The story of Dalton Dynamoes J.A.F.C
How a local kickabout sparked a legacy.
Dalton Dynamoes J.A.F.C. began not with a grand plan, but with a simple kickabout on a patch of grass behind Grosvenor Road in Huddersfield.
In 1997, Gary Hartley – then a scout for Huddersfield Town – was spending his evenings playing football with his children on the green space near his home. As the days passed, more and more local children began joining in. Many of them were talented, but had no team to play for. Some lived in single-parent households and didn’t have access to regular football elsewhere.
Recognising the need, Gary took matters into his own hands. Since he didn’t drive at the time, he decided that if he couldn’t take the children to football, he’d bring football to them. He designed and distributed leaflets in local shops and schools, inviting youngsters to a community training session.
That first session took place on Ridgeway Fields in June 1997, and to Gary’s surprise, 49 children turned up.
From that day, Dalton Dynamoes began to take shape.
The early days weren’t easy. Gary juggled full-time work with football coaching courses and the day-to-day demands of building a club from scratch. During the winter months, he secured three one-hour indoor sessions in the small gym at Rawthorpe High School to keep things going.
As the club grew, so did the support. In the second year, more volunteers came forward to help, and the community spirit around the Dynamoes began to flourish.
The club’s badge, still worn today in 2025, was born from a competition among the very first group of players. Its blue and yellow colours were chosen to establish a strong identity, standing out in an era when kit customisation was limited.
Many of the most eye-catching kits of the time featured those colours – and Dalton Dynamoes proudly made them their own.
The first official goal scored for Dalton Dynamoes?
That honour belongs to Craig Williams, a moment still remembered by those who were there at the beginning.
From a few children playing behind a house to a thriving grassroots football club, Dalton Dynamoes J.A.F.C. is a story of community, opportunity, and the power of bringing football home.
In 2025, a few descendants of the founders are with the club in various positions. Ensuring the club represents and demonstrates a well-defined pathway, strong community and volunteer coaching, and a player-first ethos across all age groups.
