Club Overview
Grantham Town Football Club are one of Lincolnshire’s historic non-league sides. Known as the Gingerbreads, the club was founded in 1874 and has built a long story through regional leagues, major cup ties, changing fortunes and a move from its traditional London Road home to the South Kesteven Sports Stadium, popularly known locally as The Meres.
For the 2026/27 season, Grantham compete in the Northern Premier League Midlands Division at Step 4 of the National League System. Their return to this division brings a new set of regional fixtures and away trips across the Midlands. The club’s colours are black and white, and its nickname is drawn from Grantham’s association with the local gingerbread tradition.
Quick Facts
| Full name | Grantham Town Football Club |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1874 |
| Nickname | The Gingerbreads |
| Home town | Grantham, Lincolnshire |
| Home ground | South Kesteven Sports Stadium, commonly called The Meres |
| Address | Trent Road, Grantham, Lincolnshire, NG31 7XQ |
| 2026/27 league | Northern Premier League Midlands Division (Step 4) |
| Club colours | Black and white |
| Official website | granthamtownfc.com |
A Detailed Club History
Origins and the early leagues
Grantham Town’s official history records the club’s foundation in 1874. In its early decades the team competed in regional and amateur football, winning the Midland Amateur League in 1910/11. Before the Second World War, Grantham also played in the Central Alliance, which they won in 1924/25, and the Midland Counties League, where they finished runners-up to Shrewsbury Town in 1938.
One of the most celebrated figures in the club’s history is Jack Macartney. A local football legend, Macartney remained Grantham’s leading scorer when he retired in 1955, having scored 416 goals in 456 appearances. That extraordinary return remains an important part of the club’s heritage and illustrates the place that prolific local players have held in its story.
The golden years: the 1960s and 1970s
The 1960s began a particularly successful period. Under manager Jim Rayner, Grantham won the Midland League in 1964, scoring 152 goals during the campaign. Terry Bly then arrived as player-manager in 1965, and the following years brought further league titles and memorable cup ties at London Road. The club’s official history records Midland League championships in 1971 and 1972, with the team regularly attracting strong interest for cup matches against established Football League opponents.
Those cup runs brought visits from sides including Swindon Town, Oldham Athletic, Stockport County, Rotherham United, Bradford City, Rochdale and Port Vale. One standout occasion came when Middlesbrough, managed by Jack Charlton, visited London Road for an FA Cup third-round tie. A record crowd of 6,578 watched Middlesbrough win 2–0. Grantham also reached the FA Trophy quarter-finals in 1972.
A move into the Southern League brought more success. Grantham won the Division One North title in 1978 and finished runners-up in the Premier Division the following year. After relegation, they won the Division One North title again, underlining the club’s ability to respond to setbacks and return to the top end of its division.
League changes and a notable managerial connection
As the non-league pyramid was reorganised, Grantham moved into the Northern Premier League. They finished fourth in 1983/84 under Bob Duncan, but after a difficult following season they were not re-elected and returned to the Southern League’s Midland Division. The following years were affected by financial difficulties, and results were inconsistent.
In 1987/88 the club appointed former Nottingham Forest and Northern Ireland player Martin O’Neill as manager, with John Robertson as his assistant. Grantham narrowly missed promotion in O’Neill’s first season and remained in contention the next year. O’Neill later moved on in his managerial career, which would eventually take him to the Premier League. This period forms an interesting link between Grantham’s regional football history and figures who went on to become widely known in the professional game.
Leaving London Road for The Meres
London Road was Grantham’s traditional home, shared with Grantham Cricket Club. The shared arrangement restricted football use during the cricket season and could affect fixture planning. When the cricket club’s lease ended and the site was earmarked for redevelopment, a replacement venue was needed within the town. Grantham temporarily groundshared with Spalding United during the second half of 1990/91 while the new stadium was completed.
The South Kesteven Sports Stadium was built by South Kesteven District Council as a multi-purpose sports facility. Grantham returned to the town for the opening in August 1991, receiving the keys on the morning of their first match there: an FA Cup tie against Ilkeston, which Grantham lost 5–1 in front of more than 1,400 spectators. The stadium sits on the former Meres playing field, a site familiar to local people through its earlier football pitches, which is why many supporters still call the venue The Meres.
The Gary Mills era and the 1997/98 campaign
A major modern high point came under Gary Mills and assistant Darron Gee. After finishing fourth in the Midland Division in 1996/97, Grantham led the table for much of the following season and secured the 1997/98 championship on the final Saturday. They also reached the FA Trophy quarter-finals, defeating Conference high-fliers Hednesford Town 2–1 in the third round before being eliminated by Southport after a replay.
The first Hednesford tie at Grantham drew 3,695 spectators, a stadium record at the time and the highest attendance in that round of the competition. The title and cup run remain two of the defining achievements of the club’s modern era. The following season brought a move towards full-time football and ambitious plans, but financial losses and instability followed. When the business backing the club withdrew, Grantham’s future was threatened; directors, officials and supporters worked to keep the club operating.
