A.F.C. Fylde

A.F.C. Fylde

Full name	Association Football Club Fylde
Nickname(s)	The Coasters
Founded	1988 (1988) (as Kirkham & Wesham)
Ground	Kellamergh Park Bryning Lane Warton, Fylde, Lancashire
Ground Capacity	3,180 (533 seated)
Chairman	David Haythornthwaite
Manager	Dave Challinor
League	Conference North
2014–15	Conference North, 2nd
Home colours Away colours

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. Having spent most of its existence in the West Lancashire League, after winning the league title for seven out of eight seasons the club were accepted into North West Counties League Division Two in 2007. They currently play in the Conference North. The club won the FA Vase in 2008.

History

Formation

The club was formed by the amalgamation of Kirkham Town FC and Wesham FC in 1988.^[1] 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 League 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.^[2]

The West Lancashire League was re-structured with the First Division being renamed 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 1999–2000 and 2006–07 seasons, finishing as runners-up in the one season they failed to win the league, 2002–03.^[2]

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^[3]

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.^[4]

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.

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 in front of 101 fans, which they won 5–0.^[5] The following Tuesday they played their first ever home match under floodlights winning 2–0 at home to Holker Old Boys^[6]

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.^[7] 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.^[8]

Manager Mick Fuller won the leagues manager of the month award for December 2007 following four successive wins during the month.^[9] 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.^[10] 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.^[11] On 11 February they were drawn at home in the Quarter Final to Midland Football Alliance club, Coventry Sphinx on 1 March.^[12] The match ended in a 3–3 draw after extra time.^[11] Kirkham & Wesham won the replay 1–0 on 9 March in Coventry with a goal from Sean Paterson.^[13] In the two-legged semi-final against Eastern Counties League Premier Division club, Needham Market the team won 4–2 on aggregate.^[14]

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.^[15][16] Although the total amount the club earned was expected to be around £75,000.^[17] 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.^[1][6]

Northern Premier League

Long serving manager Mick Fuller was moved upstairs in September 2010 and Kelham O'Hanlon was brought in as first team coach. The club finished in mid-table with a high turnover of playing staff and the side at the end of their first season in the Northern Premier League Division One North was barely recognisable compared with the one that started the campaign. The following season the club achieved a play-off place. In the semi-final Matt Walwyn scored in a 1–0 win over Skelmersdale United but the team lost 2–1 to Chorley in the final.

In the 2011–12 season they were installed as early promotion favourites but Kelham O'Hanlon was replaced as manager in November 2011 after a poor run of results and was quickly replaced by a new management team of Dave Challinor and Colin Woodthorpe. Challinor left Conference North side Colwyn Bay to drop two divisions to join the Coasters, pointing to the club's ambition and plans for the future as the factor that made them move to the Fylde Coast. They were 16 points off the top of the table when they came to the club but claimed the title with a 1–0 win over Salford City. Challinor won several awards including Manager of the Year at the NPL Awards Dinner.

In 2012–13, the club managed to achieve a playoff position in their maiden season in the Northern Premier League Premier Division. They lost out 3–1 on penalties to eventual playoff final winners Hednesford Town F.C. in the semi final, which ended 3–3 after extra time at Keys Park, Hednesford. The game was notable for a 60-yard goal scored from a free-kick by Coasters goalkeeper Ben Hinchcliffe.^[18]

The 2013–14 season was extremely successful for Fylde, as they won the Lancashire FA Challenge Trophy, the Northern Premier League Challenge Cup, and gained promotion to the Conference North via the playoffs. They beat Chorley F.C. 4–1 at the Reebok Stadium, Bolton to win the Lancs FA Trophy,^[19] Skelmersdale United 1–0 at Edgeley Park, Stockport to win the NPL Challenge Cup,^[20] Worksop Town 3–1 at home in the playoff semi-final,^[21] and then required penalties to beat Ashton United at home in the playoff final, with the game finishing 1–1 after extra time. Goalkeeper Ben Hinchcliffe scored the deciding penalty to end a tense game and send the Coasters up.^[22]

Conference North

AFC Fylde finished their first season in the Conference North in second place with 85 points. Their top scorer was Danny Rowe with 31 goals. They will play Guiseley in a play-off semi final.

