Formby



Formby FC was a non-league football club, based a few miles north of Liverpool. The club was formed in 1919 as Formby United FC playing on a ground between Philips Lane and Ravenmeols Lane, eventually folding in 2014.

The club dropped United from its name a year after formation and moved to a new ground at Brows Lane with the team competing in local leagues and cup competitions for many years. In 1969 'The Squirrels' joined the Lancashire Combination before moving to the Cheshire County League in 1972.

In 1972-73 the team reached the first round proper of the FA Cup, losing 2-0 to Oldham Athletic at Brows Lane. In 1977-78 Formby became the first non-league club to lift the Liverpool Senior Cup.

Formby joined the North West Counties League as founder members for the 1982-83 season with the side being relegated to Division Two of the competition in 1985-86. Promotion was won at the first attempt in 1986-87.

However, the side dropped back down in 1988-89, remaining in Division Two for the following thirteen seasons. In 2002 the club moved to a new ground at Altcar Road. This was not up to the requirements of the NWCFL, so Formby had to drop down to the Liverpool County Combination for a season before being readmitted into the competition.

The team were promoted in 2003-04 and despite a large turnover of managers and one or two struggles they maintained their status before the top level was retitled the Premier Division. Formby dropped down to Division One in 2010-11.

The club had an injection of new personnel in the summer of 2011 with Hugh McAuley, whose father Hughie was a former Formby player taking over as the new owner. Jim Shirley was appointed as manager.

The Squirrels romped to the Division One title in 2012-13 as Jason Carey scored 49 goals. The team also reached the NWC League Cup final, losing out to Runcorn Linnets. However, disappointment was to follow.

Altcar Road ground was deemed unsatisfactory for promotion. The club shared Victoria Park as tenants to Burscough FC, winning promotion as Division One runners-up in 2013-14. Shirley resigned owing to family reasons shortly after.

Without a suitable ground and the ability to develop their junior sides, Formby FC announced their disbanding on June 2nd 2014.

My visit

Sunday 17th October 2010

I was on Merseyside for a few days sightseeing and groundhopping. I had originally planned to go to Formby early on the Sunday morning but the distance of the ground from the station and the lack of buses deterred me.

I went on to Southport and Burscough before realising I could fit in a call to Altcar Road. A bus was due as I alighted from the train so I hopped on board. Unfortunately, I lost my bearings and got off far too early. I could have gone another mile nearer the ground!

Not to worry. It was a nice enough morning and I had my digital radio to keep me entertained. The ground really was quite a distance, over the Formby bypass and near some light industry behind a Tesco superstore.

The good news was that the ground was open as it was the base for several junior teams. Many youngsters were around in their kits with parents filling the car park. The ground refreshment hut was open to serve the hungry hordes.

It was not a thing of beauty in truth but it was obviously adequate for their league and fully functional. As I entered through the gate the main covered seated stand was unusually directly to my left filling in up to the goal, maybe as a reminder of the layout of their old Brows Lane home? The far end had the only other cover, this time for standing spectators. 

The rest of the ground was a combination of flat open standing, consisting of concrete and grass. A large hedge formed the perimeter on the far touchline, with a plethora of buildings for offices, a tea bar, changing rooms, a camera point and a clubhouse down the opposite touchline. All buildings were painted dark green to fit in with its rural surroundings.

I left and set off on the long walk back to Formby station. There were no buses due on the sporadic Sunday timetable but I got a move on so I could catch a train and try once again to get to Marine FC.