Gorleston Football Club's history documented in new book

The last time football was played at the home of Gorleston Football Club was April 2022 - with the team temporarily playing at the home of Lowestoft Town last season.

The ground has been torn down to make way for a housing development, but memories of the Green's victories and defeats there live on.

And now Green's fixtures secretary David Hardy has captured highlights from the forty years the team spent at the Woodfarm Lane ground in the new book Gorleston Football Club: The Emerald Park Years.

FLASHBACK: Action from the Ridgeons League game at Emerald Park, Gorleston (green) v Clacton (white). Gorleston's no 10 Gary Ingram. Picture - Angela Sharpe (Image: Angela Sharpe)

The book, which is available on Amazon, contains all of Gorleston's first team results from their debut game at Emerald Park in August 1982, right up to the final, title-winning game of the 2021-22 season.

FLASHBACK: Ely City 2-1 defeat to Gorleston at Emerald Park. Date unknown. Picture - Newsquest Archives (Image: Newsquest Archives)

There are stats, records, news and stories from that period in the club's history, as well as plenty of pictures.

Mr Hardy, who has been a Gorleston supporter for fifty years, said the idea for the book came about while the Greens were clearing their former ground.

Gorleston Football Club's fixtures secretary David Hardy with a copy of the club's new book. Picture - Gorleston Football Club (Image: Gorleston Football Club)

“We came across a copy of Evergreen by Brian Bunn, which was the history of Gorleston FC up to 2001," Mr Hardy said.

"I thought that us leaving Emerald Park would be a good time to bring it up to date and document a particular period of Gorleston FC's history. 

FLASHBOOK: Football action between Gorleston and Diss Town from Emerald Park in 2012. Picture - Newsquest Archives (Image: Newsquest Archives)

"As well as all the results and scorers from the Emerald Park era, there are new stories and more details about the time immediately prior to the move, as well as up to date records and honours."

The Greens last played at Emerald Park in April 2022, where they beat Lakenheath 2-0 and secured a title win for the Thurlow Nunn Premier Division.

Last year's celebration as Gorleston won the league. Picture - David Hardy (Image: David Hardy)

The Emerald Park site will be transformed into a housing estate comprising some 97 homes.

In November last year, part of Emerald Park was set ablaze in a suspected arson attack.