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It is unclear whether Lancaster City were
formed in 1902 or 1905, but either way they were wound
down and was reformed in 1911.
The
club played again in the Lancashire Combination League
up to and beyond the First World War. After establishing
themselves in this league, they applied for membership
to the Football League but were turned down in 1921. However,
the club were not fazed by the rejection and went on to
win the league title in the Combination the following
season.
After
the Second World War, the club went through a lengthy
period when success was scarce. They were turned down
for membership to the new Northern Premier League in 1968
and had to continue in the Lancashire Combination. However,
they only had to wait two years when promotion to the
NPL was finally achieved. In 1972 the club reached the
Second Round of the FA Cup, beating Boston United away
in the First Round. This was to be the Lincolnshire sides
only home defeat of the season. Lancaster eventually went
out to Notts County in the Second Round.
1976
saw a fire destroy the club's main stand which, in turn,
sparked a gradual decline at the club. Financial difficulties
meant that they could not afford to join the new Alliance
Premier League and also left the NPL in 1982 to join the
more local North West Counties League. The club nearly
closed in 1984 but was saved with the help of the local
newspaper. However, the club finished second from bottom
that season, and it was they and not the bottom side that
were relegated..... Because they did not have a toilet!
The
club played in the North West Counties Division Two for
the following two years until the Northern Premier League
set up a Second Division which Lancaster applied to and
were duly accepted. After early seasons of struggle, the
club began to establish itself in this league and came
close to promotion on several occasions. In 1996 Lancaster
City finally achieved their promotion back to Northern
Premier League Premier Division by winning their first
title for 60 years.
The
team struggled to stay up in their first two seasons,
with manager Alan Tinsley leaving the club and then returning
the following season. However, the team eventually found
more consistency and finished fourth in the 2000/01 season.
They then went one better the following year as they finished
third. They were chasing leaders Burton Albion in second
for much of the season but, after losing only one game
before Christmas, they then went and lost another eleven
after the new year which allowed Vauxhall Motors to take
second spot. Standards really slipped in the 2002/03 season
as the Dollies finished a disappointing 17th. However,
things improved in the 2003/04 season as the Dollies secured
an eighth placed finish and, with it promotion to the
Conference North.
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