A.F.C. Fylde
Encyclopedia
A.F.C. Fylde is a football club based at Warton
in the Borough of Fylde in the English
county of Lancashire
. The club were known as Kirkham & Wesham F.C. until the end of the 2007-08 season. The club has spent most of its existence in the West Lancashire League
, but, after winning the league title for seven out of eight seasons, were accepted into North West Counties League
Division Two in 2007. In their first season in that league they secured an automatic promotion spot to the Premier Division. They won the FA Vase
in 2008. Their home ground is Kellamergh Park in Warton
. For the 2008-09 season the club changed their name to A.F.C. Fylde.
in 1988-89, taking the place previously held by Kirkham Town in Division One. The following season they finished bottom of this division and were relegated to Division Two. After three seasons in Division Two they were promoted in the 1992-93 season, only to again suffer relegation in 1994-95. They were immediately promoted again, finishing as runners-up and only losing two games all season in 1995-96.
The West Lancashire League was re-structured with the First Division being re-named as the Premier Division in the 1998-99 season. After finishing fourth in successive season in the 1997-98 and 1998-99 seasons, the club then dominated the Premier Division for a number of years. They were Champions in seven out of eight seasons between the 1999-00 and 2006-07 seasons, finishing as runners-up in the one season they failed to win the league, 2002-03.
Between January 2003 and October 2004, the club did not lose one match in any competition, a record that spanned 21 months. The run finally ended when they lost a league match, 1-0 to Dalton United
In April 2006 the club completed a hat-trick of consecutive victories in the Lancashire Amateur Shield cup final when they beat fellow West Lancashire League side Charnock Richard 2-0 at the Lancashire FA ground in Leyland. It was the clubs fourth time winning the Shield in six years.
As the nominated representatives of the Lancashire County Football Association
(Lancashire FA), the club have been winners of the Northern Counties Cup in 2004-05, 2005-06, and 2006-07.
The club's first match in the North West Counties League was a home match on 11 August 2007, against Darwen
in front of 101 fans, which they won 5-0. The following Tuesday they played their first ever home match under floodlights winning 2-0 at home to Holker Old Boys
In September 2007 the club announced a new shirt sponsorship deal with Lytham St Annes
based company VetPlus, who are due to sponsor the teams kit for three years, as part of a five figure deal. On 8 September the club played their first ever match in the FA Vase
beating Northern Counties East League
Division One club Worsbrough Bridge Athletic 3-0. The club had also arranged for the FA Vase trophy to be on display before the game.
Manager Mick Fuller won the leagues manager of the month award for December 2007 following four successive wins during the month. On 26 January 2008 the club reached the last sixteen of the FA Vase, in their first season in the competition, when they beat Studley 3-0. On 9 February they reached the Quarter-finals of the FA Vase after they beat Sussex County League
leaders, Crowborough Athletic
2-0 in front of a record crowd of 772 at Crowborough's Alderbrook Recreation Ground. On 11 February they were drawn at home in the Quarter Final to Midland Football Alliance
club, Coventry Sphinx
on 1 March. The match ended in a 3-3 draw after extra time. Kirkham & Wesham won the replay 1-0 on 9 March in Coventry with a goal from Sean Paterson
. In the two-legged semi-final against Eastern Countes League
Premier Division club, Needham Market
the team won 4-2 on aggregate.
On 24 April, the club won the Division Two knockout trophy with a 1-0 win over Bootle
, and two days later secured one of the two automatic promotion places in North West Counties Division One when they beat Castleton Gabriels 3-1.
On 11 May, they won the FA Vase beating Lowestoft Town
2-1 in the final at Wembley Stadium
in front of a total crowd of 19,537, with about 14,000 from Lowestoft and about 3,500 Kirkham & Wesham supporters. A goal down for most of the game, Kirkham & Wesham scored twice in the last six minutes, both goals coming from seventeen year old substitute Matt Walwyn, son of former Blackpool
player, the late Keith Walwyn, who only played the last 11 minutes of the game. Kirkham & Wesham secured prize money of £20,000 for their win. Although the total amount the club earned was expected to be around £75,000. They were promoted to the Premier Division after finishing second in Division Two.
