BRIEF HISTORY OF CLUB:

Ingleby Barwick has developed considerably over the last 10 years to become one of Europe’s largest modern housing developments.  Located just south of the neighbouring town of Thornaby and part of the Borough of Stockton on Tees, Ingleby Barwick from its infancy had huge potential in terms of establishing a football club.

In response to demands from a very high ‘young family’ population, Ingleby Barwick FC was officially formed in 1997.

The club secured temporary access to a site consisting of one pitch on the southern perimeter of the town the following year.

Over the last 5 years the dedicated coaches and officials who founded the club have recruited additional volunteers to enable the club to expand considerably with one senior team and seven junior teams from under 10 to under 16 all competing in the Teesside Junior Alliance League.

The club has had considerable success on and off the football field.  The majority of the teams within the club have year after year gained promotion to higher levels within the league structure and the club also secured FA Charter Standard Status in January 2001.

With a significant number of players also representing the club from the neighbouring town of Thornaby, in 2002 the club decided to change its name to Thornaby and Ingleby Barwick FC (TIBS – Thornaby & Ingleby Barwick Soccer being the abbreviated club name).

The extended geographical base has allowed the club to recruit more players especially in the under 10’s age group, with some extremely promising squads of young players being established.

Having access to only one pitch in the town has presented major problems especially as the site has serious drainage problems, size restrictions and limited changing room facilities.  Last season (2002/2003), the club played home matches on 7 No. different venues located across the Borough.

Behind the scenes a local businessman and football fan who was well aware of the shortage of football playing facilities had been working really hard to secure a site at the main entrance to Ingleby Barwick (but geographically part of Thornaby) for new football pitches. 

After long and protracted negotiations the site previously owned by TRANSCO/British Gas was sold to Stockton Council. The Council will in turn offer it back to the Football Club on a 25 year lease arrangement.

It is therefore a key aim of the club to develop the site (3 full size pitches, 2 mini-soccer pitches and changing room block) in a manner that will ensure high standard of football playing facilities are available to the communities of Thornaby and Ingleby Barwick.