Wootton Blue Cross FC
Ground: Weston Park
Capacity: 2,000
Club Founded: 1887
League: Bedfordshire County League Premier Division - Step 7/11th Tier (current level)
Located a few miles outside Bedford, Wootton Blue Cross FC continues to play in the county league after previously belonging to the United Counties League.
Club History
It is reputed that the club's name came with the new manager, who had formerly been with the disbanded Hitchin Blue Cross FC. The team competed in the Bedford & District League before joining the South Midlands League at the end of World War II. Blue Cross won the league title and remained in the competition until 1955.
The United Counties League was their destination, winning the league twice and becoming a member of the new Premier Division. A runners-up spot at the beginning of the 80s was their best place for many years, before they were relegated in 2007-08, when four different managers had a turn in the hot seat.
Former Premier League player and local lad Calum Davenport joined the club a couple of years later to try to get himself fit for a return to professional football. He stayed at the club the following season and took on a coaching role.
Blue Cross resigned from the United Counties League Division One at the end of the 2012-13 season to take up a place in the Bedfordshire County League. A couple of mid-table finishes ensued in the Premier Division of the competition. The club left the league but returned for the 2016-17 campaign.
Once again, Blue Cross decided not to compete in senior football around the time of Covid-19 before rejoining in Division Two. Jeremy Hall took over as team manager in May 2021 after earlier being appointed as Director of Football, leading the team to promotion to Division One.
A runners-up finish in 2023-24 was enough to seal a return to the Premier Division of the competition.
My visit
Wednesday 1st August 2012
I had headed north after completing my early shift at work to meet up with fellow Scarborough Athletic fan Ian Anderson, who lived in Northampton. He had kindly suggested driving me to the pre-season friendly between Bedford Town and Cambridge United, also taking in a couple of nearby non-league grounds beforehand.
We had been to AFC Kempston Rovers before arriving in the pretty village of Wootton. Weston Park was located down a small lane just off Bedford Road, the main thoroughfare of the village.
Ian parked up while I attracted the attention of a couple of blokes going about their work at the far side of the ground. I explained what I was doing, and they welcomed me inside. One of them saw my Boro shirt and commented that he had a relation living in Ruston, just a few miles outside Scarborough. We had a little chat before I went inside and took my photos.
The ground was basic, but in a pleasant way. There wasn't a lot of room between the pitch and the boundary fence. A small path circled the playing area, with large brick dugouts located on the far side. The main spectator facilities were located under one roof at the front of the clubhouse and changing rooms, with seating and standing areas.
Wednesday 1st August 2012
I had headed north after completing my early shift at work to meet up with fellow Scarborough Athletic fan Ian Anderson, who lived in Northampton. He had kindly suggested driving me to the pre-season friendly between Bedford Town and Cambridge United, also taking in a couple of nearby non-league grounds beforehand.
We had been to AFC Kempston Rovers before arriving in the pretty village of Wootton. Weston Park was located down a small lane just off Bedford Road, the main thoroughfare of the village.
Ian parked up while I attracted the attention of a couple of blokes going about their work at the far side of the ground. I explained what I was doing, and they welcomed me inside. One of them saw my Boro shirt and commented that he had a relation living in Ruston, just a few miles outside Scarborough. We had a little chat before I went inside and took my photos.
The ground was basic, but in a pleasant way. There wasn't a lot of room between the pitch and the boundary fence. A small path circled the playing area, with large brick dugouts located on the far side. The main spectator facilities were located under one roof at the front of the clubhouse and changing rooms, with seating and standing areas.
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