Future development

At the club's annual general meeting (AGM) in July 2007, a 15-year plan was put forward with the stated aim of reaching the Conference National by 2017, and The Football League by 2022.^[23] On 19 January 2008, the club announced plans for a further move to yet another new stadium at an unnamed 26-acre (110,000 m²) site.^[24]

In February 2010, a charitable trust called the Haythornthwaite Sports Foundation unveiled plans for a new Community Sports Complex in Wrea Green, comprising outdoor sports facilities catering for local junior football, cricket and other sports plus a new 2,500 capacity stadium for AFC Fylde. Consultations took place in 2011 but a planning application was rejected by Fylde Borough Council in spring 2012^[25] and the plans were later abandoned.^[26]

On 3 September 2013, it was announced on the club's website^[27] that plans had been drawn up for a new £18m development at Mill Farm on the outskirts of Wesham, close to junction 3 of the M55, containing a distribution centre, an Aldi supermarket, a hotel, a restaurant, a petrol station, community sports pitches, sports science facilities, and a 6000 capacity, Football League standard ground for AFC Fylde.^[28]

The stadium plans include a 2000 capacity all-seater main stand with a supporters' bar, executive boxes and a function room.

AFC Fylde chairman David Haythornthwaite said at the unveiling, “This is a well thought out development plan that will create superb facilities and help fuel the economic growth of the area... we anticipate we can create up to 200 new jobs over the next three years, many of them for local people."

The planning application for the stadium and associated facilities was accepted by Fylde Borough Council on 4 June 2014.^[29] Construction work is expected to begin by September 2014.^[30]

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.^[1] 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.^[23]

The new ground was officially opened on 5 August 2006. It has a 200 seat main stand which cost £30,000 to build^[23] with four rows of seating and a designated Press Box area.^[31] 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 1,418 for a league match against FC United of Manchester on 13 October 2012 which Fylde won 4–2.^[32]

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 and the ground met Grade D grading by the FA as a result in readiness for the 2010–2011 season. The club installed a 250 seater stand in March 2015. The ground capacity is now set at 3,180 (533 seated).

Players

As of 31 July 2014.^[33]

Current squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player — GK Craig Dootson (player/goalkeeping coach) — GK Ben Hinchliffe — DF Luke Denson — DF Jake Gregory — DF Dave Hankin — DF Tom Hannigan — DF Josh Langley (on loan from Wigan Athletic) — DF Adam Sumner — MF Bradley Barnes (Captain) — MF Michael Barnes — MF Joe Booth — MF Dion Charles

No. Position Player — MF Tom Eckersley — MF Caspar Hughes — MF Joey Mullen — MF Michael Potts — MF Liam Tomsett — FW Jamie Allen (on loan from Fleetwood Town) — FW Richie Allen — FW Matthew Blinkhorn — FW Ryan Charnley — FW Danny Lloyd — FW Karl Noon — FW Danny Rowe

Non-playing staff

Name	Role
David Haythornthwaite	Chairman
Dai Davis	President
Sam Cornall	Operations Manager
Ryan Adderley	Community Development Manager
Dave Riche	Commercial Manager
Chris Park	Media Officer
Ben Yaffe	Assistant Media Officer
Jack Connor	Assistant Media Officer
Dave Challinor	Manager
Colin Woodthorpe	Assistant Manager
Andy Pilkington	Reserve Team Manager
Simon Hurst	U18 Manager
Tom Hutton	Director of Community development
Mick Fuller	Head of Football Development
Steve Jackson	Physiotherapist

Club honours

Northern Premier League Premier Division

• Play-off Winners 2013–14

Northern Premier League Division One North

• Champions 2011–12

North West Counties League Premier Division

• Champions 2008–09

West Lancashire Football League Premier Division

• Champions 1999–2000, 2000–01, 2001–02, 2003–04, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2006–07

FA Vase

• Winners 2007–08

Northern Premier League Challenge Cup

• Winners 2013–14

Northern Premier League President's Cup

• Winners 2013–14

Lancashire FA Challenge Trophy

• Winners 2010–11, 2012–13, 2013–14

Northern Inter Counties Cup

• Winners, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2006–07^[34]

Lancashire Amateur Shield

• Winners 2000–01,^[35] 2003–04, 2004–05, 2005–06^[4]

Richardson Cup

• Winners 1998–99, 1999–2000, 2000–01, 2004–05, 2005–06^[1][36]

Presidents Cup

• Winners 1995–96^[34]

Houston Cup

• Winners 2005–06^[34]

Attendances

Records

• Largest League Attendance: 1,418 v FC United on 13 December 2012
• Record attendance: 1,418 v FC United on 13 December 2012

Averages

As of 9 March 2009, the average league-game attendance at Kellemargh Park^[37] 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.^[38]

Past averages:

• 2007–08: 134^[39]

References

External links

• Official website
• A.F.C. Fylde at the Football Club History Database
• Kirkham & Wesham at the Football Club History Database
• Kellemargh Park images at nonleagegrounds

