Silsden - The Regal Interiors Stadium

Silsden FC

The Regal Interiors Stadium

Keighley Road

Silsden

Keighley

BD20 0EH

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Ground Number: 1449

Friday 18th July 2025

Silsden 1-1 Curzon Ashton

Friendly

SILSDEN FC - A BRIEF HISTORY

The club was established in 1904, adopting the blue and white colours of a recently defunct rugby team and also taking over the vacated ground. They still play on the field today, albeit with the pitch being moved. The club joined the Keighley & District League and won it in 1909 and 1915, with a short spell in the Bradford & District League sandwiched in between. Following the end of the war, Silsden became a founder member of the West Riding League, but their stay here was short-lived, and they led a nomadic existence, league-wise. Success came with the Airedale & Craven League title in 1932, their third Keighley & District title in 1940 and the Craven League in 1964. The 1970s saw West Riding County Amateur and three West Yorkshire League titles. The 1980s saw turbulent times with the club going into abeyance for a couple of short periods owing to ground, financial and player availability issues. The end of the 90s saw a sustained period of success. Silsden were Craven League runners-up in 1997 and Division 1 runners-up in 1998. The Premier Division title followed in 1999, and with it, promotion to the West Riding County Amateur League. Division 2 and Division 1 titles followed in 2000 and 2001 to make it five successive promotions. In 2002, Silsden were runners-up to Brighouse Town in the Premier Division before they won the title two seasons in a row.

Elevation to the North West Counties League was achieved in 2004, thanks to a groundsharing agreement with local rugby side Keighley Cougars. Starting in the league's second tier, they finished as runners-up to Cammell Laird in their first season. Eleven seasons were spent in the top tier, with the best finish of 9th coming in 2009 and a move back to their refurbished ground the following year. After relegation from the Premier Division in 2018, Silsden won the Division 1 title two years later. In 2019, the club was switched to the NCEL Premier, and after a series of mid-table finishes, they won the title last season. They will play at step 4 for the first time this season as members of the NPL D1 West.

Silsden have had twenty FA Cup campaigns but have only gone as far as the 1st Qualifying Round twice.  In 2023, they had a good FA Vase run, beating Newcastle Blue Star, Billingham Synthonia, Redcar Athletic, Abbey Hey and Newcastle University before they lost to Hallam in the 4th Round. Recent local cup honours include three West Riding County Challenge Cups, two Northern Plant Hire Cups and five Keighley Cups, although many more competitions were won in earlier years. The ground's record attendance of 1,125 came for a 2011 friendly game against Bradford City.

The town of Silsden is located near Keighley and the city of Bradford. It has a population of around 8,500. It has a history in milling and nailmaking. These latter "cobbler's nails" gave Silsden its nickname of "Cobbydale". The Leeds and Liverpool Canal became a key element of local infrastructure upon its completion in 1816. Silsden was then connected to both a significant manufacturing city (Leeds) and a major ocean port (Liverpool) by canal. Canal boats allowed for the cheap transportation of bulk goods, especially coal and wool, to the area.

Bonaparte's Restaurant, on Kirkgate, was the subject of the first-ever episode of Gordon Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares in 2004. After the show aired, the restaurant's owner, Sue Ray, threatened to take legal action against Ramsay, Channel 4 and the programme makers, Optomen, after claiming that the show put her £400,000 in debt. The young 21-year-old chef Tim Gray also became famous when he burnt some things, undercooked others and couldn't even cook an omelette. The most famous scene was when he fed Ramsay a rancid scallop, causing him to be sick. A few years later, Gray was caught drink-driving and blamed the show for ruining his life. 

MY VISIT

I was always keen to treat myself on my birthday weekend, and the fact that there was a derby between Wythenshawe and Wythenshawe Town. With me having visited the away side for a similar early kickoff and the hosts having already been on the North West Counties Hop, it meant that it would be a useful tick. I just needed something for Friday night and was presented with a number of options. I wouldn't have minded Guilsfield or Ruthin in the Welsh Cup, but the nearest campsites were miles away. Colin had agreed to come along, and we agreed that camping was a good way to save money. Silsden was perfect in that respect, as the nearest site was a ten-minute walk from the ground. The only let down was no decent pubs, so I'd take my own and save money. The clincher was an amenable campsite owner who was happy to let me leave it until the last minute to book. This was important with some friendlies often being cancelled at short notice.

