Widnes F.C.

For the rugby league football club originally called Widnes F.C., see Widnes Vikings

Widnes F.C.

Full name

Widnes Football Club

Nickname(s)

The Vikings

Founded

2003 (as The Dragons A.F.C)

Ground

Select Security Stadium, Widnes, Cheshire

Capacity

13,350

Chairman

David Day

Manager

Steve Hill

League

North West Counties League Division One ^[1]

2014–15

North West Counties League Division One, 16th

Website

Club home page

Home colours

Away colours

Widnes Football Club are an English association football club, based in Widnes, Cheshire. They are currently members of the North West Counties Football League Division One, playing their home matches at Halton Stadium, Widnes. They are an FA Charter Standard Community Football Club affiliated to the Liverpool County FA.

History

Early years: 2003 to 2012

The club was founded in February 2003 as The Dragons A.F.C. by current secretary Bill Morley as a local junior football club with the aim of making football fun, teach new skills and self-confidence. The aim of the club was to make football so much fun that the children will want to be involved and they will keep coming back for more.

Based in Widnes, Cheshire, the Dragons AFC, later to be known as Widnes Dragons, had a fantastic reputation locally for their contribution towards the development of grassroots football in Halton and provide opportunities to play football for over 200 junior players from the age of 6 to 18. The club put in a great amount of effort to run the club according to the best practices laid down by the F.A.. This led to the club achieving the FA Charter Standard award in December 2003, being recognised as the first club to achieve this award from the borough of Halton. Over the years, the club continued to expand encouraging players of all abilities to participate. Having success on and off the playing field, the club participated in successful tours to Spain (twice), Belfast and Devon. In 2008, the club was awarded the FA Charter Standard Development award for its continuous development of grassroots football. To celebrate this achievement, the club staged their annual presentation at Goodison Park, home of Everton Football Club. More presentations followed at prestige venues namely the Halton Stadium and the Etihad Stadium, home of Manchester City Football Club.

Recent history: 2012 to present

In March 2012, Widnes Dragons began a consultation process with Widnes Vikings RLFC to become part of the Vikings Sports Brand, a partnership that was agreed to enhance the club's community status.

On 10 July 2012, at the club's AGM, the club's members unanimously agreed to become a part of the Widnes Sports Group and agreed on a 12-month transitional period up to the end of that current season (2012–13). Also in the month of July, the club were proud to achieve the FA Charter Standard Community Club award. Widnes Dragons have secured a successful partnership with Everton Football Club, becoming Everton's official school boy recruitment partners.

The next step in the club's progression was made in season 2013–14 when Widnes Vikings FC was admitted into the football pyramid and placed within North West Counties Football League Division One.

In March 2014, the club's committee called an EGM for its members to decide on the future of the club. A unanimous vote was made that the club was to move away from the Vikings brand and to restructure the club to secure its own identity and long-term future. Subsequently, the club parted ways with the Vikings brand and became known as Widnes Football Club, which was symbolic in representing where the team and its fans came from whilst recognising that a new club needed to be built to establish confidence in the local community and support young local talent in Widnes.

Crest and colours

Throughout its history, the club has always adopted a white home strip. They currently play in a white home shirt, with black shorts and white socks. The club's away kit is royal blue, white and black.

Shirt sponsors and manufacturers

Year	Kit Manufacturer	Main Shirt Sponsor	Back of Shirt Sponsor
2013–14	O'Neills	Stobart	Polyblend
2014–	O'Neills	Investec	Tax Architects

Stadium

Main article: Halton Stadium

Widnes moved into the Halton Stadium in 2012, ahead of their debut and so far only season in the West Cheshire League. They played their first home game at the stadium against Chester Nomads Reserves on 1 September 2012. The club's highest attendance at the stadium is 345 set on 28 December 2013, against 1874 Northwich F.C.