For the start of the 2008-09 season, the club changed their name from Kirkham & Wesham to A.F.C. Fylde.
(AGM) in July 2007, a 15 year plan was put forward with highly ambitious aims. The club aim to reach the Conference National
by 2017, and The Football League
by 2022. On 19 January 2008 the club announced plans for a further move to yet another new stadium at an un-named 26 acres (105,218.4 m²) site.
In February 2010 a Charitable Trust called the Haythornthwaite Sports Foundation unveiled plans for a new Community Sports Complex at Greenlands Farm which will comprise of Indoor and outdoor Sports Facilities catering for local junior football, cricket and other sports plus a new home for AFC Fylde with an initial capacity of 1400. Public Consultations took place in Feb 2010 with further announcements expected in Summer 2010.
The new ground was officially opened on 5 August 2006. It has a 200 seat main stand which cost £30,000 to build with four rows of seating and a designated Press Box area. A PA system is installed, and new floodlights are in place with other areas of the ground being developed. The ground is 3.8 miles (6.1 km) from their old council owned ground at Coronation Road in Kirkham.
Further improvements were made to the stadium in March 2009 to achieve Ground Grading GRADE E (Step 4) including additional covered seating, Club House and a new Directors Box.
The record attendance at the ground is 1,390 for a pre-season friendly against a Manchester United XI
on 17 July 2009 which Fylde lost 2-1.
In March 2010 a new terrace behind the goals was erected and another matchday bar facility was built called 'Fullers Bar' and in summer 2010 a new training ground is being developed on adjacent land
West Lancashire Football League
Premier Division
FA Vase
Lancashire FA Challenge Trophy
Northern Inter Counties Cup
Lancashire Amateur Shield
Richardson Cup
Presidents Cup
Houston Cup
Past averages:
Warton, Fylde
Warton is a village on the Fylde in Lancashire, England.The village is about six miles from Preston and eight miles from Blackpool. It is located on the banks of the River Ribble, close to its entry into the Irish Sea. It is best known for its airfield, BAE Warton and its associated aircraft works...
in the Borough of Fylde in the English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
county of Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
. The club were known as Kirkham & Wesham F.C. until the end of the 2007-08 season. The club has spent most of its existence in the West Lancashire League
West Lancashire Football League
The West Lancashire Football League is a football competition based in northern England, consisting of five divisions - three for first teams , and two for reserve teams...
, but, after winning the league title for seven out of eight seasons, were accepted into North West Counties League
North West Counties Football League
The North West Counties Football League is a football league in North west of England. As of 2011, the league covers Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Merseyside, Southern Cumbria, Northern Staffordshire, the High Peak area of Derbyshire, and the far west of West Yorkshire. In the past, the...
Division Two in 2007. In their first season in that league they secured an automatic promotion spot to the Premier Division. They won the FA Vase
FA Vase
The Football Association Challenge Vase is an annual football competition for teams playing below Step 4 of the English National League System...
in 2008. Their home ground is Kellamergh Park in Warton
Warton, Fylde
Warton is a village on the Fylde in Lancashire, England.The village is about six miles from Preston and eight miles from Blackpool. It is located on the banks of the River Ribble, close to its entry into the Irish Sea. It is best known for its airfield, BAE Warton and its associated aircraft works...
. For the 2008-09 season the club changed their name to A.F.C. Fylde.
Formation
The club was formed by the amalgamation of Kirkham Town FC and Wesham FC in 1988. By taking this name, the club was adopting the name of a previous club which had played in the West Lancashire League in the years immediately before the First World War.West Lancashire League
Kirkham & Wesham played their first season in the West Lancashire LeagueWest Lancashire Football League
The West Lancashire Football League is a football competition based in northern England, consisting of five divisions - three for first teams , and two for reserve teams...
in 1988-89, taking the place previously held by Kirkham Town in Division One. The following season they finished bottom of this division and were relegated to Division Two. After three seasons in Division Two they were promoted in the 1992-93 season, only to again suffer relegation in 1994-95. They were immediately promoted again, finishing as runners-up and only losing two games all season in 1995-96.
