Bootle

Bootle FC is a non league club based four miles to the north of Liverpool city centre. The present club were formed in 1953 as Langton FC and have no connection to the club of the same name that were once members of the Football League.

The original Bootle FC were formed in 1880 and played their games at Hawthorne Road. They were founder members of the Football Alliance in 1889 and they reached the quarter finals of the FA Cup. 

An online image of Bootle's original Bucks Head

The Alliance merged with the Football League in 1892 and Bootle became members of the newly formed second division. They lasted just one season before the newly formed Liverpool FC replaced them! The club disappeared owing to financial troubles.

Another club, Bootle Athletic FC ensured football returned to Hawthorne Road in 1948. They competed in the Lancashire Combination until their demise in 1953. The ground soon fell into disrepair, but of 2011 it was home to Bootle Cricket Club.

Langton FC started out playing local league football and started out playing at Edinburgh Park. In 1973 they changed their name to the current title and joined the Lancashire Combination while moving to Orrell Mount.

In 1977 the ‘Bucks' moved to the Cheshire County League and a new home at Bucks Park on Northern Permimeter Road near Old Roan station, before becoming founder members of the North West Counties League in 1982, being placed in Division One of the competition.

They were relegated to Division Two in 1991-92 but won promotion at the first time of asking under manager Joe Doran Snr. Another relegation followed in 1996-97 before again returning to Division One before they vacated their Bucks Park home towards the end of the century.

They planned to use the Kirkby Sports Centre ground until a new home was found. This had previously staged the home games of Knowsley United FC, previously known as Kirkby Town FC. Unfortunately, urgent repair work at the ground during the 2001-02 season meant Bootle having to drop down into the Liverpool Combination.

The club shared with Waterloo Dock FC while club officials worked tirelessly to find a new permanent home. In 2005 a new home, New Bucks Park was secured a few hundred yards from Aintree Racecourse

After a third place was achieved in the Liverpool Combination season of 2005-06 and a new home, Bootle were admitted into Division Two of the NWCL. Promotion was achieved in 2007-08 before the side won the Division One title twelve months later to go up to the Premier Division.

Three-third places followed in their first four seasons as the new facilities attracted crowds and players. Bootle finished as league runners-up in 2016-17 and then in 2018-19. Following the lost pandemic seasons Doran Snr stood aside during the 2021-22 campaign to be replaced by Brian Richardson.

In August 2022 Steve McNulty was appointed as manager, lasting until March 2023 in the post. City of Liverpool FC became tenants at New Bucks Park until a dispute saw them leave. Mick McGraa was given the manager’s job in September 2023 after Dave McNab had a short spell in the post.

Bootle FC will play in the North West Counties Premier Division in the 2024-25 season.

My visit

Tuesday 19th October 2010

I was completing my tour of Merseyside football grounds as well as enjoying some fine hospitality and Bootle were the last on my list.

I alighted at Aintree station in a rather damp state following a downpour in Maghull with the huge stands behind me. I could see New Bucks Park about a hundred yards in front of me, but unfortunately access was round the new industrial state and a good ten minutes walk away.

The gates appeared to be locked, but luckily for me an old boy was inside. I attracted his attention and he was kindness personified. He welcomed me inside and took great interest in my hobby. I was pleased to hear he knew all about the plight of my own club, Scarborough Athletic.

New Bucks Park was typical of many new venues. It lacked character but was functional and met all the ground graders requirements. Three sides were open and flat with a mixture of hard standing and grass. Practice pitches with their artificial turf and high fences were down the side and behind the far goal. 

The fourth side had the large clubhouse, changing rooms and offices complex with three of the modern type stands in front. One provided seats and the others a few steps of terracing with covering over both and the players tunnel in between.

I went inside the neat clubhouse to use the loos and my new friend gave me a programme from the FA Sunday Cup game that had been played there at the weekend featuring local side Salisbury Athletic. It appeared that hiring out the facilities played a vital park in assisting the clubs' finances.

I walked back to the main road and was most pleased when a local lady told me that a bus was due. I had a nice ride through Bootle town centre and right to Lime Street station in the centre of Liverpool.