Current squad

As of 8th January 2016

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

No.		Position	Player
		GK	Grant Hartley
		GK	Ben Morrow (on loan from Prescot Cables)
		DF	Paul Carney
		DF	Ben Cartwright
		DF	Jamie Casson
		DF	Michael Chojnicki
		DF	Calum Finch
		DF	George McGrogan
		DF	Tom Mitchell (captain)
		DF	Braian Strutz-Rivelli
		DF	Daniel Wilson
		MF	Daniel Burthem

No.		Position	Player
		MF	Steven Clarke
		MF	Alex Davies
		MF	Luke Edwards
		MF	Tom Hackett
		MF	Danny Lomax
		MF	James Ludgate
		MF	Ronnie McCarthy
		MF	Ryan Wilde
		MF	Jordan Wright
		FW	Jamil Campbell-Joseph
		FW	Connor Willis
		FW	Anthony Wynne

Club officials

Boardroom

Role	Name
Chairman	David Day
Director	Paul Carney Sr.
Secretary	Bill Morley

Coaching staff

Role	Name
Manager	Steve Hill
Assistant Manager	Mick Boyle
Goalkeeping Coach	Paul Pennington
Coach	Jake Francis-Ryder
Physio	Mark Eales

Managerial history

As of 9 January 2016

Manager	Nationality	Period	Total
Manager	Nationality	Period	G	W	D	L	Win %
Paul Pennington	England	2012	7	2	1	4	28.57
Steve Hill	England	2012-	129	40	21	68	31.00

Records

Team records

Record league victory 6 goals:
- 6-0 v Eccleshall, 15 November 2014
Record home victory 5 goals:
- 6-1 v Stockport Town, 10 October 2015
- 5-0 v Eccleshall, 20 December 2014
Record league defeat 9 goals:
- 10-1 v Northwich Manchester Villa, 13 December 2014
Record home attendance:
- 345 vs. 1874 Northwich, North West Counties Football League Division One, 28 December 2013 (club record)
Lowest home attendance:
- 24 vs. Wigan Robin Park, North West Counties Football League Division One, 18 April 2015
Longest unbeaten league run:
- 5 games, 13 September 2014 to 18 October 2014
Most league games won in a row:
- 3 games, 10 August 2013 to 20 August 2013
Most league games lost in a row:
- 6 games, 14 March 2015 to 18 April 2015
Most league games without a win:
- 11 games, 8 February 2014 to 19 April 2014
Best league performance:
- 14th North West Counties Football League First Division 2013–14
Best FA Vase performance:
- Second Round Qualifying 2014-15
Best Liverpool Senior Cup performance:
- Quarter-final (2 times)^[2]

Seasons

Season	Division	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts	Pos	FA Vase^[A]	Liverpool Senior Cup^[B]
2012–13	WC3	28	15	3	10	76	45	48	4th	—	—
2013–14	NWC1	36	9	9	18	58	84	35	14th	—	R1
2014–15	NWC1	36	10	5	21	62	101	35	16th	2QR	QF

Notable former player

Ben Tollitt – Portsmouth

References

↑ 2013/14 NWCFL Allocations"Allocation Of Clubs At Step 4/5". North West Counties Football League. Retrieved 20 May 2013.
↑ "LCFA Mens Senior Cup". www.liverpoolfa.com. Liverpool County FA. 28 October 2015. Retrieved 29 October 2015.

External links

North West Counties Football League

Premier Division	1874 Northwich Abbey Hey AFC Blackpool AFC Darwen AFC Liverpool Alsager Town Ashton Athletic Atherton Collieries Barnoldswick Town Bootle Cammell Laird 1907 Colne Congleton Town Maine Road Nelson Padiham Runcorn Linnets Runcorn Town Silsden Squires Gate West Didsbury & Chorlton Winsford United

Division One	Ashton Town Atherton Laburnum Rovers Bacup Borough Barnton Chadderton Cheadle Town Daisy Hill Eccleshall Hanley Town Holker Old Boys Irlam Litherlad REMYCA Northwich Manchester Villa Rochdale Town St. Helens Town Stockport Town Whitchurch Alport Widnes

Seasons	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

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