The West Lancashire League was re-structured with the First Division being re-named as the Premier Division in the 1998-99 season. After finishing fourth in successive season in the 1997-98 and 1998-99 seasons, the club then dominated the Premier Division for a number of years. They were Champions in seven out of eight seasons between the 1999-00 and 2006-07 seasons, finishing as runners-up in the one season they failed to win the league, 2002-03.
Between January 2003 and October 2004, the club did not lose one match in any competition, a record that spanned 21 months. The run finally ended when they lost a league match, 1-0 to Dalton United
In April 2006 the club completed a hat-trick of consecutive victories in the Lancashire Amateur Shield cup final when they beat fellow West Lancashire League side Charnock Richard 2-0 at the Lancashire FA ground in Leyland. It was the clubs fourth time winning the Shield in six years.
As the nominated representatives of the Lancashire County Football Association
Lancashire County Football Association
The Lancashire County Football Association, also known simply as the Lancashire FA, is the governing body of football within the historical county boundaries of Lancashire, England...
(Lancashire FA), the club have been winners of the Northern Counties Cup in 2004-05, 2005-06, and 2006-07.
North West Counties League
Following their West Lancashire League championship success in 2006-07, the club were accepted into the North West Counties League for the 2007-08 season.The club's first match in the North West Counties League was a home match on 11 August 2007, against Darwen
Darwen F.C.
A.F.C. Darwen is a football club from Darwen in Lancashire, North West England. The team, formed in 1870 as Darwen F.C., currently play in the Division One of the North West Counties League. They play their home games at the Anchor Ground.-History:...
in front of 101 fans, which they won 5-0. The following Tuesday they played their first ever home match under floodlights winning 2-0 at home to Holker Old Boys
Holker Old Boys F.C.
Holker Old Boys are an English football team based in Hawcoat in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria. Their home ground is at Rakesmoor Lane, just across the road from Barrow Golf Club on the outskirts of the town....
In September 2007 the club announced a new shirt sponsorship deal with Lytham St Annes
Lytham St Annes
Lytham St Annes is a conurbation in the Fylde district of Lancashire, England. The neighbouring towns of Lytham and St-Anne's-on-the-Sea have grown together and now form a seaside resort...
based company VetPlus, who are due to sponsor the teams kit for three years, as part of a five figure deal. On 8 September the club played their first ever match in the FA Vase
FA Vase
The Football Association Challenge Vase is an annual football competition for teams playing below Step 4 of the English National League System...
beating Northern Counties East League
Northern Counties East Football League
The Northern Counties East Football League is an English football league that was founded in 1982 by the merger of the former Yorkshire League and Midland League. The league has two divisions at present; The Premier Division and Division One which stand at the ninth and tenth levels of the football...
Division One club Worsbrough Bridge Athletic 3-0. The club had also arranged for the FA Vase trophy to be on display before the game.
Manager Mick Fuller won the leagues manager of the month award for December 2007 following four successive wins during the month. On 26 January 2008 the club reached the last sixteen of the FA Vase, in their first season in the competition, when they beat Studley 3-0. On 9 February they reached the Quarter-finals of the FA Vase after they beat Sussex County League
Sussex County Football League
The Sussex County Football League is a football league broadly covering the counties of East Sussex, West Sussex and southeastern Surrey, England.Formed in 1920, the league now has six divisions - three for first teams and three for reserve sides...
leaders, Crowborough Athletic
Crowborough Athletic F.C.
Crowborough Athletic F.C. is a football club based in Crowborough, England. They joined the Sussex County League Division Two in 1974. In the 1993–94 season, they reached the 2nd round of the FA Vase, and bettered this with a run to the 5th round in 2008. Their best performance in FA Cup was third...
