Pontefract is known to have had a football club as far back as the 1890s when a side, presumably composed mainly of soldiers, completed in the West Yorkshire League as Pontefract Garrison. Much of the history requires further research but it is known that a Pontefract Borough Club reached the dizzy heights of the Yorkshire League in the late 1920s. By 1935 a club called Tanshelf Gems managed to acquire a ground on Ackworth Road, moved there and became Pontefract United.

The current club was formed in 1958 enjoying considerable success on and off the field, much work being done during the miners’ strike cementing relationships with the mining industry and the local community. The floodlight opening in 1987 saw the Colls take on Hull City in a friendly watched by a record crowd of 1,000.

Recent History

2012/13 – The season ended with only one defeat in the last ten games including victories over Askern Villa of 9-0 and 10-2. The club finished 5th for the third season in a row.

2013/14 – This was a season of consolidation which ended in a disappointing 9th place but with a clear plan in place for the 2014/15 season.

2014/15 – The plan was delivered as the Colls finished as runners-up in North Counties East League Division One and were promoted back to the NCEL Premier Division after a 15-year absence. Along the way they recorded the highest away win, best aggregate score, most goals scored (joint with Louth Town), second best defence and the most clean sheets.

2015/16 – The latter part of the season saw the Colls with a new management team of Craig Parry, Manager and former Colls Keeper, assisted by Craig Rouse and Nigel Danby. The Colls fought to the bitter end but ended up third from bottom and back in Division One!

2016/17 – A great start to the season led by Manager Craig Parry, Assistant Manager Craig Rouse and Head Player/Coach Luke Jeffs saw the Colls win 9 from 9 (including pre-season friendlies) The League performance saw some brilliant runs of form including one of 21 games with only 1 defeat. With the Colls fate in their own hands they only needed to win away at Worsborough Bridge in the final game. This they duly did and returned to the NCEL Premier Division at the first time of asking!

2017/18 – A fantastic season saw the Colls produce many impressive statistics, best attack, best defence, most goals scored (134), best goal difference (+96), biggest away win (8-0 v Thackley), most clean sheets (17) on their way to promotion to Step 4 of non-league for the first time in their history.

2018/19 – After two consecutive promotions the Colls had an extremely successful first ever season at Step Four of non-league in the NPL Division One East finishing as runners up to Morpeth Town. A good pre-season saw the Colls gain two pieces of silverware – The Bill Cook Memorial Trophy against Glasshoughton Welfare and the Inaugural Colliery Cup from a keenly contested game against NPL Division One West side Atherton Collieries. The Colls narrowly lost out on promotion to the NPL Premier Division at the first time of asking after losing the play-off final!

2019/20 - Pre-season saw the Colls again retain the Bill Cook Memorial Trophy against Glasshoughton Welfare (winning 9-2) and also retaining the Colliery Cup against the 2018/19 NPL Division One West champions Atherton Collieries (winning 6-1) This season was unfortunately terminated in March and results expunged with the Colls sitting in fourth place with several games in hand on teams above.

2020/21 – A successful pre-season for the Colls retaining the Bill Cook Memorial Trophy against Glasshoughton Welfare (winning 5-1) and winning the last 5 pre-season - unfortunately this season was also terminated.

2021/22 – After again retaining the Bill Cook Memorial Trophy, we are very much looking forward to a full season under new management team – Craig Rouse, Andy Seed, Jimmy Williams, Head Coach Gavin Rothery and Goal Keeping Coach Ross McKenna.