FC Farsley draws 480 fans on return as Stockdale rebuilds club

FC Farsley welcomed 480 spectators to Throstle Nest for the ground’s first men’s match in more than two years, marking a return to home football after the collapse of Farsley Celtic. The Guardian reported that the new club, owned and managed by former Premier League goalkeeper David Stockdale, hosted Collegians FC in the Yorkshire Amateur League.

The attendance exceeded Stockdale’s own prediction of 140 and followed a prolonged period of disruption. Farsley Celtic played much of the 2024-25 season in Buxton, then missed the following campaign after going into liquidation. According to the Guardian, the old club owed about £750,000 when Stockdale took over as manager 19 months ago, while it was still competing in National League North.

Stockdale began using his own money in an attempt to keep the club alive in summer 2025. Farsley Celtic dropped from the sixth tier, initially to the ninth and then the 11th, before withdrawing from competition in June. The report says Stockdale liquidated the club six months later and established FC Farsley, giving football at the site a new organisation.

The rebuilding work extends beyond the men’s team. Badminton, netball and five-a-side groups have returned to a sports hall that had been unable to operate because electricity bills went unpaid. Stockdale has also installed a cafe and soft-play facilities. His wife Katie runs the cafe, his daughters help with children’s activities, his son is the kit man and his father has assisted with refurbishment.

A planned £1.5m artificial pitch is the next major objective, rather than a completed improvement. The main pitch has been neglected since April 2024, according to the report, and the new team currently uses an adjacent grass surface. Stockdale has put cricket nets in the sports hall and wants further upgrades, including a new floor and facilities capable of hosting netball and badminton finals.

Former Wycombe team-mate Adebayo Akinfenwa has joined as a shareholder, adding support to the Stockdale family’s project. Stockdale told the Guardian that the sports facility and football operation are separate entities. With the relaunch under way, he is seeking more local supporters and sponsors while pursuing a longer-term plan for the west Leeds site.