2-0 in front of a record crowd of 772 at Crowborough's Alderbrook Recreation Ground. On 11 February they were drawn at home in the Quarter Final to Midland Football Alliance
Midland Football Alliance
The Midland Football Alliance is an English association football league for semi-professional teams. It covers Leicestershire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, West Midlands, Worcestershire and also southern parts of Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire...
club, Coventry Sphinx
Coventry Sphinx F.C.
Coventry Sphinx Football Club is a football club based in Coventry, West Midlands, England. They were established in 1946. In the 2006–07 season they were champions of the Midland Combination Premier Division, earning promotion to the Midland Football Alliance.-History:Coventry Sphinx FC were...
on 1 March. The match ended in a 3-3 draw after extra time. Kirkham & Wesham won the replay 1-0 on 9 March in Coventry with a goal from Sean Paterson
Sean Paterson
Sean Paterson is a Scottish semi-professional footballer who is currently playing for Burscough F.C..-Career:...
. In the two-legged semi-final against Eastern Countes League
Eastern Counties Football League
The Eastern Counties Football League is an English football league at levels 9 and 10 of the English football league system. It currently contains clubs from Norfolk, Suffolk, northern Essex and eastern Cambridgeshire, and is a feeder to the regional divisions of the Isthmian League and Southern...
Premier Division club, Needham Market
Needham Market F.C.
Needham Market F.C. is an English football club based in Needham Market, Suffolk. The club are currently members of Isthmian League Division One North and play at Bloomfields.The club is affiliated to the Suffolk County FA.-History:...
the team won 4-2 on aggregate.
Bootle F.C.
Bootle Football Club is an English football club based in Bootle, Merseyside. The club are currently members of the North West Counties League Premier Division and play at New Bucks Park.-Previous clubs in Bootle:...
, and two days later secured one of the two automatic promotion places in North West Counties Division One when they beat Castleton Gabriels 3-1.
On 11 May, they won the FA Vase beating Lowestoft Town
Lowestoft Town F.C.
Lowestoft Town F.C. is an English football club based in Lowestoft, Suffolk. The club are currently members of the Isthmian League Premier Division and play at Crown Meadow.-History:...
2-1 in the final at Wembley Stadium
Wembley Stadium
The original Wembley Stadium, officially known as the Empire Stadium, was a football stadium in Wembley, a suburb of north-west London, standing on the site now occupied by the new Wembley Stadium that opened in 2007...
in front of a total crowd of 19,537, with about 14,000 from Lowestoft and about 3,500 Kirkham & Wesham supporters. A goal down for most of the game, Kirkham & Wesham scored twice in the last six minutes, both goals coming from seventeen year old substitute Matt Walwyn, son of former Blackpool
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
player, the late Keith Walwyn, who only played the last 11 minutes of the game. Kirkham & Wesham secured prize money of £20,000 for their win. Although the total amount the club earned was expected to be around £75,000. They were promoted to the Premier Division after finishing second in Division Two.
For the start of the 2008-09 season, the club changed their name from Kirkham & Wesham to A.F.C. Fylde.
Future development
At the club's Annual general meetingAnnual general meeting
An annual general meeting is a meeting that official bodies, and associations involving the public , are often required by law to hold...
(AGM) in July 2007, a 15 year plan was put forward with highly ambitious aims. The club aim to reach the Conference National
Conference National
Conference National is the top division of the Football Conference in England. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
by 2017, and The Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
by 2022. On 19 January 2008 the club announced plans for a further move to yet another new stadium at an un-named 26 acres (105,218.4 m²) site.
In February 2010 a Charitable Trust called the Haythornthwaite Sports Foundation unveiled plans for a new Community Sports Complex at Greenlands Farm which will comprise of Indoor and outdoor Sports Facilities catering for local junior football, cricket and other sports plus a new home for AFC Fylde with an initial capacity of 1400. Public Consultations took place in Feb 2010 with further announcements expected in Summer 2010.
