Ossett Town were formed in 1936 and played in the Leeds League (later renamed the West Yorkshire League). They played on a pitch behind Fern House Working Men’s Club on Wakefield Road.
During the war, Town switched to the Heavy Woollen League and had to use a pitch on Back Lane when the army commandeered Fern House. After the war in 1945 Town joined the Yorkshire League, the best league position was third in 1949/50, having won the County Cup the season before beating Salts 4-2 at Bradford City’s Valley Parade.
Although attendances were regularly 1000+ Town’s fortunes waned in the 60’s and 70’s alternating between Division 2 and Division 3 of the Yorkshire League.
A bright spot during this period was the acquisition of the Ingfield site after Derek Blackburn was sold to the then Swansea Town in 1957 for £1350.
In 1982 Town again won the County Cup beating Bradley Rangers 2-0 at Huddersfield Town’s Leeds Road ground in the final season of the Yorkshire League finishing runners up in Division2.
Ossett Town joined the newly formed Northern Counties East League in 1982/83. 1987 saw the start of the rise in fortunes at Ossett Town, when Micky Bullock was appointed manager, Town won the Division 2 Championship in 1988/89. The following season Town gained promotion to the Premier League and won the League Cup beating Vase finalists Bridlington Town 1-0 at North Ferriby’s ground.
During this time floodlights were installed, the pitch re-laid, new dressing rooms built and the social club extended as Town prepared to move up the pyramid also the record attendance was set (2600) when Town entertained Manchester United in a pre-season friendly.
After nine seasons in the Premier Division Ossett Town gained promotion to the UniBond League in 1998/99 after finishing runners up to Ossett Albion who were denied promotion due to ground grading issues.
Finishing 8th in the first two seasons in the higher league Town finished runners up in 2001/02 and thought they had gained promotion to the Premier Division, but this time the ground grading rules worked against them and promotion was denied.
The following season a number of key players left the club and Town just avoided relegation finishing in 20th place. Last season Town got off to the worst possible start and lost the opening match of the season 7-0 at Workington, with the club pointless and losing to rivals Ossett Albion in the FA Cup, Town searched for a new manager and appointed Steve Richards to the helm. Under Steve’s leadership Town won 13 drew 10 and lost 5 league games to finish in fourteenth place just missing promotion through the re-organisation of the leagues.
Fate again intervened and following the sad demise of Telford United, Town gained promotion at the eleventh hour
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