CLUB HISTORY
1879–1889 — THE BEGINNING
Bacup Borough Football Club was established in 1879, originally as Irwell Springs Football Club, a works team associated with the Irwell Springs Dyeing Works in Weir Village. The club was founded by brothers John and Robert Rankine, who had previously played for Vale of Leven.
During its first decade, the club played matches around Weir Village before eventually moving to what would become its permanent home. In 1889, Bacup Football Club moved to West View, where the club has remained ever since.
The first match at the ground was a particularly significant occasion, with Accrington Stanley providing the opposition in front of a crowd of more than 1,000 spectators. That makes West View one of the club's greatest links with its earliest history.
Bacup Borough FC 1894
1883–1884 — AN EARLY FA CUP ADVENTURE
One of the earliest highlights came in the 1883–84 FA Cup, when the club reached the third round.
Bacup eventually travelled to Bolton Wanderers, where they were beaten 8–1. Nevertheless, reaching the third round of the FA Cup during football's formative years was a considerable achievement and remains the club's best-ever FA Cup run.
During this period Bacup also enjoyed considerable local success, winning the Rossendale Charity Cup four times between 1883 and 1888.
1890s — BACUP BECOMES ESTABLISHED
In 1892, the club changed its name to Bacup.
The club entered the Lancashire League in 1893–94, taking over the fixtures of Barrow after Barrow resigned from the competition. Although Bacup finished bottom in its first season, the club improved to a top-half position the following campaign.
The Lancashire League years were interrupted, however, with Bacup withdrawing during the 1897–98 season.
1900–1915 — THE LANCASHIRE COMBINATION YEARS
Bacup returned to the Lancashire League in 1901 before becoming founder members of the newly created Division Two of the Lancashire Combination in 1903.
The club spent several seasons establishing itself before achieving one of its first major pieces of silverware.
Bacup Borough FC 1908
1910–11 — LANCASHIRE JUNIOR CUP
In 1910–11, Bacup won the Lancashire Junior Cup.
Although the club finished only sixth in the league, the cup success helped establish Bacup as a significant force in Lancashire football. The campaign also resulted in promotion to Division One.
The following season proved considerably more difficult and Bacup finished bottom of Division One, returning to Division Two.
The club eventually left the Lancashire Combination in 1915, as football was disrupted by the First World War.
Bacup Borough FC 1910
1920s — BACUP BOROUGH
Following the First World War, the club returned to competitive football in 1920.
Around this period the club became known as Bacup Borough, the name that has endured for most of its history.
The 1920s were years of consolidation. Bacup competed in the Lancashire Combination and experienced some good campaigns, including a third-place finish in 1929–30. There were also difficult seasons, including a bottom-place finish in 1927–28.
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Bacup Borough FC 1929
1930s–1940s — THE GOLDEN PERIOD
The club continued to compete in the Lancashire Combination throughout the 1930s before football was once again interrupted by the Second World War.
After the war, however, Bacup Borough entered arguably the most successful period in its early history.
Bacup Borough FC 1936
1946–47 — LANCASHIRE COMBINATION CHAMPIONS
The 1946–47 season remains one of the most important seasons in Bacup Borough's history.
Bacup were crowned Lancashire Combination champions, the club's first major league championship and, according to the club itself, its proudest historic achievement.
The season almost produced a league-and-cup double. Bacup also reached the Lancashire Combination Cup Final, eventually losing 2–1 to Marine.
The club subsequently struggled following the restructuring of the Lancashire Combination. Bacup were relegated to Division Two in 1948–49 after finishing bottom of Division One.
Bacup Borough FC 1946
1950s–1960s — REBUILDING
Bacup spent the early 1950s attempting to rebuild.
In 1954–55, despite finishing sixth in Division Two, the club was promoted back to Division One. Bacup remained in Division One until the Lancashire Combination returned to a single-division structure in 1968.
The 1960s were a mixed period, with the club generally competing in the middle and lower reaches of the league.
1970s — ANOTHER GOLDEN ERA
The early 1970s produced one of the strongest Bacup sides of the post-war era.
1972–73
Bacup finished runners-up in the Lancashire Combination, missing out on the championship on goal average.
What makes the achievement particularly impressive is that Bacup scored 101 goals during the campaign.
The club continued to perform strongly over the next few seasons.
1974–75
Bacup reached the Lancashire Junior Cup Final, defeating some highly respected opponents on the way, including:
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Formby
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Wigan Athletic
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South Liverpool
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Morecambe
They eventually lost the final 1–0 to Lancaster City.
Bacup also reached the final of the Lancashire Combination Challenge Cup, losing 3–1 on aggregate to Caernarfon Town in the last ever two-legged final of that competition.
Bacup Borough FC 1970
1982 — THE NORTH WEST COUNTIES LEAGUE
A major change came in 1982.
The Lancashire Combination merged with the Cheshire County League to form the North West Counties Football League.
Bacup Borough were among the founder members of the new competition. They were initially placed in Division Three.
This began the club's long association with the North West Counties League.
The club experienced several difficult years before the restructuring of the league saw Division Three absorbed into Division Two in 1987.
Bacup Borough FC 1981
Bacup Borough FC 1982
Bacup Borough FC 1989
1989–1990 — PROMOTION
The 1989–90 season produced another significant milestone.
Bacup finished runners-up in North West Counties League Division Two, winning 21 of their 30 matches and scoring 76 goals.
