Club Overview
Bourne Town Football Club, known as the Wakes, are a Lincolnshire club founded in 1883 and based at Abbey Lawn in Bourne. The club has spent much of its history in regional football, building a record of Peterborough League and United Counties League success before returning to the national non-league pyramid in the modern era. Their long-standing home and distinctive nickname give them a strong identity in the local game.
Bourne Town compete in the Northern Premier League Midlands Division in 2026/27. They earned promotion to Step 4 after success in the United Counties League in 2024/25, but their place in the division for 2026/27 followed a reprieve after the end of the 2025/26 season. The club’s latest chapter is therefore about establishing itself at this level and making the most of a place among a varied group of Midlands non-league sides.
Quick Facts
| Full name | Bourne Town Football Club |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1883 |
| Nickname | The Wakes |
| Location | Bourne, Lincolnshire |
| Home ground | Abbey Lawn, also known as the JJ Mac Stadium in sponsor branding |
| 2026/27 league | Northern Premier League Midlands Division (Step 4) |
| Historic highlights | Peterborough League titles in 1933/34, 1945/46 and 1946/47; United Counties League titles in the late 1960s and early 1970s |
| Official website | bournetownfc.co.uk |
Club History: The Wakes of Bourne
Origins and early league success
Bourne Town were founded in 1883 and developed through the local football competitions of Lincolnshire and the Peterborough area. The club won the Peterborough League championship in 1933/34, then returned to the top of the competition in consecutive seasons after the Second World War, winning in 1945/46 and 1946/47. These titles established Bourne as a successful regional side and laid the foundation for later progress.
The nickname “the Wakes” is part of the club’s distinctive local identity. The club’s historical account links it to a competition inspired by Hereward the Wake, the medieval figure associated with resistance in the Fens. The nickname is a reminder that local history and community tradition can be as important to a non-league club as a list of league finishes.
Central Alliance and United Counties League success
Bourne joined the Central Alliance and won the championship in 1959/60. The late 1960s and early 1970s became another high point. Under Terry Bates, the club won three United Counties League championships between 1968 and 1972, adding cup successes during a period when the team was a regular contender in regional football.
That run of titles is an important part of the club’s heritage. The United Counties League has long served as a key route for clubs in the East Midlands and neighbouring counties, and Bourne’s success connected the team with a wider network of regional opponents. Over the following decades, the Wakes continued to compete in local and regional competitions, maintaining Abbey Lawn as their home.
Modern rebuilding and the route back up
As the non-league pyramid evolved, ground grading and facilities became increasingly important for clubs seeking promotion. Bourne’s modern progress included improvements at Abbey Lawn to support a move into the higher divisions of the United Counties League. The club won the United Counties League Division One title in 2023/24 and progressed into the Premier Division North.
The next major step came in 2024/25, when Bourne Town secured promotion to Step 4 after a successful campaign in the United Counties League Premier North. That achievement brought a higher standard of opposition and a wider range of away trips, and marked a return to the national non-league pyramid. In the 2025/26 season the Wakes faced the challenge of maintaining that status. Although their league outcome initially put their Step 4 place at risk, a reprieve following a vacancy elsewhere in the system kept Bourne in the Northern Premier League Midlands Division for 2026/27.
The reprieve does not diminish the work required to compete at this level. The club must continue to develop its squad, facilities and matchday operation while building on the promotion that brought it into the division. The 2026/27 campaign offers another opportunity to consolidate and create a stronger platform for the future.
Honours and Memorable Milestones
- Founded in 1883.
- Peterborough League champions: 1933/34, 1945/46 and 1946/47.
- Central Alliance champions: 1959/60.
- United Counties League championships in 1968/69, 1969/70 and 1971/72, according to the club’s historical record.
- United Counties League Division One champions: 2023/24.
- Earned promotion to Step 4 after the 2024/25 United Counties League Premier North campaign.
- Retained a place in the Northern Premier League Midlands Division for 2026/27 following a reprieve.
Ground Guide: Abbey Lawn
Ground: Abbey Lawn, Bourne, Lincolnshire. The venue has also been known by sponsor branding, including the JJ Mac Stadium name.
Abbey Lawn is a long-standing home for Bourne Town and the setting for the club’s progress through local and regional leagues. Improvements to the ground were part of the club’s modern effort to meet the standards needed for promotion into the higher divisions of the United Counties League and then Step 4. The stadium’s sponsor name can change, so Abbey Lawn is the most useful enduring reference for visitors.
Because ground grading and matchday arrangements can change, visitors should check the club’s official information before setting off. This is especially useful for confirming the exact entrance, parking availability, admission prices and any accessibility arrangements for a particular fixture.
Planning a visit
- Destination: Abbey Lawn, Bourne, Lincolnshire. Use the current club directions for the most suitable entrance and postcode.
- Admission: Confirm the current ticket price and concessions with the club before travelling.
- Parking: Check the latest matchday guidance for parking availability and any restrictions.
- Facilities: Consult the club for current clubhouse, refreshments and spectator-facility information.
- Accessibility: Contact the club in advance for details of accessible routes, viewing areas and facilities.
- Kick-off: Check the official fixture list for any changes or cup-specific arrangements.
Bourne Town and Regional Football
Bourne is part of a broad football region that includes clubs from Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire, Northamptonshire and the East Midlands. The Wakes’ historic league titles show how deeply the club is rooted in that regional network, while the modern move into Step 4 brings new opponents and a different level of travel and preparation. The fixtures that become local highlights can change from year to year as teams move between divisions.
The club’s recent journey also illustrates the importance of off-field readiness. Promotion is not only about league points; facilities, finances, volunteers and the ability to sustain a higher-level programme all matter. Abbey Lawn’s development and Bourne’s place in the NPL Midlands Division are connected parts of that challenge.
NonLeagueReview Ground Notes
Bourne Town offer groundhoppers a club with a history dating to the nineteenth century and a modern story of promotion, adaptation and consolidation. The Peterborough League titles and United Counties League success give the Wakes a strong regional heritage, while their recent move into Step 4 has brought a new set of challenges. For a visit, use Abbey Lawn as the ground reference and check current sponsor branding and matchday arrangements with the club.