THE DUCKS ARE FLOATING WITH AQUAFORCE

Shaw Lane Association FC plays in the Evostick Northern Premier League Premier Division at Level 7  in the Pyramid. The club has its base in Barnsley and will play Mansfield Town from the Football League in the next round of the FA Cup. Last weekend they beat Barrow AFC 2-1 to earn that treat. The club has had a meteoric rise especially in the last 5 seasons.

In 1991 a bunch of 11 year olds started playing under the name of Shaw Lane and by 2004 the juniors and seniors formed the Shaw Lane Community  Sports' Association. At present the community club entertains one adult male team, a Ladies team and juniors at 16s, 13 x 2, 12, 10, 9 8,7 and Nursery. (Fewer than Hepworth United FC!!)

Drawing on local Barnsley teams from Wosborough Common FC and Barugh Green FC in 2011, the club became known as Aquaforce Barnsley FC, after their local sponsor.

The club joined the Sheffield and Hallamshire County Senior League Division 1 and was promoted as runners up to the Premier in 2011-12. They became Shaw Lane Aquaforce.

Next season (2012-13) came promotion as Premier champions to the Northern Counties East League Division 1 and then quickly rose into the NCEL Premier in 2013-14 as runners up.

Promotion as champions in 2014-15 took the club into the Northern Premier League Division 1 South, which they then won after a "rest" in 2016-17 and moved into the NPL Premier.
During this season they won the Sheffield and Hallamshire County Senior Cup to complete a remarkable double.

Having moved up the pyramid, FA Regulations prevented the club from including the sponsors Aquaforce in their name and they also moved grounds from Shaw Lane to Sheerien Park which the club has agreed to share with Athersley Recreation FC. Moving from Shaw Lane was a pity as this was a major sports complex near the town centre. Barnsley CC, for example play on the site, as do the major rugby club and they are conference facilities, tennis course etc. Sharing with Athersley means that the Ducks have joined the Penquins.