A.F.C. Liverpool
Encyclopedia
A.F.C. Liverpool is a semi-professional 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...

 football club set up by 1,000 Liverpool football club fans in 2008. Fans are able to buy into the club on a 'one member-one vote' basis. The club kicked off the 2010–11 season in 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 One. In the 2011–12 season they will play in the North West Counties Football League Premier Division.

The club was formed in 2008 and won the North West Counties First Division Trophy in its inaugural season. It retained the trophy the following season, the only club ever to do so.

The club was managed by the former Southport
Southport F.C.
Southport Football Club are an English football club, based in Southport, Merseyside. They are currently in the Conference National, and play their home matches at Haig Avenue, which has a capacity of 6,008...

 and Bangor City centre back Derek Goulding from its formation until 7 April 2010.

Goulding was succeeded by previous assistant manager and another former Southport player, Paul Moore, who took over in a caretaker role and brought in Paul Walsh as assistant manager from Ashton Town FC. With an impressive end to the season; winning five and drawing two of the last seven games, and leading the team to victory in the Vodkat First Division Trophy, he was offered the role on a permanent basis.

Formation

The club was set up to provide a match-going experience for Liverpool fans who have been priced out of Premier League football. The club has adopted the same colours, fan songs and is based around the same community as Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...

. The club is a non-profit organisation. The AFC Liverpool founder Alun Parry
Alun Parry
Alun Parry is an English folk singer/ songwriter and community music festival organiser from Liverpool.Parry began his musical career as busker shortly after learning to play guitar, and went on to be awarded the title of Merseyside’s number one busker by the local media. He is known for his slice...

 said "I've been going to Anfield
Anfield
Anfield is an association football stadium in the district of Anfield, Liverpool, England, with a seating capacity of 45,522. It has been the home of Liverpool F.C. since their formation in 1892 and was originally the home of Everton F.C. from 1884 to 1892, before they moved to Goodison Park...

 since the late Seventies when I was six years old. A season ticket in the Kop cost £45 in 1985, today it's £650, which I know is a lot cheaper than some other Premier League clubs, but in inflation terms Eighties prices should equate to £98 today." He also stated that the formation of the club had nothing to do with the debated ownership of Liverpool. Parry stressed that the club was not to be estranged from Liverpool, but he hoped that it would look on AFC as a 'little brother'.

The formation of the club was featured in the Daily Telegraph, The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...

, Daily Mirror, the Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
The Liverpool Echo is a newspaper published by Trinity Mirror in Liverpool, Merseyside, England. It is published Monday to Saturday, and is Liverpool's evening newspaper while its sister paper, the Liverpool Daily Post, is the morning paper...

, the Daily Post
Liverpool Daily Post
The Liverpool Daily Post is a newspaper published by Trinity Mirror in Liverpool, Merseyside, England. It is published Monday to Friday and is published in Merseyside, Cheshire, and North Wales editions, and is a morning paper...

, BBC Sport
BBC Sport
BBC Sport is the sports division of the BBC. It became a fully dedicated division of the BBC in 2000. It incorporates programmes such as Match of the Day, Grandstand , Test Match Special, Ski Sunday, Rugby Special and coverage of Formula One motor racing, MotoGP and the Wimbledon Tennis...

, Radio City
Radio City 96.7
Radio City 96.7 is a British Independent Local Radio station, based in Liverpool, that serves Merseyside, Cheshire and North Wales...

, City Talk FM, 106.7 Merseyside's KCR FM BBC Radio Merseyside
BBC Radio Merseyside
BBC Radio Merseyside is the BBC Local Radio service for the English metropolitan county of Merseyside and north Cheshire. It was the third BBC local radio station to launch on 22 November 1967 initially serving the south west of historic Lancashire....

, BBC London
BBC London
BBC London is the BBC English Region producing local radio, television, teletext and online services in London and parts of the surrounding area. Its output includes the daily BBC London News and the weekly Politics Show on television, the BBC London 94.9 radio station and local coverage of the...

 and Sky Sports News
Sky Sports News
Sky Sports News is a 24-hour sports news channel in the United Kingdom. It is run by BSkyB whose sports channels include Sky Sports 1, 2, 3 and 4, as well as Sky Sports HD1, HD2, HD3 and HD4....