Football Conference Premier Clubs AFC Telford United Aldershot Town Alfreton Town Altrincham Barnet Braintree Town Bristol Rovers Chester Dartford Dover Athletic Eastleigh FC Halifax Town Forest Green Rovers Gateshead Grimsby Town Kidderminster Harriers Lincoln City Macclesfield Town Nuneaton Town Southport Torquay United Welling United Woking Wrexham Grounds Aggborough Blundell Park Crabble Athletic Ground Cressing Road Deva Stadium Gateshead International Stadium Haig Avenue Kingfield Stadium Liberty Way Memorial Stadium Moss Lane Moss Rose New Bucks Head North Street Park View Road Plainmoor Princes Park Racecourse Ground Recreation Ground Sincil Bank Ten Acres The Hive Stadium The New Lawn The Shay North AFC Fylde Barrow Boston United Brackley Town Bradford Park Avenue Chorley Colwyn Bay Gainsborough Trinity Gloucester City Guiseley Harrogate Town Hednesford Town Hyde Leamington Lowestoft Town North Ferriby United Oxford City Solihull Moors Stalybridge Celtic Stockport County Tamworth Worcester City South Basingstoke Town Bath City Bishop's Stortford Boreham Wood Bromley Chelmsford City Concord Rangers Eastbourne Borough Ebbsfleet United Farnborough Gosport Borough Havant & Waterlooville Hayes & Yeading United Hemel Hempstead Town Maidenhead United Staines Town St Albans City Sutton United Wealdstone Weston-super-Mare Whitehawk Seasons 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 See also: Conference League Cup

Borough of Fylde Towns Kirkham Lytham St Annes Wesham Villages Clifton Corner Row Elswick Esprick Freckleton Great Plumpton Greenhalgh Hall Cross Higher Ballam Little Plumpton Lower Ballam Moss Side Newton-with-Scales Peel Roseacre Salwick Singleton Staining Thistleton Treales Warton Weeton Westby Wharles Wrea Green Parishes Bryning-with-Warton Elswick Freckleton Greenhalgh-with-Thistleton Kirkham Little Eccleston-with-Larbreck Medlar-with-Wesham Newton-with-Clifton Ribby-with-Wrea St Annes-on-the-Sea Singleton Staining Treales, Roseacre and Wharles Weeton-with-Preese Westby-with-Plumptons Transport Blackpool Branch Lines Blackpool International Airport Freckleton Air Disaster Lytham rail crash Lytham St. Annes Corporation Tramways Preston & Wyre Railway Singleton Bank rail crash Railway stations: Ansdell and Fairhaven Kirkham and Wesham Lytham Moss Side St Annes-on-the-Sea Salwick Squires Gate Disused: Gillett's Crossing Halt Lytham (Station Road) Singleton Wrea Green Churches Clifton (Lund): St John the Evangelist Kirkham: St John the Evangelist St Michael Lytham: St Cuthbert St John St Annes-on-the-Sea: St Anne St Thomas Singleton: St Anne Weeton: St Michael Wesham: Christ Church Wrea Green: St Nicholas Other buildings & structures Burlingtons Bar HM Prison Kirkham Lifeboat Memorial, Lytham Lifeboat Monument, St Annes Lytham Hall Lytham Hospital Lytham Priory St Anne's Pier St Annes-on-the-Sea Carnegie Library Springfields Warton Aerodrome Weeton Barracks Listed buildings in: Bryning-with-Warton Elswick Freckleton Greenhalgh-with-Thistleton Kirkham Little Eccleston-with-Larbreck Lytham Medlar-with-Wesham Newton-with-Clifton Ribby-with-Wrea St Annes Singleton Staining Treales, Roseacre & Wharles Weeton-with-Preese Westby-with-Plumptons Education Arnold KEQMS Blackpool and The Fylde College Carr Hill High School King Edward VII and Queen Mary School Kirkham Grammar School Lytham St. Annes High Technology College St Annes College Grammar School St Bede's Catholic High School Sport A.F.C. Fylde BAE Warton Rugby Church Road Ground Fylde Rugby Club Lytham St Annes Hockey Club Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club 1961 Ryder Cup 1977 Ryder Cup Lytham Trophy Woodlands Memorial Ground Topography Rivers: Main Dyke Arts Lytham Academy Of Theatre Arts Politics Council elections 1999 2003 2007 2011 Constituencies: Fylde Fylde South

Coordinates: 53°45′29″N 2°54′06″W / 53.75814°N 2.90170°W / 53.75814; -2.90170