The club reformed in 1959 after a previous existence of Diggle A.F.C. had disbanded in 1955. The ‘new’ Diggle based its headquarters at Diggle Band Club and played their home matches on the Sam Road ground famously known as the ‘Tip’. Geoff and Gordon Wood were the instrumental founders of the team and with Bill Langhorn as the energetic administrator; they set about recruiting players for the new village team. The club played its first two seasons in the Saddleworth League until its demise in 1962, at which time Bill Langhorn spotted that this young team had potential, and Diggle found fresh challenges when they joined the Ashton League.
In 1963 Diggle won their first Trophy when they won the Ashton Junior League Cup, at Mossley’s Seel Park. The team at that time comprised of two 16 year olds, three 18 year olds and the rest made up of lads in there early to late twenties, and they went on to win further League honours in the Ashton League before they were to join the Oldham Amateur League in 1965.
During this phase Diggle A.F.C. had there most successful period and they went on to win everything that was possible to win in the Oldham Amateur League as they became 3 time winners of the Division 1 knock out Cup, crowned League Champions once, Runners-up twice, and culminating in a Challenge Cup victory on the hallowed turf of Boundary Park in 1968.
The team was continually improving and in the 1968 the club switched leagues again as they stepped in to the South East Lancs League. Starting in Division One East the club gained promotion in their first season as well as winning the Hey’s Trophy. Now in the Premier Division Diggle’s opposition involved the likes of Shawside, Robinson Rees, Sacred Heart,I.C.L,Heywood,Clayton Amatuers,Marsden and Mount Pleasant just to mention a few teams from the past. During the next 27 years in the South East Lancs Diggle moved grounds to Churchill Playing Fields in 1968, formed a second team in the mid seventies and won the Frank Reynolds Trophy. The various ups and downs of promotion and relegation, Cup Final places and a best Premier League finish of third placed were all experienced during this period.
But in 1993 the club made a decision that would revitalise the whole club, and after a vote it was elected that the club would switch leagues, and in the 1993/94 season Diggle A.F.C duly joined the Huddersfield and District League. Both teams began at the bottom, the 1st Team starting in Division Five and the 2nd Team in Reserve Division Four. Championships and promotions followed for both over the next couple of seasons, and in 1995 the Reserve team completed the ‘Double ‘ and were crowned as Reserve Division Three champions and Gee Cup Winners. At the start of the 1996/97 season and with interest and enthusiasm rising a 3rd team was formed, who mirrored the achievements of the past to gain successive promotions and Cup successes.
Bringing us to present day the 1st Team is currently strongly contesting Division Two, the 2nd Team is offering stiff opposition in Reserve Division One and the third Team is following up closely in Reserve Division Two. The management and committee still comprises of players from those early days in the Ashton, Oldham and South East Lancs Leagues, past players such as Geoff Wood, Gordon Wood, George Bradbury and Bob Brierley all still take an active role in the running of the club. These stalwarts are now ably supported by the new wave of managers and senior players comprising of Ronnie Wilde,Nick Redford, Mark Smith, Richard Devy, Darren McCormick and John Wood.
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