That earned promotion to Division One.
Bacup remained in the higher division for several years before suffering relegation in 1994–95.
THE 1990s — REBUILDING BACUP
The 1990s were a period of rebuilding.
One of the key figures in the club's modern history was Brent Peters, who became involved with the club and subsequently established himself as a long-term manager.
The club's league position gradually improved during the latter part of the decade.
By 1999–2000, Bacup had climbed to fifth place, their highest league position for more than a decade.
Brent Peters photographed with former chairman Frank Manning
2000–2004 — A NEW GOLDEN PERIOD
The early 2000s proved to be another important chapter.
In 2000–01, Bacup reached the NWCFL Second Division Cup Final but lost 1–0 to Squires Gate.
Then came the breakthrough.
2002–03 — CHAMPIONS
Under Brent Peters, Bacup Borough won the North West Counties League Division Two championship.
It was the club's first major league success for 56 years, since the Lancashire Combination championship of 1946–47.
Peters was recognised with three Manager of the Month awards and the Manager of the Year award.
2003–04 — CHALLENGE CUP CHAMPIONS
Bacup followed the championship with another trophy.
They defeated Newcastle Town 3–0 at Haig Avenue, Southport, to win the North West Counties League Challenge Cup.
It was the beginning of an increasingly successful modern era.
2007 — A RECORD CROWD
The club has also enjoyed some memorable occasions against bigger opposition.
In February 2007, Bacup hosted FC United of Manchester and recorded an attendance of approximately 2,000, which is listed by the North West Counties League as the club's record attendance.
Bacup's long history has also included meetings with several clubs that have subsequently played in the Premier League, including a famous meeting with Manchester United in 1911.
Bacup Borough FC vs FC United
2011–12 — ANOTHER TROPHY
The club enjoyed another major cup success in 2011–12.
Bacup Borough won the North West Counties League Challenge Cup, defeating Maine Road 5–0 in the final.
It was particularly memorable because the five-goal victory remains the biggest winning margin in a League Challenge Cup Final.
It was Bacup's second Challenge Cup triumph, following the 2003–04 victory.
2013–2015 — BACUP & ROSSENDALE BOROUGH
During this period the club underwent a name change.
In 2013, Bacup Borough became Bacup & Rossendale Borough.
Two years later, in 2015, the club reverted to its historic name: Bacup Borough.
2015–2020 — A CHALLENGING PERIOD
The second half of the 2010s brought mixed fortunes.
There were some strong individual seasons, but the club also experienced difficult league campaigns.
Bacup finished fifth in Division One in 2015–16, before lower finishes in the following seasons. In 2018–19 they finished eighth in Division One North.
The 2019–20 season was abandoned because of the COVID-19 pandemic, with Bacup having played 27 league matches.
The following 2020–21 season was also severely disrupted, with the club playing only three league matches before the campaign was abandoned.
2021–2022 — THE BEGINNING OF THE CURRENT ERA
Following the disruption caused by COVID-19, Bacup began rebuilding.
The 2021–22 campaign produced 15 league victories, nine draws and 12 defeats, with the team scoring 78 goals and finishing seventh in Division One North.
The foundations were being laid for what would become one of the club's most successful periods in recent memory.
2022–23 — EDWARD CASE CUP CHAMPIONS
Bacup Borough reached the Edward Case Cup Final in 2023.
They faced Ellesmere Rangers at the Cleric Stadium in Congleton.
Bacup produced an excellent performance to win 2–0, lifting the trophy in front of a crowd of 593.
It was a significant moment for a club with such a long history. But it wasn't the end as Bacup also reached the final of the Macron Cup against Congleton Town, losing the game on penalties.
It was the beginning of a remarkable cup run that would continue into the following season.
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Bacup Borough FC celebrate lifting the Edward Case Cup 2022-23
Manager Brent Peters with Coaching Staff
2023–24 — BACK-TO-BACK EDWARD CASE CUP WINNERS
Bacup Borough successfully defended the Edward Case Cup in 2023–24.
This time the opponents were Euxton Villa, with the final played at Wythenshawe Town's Ericstan Park.
Bacup won 2–1, making them Edward Case Cup winners for two consecutive seasons.
That achievement is now an important part of the club's modern history.
Bacup Borough FC celebrate with the Edward Case Cup 2023-24
2024–25 — LANCASHIRE CHALLENGE CUP FINAL
The club then enjoyed another memorable cup run.
Bacup Borough reached the Lancashire FA Challenge Trophy Final, where they faced Southport.
The final was played at the Brian Boys Stadium and attracted 584 spectators.
Southport eventually won 3–0, but reaching the final represented another major achievement for Bacup and demonstrated how far the club had progressed.
Live match commentary from The County Ground with Steve Brown & Jimmy Petruzzi
2025–26 — BUILDING MOMENTUM
The club continued to develop both on and off the pitch.
The modern Bacup Borough has increasingly focused on building a stronger football operation, improving matchday experience, developing commercial opportunities and increasing the club's profile within the local community.
The Brian Boys West View Stadium remains the club's historic home, meaning Bacup continues to play at the same ground more than 135 years after the move there in 1889.
The Brian Boys Stadium
2026 — BACUP BOROUGH TODAY
As of August 2026, Bacup Borough are competing in the North West Counties League Division One North.
The 2024 edition - By Roger Hindle
