The club began life in 1921 as Stanton Football Club, the team of Stanton Ironworks, hence their nickname "The Ironmen". From those early days as a works team the club has, in recent years, evolved into a community based organisation with no link to the Stanlon works. At senior level, the club fielded teams in a variety of leagues progressing through the Midland Amateur Alliance and Derby Senior League to the Central Alliance. There followed a spell in the Notts Alliance prior to entering the East Midlands Regional League Division One in 1977.

              Promotion brought a move into the Central Midlands League and the football pyramid system.

             Their direct admission into the Premier Division was justified by a fourth place finish in their first season, this progress was confirmed the very next year by a league and cup winning double. The club was denied promotion on the grounds of lack of facilities but did eventually win promotion to the top division before dropping back into the Premier. In 1991 the club changed its name to Stanton Ilkeston FC to strengthen links to the town and local community. They continued to play in the Central Midland League with two teams and in 1998 the committee saw the need to expand the club. At senior level the incorporation of Ilkeston Pioneer FC meant that the club would now run two teams in the Long Eaton Sunday League while three junior teams were formed at Under 10, 11 and13 age groups.

          Unfortunately at the end of season 2001/2002 the decision was taken to withdraw the senior teams from the Central Midland League. The loss of the club's base at the 'Stute' and the costs involved in maintaining a commitment in the football pyramid were the key factors in the decision. Hopefully this will not be permanent and we all hope that at sometime in the future the club will once again be represented at that level of the pyramid.

         The future of the club now lies in developing the younger players and this can be seen by the fact that several of the lads from the Under 13 team of 1998 were introduced to the senior game in the Long Eaton Sunday League and acquitted themselves most capably. The expansion continues year on year and the club now boasts squads ranging from the youngsters of the nursery squad up to under 18. Ultimately the club is aiming to give the players the opportunity to join us at nursery level and stay with us until they retire from playing.  

        From its origins as a works team, with a single side, Stanton Ilkeston has grown to a membership of over a hundred players of all ages and is proud of its position in the local football community and in the town.