From our game at Westwood Wanderers, Colin and I drove home. It was a far more pleasant trip than the one on the way there. It was a bit of a diversion to drop Colin off, but the buses were infrequent at this time of night. I dropped him off at 22.15 and arrived home 15 minutes later. It was hard to get to sleep as we had done a lot of talking and planning for a September trip up north. It was the usual groggy Wednesday at work, though as ever it was my short day. In the evening, I started my blogs and seeing that the website I use for camping wasn't accepting bookings for the next day, I got Friday booked just in case. Thursday was a busy day at work and a frustrating afternoon owing to my intended second game on Saturday not going ahead. I eventually found something and was tempted to treat myself to a drink. I got as far as getting the bottle out of the garage and into the kitchen, but then decided to wait until Friday.

My spirits were lifted in the evening when I watched Haverfordwest v Floriana on S4C's English stream. The Welsh side raced into a 2-0 lead, but some strange refereeing decisions, especially a sending off and a penalty, saw the Maltese side take control and win. It was a cracking game though, the first live TV game aside from Wycombe that I've watched since I watched Connah's Quay v Bravo last year. It was a fairly early night as I knew I'd be driving after work. I filled up with petrol before work and was a couple of minutes late. It was the usual busy Friday and I wasn't a huge fan of working on my birthday but at least it wasn't as bad as 2002 when a manager that looked and sounded like Jeanette Krankie gave me a disciplinary for some trivial offence and cost me my yearly bonus. I got a meal deal and got changed and was out about 1.10. I'd rather have left early to be honest, but no chance on a Friday.

 

I met Colin outside and the journey prognosis did not look great. It was worse than expected, 20 minutes out of Wycombe when it usually takes a few minutes thanks to the traffic light phasing being changed. Then, off the M40 early through Banbury and finally on the M1 there were delays. We got to our campsite at 6 by which point, I had been working for 14 hours. Colin had an upset stomach and refused to throw his boxers away despite the stains so I pitched the tent while he washed them. Originally, he wanted to chuck them in my boot and sort them when he got home, but that wasn't happening. Personally, I'd have thrown them away. The friendly campsite owner came and said hello. After all the other bits, it was 6.30 by the time we left, and I poured myself a pint of cider to drink on the way. Colin went straight to the ground whilst I headed to Sid's Kitchen, where I had Masalla Chips and a samosa in hot gravy for £8.90. Both were excellent as I walked back to the ground. It was £6 in and £3.80 for a pint of Cold River Cider. Not quite Spoons prices but still great value.

 

I went outside for the game. I'd got a goal in minute 68 on the Golden Goal. Curzon Ashton in a nice purple kit were well on top, but they were wasteful, much to the delight of the young Silsden fans behind the goal who gave their team excellent vocal backing all night. Curzon Ashton also had a goal adjudged offside on five minutes. Finally, on 27 minutes, the pressure told. Curzon Ashton played a good through ball and a Crispin McClean finish beyond the keeper made it 0-1. They also hit the bar a couple of times, including right on half-time. A load of Curzon Ashton changes killed the game. However, in the last minute, Silsden equalised from the spot, much to the delight of the young ultras. It had been a bit of a rush before the game, but I was looking forward to relaxing while doing my blog. Thankfully, my car seat showed no signs of Colin's antics earlier.

THE GROUND 

THE REGAL INTERIORS STADIUM is set in lovely countryside and rolling hills. However, it is still close to a nice town which has limited pubs but some great takeaways. Sid's Kitchen is very decent. Back at the ground is a nice bar and basic food, including pies. There are two small stands, one seated and one standing, holding around 150 each. There's plenty of parking, and it's also close to bus stops, with a train station serving the town.