.

On the 17 June 2008, AFC Liverpool were officially accepted into the 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 One for the 2008–09 season. In addition to this, Prescot Cables
Prescot Cables F.C.
Prescot Cables F.C. is a football club based in Prescot, Merseyside. It was established in 1884 and has also been known as Prescot and Prescot Town...

 also granted AFC Liverpool permission to play their home games at Valerie Park
Valerie Park
Valerie Park, traditionally known as Hope Street, is a stadium in Prescot, Merseyside. It is located on Eaton Street in the Metropolitan Borough of Knowsley. It is home to Prescot Cables of the Northern Premier League and, since their formation in 2008, A.F.C...

. AFC Liverpool club founder Alun Parry said: "Everybody at the club is delighted. We now have an excellent, atmospheric stadium to play in which has excellent transport links, making it easy for our fans to get to.

"And the decision of the league's AGM puts us as full members of the Northwest Counties (Vodkat) League, and it means that our dream is now a reality."

2008–09 season

The first game in the club's history was a friendly played on 16 July 2008 against St Helens Town. The result was a 1–1 draw with the first ever goal for AFC Liverpool being a penalty scored by Martin Crowder. This was followed by success for the club in securing their first trophy on 19 July in the Joe Fagan Commemorative Trophy, achieved after beating Nelson
Nelson F.C.
Nelson F.C. are an English football club, based in Nelson, Lancashire. They are currently members of the North West Counties Football League Division One, who played their home matches at Victoria Park, Lomeshaye Way. They are full members of the Lancashire County Football Association.-Early years:...

 5–3 on penalties after the match ended in a 1–1 all draw. The club collected its second trophy of the season in The Fans Club Trophy on 2 August beating Runcorn Linnets 4–1.

The club's first competitive game took place on 9 August, at home to 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:...

, and resulted in a 5–0 victory in front of 442 fans. A 4–3 away win at Bootle
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:...

 on 27 December resulted in the largest attendance for an AFC Liverpool game so far. This thrilling Merseyside "Derby" also attracted the largest attendance ever at New Bucks Park.

Further success followed on 16 April 2009, when the club secured the First Division Trophy (the league cup competition for North West Counties League Division One
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...

) after beating Padiham
Padiham F.C.
Padiham Football Club are an English football team based in Padiham, Lancashire. As of 2011–12, they play in the Premier Division of the North West Counties League.-History:...

 1–0. The club finished its inaugural season in 4th place, missing out on promotion to the Premier Division.

On 2 May the fans' player of the season, was awarded to influential midfielder Ian Sheridan. The leading goalscorer for the season was Dean Thurston with 21 goals in 26 appearances (5 as substitute).

2009–10 season

The club started its second season in the First Division with mixed form, finishing September in 5th place with five wins and two defeats from seven matches. The club's form improved in October, ending the month in third place with three games in hand over the clubs above them. In the club's first appearance 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...

 they exited in the second qualifying round after losing narrowly at home 1–2 to Dinnington Town
Dinnington Town F.C.
Dinnington Town F.C. are an English football club based in Dinnington, South Yorkshire. The club are currently members of Division One of the Northern Counties East League and play at Phoenix Park.-History:...

. The club progressed to the second round of the Liverpool Senior Cup
Liverpool Senior Cup
The Liverpool County Football Association Senior Cup, commonly known as the Liverpool Senior Cup, is a football knockout tournament involving teams from the city of Liverpool, England and surrounding areas....

 where they were eliminated by Skelmersdale United. They went on to win the Vodkat League First Division Trophy, the only team to retain it since its inception in 1989–90. Derek Goulding, the manager since the club was formed left the club in April and they finished the season in fifth place.

2010–11 season

The club entered the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...

 for the first time in this season but were eliminated in their first match in the competition losing 4-1 to Hemsworth MW
Hemsworth Miners Welfare F.C.
Hemsworth Miners Welfare Football Club is an English football club based in Hemsworth, West Yorkshire. The club are currently members of Division One of the Northern Counties East League.-History:...

. 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...

 they progressed to the third round of the competition knocking out Dinnington Town
Dinnington Town F.C.
Dinnington Town F.C. are an English football club based in Dinnington, South Yorkshire. The club are currently members of Division One of the Northern Counties East League and play at Phoenix Park.-History:...