Recovery, cup memories and later milestones
Supporters and club officials helped Grantham through another uncertain period, with local dentist Dr Gordon Hotson becoming chairman after investing in the club. Manager John Wilkinson later oversaw a revival, although Grantham were relegated on goal difference. The team subsequently returned to the Premier Division as Eastern Division runners-up in May 2002, also winning the league’s Merit Cup after scoring 99 goals.
Another memorable cup run followed in the early 2000s. Grantham reached the FA Cup first round proper and drew Leyton Orient at home. The match was shown on Match of the Day; Grantham pushed their professional opponents but lost 2–1 to a late goal. The tie remains a notable national-competition moment for the Gingerbreads.
In 2011/12 Grantham reached the play-offs after a strong finish to the league season, winning their final five matches. They beat Newcastle Town 3–0 away in the semi-final before losing 2–0 to Rushall Olympic in the final. The club’s official history also records winning the Evo-Stik Division One South title by a ten-point margin in 2011/12, alongside the Lincolnshire County Shield after defeating Boston United in the final. In 2017/18 Grantham finished fourth in the Northern Premier League Premier Division and reached the play-off final after beating Warrington Town 3–0 in the semi-final, before losing 2–0 to Ashton United.
Honours and Memorable Achievements
- Founded in 1874, with a history spanning more than 150 years.
- Midland Amateur League champions: 1910/11.
- Central Alliance champions: 1924/25.
- Midland League champions: 1964, 1971 and 1972.
- Southern League Division One North champions: 1977/78 and again after relegation the following season.
- Midland Division champions: 1997/98.
- FA Trophy quarter-finalists: 1972 and 1997/98.
- FA Cup first round proper: early 2000s, including the televised tie against Leyton Orient.
- Evo-Stik Division One South champions: 2011/12, by a ten-point margin.
- Lincolnshire County Shield winners: 2011/12.
- Northern Premier League Premier Division play-off finalists: 2017/18.
- Returned to the Northern Premier League Midlands Division for 2026/27.
Ground Guide: South Kesteven Sports Stadium
Address: South Kesteven Sports Stadium, Trent Road, Grantham, Lincolnshire, NG31 7XQ.
The stadium opened in 1991 as a shared sports facility for Grantham Town and Grantham Athletics Club. Unlike a compact, football-only ground, the pitch is surrounded by an athletics track. That creates a different relationship between spectators and the action, but the venue has long been part of Grantham’s sporting life. The main and east stands were designed to provide open views across the track towards the pitch.
The original stadium was built to Conference standards and has been improved over time. Club facilities include a social club and bar area, function rooms and a sponsors’ lounge. The wider Meres site also includes leisure and community-sport facilities. The club has added accessibility improvements, including a lift to the first-floor social facilities, alongside other upgrades described in its stadium history.
The club’s stadium history gives a capacity of 3,960, with the figure governed by the entry calculation for the available turnstiles. It records 3,695 for the 1998 FA Trophy quarter-final against Southport as the stadium record in that historical account; the club’s all-time record attendance of 6,578 was at the former London Road ground for the Middlesbrough FA Cup tie. These figures refer to different venues and should not be confused.
Planning a visit
- Use the full address, South Kesteven Sports Stadium, Trent Road, Grantham, NG31 7XQ, for journey planning.
- Check Grantham Town’s official stadium and matchday pages before travelling for the latest entry, parking, accessibility and event arrangements.
- Because the venue is part of a wider sports complex, allow time to locate the football entrance and follow any matchday signage or steward instructions.
- The athletics track means spectators are set farther from the touchline than at many traditional non-league grounds.
- Confirm current admission prices, kick-off times and refreshment availability directly with the club; these details can change during a season.
Why Are Grantham Known as the Gingerbreads?
The nickname is linked to Grantham gingerbread, a local speciality. The club’s official history repeats a story that the product emerged in the 1740s after a baker mistakenly mixed ingredients while making Grantham whetstone biscuits. The resulting gingerbread proved popular, and the name became associated with the town. The nickname gives Grantham Town one of the more distinctive identities in English non-league football.
The Club Today
Grantham’s 2026/27 place in the Northern Premier League Midlands Division puts them back among a varied group of clubs from across the Midlands and neighbouring counties. The division includes established non-league names as well as clubs that have recently earned promotion or moved across divisions. For supporters, this creates fresh opponents and away days while keeping the club rooted in the regional football network.
The Gingerbreads’ story has included historic league titles, major cup ties, financial uncertainty, stadium change and repeated efforts to rebuild. The club’s longevity and the survival of its home in Grantham are central to that story. The 2026/27 season is another chapter rather than a conclusion, with the club seeking to establish itself in its new divisional setting.
NonLeagueReview Ground Notes
For a groundhopper, Grantham offers a venue with a clear contrast between traditional football history and a purpose-built multi-sport stadium. The athletics track is a defining feature, while the story of London Road, the move to The Meres and the 1997/98 FA Trophy run gives the visit historical context. Grantham is also a useful reminder that non-league clubs are shaped not only by results, but by the supporters, officials and local communities who help them through difficult periods.