Winsford
United F.C. is a non-league club from the town of the same name, which is
located in Mid-Cheshire. ‘The Blues’ were formed in 1883 as Over Wanderers FC
and playing in the the Welsh Combination Football League.
The team
played at the Bean Latham Playing Field; which would later become Barton
Stadium and soon changed their name to Winsford United, as they joined a local
competition; The Combination for the 1902-03 season.
The club
folded due to excessive spending, but re-formed around 1914 under a committee
led by Mr. R. G. Barton once World War One was over. United became founder
members of the Cheshire County League in 1919-20; going on to be crowned
champions in 1920-21.
For several
decades the club continued its membership of the Cheshire County League, with
the team finishing no higher than third place. The mid 1970’s were to see the
beginning of a successful little period; starting with a league runners-up
position in 1974-75.
The 1975-76
campaign was one of relative success in the FA Cup as the first round was
reached for the first ever time following victories against New Brighton,
Witton Albion, Chorley and then Telford United after a replay.
Winsford
were paired with an away tie at London Road against Peterborough United; which
ended in a 3-1 defeat. The season ended in a second Cheshire County League
title being delivered to the Barton Stadium.
In 1977-78
wins against Northwich Victoria, Slough Town and Bangor City took United to the
quarter finals of the FA Trophy; where they went out 4-2 away to Altrincham.
The team gave future Welsh international and Everton legendary keeper Neville
Southall his senior debut.
Winsford
became founder members of the North West Counties League in 1982-83; where they
were given a position in Division One. Consistent high finishes led to the club
becoming members of Division One of the Northern Premier League when it was
extended in 1987-88.
Promotion to
the Premier Division followed in 1991-92 before finishing as Northern Premier
League runners-up the following season. The campaign also saw United reach the
first round of the FA Cup; at which stage they went out 5-2 at the Racecourse
Ground against Wrexham.
Manager Mike
McKenzie moved on to local rivals Witton Albion; with many of the players
following. In 1997-98 Winsford battled all the way from the FA Cup first
qualifying round to the first round proper before going out 2-1 away to Chester
City.
The team
began to descend in the final league table before being relegated to Division
One in 1999-00. The slide continued as the Blues went down for a second
successive season to re-enter the North West Counties League.
At the end
of the 2002-03 season the team were demoted to Division Two of the league. The
Division Two title was secured in 2006-07 under manager Joe Gibiliru; who then
led the side to a second successive promotion as Winsford headed to the Premier
Division of the North West Counties League.
Gibiliru
departed in the summer of 2009 to be replaced by Terry Murphy and then Mike
Alcock, who lasted just over a month before Tony Ledwards took over as manager.
Ledwards lasted until March 2010 before joint-managers Mike Alcock and Dave
Twite helped to stave off relegation.
Chris
Willcock arrived as the new manager at the Barton Stadium during the summer
break of 2010; where he remained in charge until January 2011 when his
assistant, Ian Street took over; remaining in place until June 2012 when he
departed and was replaced by Lloyd Morrison.
Morrison
took the team to a fifth place finish in 2012-13 before he departed to take the
managers job at Mossley. Eddie Haslam was appointed as the new team boss at
Winsford, before being replaced by Rob Byrne in December 2013.
Newly formed
1874 Northwich became tenants at Barton Stadium from the 2013-14 campaign,
before Byrne resigned in November 2015; to be replaced by player-manager Lee
Duckworth who led the team to two mid table finishes.
Winsford
United FC will play in the North West Counties League Premier Division in the
2017-18 season.
My visit
1874 Northwich 1 Congleton Town 1 after extra time (Sunday 25th September 2017) FA Vase Second Qualifying Round (att: 313)
To read about my day out to the Barton Stadium, and to see additional photos, please click here.
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