In 1931, the club lost their Football League status and returned to the Lancashire Combination, where, following the summer reformation of 1934, they played on until ceasing all activity in 1936.

A new amateur club, Nelson Town, was assembled, playing at Seedhill until the outbreak of World War II in September 1939.

On 23 October 1882, a meeting was held between members of Nelson Cricket Club at the Victoria Hall on Scotland Road; John Greenwood presided over the meeting and enrolled around 25 members to the newly formed Nelson Football Club before a trial match held on 11 November 1882 saw the Probables beat a team of Improbables 3–0.

However, after enduring a month-long suspension from The Football Association (FA), the club ceased all operations during the 1898–99 season following a 3–2 home defeat against Ashton North End on 12 January.

They remained closed during World War I until they reformed in 1918, joining the Central League in 1919–20 and staying there for two seasons.

The following season, they finished as runners-up to Darlington on their return to the Third Division North; since then, the football team has never managed to compete at a national level.

Within three years, continuing financial pressures saw the Football League directors ordering that the club must permanently close, following a meeting on 17 May 1934.

A new company was quickly formed that summer with the Nelson Leader of 3 August 1934 further reporting a change of kit to white shirts and black shorts; yet just two years later, Nelson ceased football activities on 4 August 1936 on the eve of the new season after once again "incurring a big financial loss".

Following their final game of the 1938–39 campaign, Town announced a first venture into senior football for the coming season as new members of the West Lancashire League.

Town lost 3–2 at home to Netherfield Reserves on 2 September, following a 0–0 draw at Astley Bridge in their opening game on 26 August.

Seedhill hosted for the Nelson Home Guard team members of the newly formed Burnley Wartime League.

Following the Second World War and a public meeting held at the Imperial Ballroom Carr Road on 6 April 1946, Nelson FC was re-formed, and immediately joined the Lancashire Combination in time for the new season — finishing 11th in 1946–47.

A fourth-place finish in 1947–48 was followed by the club being crowned champions in 1949–50 — scoring 125 league goals — additionally winning the Lancashire Combination Cup.

[11] Nelson became founder members of the new North West Counties Football League, joining the Third Division.

continued to operate junior teams, however, and made an application to rejoin the North West Counties League for the 2011–12 season, later approved by the FA.

[13] Mark Fell was appointed 1st team manager in November 2012 after Michael Morrison and Robert Grimes were sacked.

In March, despite a Lancashire FA suspension, an agreement was made to return to Nelson Cricket Club.

Twice in the 1890s, fresh moves away were considered as Nelson looked at a site near Kew Gardens in 1892 and a field behind the Golden Ball Inn three years later.

The club's highest attendance at the stadium was 14,979 for a Third Division North match with Bradford City on 27 April 1929.

[10] The Burnley Express of 1 May 1929 commenting on the record gate at the match which Nelson lost 1–0 stated there was "Glorious weather prevailed and City had one of their biggest followings, there being little doubt that the visitors to the ground were in the majority.

[citation needed] Nelson played their final home game at Seedhill on 28 March 1971 when a crowd of over a thousand gathered to witness the first Sunday fixture at the stadium.

Seedhill, having hosted the Nelson Admirals speedway team between 1967 and 1969, latterly became a well known stock car venue before its eventual demolition in the early 1980s when the M65 motorway cut through the area.

Nelson moved to Victoria Park (known locally as Little Wembley) in time for their opening home fixture of the following 1971–72 Lancashire Combination season; it was a time when the Nelson Leader reported a "good crowd" attended to see them lose 1–0 to Accrington Stanley on 28 August 1971.

[16] In October 2013, the dugouts at Victoria Park were replaced and improved to meet a league ground grading requirement.