Stadium
They play their home games at Kellamergh Park (previously known as the Birley Arms ground) in the village of Warton. They previously played in Kirkham at Coronation Road. In 2005 the club purchased land in Kellemargh, Warton and began to develop the facilities. They relocated to their new ground which was purpose built to meet the requirement for playing in the North West Counties League at a cost of £150,000.The new ground was officially opened on 5 August 2006. It has a 200 seat main stand which cost £30,000 to build with four rows of seating and a designated Press Box area. A PA system is installed, and new floodlights are in place with other areas of the ground being developed. The ground is 3.8 miles (6.1 km) from their old council owned ground at Coronation Road in Kirkham.
Further improvements were made to the stadium in March 2009 to achieve Ground Grading GRADE E (Step 4) including additional covered seating, Club House and a new Directors Box.
The record attendance at the ground is 1,390 for a pre-season friendly against a Manchester United XI
Manchester United F.C. Reserves and Academy
Manchester United Football Club Reserves are the reserve team of Manchester United F.C. They play in the North section of the Premier Reserve League. They have been champions four times since the league's inauguration in 1999; in 2002, 2005, 2006 and 2010...
on 17 July 2009 which Fylde lost 2-1.
In March 2010 a new terrace behind the goals was erected and another matchday bar facility was built called 'Fullers Bar' and in summer 2010 a new training ground is being developed on adjacent land
Current squad
Non-playing staff
| Name | Role |
|---|---|
 Dai Davis |
Chairman |
| David Haythornthwaite |
President |
| Martin Booker |
Business Development Manager |
| Dave Challinor Dave Challinor David Paul "Dave" Challinor is an English former footballer who is currently the manager of AFC Fylde. He played in the Football League as a professional from 1994 until 2008 with Tranmere Rovers, Stockport County and Bury.... |
Manager |
 Neil Mitchell |
Goalkeeper coach |
| Andy Clarkson |
Head of Football Development |
| Mick Fuller |
Club Development Manager |
| Matt Byrne-Fraser |
Physiotherapist |
Club honours
North West Counties League Premier Division- Champions 2008–09
West Lancashire Football League
West Lancashire Football League
The West Lancashire Football League is a football competition based in northern England, consisting of five divisions - three for first teams , and two for reserve teams...
Premier Division
- Champions 1999-2000, 2000-01, 2001-02, 2003-04, 2004-05, 2005-06, 2006-07
FA Vase
FA Vase
The Football Association Challenge Vase is an annual football competition for teams playing below Step 4 of the English National League System...
- Winners 2007-08
Lancashire FA Challenge Trophy
Lancashire FA Challenge Trophy
The Lancashire Football Association Challenge Trophy is an English football competition for senior non-league clubs who are members of the Lancashire County Football Association. The trophy was first played for in 1885, when it was known as the Lancashire Junior Cup. It is currently sponsored by...
- Winners 2010–11
Northern Inter Counties Cup
- Winners, 2004-05, 2005-06, 2006-07
Lancashire Amateur Shield
- Winners 2000-01, 2003-04, 2004-5, 2005-6
Richardson Cup
- Winners 1998-99, 1999-2000, 2000-01, 2004-05, 2005-06
Presidents Cup
- Winners 1995-96
Houston Cup
- Winners 2005-06
Records
- Largest League Attendance: 1,217 v New Mills on 9 May 2009
- Record attendance: 1,390 v Manchester United on 17 July 2009
Averages
As of 9 March 2009, the average league-game attendance at Kellemargh Park for the 2008–09 season is 260, which places Fylde first for the division, and is an increase of 94.6% from the previous season.Past averages:
- 2007–082007-08 in English footballThe 2007–08 season was the 128th season of competitive football in England.-European competitions:In October 2007 Arsenal equalled the UEFA Champions League record victory with a 7–0 win over Slavia Prague at the Emirates Stadium. The record was broken the following month when Liverpool...
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