Premier Division and in 1983-84 and 84-85 the team took the Championship. Amongst the squad
during this period was our present Chairman Robert Clegg and Rob Marchbank. Sammy Chapman also starred, he was one of the
few footballers who has played for all three professional teams in Nottinghamshire.
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| 1984 |
Other players who donned the green and black shirts were John Galley and Brian
Stubbs who had played at Nottingham Forest and Notts County respectively whilst David "Biddy" Riley went on to play
for Nottingham Forest and Mick Waite signed for Notts County.
Keyworth United also reached the semi-finals of the
Notts Senior Cup four times and in the 1985-86 and 1986-87 seasons also participated in the FA Vase.
The club
continued to play in the Notts Alliance and grew into what is now one of the largest football clubs in Nottinghamshire with
two/three senior sides and boys teams ranging from Under 8's to Under 18's. In 1999 five of our Under 9 team signed
for local professional clubs.  2002 saw some significant events in
our history, we appointed a Youth Development Officer and became a development centre for Leicester City thus emphasising
our aims to develop youth soccer. Later that year the Football Association awarded us with the prestigious Charter Status
Award.
In 2003-04 we start our campaign with 18 sides, including two girls teams. The Notts FA have already
awarded us with our 1st trophy of the year when we were presented with a special award for our services to football at Meadow
Lane during the recent U17 International tournament. In 2004 the
Nottinghamshire Senior League (NSL) was formed. KUCFC moved all of our senior sides to this new league and season 2007-8
saw our best finish to date when the 1st team were runners-up.
After a successful period with Leicester City in
2005/6 our development centre moved to Derby County and our affiliation remains to this day.
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