, Hallam
Hallam F.C.
Hallam Football Club are a football club in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who currently play in the Northern Counties East League Division One...

, and A.F.C. Blackpool, before being knocked out by Whitley Bay
Whitley Bay F.C.
Whitley Bay Football Club are an English football club based in the North-East of England. The present Whitley Bay Football Club was formed in 1950 and was known as Whitley Bay Athletic...

. Their early league form saw them move to second in the league by mid-November. Moving into 2011, AFC Liverpool's season was stalled by one of the worst winters in recent years. The whole of non league football was been disrupted, however many of AFC Liverpool's biggest rivals have managed to play more games, which pushed the club backwards in the league. They were also been hindered by player movements in the club (most notably the club's star striker Steven Jones who signed for Welsh Premier League team Newtown
Newtown F.C.
Newtown Association Football Club is a Welsh football club who currently play in the Welsh Premier League, with a reserve team currently playing in the Mid Wales Football League....

). Eventually, they finished fourth in the division after the runaway success of AFC Blackpool and league newcomers Runcorn Town
Runcorn Town F.C.
Runcorn Town Football Club is an English association football club based in Runcorn, Cheshire, England. After spending most of their years in the West Cheshire League, they were elected to the North West Counties League in Division One and are currently in the Premier Division...

. After reaching the final of the First Division Trophy for the 3rd successive year, they were beaten 3–2 in extra time by Atherton Collieries
Atherton Collieries F.C.
Atherton Collieries A.F.C. is an English football club based in Atherton in Greater Manchester. The club currently plays in the North West Counties League First Division, the tenth tier of English football, and is a full member of the Lancashire County Football Association.Between 1919 and 1965...

.On the 18th June 2011 AFC Liverpool were granted promotion to the North West Counties Football League Premier Division due to Rossendale United
Rossendale United F.C.
Rossendale United F.C. was an English football club based in Newchurch, near Rawtenstall, Lancashire. The club was formed in 1898 but was expelled from the North West Counties League Premier Division on 18 June 2011....

 being expelled from the league and 3rd placed 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....

 declining promotion.

First team squad

Staff

Name Role
  Paul Moore Manager
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...

  Paul Walsh Assistant Manager
  Bill Pirrie Physio
  John Aldridge
John Aldridge
John William Aldridge is a former Republic of Ireland international footballer and football manager...

Club Patron
Patronage
Patronage is the support, encouragement, privilege, or financial aid that an organization or individual bestows to another. In the history of art, arts patronage refers to the support that kings or popes have provided to musicians, painters, and sculptors...

  Vegard Heggem
Vegard Heggem
Vegard Heggem is a former Norway international footballer. On elite level he played for Rosenborg and English giants Liverpool, and he was capped 20 times for the national team...

Club Patron
Patronage
Patronage is the support, encouragement, privilege, or financial aid that an organization or individual bestows to another. In the history of art, arts patronage refers to the support that kings or popes have provided to musicians, painters, and sculptors...

  Erik Meijer
Erik Meijer (footballer)
Erik Meijer is a retired Dutch footballer. Standing at 189 cm, he was known as a header specialist...

Club Patron
Patronage
Patronage is the support, encouragement, privilege, or financial aid that an organization or individual bestows to another. In the history of art, arts patronage refers to the support that kings or popes have provided to musicians, painters, and sculptors...

  Joey Jones
Joey Jones
For other persons named Joey Jones, see Joey Jones.For other similarly named people, see Joseph Jones or Joe Jones.Joseph Patrick "Joey" Jones is a former Wales international football full-back who played for Liverpool for three seasons, including the 1977 season, in which they chased "the...

Club Patron
Patronage
Patronage is the support, encouragement, privilege, or financial aid that an organization or individual bestows to another. In the history of art, arts patronage refers to the support that kings or popes have provided to musicians, painters, and sculptors...

  David Johnson Club Patron
Patronage
Patronage is the support, encouragement, privilege, or financial aid that an organization or individual bestows to another. In the history of art, arts patronage refers to the support that kings or popes have provided to musicians, painters, and sculptors...

  George Sephton Club Patron
Patronage
Patronage is the support, encouragement, privilege, or financial aid that an organization or individual bestows to another. In the history of art, arts patronage refers to the support that kings or popes have provided to musicians, painters, and sculptors...


Competition history

SeasonLeagueLevelPldWDLFAGDPtsPosAverage Home Att.1
2008–09 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...

 First Division
10 34 22 3 9 82 39
43
69 4/18 316
2009–10 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...

 First Division
10 32 15 4 13 60 43
17
49 5/17 178
2010–11 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...

 First Division
10 34 19 6 9 65 34
31
63 4/18
(promoted)
126
2011–12 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...

 Premier Division
9 20 3 4 14 25 38 -11 13 21/22 135


1: League games only

Last Updated: 30 November 2011

Honours

Honours No. | Years
North West Counties League First Division Trophy Winners 2 2008–09, 2009–10
North West Counties League First Division Trophy Runners-Up 1 2010–11
Joe Fagan Commemorative Trophy Winners 2 2008–09, 2009–10
The Fans Club Trophy Winners 3 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11

Records

  • Record League victory: 7–0 v Eccleshall
    Eccleshall F.C.
    Eccleshall F.C. are an English football club from Eccleshall, Staffordshire. They currently play in the North West Counties Football League First Division.-History:The club was founded in 1971 and joined the Staffordshire County League in 1979...

    , 25 September 2010, 7–0 v Winsford United
    Winsford United F.C.
    Winsford United Football Club is a semi-professional football club based in Winsford, Cheshire, England. The club was founded in 1883 and is nicknamed The Blues...

    , 16 November 2011
  • Record League position: 4th North West Counties Football League Division One, 2008–09, 2010–11
  • Worst League Position: 5th North West Counties Football League Division One, 2009–10

  • Record win margin: 7
    • 7–0 v Eccleshall
      Eccleshall F.C.
      Eccleshall F.C. are an English football club from Eccleshall, Staffordshire. They currently play in the North West Counties Football League First Division.-History:The club was founded in 1971 and joined the Staffordshire County League in 1979...

      , 25 September 2010
    • 7–0 v Winsford United
      Winsford United F.C.
      Winsford United Football Club is a semi-professional football club based in Winsford, Cheshire, England. The club was founded in 1883 and is nicknamed The Blues...

      , 16 November 2011

  • Record League defeat:
    • 1–4 v Stone Dominoes
      Stone Dominoes F.C.
      Stone Dominoes F.C. are a football club based in Stone, Staffordshire.-History:The club was established in 1987 and joined the Midland League Division Two in 1995. They reached the 5th round of the FA Vase in 2003–04 season. They are currently members of the North West Counties Football League...

      , 5 December 2009
    • 0–3 v Padiham
      Padiham F.C.
      Padiham Football Club are an English football team based in Padiham, Lancashire. As of 2011–12, they play in the Premier Division of the North West Counties League.-History:...

      , 22 November 2008
  • Record competitive defeat:
    • 1–7 v Whitley Bay
      Whitley Bay F.C.
      Whitley Bay Football Club are an English football club based in the North-East of England. The present Whitley Bay Football Club was formed in 1950 and was known as Whitley Bay Athletic...

      , 8 January 2011, FA Vase 3rd round
      FA Vase
      The Football Association Challenge Vase is an annual football competition for teams playing below Step 4 of the English National League System...

  • Record League attendance: Valerie Park, Prescot – 604 v Wigan Robin Park
    Wigan Robin Park F.C.
    Wigan Robin Park FC is an amateur football club from Wigan, Greater Manchester, England.The Robins have two senior sides, with the first team competing in the North West Counties League Division One, whilst the second team compete in the Fourth Division of the Manchester Football League...

    , 6 September 2008
  • Overall Record League attendance: New Bucks Park, Bootle – 723 v Bootle
    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:...

    , 27 December 2008
  • Overall Record attendance: Hillheads Park, Whitley Bay - 738 v Whitley Bay F.C.
    Whitley Bay F.C.
    Whitley Bay Football Club are an English football club based in the North-East of England. The present Whitley Bay Football Club was formed in 1950 and was known as Whitley Bay Athletic...

    , 8 January 2011

External links

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